I’ve made many memorable trips to Haiti, but this month’s visit was unforgettable and through the week I became even more encouraged that God supports our efforts. In the midst of civil disruption we experienced God’s provision first-hand.
I was looking forward to the fun of our annual “Camp in a Box.” Within hours of our arrival in Port Au Prince on Friday July 6th, the Haitian government announced a near 50% increase in gasoline prices which resulted in “manifestations”: political demonstrations, fires and looting. We had to cancel our plans to take the kids out of the city. Stores were closed. Roads were closed. The airport was closed. We could not leave the protective walls of Trinity Lodge. The US Embassy told us to “Shelter in Place.” We were safe, but we had no control over our plans. And, if that wasn’t enough, we received warning that tropical storm Beryl, heading in our direction, could develop into a hurricane.
For the next five days we were grounded. But we were grounded in our faith in God and His protection of this ministry.
So we prayed, and many of you prayed, a lot! God provided food, water and shelter for the kids and for us. On Sunday evening, God brought the storm to Haiti, not as a hurricane, but as gentle cooling rain which literally and figuratively cooled the fires. God brought us insight and intelligence from people on the ground in Haiti. God brought us ideas: if we can’t go to camp, perhaps we could bring the camp to us! And God brought us favor: we were able to use the Trinity Lodge facilities and a nearby school, which otherwise would have been booked, for day camp.
I commend the team from Reality L.A. and Revolution Annapolis. They were amazing in their resiliency, faith, and innovation and they still brought joy to the kids! I also want to thank the hundreds and thousands that responded to our updates and joined us in prayer, and Trinity Lodge for taking us in for the week. Finally, the CHI staff did an incredible job of protecting the children.
In the end, it was a life-changing week. I was discouraged at the damage done, the lives lost, and the businesses and jobs that were destroyed. But I was encouraged, that once again, God keeps protecting and confirming the ministry of Child Hope International. Thorough earthquakes, hurricanes, diseases, economic stress and political upheaval, God keeps allowing us to do the hard and messy work of “caring for orphans and widows in their distress” in Haiti.
Written by Jody Giles, Chairman of the Board of Child Hope International