By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
CROIX DES BOUQUETS, Haiti – Cole Permenter was helping to lead a training conference for 140 Haitian pastors when the large-scale social unrest exploded in Port-Au-Prince late Friday, July 7.
During the next two days, Permenter and the other members of a Louisiana Baptist team heard sporadic gunfire and saw smoke rise in the distance while sheltered inside their secure missionary compound in Croix des Bouquets, on the outskirts of the capital city. But prayers from many around the world and assurance from their leaders kept them at ease in the less-than-ideal circumstances.
“Our excellent leaders, Tommy Middleton, Darrin Badon and Stan Statham, brought the team together for a briefing and began to tell us about what was going on,” said Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist Church in Clinton. “It is because of their leadership our team was able to remain calm and still be eager for what was to come.
“We coveted the prayers of all our brothers and sisters stateside,” continued Permenter, who boarded a return flight back to the U.S. with his team Tuesday, July 10. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that the church was united in their prayers for us.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of messages received telling us people were praying and encouraging us to remember that God is sovereign and all His ways are good,” he said. “These allowed our entire group to have peace in the midst of chaos.
“We stayed in the Word and in prayer throughout the day, and in the midst of it all God drew us closer to Him.”
STRONG START
The team arrived in Haiti, July 6, for a planned six-day mission trip in Croix des Bouquets.
They trained pastors at the conference, started work to build a chapel and conducted coordinated a Vacation Bible School for 250 kids during their second day in the country – and their labors bore much fruit, including a harvest of 20 boys at VBS who professed their faith in Christ.
In the afternoon the social situation changed.
In early July, a 35- person Louisiana Baptist Team came to Haiti on a mission trip, Besides construction and training, the team also coordinated a Vacation Bible School for 250 kids during their second day in the country. Twenty 20 young Haitian boys professed their faith in Christ at the VBS.
HaitiVBS – Twenty boys accepted Christ during a Vacation Bible School led by a team of Louisiana Baptists July 7.
The government announced plans to increase fuel costs from 38 percent to 51 percent, causing a violent reaction among a beleaguered people, and three deaths resulted.
In response, the U.S. State Department issued an alert advising U.S. citizens to shelter in place and avoid the airport unless a ticketed flight had been confirmed. Airline cancellations stranded mission teams from multiple states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina.
UNDAUNTED
Even with the unrest outside the missionary compound, the 35-member Louisiana team joined by about 90 others from Alabama and North Carolina made the most out of the difficult situation. They organized a training session inside the compound for the Southern Baptist pastors stranded there, and spent time in fellowship.
Statham, director of missions for Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, said they also met with one Haitian pastor about starting a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary pastoral ministry certificate program. Leaders hope to hold their first classes this fall.
“When we were discussing the plans, he said, ‘This is my dream,’” Statham said of the pastor, who walked three miles to get to the compound.
POWERED BY PRAYER
Badon, facilities director at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and a team leader, has been to Haiti nearly 30 times since 2010. When the team members sensed the situation turning tense, he said, they turned over their cares to the Lord, and, also took encouragement that others were praying for their safety, too.
“A lot of people let their families and churches know through social media to keep us in their prayers,” he said. “We all had a sense of peace and comfort that God was our refuge and He would get us out safely. Never were we in danger.”
Middleton, whose trip to Haiti was his eighth since 2012, echoed the thought.
“We were getting texts from people I didn’t even think knew we were in Haiti,” he said. “There was a flood of texts and e-mails that was such a tremendous lift for all the team. It let us know in a hurry just how big our Christian family is.”
Louisiana College student Destini Kirkland said the trip reminded her of the need for Christ followers to place their total trust in Jesus. In a Facebook post, Kirkland recounted that home is more than her community of Kolin, but rather is where God and His people can be found.
“A week ago today, I started a trip that would rock my world,” Kirkland wrote after she returned July 11. “That day is known as Independence Day. Today I celebrate that day more than ever — because I could never be more grateful for my country and the freedom I have.
“I have found new meaning in knowing God is my Protector, my Provider, my Rock, my Security, my Anchor, and my Hope,” continued Kirkland, a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive in Alexandria. “This trip will be in the hearts of myself and my 34 teammates. But it’s like I always say, ‘If it’s not an adventure, then what is it?’”
MORE COMMITTED THAN EVER
Statham said no Louisiana team member was threatened with or caught in the crosshairs of gunfire.
“This was in no way directed toward any group other than their government,” Statham said. “Haitians love Americans. They weren’t seeking out any Americans or other group. They were frustrated with their own government.”
Middleton said the leaders of the long-term mission effort are committed to going back.
“The plans already are in motion for next year,” he said. “Things like this shouldn’t deter us from the mission because the Lord has called us to go to places that are difficult. There are people who live in that environment all the time. So it’s our honor to stand with them and if possible to go to them, pray with them and support them.”
