Haiti

HH4/N4LS -- Haiti

HH4/N4LS (opr: Ned) operated from Haiti from 2 to 7 June 2006. I was operating on location at Christian radio station 4VEH. 4VEH is making a huge difference in the lives of the Christians in Haiti. Please visit their website at www.radio4VEH.org. And, please pray for Peace in Haiti -- the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and the highest AIDS/HIV as well. God Bless and sorry if I did not get to work you from Haiti. I will be back next year. 73, Ned
For more information visit my new website www.MissionRadio.org

Ned, HH4/N4LS at operating position at Radio 4VEH.

HH4/N4LS and T-Louis, HH5DL, an eng. at 4VEH.

My antenna was a simple portable vertical with one radial. The antenna is made by Budd, W3FF, and is called the "BuddiStick". Two of these make up the "Buddipole" portable antenna system. I made over 600 QSOs in 65 countries in 5 continents with this antenna.

I made a few CW QSOs with my mini straight key. I didn't have a computer to handle the pileups and it was 98 degrees. My rig was a Yaesu 897D with a 100 watts.

I packed my radio and tuner in a Pelican case (model 1510) for the trip. That was the best investment for my equipment. We flew to Haiti in a DC-3 and ground transportation was in the back of a pickup truck. My equipment was bounced around in the back of a pickup truck and stepped on as well. The case is water proof, too. I highly recommend the Pelican case!

I flew down a Missionary Flights International (MFI) DC-3. The aircraft was built in the 40s and was used in WWII in Europe. see www.missionaryflights.org for more info on their great organization.

Haiti is crowded and poor. The poorest country in the Western Hempishere and has the worst HIV/AIDS epidemic of any country in the west as well.

Many homes are just mud and straw.

This lady is walking down the unimproved highway with no shoes. Most ladies carry things on their heads. The main road in Haiti is difficult to travel due to huge potholes. The average speed you can travel is 15 to 20 mph. The road is narrow and dangerous to drive. The country does not have a sewer system or trash removal system. Litter is every where. Despite this, the Haitian people are very friendly. They just need the basics. They are also infected with the voodoo culture which keeps progression from happening. 4VEH is a source of God's light in a spiritual dark country.

	Haiti
	-Poorest country in the west.
	-Highest HIV/AIDS in the west.
	-50% of population of below age 15
	-80% illiterate
	-4VEH reaches over 300,000 daily

The Evangelistic Voice of Haiti

This is Radio 4VEH's main building. It is the nicest building in this entire part of Haiti and was built by volunteer labor -- mission trips as the one I was on. Operating my ham radio was primarily in order to promote 4VEH to the world. They have been on the air since 1950. Back then they were on shortwave. Today, they are only broadcasting to Haiti on AM, FM, FM Network and the internet in French, Creole and English. 4VEH is a ministry of OMS International and they are a non-commercial, non-political station licensed with the Haitian government. They are supported by prayers and donations from friends inside and out of Haiti. You can be a part of 4VEH with a donation. See www.radio4VEH.org to donate.

4VEH has a 160' antenna on their property and they link to an antenna farm on the salt flats northeast of Cap-Haitian.

4VEH is located in a secure compound with a guard at the gate.

This is a distant view of their antenna farm located northeast of town. It is located in a salt marsh and they say the ground plane is as good as being in the ocean.

4VEH receives Christian programming from around the world.

I hope you enjoyed reading about 4VEH. Many stations I talked to while on this expedition told me they used to listen to 4VEH on the shortwave back in the old days. Some of them sent me the 4VEH QSL card.
I did not intend this expedition to be a contest and I knew I'd have pileups. But, If you worked me, I hope you learned about 4VEH over the air.

While operating from 4VEH, I had many visitors who did not speak English. But, they had a smile and knew I was talking around the world. I pointed on the map as you all were talking to me.

Please remember 4VEH and all the missionaries in Haiti during your prayers. They are making a huge difference in Haiti.

This is Camitha. She is 5 and I sponsor her for $25 a month under the StarFish Kids program. The $25 provides tuition, books, shoes and nutritious food to her so she can get a Christian education. The average annual wages in Haiti is $450 US. So, my $25 a month goes a long way in helping her grow into a Christian leader for Haiti. I know the StarFish program is a good program and most of my money goes to Camitha's education. The goal of StarFish Kids is to reach Haiti one kid at a time and prepare them to be Christian leaders in the church, community, business and government. You can sponsor a child too by going to www.starfishkids.org. Meeting Camitha was a highlight of my trip to Haiti and I look foward to watching her grow and visiting her each year. These kids will touch your heart.

I tell folks that flying in Iraqi Freedom brought me to my knees face to face with God, but Haiti broke my heart.