Demonstrations in Haiti over the weekend in protest of a hike in the price of gas has left many ministry groups from the U.S. sheltering in place until protests subside. (See As Haiti protests continue, US citizens warned to shelter in place.)
Dan O’Deens, founder and executive director of Breathe Partners, a Charis Fellowship ministry that works in Haiti, wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday:
A 3-day demonstration to protest an 85 gourde increase per liter gas reality. The reality is that the country will suffer because mobility is stopped and business paralyzed. Anarchy is NOT the answer. But it is a good reminder to those in the West to remember that the short inconvenience we are experiencing is what most of the third world and the poor experience everyday.
Sometimes it feels like the only way the poor can be heard is to demonstrate. No doubt it captures our attention and news feeds.
MLK said, “a riot is the language of the unheard.”
…and so we pray for those we choose to live with incarnationally, experiencing with our friends what they realize as the normal part of their existence.
…but please Lord get our team home safely tomorrow and me back to the airport safely. Either way my trust is in you.
On Sunday night, he reported to GraceConnect: Although the decision is reversed temporarily the momentum has already reached a tipping point and the people are in war with their government and at this point they want the President removed. To make their point they revert to violence. The entire economy is shut down and people lose money. Owners cannot get to their business and looting is real. The next two days threatens that anyone found on the streets will be at risk. There is a food shortage and it is hard for people to get out to get groceries.
Our CIT’s and CompassionCorp students are safe at our Breathe Center. Our interns and myself are stuck in the southern tip of the country with nasty storm to hit on Tuesday.
We are praying for a window to get me to the airport and our team back to the Center.
Grace Bath is here and they are safe at the Center but cannot get to the airport.
Pastor Dumont from Caribbean (Vision Ministries) is also in country. He reports he is safe.
Pray for Haiti and for the ministry of Breathe Partners during this time.