Hemmed In
"You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me" - Psalm 139:5
After three tense weeks of siege and guerilla warfare, the violent groups threatening Verrettes have backed off. The police will remain in the area with armored vehicles (thank you Canada!) and are working with community leaders to keep children safe.
Thank you to the police officers willing to put their lives on the line and inspiring a generation. God is using people with courage and just a little faith.
While the rebels did not go far, they are leaving Verrettes alone, at least for the moment
Last week, Hurricane Melissa brought death and incredible destruction to Jamaica and southeastern Haiti, but Lespwa Lavi was spared. The forecast called for 9-12 inches of rain for us which would have caused flash flooding and destroyed many of our students' homes. The threat of weather served as a deterrent to those looking to battle the police. But though dark clouds loomed for a few days, only about 3 inches of rain fell.
We are praying and supporting our friends in southern Haiti who are responding to the storm devastation, but yet we are thankful that the storm also scared the bad guys.
Once again, our community is covered, hemmed in behind and before, like a hen covering her chicks, like a light piercing darkness.
Now the strongest rebel group in Haiti . 400 Mawozo, has a stronghold about 30 miles east of us. They are allied now with the "Haiti Taliban", another group that has taken over nearly all the communities in the area west of Verrettes and regularly gains or loses ground depending on police battles. Both groups have consistently stated they intend to control all of the Artibonite region which we are in.
According to the National Human Rights Defense Network, Verrettes is THE ONLY example of a community successfully repelling a gang attack in the Artibonite region this year.
That's because you prayed.
God's not done. Boys who were coerced into joining up with the gangs are wandering back to town, and you know what they need? A soccer team to train them better. Girls who thought hope was lost and their destiny ended in tragedy, now need an advocate to pave the way for an education and beyond. A entire people who thought they were abandoned by the world, now knows their faith in Jesus means something.
We don't know the future. But we know where God is. Right now He's on the highway outside of Verrettes. Right now He's at the police station where the chief and his officers are gathered with Lespwa Lavi and other school leaders to pray. Right now He's walking with our advocate team as they search and find children who fled. He is with His people.
He's with you. Keep praying. He's listening.
