Mission Possible continues ministry in Haiti, despite roadblocks

The Rev. Herve Pierre, the field leader responsible for Mission Possible's Haitian ministry, told those gathered at the Findlay nonprofit this week that the situation in Haiti involves "gangs everywhere." The nondenominational Christian organization operates 11 churches and nine schools in Haiti, as well as four churches and a school in the Dominican Republic. The nonprofit organization's international headquarters are in Findlay, but Mission Possible has supporters in 40 U.S. states and in Canada. David Rath, Mission Possible's president, said the agency has about 250 employees in Haiti, where they have had a presence since 1979. The employees are Haitian, including Pierre, who addressed a town hall via Zoom from his family's home in Florida. Pierre told attendees that the presence of gangs began before the July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, but has recently been getting worse. He said the gangs are robbing people of money, stealing cars, and kidnapping and killing people. "Everything you have, they can take," he said. "Gangs control almost all the area." Trouble in Haiti Pierre described recently having been stopped in traffic when three men come up to his car, pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him. "They took everything," he said. But, he said, other people in a similar situation were kidnapped, so "I praise God" that they only took his possessions and didn't hurt him. Pierre said a friend of his was recently shot and killed by one of the gangs. The man had gone to the bank to get money, as his children were sick and he wanted to take them to the hospital, but the gang caught up with him when he was on his way home, Pierre said. Economic inflation is also making things difficult. Pierre said the price of a gallon of gasoline is more than 10 times what it was, at about 3,000 gourdes — the equivalent of $35 to $50 in U.S. dollars. The price of food has also more than doubled, Pierre said. The U.S. government is urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti, given the country's deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks. Pierre said a lot of people are leaving the country, but a visa to the neighboring Dominican Republic now costs twice as much as it once did to obtain. Mission Possible operates Christian schools and nutrition programs; trains pastors, teachers, school administrators and other leaders; and provides community wells, medical clinics, disaster relief and other community development. The organization's mission is "equipping the next generation of Christ-centered leaders." Rath said one of Mission Possible's schools had a 10-acre garden behind it, some of which was rented out and some of which gathered food for the schools. Earlier this year, gangs came through and "destroyed everything, burned it … for no reason," he said. Rath said Mission Possible's schools do not need generators, but he knows of hospitals with generators that run on gasoline. Some are conducting "surgery by daylight, flashlights," he said, due to the lack of fuel. Rath noted that, last week, two of the 17 members of an American missionary group that had been kidnapped on Oct. 16 were released. He said sometimes people who are kidnapped get released, and sometimes they are killed. Continuing the mission Pierre said Mission Possible is still doing its best to provide good education, and spiritual and medical care to students. The schools remain open and the children are still attending school. He said Mission Possible's schools are educating the next generation, who might go on to change the country. Rath said the schools are still functioning as normal, for the most part. Occasionally, however, students or teachers may be unable to get to school because there's a roadblock. Rath said he doesn't see what is happening in Haiti as people committing "violence to be violent," so much as that they want change and this is how they are protesting. He encouraged anyone who wants to help to think about filling "the GAP" — that is, to give, to be an advocate, and to pray. He said donations to Mission Possible are sent to Haiti. Leaders are trying to give their employees in Haiti two paychecks at once, so they don't have to go to the bank as frequently, as banks are closed several days a week. Dr. Mark Yoder, president of Mission Possible's board, said the organization's staff are getting paid through banks. Employees get paid in U.S. dollars, not Haitian gourdes, which could vary in value. As for being an advocate, Rath said people from Mission Possible are willing to come speak to church groups, and are trying to get the word out about who they are and what they do. He said that while "we are a Christian organization," that applies to other community groups as well as churches. And, when it comes to prayer, Rath said he has heard Pierre say two things will change Haiti: "The first one is education and the second one is Jesus." Arthurs: 419-427-8494