Manifestations and trying to make progress

Haiti is not usually on the radar of the main stream media, very few people know of the unrest down here if they don't know someone who lives here.

I try to keep my social media posts positive, I don't want to give the negative actions of a few any more attention.  There have been many days of protests here lately.  Here they are known as manifestations.  They can be peaceful marches with people carrying signs and tree branches or they can be road blocks with whatever debris can be gathered and some burning tires.  We have had all types here in Gonaives.

Port au Prince has all types too, but on a much larger scale and more frequently.  Gonaives has been pretty quiet until recently.

When these occur, the safe thing to do is to stay home.  Most of the time, there is some notice...you just prepare like you do in hurricane season.  Make sure you are stocked up on the essentials of life - drinking water, food, gasoline, propane.  When the manifestations stretch for longer periods of time, it becomes difficult to get supplies.

Earlier in the year, there were lots of manifestations in Port au Prince, but Gonaives was relatively quiet.  But, with problems in Port au Prince, it became difficult to get fuel and food items that are not local.  The power plant in Gonaives shut down most customers due to the inability to get critical supplies from the capital.  The gas stations had no gasoline, black market gas got to around $12 a gallon.

What this all means to us is we have to be more cautious and conservative.  We don't take any unnecessary trips.  The lumber yards don't get supplies from Port, so my work slows down.  We have to spend less money if I can't work.  It is summer now, but when school was in session, it was usually closed for expected manifestations.  We run the generator sparingly, only having a limited supply of fuel.

So, life goes on, just a little slower.  Patience is a prerequisite for life here. If you have been here, you understand exactly what I mean.  Things that you think should not take a long time or have any degree of difficulty become day long or week long endeavors!  I pray daily for patience and He has not let me down.  Patience will get us through this rough period and then we can get back to concentrating on our mission.

What is the mission?
Creating jobs
Training job seekers
Training job providers
Investing in Haiti
Investing in Haitians

Thanks for following us,

Scott, Ruthcher, Victoria, Abby, Christopher