When we say that Haiti is in crisis and that families are facing unimaginable hardships, it really is hard to imagine. If you traveled to Haiti with World Wide Village over the last 10 years you probably met Reggie. He is a beloved translator and works in the sponsorship program.
15 months ago, Reggie was living with his wife and two children in Williamson, Haiti. Reggie was spending his days working with the World Wide Village Sponsorship Program and his wife was selling cold juice and soda from their home. His two children were attending school each day.
Then everything changed. In September of 2023, a gang from the mountains raided the northern area of Williamson. Reggie and his family fled their home with only what they could carry and escaped unharmed to the WWV guesthouse. They lived in the guesthouse for several months until he could find a new home to rent. It was important to find a home that was far enough away from Williamson to be safe, but still close enough that his children could attend school and he could continue working for World Wide Village.
The time Reggie and his family spent in their rented home in 2023 was not easy. Because it was not safe to return to their home in Williamson, they lived with very little. You helped provide rent and the essentials while they were displaced. During this time, gang violence would occasionally erupt, which prevented Reggie and his neighbors from returning home. The roads were unsafe to travel north or south and prices for necessities soared. Reggie’s family spent the year unsettled and wondering when safety would return to their community.
Then late in October of 2024, major violence hit once again. This time two gangs combined forces and attacked from the north and from the south. As panic ensued, many families fled by boat to La Gonave – an island just off the coast of Haiti.
At this time, Reggie made the difficult decision to flee by boat with his wife and children. Their hearts pounded in their chest as they made the journey by sea, knowing that many Haitians have died at sea on unstable boats.
Once in La Gonave, Reggie served others who had fled. He helped World Wide Village provide food packs to families who were living displaced and helped sponsored students start school in La Gonave who did not plan to return to Luly. He made the best of a desperate situation, but life was not easy. His kids were out of school, his wife was out of work, and they didn’t know what the future would hold.
When it was finally safe for Reggie and his family to return to Luly in December, they boarded a boat to head home. The boat was loaded with more than 50 men, women, children, and even livestock. Along with their belongings, Reggie carried money for rent for the upcoming year and his monthly salary from World Wide Village. He would be prepared when they arrived in Luly.
Then the unthinkable happened. While the large boat headed toward Luly, it was hijacked by gang members in motorboats. The bandits boarded the boat and stole everything. The bandits also took the two motors and left the boat to drift at sea over night. Thankfully, the captain of the boat was able to use the sails to eventually direct the boat back to land and everyone made it to safety.
This was a terrible experience for Reggie, his wife, and his young children. They lost so much, but we are grateful their lives were spared. Since then, many boats have been hijacked as families have tried to return to Luly from La Gonave. Gangs continue to terrorize the innocent people of Haiti. The senseless theft, violence, and even death is nearly impossible to understand. Yet we know that when people turn to violence, often it’s because they feel that there is no other solution to their problems.
Today, join us in praying and ask God to intervene in Haiti.
Lord, where there is a history of pain, we ask for You to bring forgiveness. Where there is injustice, we ask for You to bring fairness and a just solution. Where there are differences, we ask for You to bring reconciliation. Where there is not enough resources or opportunities, we ask for You to provide. Psalm 46:6 “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts his voice, the earth melts.”
Thanks to you, Reggie and his family received help replacing his monthly salary and rent payment. His wife also received a microgrant to re-start her business and Reggie’s children are now back in school. Thank you for making this possible! If you would like to share an encouraging note with Reggie or our other staff members, please send notes to Kim Anderson at: kanderson@worldwidevillage.org.
Thank you for supporting and praying for our WWV staff members in Haiti. They are living through extremely difficult times, but they are blessed because of you.