We recently passed our six-year mark of living in Haiti. With the current state of the nation it was an interesting day to celebrate. I usually post on social media about that sort of thing, but I honestly didn’t know what to say. The boys and I made cookies for our school staff and Jesse and I kept looking at each other throughout the day and would say “Six years, babe.” “Yep… six years.” We honestly didn’t feel a whole lot of excitement about it. And not because we aren’t thankful for what God has done over the past six years in our community and in our lives, but because we just have no idea what the next six years will bring. We honestly have no idea what the next month will bring!
Haiti has been in a state of political turmoil for quite some time. Over the past year or so demonstrations (which include road blocks, burning tires, violence, increased gang activity etc.) have gone in spurts – a couple days here, a week there. But at the start of September it all intensified and really hasn’t stopped. Many schools have yet to open, different businesses have been targets of violence, fuel deliveries have been all but cut off to certain areas of the country and many clinics and hospitals are running low on supplies country wide. Hundreds of jobs have been lost due to the closure of several large hotels and businesses while other businesses are trying to stay open but have to layoff many employees to stay afloat financially. I read from a reliable source that in the past two months, 20 YEARS of economic advancement has been lost. Inflation continues to dominate and fear and uncertainty are the common theme. Haiti is a mess. So happy six year Haitiversary, right?
For the most part the atmosphere remains unchanged here in our mountain community. Stories from down the mountain are brought up and circulated by the students who have come home since school hasn’t opened. They are thankful to escape the current madness of “the city”. Trucks have started traveling once more, so that’s a comfort, but there is the constant fear of getting robbed once they make it down the mountain. Cornerstone School of Truth has been able to function as normal which we are so thankful for, but in order to stay open we have needed to switch up or usual way of getting cash and supplies. It will take more time and be more work, but it will be safer for now which is a good thing.
So here we are… going into our seventh year of life in Haiti. (Wait a minute. The seventh year should be a Sabbath year, right? So Biblically we can just take this next year off, yeah? Juuuust kidding.) Even though we have gotten used to the normal level of uncertainty in this country, the past several months have been a whole new level and our minds and bodies are feeling the effects of it. BUT we have to keep reminding ourselves that the circumstances around us do NOT dictate our life… God does. We have had many conversations of “what ifs” and we keep coming back to the fact that we have given our lives to follow God’s lead and we will give the rest of our lives to do the same thing. And for right now we hear God saying to us specifically “endure for the generations to come.” Even if for some reason we have to close the school for a while, God has called us to live in this community and love and empower our neighbors in whatever way He directs. The school is one way in which we do that, but it’s not the only way. The good news of Jesus and the truth of His gospel are best shared through our life… living and learning and growing together in community. So here is to the next year of life in Haiti. We have even less of a clue than usual as to what it will bring, but we are in it. We are in it with our community to see the Kingdom of God come to Haiti. And even if what God has called us to only affects one life and even if we never get to see the fruit of it all, by God’s grace we will endure for the generations to come.
Pray with us for the people of Haiti – so many of the poor and oppressed are suffering even more during this time and it feels like such a hopeless situation. But we continue believing and hoping and praying and working toward a better Haiti.