Haiti mission trip boat being built in Kingsport

Posted: Jan 18, 2023 / 10:45 AM EST

Updated: Jan 18, 2023 / 06:29 PM EST

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — A North Carolina-based nonprofit is helping build a boat in Kingsport for a Haiti mission trip.

Mission Navigation, which includes members from Kingsport, is helping out Northwest Haiti Christian Mission (NWHCM) for its trip to the northwest tip of the upper Haitian peninsula. Chester Sink, Chair Board of Directors for Mission Navigation, and local supervisor for this project said he retired early because he wanted something more significant, which is why he is building a boat to help the people in Haiti.

Sink said the road conditions in Haiti are rough, prompting the need for the boat.

“The roads are so bad that it’s easier to get in and out of the compound where they have a clinic, an orphanage, and a school by boat,” Sink said. “And so this is going to be their pickup truck, and they will be using this boat to deliver supplies.”

With the help of other volunteers and the Inventor Center in Kingsport, the assembly of the boat was made possible.

Non-profit leaders believe the boat will have a huge impact on the people of Haiti. At the time of reporting, Haitians have to hire a boat and captain to deliver many of their much-needed supplies.

“Water is difficult, clean wells are not common in that area, and so they will be taking water from their well, compound, and purification center to the neighboring villages,” Sink said.

The boat is expected to be finished by Jan. 31 and will be delivered to Jacksonville, Florida and then to the people of Haiti.

The boat is being built in donated garage space in Kingsport from Sink.