Pray for Hopeless Haiti

Whenever we think about Haiti, the word' hopelessness' comes to mind. Very few people see any hope in that country. No matter how much outside help this country receives, nothing changes. No matter who the next leader is, it is impossible to end corruption and injustice that have persisted for a long time. I remember the words of Pastor Martin Jovan, whom I met when I first visited Haiti in 1991. He said that the number of Haitian doctors who have gone to Montreal, Canada, and Miami, USA, is greater than the number of doctors practicing in Haiti and that everyone was leaving the country. That was already 30 years ago, and the brain drain has continued to this day. Mobs and gangs now rule the country. These thugs even assassinated their last president. People live in terror.    

Recently, the UN Security Council resolved to send a multinational police force to stop the tyranny of gangs and restore security. The United States promised the necessary financial support. Kenya is the first to respond to the challenge, promising to send 1,000 police officers, while other countries are also considering it. However, there is a lot of controversy within Kenya about sending the personnel, and at this time, no one is certain if they will be dispatched. The problem is safety. Even the police may not contain these gang members, especially when they do not speak Creole. We also know that the gang will not give up their position easily. 

The Dominican Republic is Haiti's next door. It suffers every day from an influx of Haitian refugees. They are building a high wall to prevent people from crossing over, but it is not easy to contain Haitians looking for a better life. Currently, about 500,000 people are said to be illegal immigrants, but the actual number is much higher. According to the Washington Post, the Dominican Republic government deported 170,000 people last year alone. It's a shame that children born in Haiti have no future. 

80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is under the control of gangs. We must pray for this country. Pray that the UN Security Council's resolution will work. There are many churches in Haiti where pastors and church leaders sometimes become targets of gangs. Let us pray that Haitian believers will boldly praise God, stand firm in their positions, and practice justice. 

Blessings, 

Pastor Minho Song