Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere; 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, and natural disasters frequently sweep the country. Of Haiti's 8.2 million people, 43% are under 14 years of age, and just 53% of the nation's adults are literate. Haiti's economy is agricultural, and inflation is more than 20%; 68% are unemployed, and those who do work normally earn just $25/month.

Spiritually, the country is just as poor. Although 97% claim to be Christian (80% are identified as Roman Catholic), roughly half of all Haitians practice Voodoo.

Veteran missionary Rodney Fitzsimmons operates a Bible institute in the city of Gonaives. Enrollment is now more than 400 students.

Brother Fitzsimmons has approached The Carpenter's Project seeking help with the construction of a number of churches that are pastored by graduates of his school. Working together, several churches have been completed. Each church was built using the same building plan. Each is 50 feet by 30 feet, and made of concrete block, a metal roof, and a concrete floor.

Graduates of the Bible institute are planting several new churches each year, and we remain active in the country.