Two Alabama youth groups stuck in Haiti because of violent protests in the country anticipate returning home tomorrow afternoon or by mid-week at the latest. Both teams are safe and well cared for, according to team leaders.
Patrick Martin, pastor of First Baptist Church, Russellville, is among the 14-member missions team from his church who spent last week working in Jacmel, Haiti.
“We are currently scheduled for a Delta Airlines flight for Tuesday afternoon,” Martin wrote on the church Facebook page this morning (July 9). “We’re working to be flown on a smaller aircraft directly (from Jacmel) into PAP (Port-au-Prince) International Airport, so we can avoid the protests going on outside the airport. We believe this option presents the fewest questions marks in regard to safety.
“We are also working on alternative options, should the Tuesday flight not work for us,” he noted.
Airlines began canceling flights to the capital city of Port-au-Prince on July 7 as civil unrest escalated over a government-ordered spike in gas prices. At least three people have died as angry crowds have attacked luxury hotels and businesses owned by high-profile Haitians, calling for President Jovenel Moïse to pull back the gas hikes or resign.
In the midst of the unrest, U.S. officials instructed tourists and missions workers to shelter in place.
Other teams including a youth group from Faith Community Church in Trussville with more than 30 members also are stranded in the Caribbean nation.
Faith Community Church leaders posted on the church’s Facebook page on July 8: “Haiti is a nation in desperate need of hope and we have been privileged to provide love and encouragement to a number of children this week. This current situation, we are looking at as another opportunity to see God do amazing things in our students!” (TAB)
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