March 2024 Newsletter - Haiti Prime Minister Resigns
Priye pou Ayiti. Pray for Haiti
Late Monday night, Haiti’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, announced his decision to step down as soon as an interim transitional council is appointed to lead the country into its next steps. Negotiations regarding this council are underway in Jamaica where Caribbean leaders and the US Secretary of State, Andre Blinken, are holding emergency meetings to hopefully handle the situation.
What this transition will mean for the general population of Haiti remains unclear, but there is not going to be any immediate improvement. Whatever type of government ends up being established, the gangs are still going to be dealt with, and their power is only growing at the moment.
This is the most dangerous time. Yet the most hopeful.
There is a chance for a real, successful change in power for the long term benefit of the Haitian people, but it’s going to take commitment from both Haitian and world leaders. In the meantime, the majority of Haitians are in survival mode.
At Lespwa Lavi, our programs are functioning normally. School is in session, providing a haven of peace and stability for 250 kids. Thanks to our partners at Mission of Hope, we have food to last for a couple more months. To date, the gangs have left us alone. We are expanding our church and school, and launching new womens’ empowerment programs this summer.
To hear more amazing stories and to be a part of the story, make sure you join us at the Sponsor’s Banquet on April 11th.
Click the image for tickets
To learn more about the complex political situation in Haiti, we appreciated this opinion article from the NY Times, or check out the new sources listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/opinion/haiti-crisis-united-states.html
Join us in prayer.
Here’s what we’re praying:
Psalm 91: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you…... For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Isaiah 62:12: They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.
Psalm 71:18: do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
2 Kings 6:16-17: “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Ephesian 3:14-21: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Pray for peace in the capital city of Port-au-Prince
Pray for wise leadership in government
Pray for safety and protection for the children
Pray for spiritual leadership to step up
*** Lespwa Lavi is not a news source. Please follow reliable news agencies for the latest updates. We follow:
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/
https://haitiantimes.com/
The Associated Press
BBC World News
CNN
Al Jazeera (often reports on Haiti when American news does not)