The staff of For Haiti with Love
The United Nations confirms a spike in kidnappings for ransom last year. But officials are quick to point out that the numbers have fallen in recent weeks as a UN peacekeeping force and Haitian police step up patrols around the capital.
Foreign missionaries have increasingly become ransom targets. The poverty-stricken Caribbean nation has been wracked by violence for two decades. More than half of Haiti's 8.4 million people live on one dollar a day.
The continued violence was a challenge but failed to stop Haiti's eventual inauguration of a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006. However, the United States still advises its citizens against visiting the country, adding more economic strain to the fall of tourism in the region.
For Haiti With Love's Eva DeHart says "It just needs some international influx of money to provide jobs. If people can work and can provide food for their families, they're not interested in fighting and causing trouble. But they're just desperate."
FHWL began work in Cap-Haitien in 1968. Since then, they've launched feeding programs, building programs, schools, medical care and many other things that dealt with removing the immediate physical needs of the people they were helping.
Once those were met, then people could hear about the 'why' motivating the staff. Over the years, the locals know and recognize FHWL and their bold evangelistic testimony. It's one reason why their staff is optimistic they'll be left alone amidst all the unrest and kidnappings.
For one thing, the staff is mainly nationals. For another, DeHart adds: "As long as they're performing a service at no charge with no questions to the general population in the clinic and handling the injuries that they're a little bit protected because of the service that they're offering and a lot protected because of the prayers that they're offering."
She asks prayer for their safety. DeHart also says funds are always needed to keep the programs moving forward. Click here if you'd like to help For Haiti with Love.
