Haiti (MNN) – In the wake of a shocking attack on a mission compound that brought Haiti’s plight to the forefront, the crisis became high profile.
Coincidentally, a Kenyan delegation arrived two weeks ago, setting the stage for deploying the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. The much-delayed Kenya-led mission is to assist Haitian police in dealing with the gang takeover in Port au Prince, the country’s capital.
Kenya’s president, William Ruto, expects to kick off the deployment on Saturday, June 15, even as gang members leave the city and head for small towns in and around Port au Prince. TeachBeyond Latin America Regional Vice President Chantelle Sawatzky clarifies, “The gang activity tends to be centered around the Capitol. But when their power is threatened there, they have extended their reach into other parts of the country. So that’s one of the things that we are asking pretty consistently.”
Human rights groups and the Haitian national security council hope to deploy more reinforcements to prevent gangs from relocating to the provinces. With the deadline fast approaching, the mission’s parameters (rules of engagement, human rights due diligence, safeguards, and accountability) have yet to be shared with the UN Security Council.
(Photo courtesy TeachBeyond)
Meanwhile, many mission organizations, troubled by the murders of Davy and Natalie Lloyd and Jude Montis, triggered their emergency response plans. Sawatzky says they don’t have anyone in Port au Prince. The people serving TeachBeyond schools in Haiti are in a more secure area. However, the standard protocol in situations like this is to amplify member care and increase communication with teams in higher-risk areas.
She says of their Haitian-American team serving, “We didn’t mandate an evacuation. But as they’re working in the school, the school year wrapped up right as this was happening, and they went to the States to stay with family; they were planning on it anyway.”
“Haiti really is home. It’s difficult to watch a country that you love continue to be mired in such pain.”
(Photo courtesy TeachBeyond)
As they monitor from afar, there are more questions than answers about where the gangs are manifesting once out of Port au Prince. “‘Where are they moving to? Is there a risk of them going up to the cities where our members are serving?’ And, ‘how do we know that?'” Sawatzky says that’s why clear communication with their team members is critical to making decisions for their team’s return. School terms resume in a couple of months. TeachBeyond has to examine what the security situation means for travel. Airport closures have been disruptive and unpredictable. “Cap Haitien, in particular, the roads get closed down—and then what happens? Like what just happened: If airports are closed, then what?”
It’s a balancing act, says Sawatzky. As their members feel called to dangerous places, ministry leaders have to ask themselves, “What’s our responsibility as an organization as we send them?
What kinds of measures do we have in place to help them take risks wisely and also not ignore the call on their lives?”
A missionary’s life is not without risk, she acknowledges. However, providing a quality education from a Christian worldview is life-changing in many ways. Their teams are resilient and remain hopeful. That’s really the key: the hope of the Gospel. “Be praying for security; be praying for peace in the midst of some of these government transitions and international relations. Be praying for all missionaries serving in the country– just clarity in what God would have them do–in the midst of the uncertainty.”
