Urgent prayer request as gangs control areas of Haiti's capital

The situation in Haiti is worsening as gangs take control of the capital city and simple access to food and water is becoming more difficult making the conditions for disease more prevelant.

"The situation in Haiti has deteriorated dramatically. I cannot emphasize more clearly, Haiti is in a humanitarian crises more critical than anyone can remember. The gangs now control at least 40% of the city of Port au Prince and have serious influence over the rest of the city as well as the provinces. This has been a problem for at least the past four years but is reaching proportions beyond comprehension." writes David Draeger, Eglise Methodiste d’ Haiti, Mission Volunteer Coordinator.  Read his full letter here including a map of where the gangs are based around the city.

"The gangs continue to receive financial aid from unknown sources. Whether the gang support is from within Haiti or originates from foreign entities is unknown, but the gangs continue to grow with impunity.  The only solution to Haiti’s short-term problems with violence and unrest is to the gangs to lose their power.

The only solution to Haiti’s long term social, political and economic problem is for there to be a stable government and a stable economy. This is something that Haiti has not seen in her more than 200-year history. There are many voices calling for foreign intervention to establish stability.  Foreign intervention may work in the short-term but unless an internal Haitian driven solution is found, it will only be short-term.

Pray for the country of Haiti and the people of Haiti. The situation here is desperate and people are dying."

Please pray for Haiti with Sandra Lopez, the Partnership Coordinator for the Americas 

A PRAYER FOR HAITI: 

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV) 

Dear Lord, 

We recognise that the situation seems less than hopeful in Haiti right now. We lament and cry alongside our brothers and sisters there that are facing hunger and danger. We think of our Methodist brothers and sisters who continue to serve you and their communities faithfully, despite such dire circumstances. 

Yet we know that your word says that your promise to the nation of Haiti is that you have good plans for its future, including plans for its welfare and plans for a hopeful future. 

We pray that at this time, your people will cling to your promise and to you until they see it fulfilled. 

We thank you for the strength and faith for better days of the Haitian people. 

We pray that you give Haiti's political leaders the wisdom to know how to weaken the strength of the many gangs who are controlling the country. We pray that you change the hearts of gang leaders and members and that they will become contributors to Haiti society and cease criminal, violent activity. We pray that they would come to know Jesus, that their hearts would be radically changed and that they would start serving God and their community. 

We pray that the solution to Haiti's security and food security issues would come from within the Haitian people. We pray that any international support would be led by Haitians for Haitians so that there would be long lasting peace, political, social and economic stability. 

We pray especially for our Methodist partners at this time, the Haiti District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. We pray that you would strengthen them and fill them with hope, that they would continue to be faithful witnesses of your love for Haiti. 

In Jesus' name we pray. 

Amen.