Travel Plans to Haiti
Working in Haiti is always an adventure. There are unexpected things around every corner. For example, I expected to be writing this note from Haiti! We have shared that we were looking for opportunities to get back into Haiti for the last several months. Flights were booked to head in, only to be postponed and then rescheduled due to conditions within Haiti. Sadly, now the trip was canceled.
The day we were scheduled to fly in was a day the protests in Haiti ramped up. The small airport we were supposed to fly into was closed due to protests. We are so thankful we did not end up in the capital waiting to see when the small commuter planes would resume flights to Les Cayes!
The protests culminated in many roadblocks across the country, and people gathering to march in the streets. Some of the roadblocks were quite impressive!
So what were they protesting? Primarily, they want the current acting Prime Minister to step down. He’s been the sole, unelected government figure since the presidential assassination in June 2021. There have not been any elections since then. And frankly, fair elections would be difficult given the growing gang problem across the country.
What were we planning to do in Haiti?
We are grateful that technology keeps us so well connected to everyone in Haiti. Recent power and internet upgrades are working well. Computers and network equipment are also helping to keep us connected. Work From Home (WFH) can work internationally!
Despite all of the great things technology does for us, it is still our desire to see the kids there in person, to meet with the staff face-to-face, and to see everything first-hand. We also miss Haitian food!
The plan was for the team to help put on an event for children in the Jacmel area that deal with physical challenges and remind them that God loves them and cares for them. That event will still go on without us being there, thanks to our amazing Haitian staff!
In addition to helping with that event and spending time with the children, I had some training planned for the administrative staff, I anticipated visiting with all of our staff, reviewing employment contracts, and updating some computer and network equipment.
Haiti Conditions Now
Things have settled back down across much of Haiti in the last several days. Most of the roads have opened back up and people are able to travel to work and to the markets. The markets continue to be stocked with everything needed to keep our campuses running smoothly, and to provide for all the children and families that we care for. We thank God for His continued provision.
We have shared several times about possible next steps for Haiti. There are still no concrete plans for intervention, but some leaders in Kenya still have a goal to help restore peace in Haiti despite opposition within their own country.
More Good News!
There is always good news to be found wherever we go. The spiritual lives of the children in our care, and families in the communities around our campuses continue to be a priority for us. We have caregivers that love the Lord and share that with the children. We have pastoral staff that meet regularly with the kids and share God’s love with them. And we have other staff that continue to build into the faith journeys of the kids and families we help.
We are excited to share that in January, 7 children from our Grand Goave campus professed their faith publicly and were baptized. Please join us in prayer for the ongoing faith journey of each of them and for all of the lives that we affect across Haiti.
More Travel Plans
We will be visiting Rochester around the end of April. Please ensure that all snow is gone by then! We were reminded of the challenges of winter driving recently with pictures from a traffic camera from 2016! We deal with heavy traffic and very long traffic lights in Florida, but I do not miss driving in the snow.
Grainy traffic camera pictures from a 2016 winter storm in Rochester, New York.
The open house we held at Tom Wahls in Bushnell’s Basin had a great turnout last fall. It was great visiting with so many people, even though it’s only for a short time. We will plan on doing that again. We don’t have firm travel plans yet, but it will be towards the end of April or early May. Watch for event information on the McGarvey Haitian Adventures page on Facebook. And we will also share details in our next update here.
For those who would like more time to catch up, please let us know and we will schedule some time together. If you would like us to share information about the work we do with the Hands and Feet Project with friends, a small group or your church, we are open to that as well. We have lost some faithful supporters recently for a variety of reasons, but we know that God will faithfully provide what is needed to continue the work before us.
Hands and Feet Project News
Did you know that the Hands and Feet Project (HAFP) was started by the Christian music group Audio Adrenaline in 2004? That means they are celebrating 20 years of working in Haiti! It is amazing to consider the impact that the organization has made in several communities in Haiti. The HAFP Facebook and Instagram pages have shared background information and video clips from the founders that are still heavily involved, Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss. If you miss the posts from HAFP, we will share them on our Facebook page as well.
Please also take some time to review the 2023 Hands and Feet Project Impact Report. In this report, you can see the results of your faithful support for us, our ministry, and for the Hands and Feet Project. Thank you for all the prayers, encouragement and financial support that allow us to help further God’s kingdom by caring for the orphans and widows among us, and to help prevent more children from being orphaned or abandoned. It is such a blessing to see so many people that God has moved to help us with the mission He has put before us.
Prayer Requests
- Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti – that they would grow in their faith and love for Jesus as they continue to face daily challenges
- Continued prayers for the people of Haiti to deepen their faith as they seek a path to peace
- Travel safety for HAFP staff and children in Haiti
- Ongoing guidance for the work we do every day to help care for the physical and spiritual needs the people of Haiti
Thank you all for your faithful support of all we do.