Posted on Aug 6, 2023 in General |
Situation Improving… But Still Dangerous…
|
I am in Haiti this week and am glad to report that gang activity has lessened, though has not yet been eradicated. Word on the street is that the Haitian police are ready and able to take out the remaining gangs but have been ordered by top government officials to stand down; at least for now. Curious. Perhaps there is truth to the idea that some government officials profit from the gang activity. Time will tell. The main thoroughfare through Port-au-Prince in Martissant can be travelled by locals for a modest fee to the gangs, but outsiders would be foolish to try to go through that area. So each time I visit it means we still must travel the circuitous route through the mountains to avoid that area.
|
Gangs still impacting the cost of goods…
|
This restriction also applies to trucks of merchandise that would normally pass through Martissant. They now pay to have their truck(s) shipped by boat across the bay around the Martissant area for fees of $700 to $1000 per load. That adds to the cost the vendors must recoup, meaning the poor people who need the goods are required to pay even more for the food and goods they need to survive.
|
|
|
Many businesses have pulled out of Haiti and fled to Santo Domingo, or simply closed their doors. That has resulted in many people who were previously employed losing their jobs, income, and ability to feed their families. Our church in Port-au-Prince is a victim.
Pastor Daniel is constantly approached for help by member families that are finding it difficult even to subsist. Heart breaking!
|
|
|
Fuel Available… less expensive… but… Yikes!
In better news, fuel has now become readily available. All stations have gas and diesel fuel so there are no longer ridiculously long lines of vehicles (mostly motorcycles) clogging the streets around gas stations. The price of a gallon of gas has come down from $50 USD to “only” $7 USD. Although the gangs no longer control the fuel depot it appears they and/or government officials are still benefitting from the sale of fuel.
|
Thanks for all you do to make this ministry possible.
|
|
|
Difficult to Ship Supplies…
|
|
The truck of food and supplies we have been trying to ship to Haiti for the past two years is even more critical, though the only way we can even get it into Haiti is via a container; with no guarantees that we can get it past the blockades the gangs currently maintain.
|
|
|
Many Orphanages Closing – Nowhere for Kids to go…
Businesses aren’t the only entities that are pulling out of Haiti. It is very common for business leaders to take their families and leave Haiti for the relative safety of Santo Domingo. Many orphanages have closed due to the difficulty of accessing needed food and supplies.
Case in point is a small orphanage started several years ago by a pastor friend of Daniel Jean’s. Joymet started the orphanage with consistent support from a businessman in Miami, but when he shared The Gospel with this man he was offended and withdrew all his support. As a result, 32 small children plus the staff have been without pay or food for 10 months. Pastor Daniel and others have helped where possible, but Daniel was tasked with telling all at that orphanage that they would be returning to the street due to lack of funds. All broke out in tears and sobbing, but one small boy approached Pastor Daniel and said, “Instead of sending me back to the street, please just shoot me.” He knows how horrible life will be in the street in today’s environment.
Daniel plans to take 5 of the 32 children to our compound in Les Cayes, but we cannot take them all. Very sad. And this is just one of many orphanages whose support has ended, or where those running the orphanage feel their lives are threatened just by remaining in Haiti.
|
|
|
Since the gangs are still operating in Port-au-Prince, Pastor Daniel is even more determined to move all of our children and staff from PAP to our compound in Les Cayes before the next school year begins. That means we must move quickly to finish the roof on the new building we started in Les Cayes earlier this year. The cost for the roof is $30,000 USD which will enable us to move the children and staff. That amount will not finish the floors, electricity, sewage, parging, etc. but will get our PAP children to a much safer environment and save us from paying next year’s rent on the two buildings we now have in PAP: one for girls and one for boys. The cost for completely finishing the new building in Les Cayes is approximately $70,000, but we trust that God will raise up the balance of the funds as they are needed.
So please join with us in prayer for the needed $30,000 to put the roof on the new building and free us to move all the children and staff out to the countryside of Les Cayes.
|
|
Pastor Daniel Jean will be making his annual visit to the USA from Friday, July 21 through Monday, July 31, 2023. That includes two Sundays: July 23 and July 30 for him to bring greetings to supporting churches. Please contact me to schedule time with Pastor Daniel. He would love to personally thank every supporter for all that you make possible through God at Divine Ministries in Hope for Children.
|
|
|
