Haiti Continues to Experience Unrest; Pray for Ministries There

Violence in Haiti continues particularly in Port Au Prince, the capital city, where protests over government corruption and rising inflation are rampant. Daily living conditions in Haiti have gone from bad to worse and have incensed the Haitian people who are suffering from a lack of food, medical care, and gas. Missionary and relief organization teams in Haiti are having a hard time in departing the country and Americans have been advised not to travel to Haiti during this time of unrest.

At this time, as far as we know, all Caribbean Vision Ministries personnel along with those from Three Strands, Breathe, and Connect 2 Ministries, are safe in their respective areas. Also, as far as we know, all Haitian National personnel in the country who are associated with these organizations such as Church Planters, Pastors, Medical, and Administrative employees are also safe at this time.

We ask you to pray for peace in Haiti and a resolution of their current major problems that are causing unrest, violence, and deaths in the country. Please pray for those associated with the organizations mentioned above that God will preserve and bless them even during these troubling times. Caribbean Vision Ministries began ministry in Haiti during the same kind of troublous times in 2005 and we are thankful for how God has used our personnel to proclaim His gospel message even in the most troublesome of times.

Pastor Dumont Cardichon (photo at right), a CVM Board member and a Haitian-American, will be departing Monday morning for Haiti and will travel from Port Au Prince to Port de Paix in the north of Haiti to teach and train Church Leaders for a week. Pastor Elysee Joseph (photo at left), a CVM Board member and a Haitian-American and Director of the CVM work in Haiti, will leave on Tuesday morning for Cap Haitien where he will spend seven weeks ministering in the CVM ministries and also in the Charis Alliance in Haiti. Please pray for the safety, health, and successful ministry of these two servants of God in the unsettled climate occurring at this time in Haiti. God is doing a great work in Haiti and Satan is determined to stop it but God is still in control and will prevail in the battle for peoples’ souls.

Breathe Partners after much prayer, fasting and wise counsel decided it was necessary to cancel all teams throughout February and most likely March as we watch and wait for the country to stabilize.   We have removed our US Mission presence from the country temporarily until we feel the country is capable of being mobile and civil.  Mission is never ‘safe’, but safety and security are important elements to weigh in the ‘risk management’ of being in a developing world country.

 

We thank God for the strategic partners that safely and effectively removed our team from a potential hostile environment.  They were picked up in a helicopter, transported to PAP and from their flighted to the Dominican.  They will arrive safely and soon in America.

For our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  They do not have the luxury of this level of reprieve.  We pray for our brothers and sisters.  We want them to know they do NOT stand alone. The faithful and fervent prayers of God’s people can move mountains.  Will you stand and unite together and pray for the PEACE of Haiti, pray for its leadership.

Haiti is a hard country and right now it is hurting. The president of Haiti has declared a state of economic crisis. The local currency has fallen to an exchange rate of 82-85 Gourde to the US dollar. Large wholesale stores have been forced to close as well as local stores and bakeries, because they cannot operate with consistent deficit.  The people of Haiti are scared.  They are wondering how they will get water, how they will feed their children with even the basic staples like rice.   The cost of living is rising rapidly while the currency is deflating.  The people do not have answers. There are consistent protests demanding the current government be overthrown. The country is paralyzed and immobilized.  There is no gasoline, no open markets and the hospitals are closed. Children in birthing are dying. Solutions will not come easily or potentially soon. Please pray for this nation.

Three Strands physician, Babak Iranmanesh, M.D., posted this report on Facebook:

There has been quite a bit of political unrest in Cap Haitien in the past couple of weeks.

I have been in contact with our clinic/guesthouse manager, Bobby and spoke with him again yesterday afternoon. He reassured me that our staff, clinic & the guesthouse are all safe. The clinic has been closed since 2/7/19 and the staff is staying at home since it’s not safe to be on the street.

Riots have paused since Friday however are anticipated to resume on Monday. Please pray for safety of our staff and for peace for Haiti. May we continue to serve the people of Haiti through our medical clinic and represent Christ to the lost and hurting.