Haiti (MNN) — The calm in Haiti following the ballot announcement
for the presidential run-off was short-lived. As Tuesday dawned, crowds were gathering in the streets to demand that President
Rene Preval leave.
Eva DeHart with
For Haiti With Love explains, "His term was up Monday,
and they wanted him out Monday. But he isn't leaving, and the only way they know to
vent their frustration is to take to the streets. So they've taken to the
streets again."
A deciding second round of Haiti's presidential election is
scheduled to be held on March 20 to choose Preval's successor. However, because his 2006 inauguration was
delayed by three months, Preval has decided to stay in office until May 14, and
hand it over to an elected replacement.
DeHart says, "Just keep praying that they'll let go of this
and let the government take its course."
Leaving now could introduce more chaos into the mix, she adds. "You can
kind of understand that the leaders still feel the responsibility of walking
away and leaving the country with no leadership. I don't know what the answers are, so we've just
got to pray that God's will be done."
Initial reports showed just a few hundred protestors
rallying. But as Tuesday wore on, the strife spread out of Port-au-Prince. "In Cap Haitien, they broke one
of the police cars, so it's all over the country again."
The streets near the FHWL clinic have people milling about in a
dangerous mood. Their team is responding
and getting ready for more. "We've got people who live close enough to the
headquarters to be able to walk across the mountain and the highway and keep
the clinic open. This is really important because during the manifestations,
people are getting hurt."
As for safety, DeHart says their clinic has been unmolested
in the past several manifestations of this political upheaval, not only because
people know they are Christians, but also because of more practical reasons. "As
long as you don't ask any questions and you're just witnessing to people, and
attending to their injuries, then they want you there for them."
Philippians 4:6, 7 reads: "Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Similarly, For Haiti's team is praying that they rely on God and His
peace. You can find out more about their programs
here.
