God’s Provision Amidst Protests in Haiti

By: Michael Poirier, BMA Missionary in Canada and Haiti

My last trip to Haïti was an adventurous one for sure. When I started going to Haiti in 2010, I knew the country was unstable because of the recent devastating earthquake. On one of my trips, I came across a book entitled Expect the Unexpected, which was about the adventures of a long-time missionary. Well, this saying, “expect the unexpected,” has proven true in so many of my trips and my dealings with the Haitian people. This trip was not to be any different, and neither was the Lord, as he has always been faithful and encouraging to me through this ministry. 

The trip started out “routine” with teaching and preparing the men with sound doctrine and encouragements. A few days into my trip I had four men from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Michigan come to visit the work and get a feel for the mission needs here in Haiti. We had some time on our hands, because on the day of their arrival things were starting to heat up in regards to the protests. It was getting hard to travel by vehicle, so we walked to our two ministries that we presently work with. This went reasonably well, and we were able to encourage the pastor and peoples of these two works. 

We adventured out on Saturday morning and went to the “beach,” or shore line, where we held baptisms. After a little while, time had gone by and we needed to get back to the house. On our way back, we came up to a “messy” spot where the protesting was taking place. 

There were burning tires and men ready to shoot or throw large rocks at whomever dared to pass. 

I, along with another preacher named Chris Yager, was in the back of the pick-up in the open air, so we decided to turn back. God is good, because right there where we needed to turn around was the CAM (Christian Aide Mission) campus. This campus is owned by a Mennonite group, and it is the training ground for their native preachers. 

It was too dangerous to continue, and we were graciously encouraged by the CAM administrators to stay the night. We really wanted to get back to our place, but every time we tried to leave, there was just no break in the safety factor on the roads. I was feeling a little pressure from the concern of my fellow Americans, and let me tell you, the Lord heard our pleading to get us back to our home in order to preach Sunday morning. 

We ended up staying the night at the compound with the decision to leave around 5:00 a.m. to get back home. When we awoke and tried the roads, they were worse than the night before. At this point they had a bus blocking the road and it was on fire. But this was no match for the Holy Spirit!

Brother Chris got out his Google Maps, and we headed out, taking every little windy road we could and arriving safely at the house. We took quick showers because we were all full of dust and dirt, and even though we were late for the service (now I get to arrive on “Haitian time”), they were all glad to see us. We preached our hearts out and God blessed. 

Now, my concern was how in the world I would get these guys to the airport the next morning. “Well, Father,” I prayed, “I need another miracle.”

Monday morning came, and this would be the “showdown.” 

We will be needing our great Guide, which is my Father, to get me to the airport without getting shot or any of the other men with me getting hurt. We jumped into the GMC 3500 4×4 pick-up truck and decided that since the main roads were all blocked again, as well as the bridge that we had to cross, we would go by the way of the river! 

So, we went down to the river and it was completely dry, so we went down one side and UP the other side. If you could have seen the height of that wall! Well, let me say that the Holy Spirt pushed us up. We got the visitors to the airport safely. Going home it was another story; but I am relieved at this point that I only have me to be concerned about and my heavenly Father has that under control. I feel blessed.

While in Haiti, I knew of another group from Quebec who served further up the mountain. We tried to keep in contact as best we could, and on Friday morning I got a call from Nathalie (one of the ladies in the group) saying that there was a small window of opportunity to get some gas and water from certain stores. This was good news! 

So I decided to leave and take my chances for the airport. 

I had a ticket for Monday, and I figured I would try to get home before then, but if not, I would stay at the airport until I could fly out. Within five minutes, I was ready to go and headed to the airport.

You know, God’s timing is always best, even if you are not always sure how things will work out. At this time, no roads were open to the airport, but I knew God would help along the way. I just did not know how. We were not on the road five minutes before, coming out of a side street and cutting us off, was a police truck. Not just any police, but the SWAT team! I immediately told my driver to get their attention, and he did.

I got out of the truck and asked them if they could escort me to the airport. I was placed in the back seat with two other officers all decked out in their SWAT gear. 

I felt safe and on my way to another adventure. 

Along the way we came up on two ambushes. I was told firmly to stay in the vehicle as three of the team stepped out and started shooting. There was a street gang there, and they stop people all the time. The team cleared the rocks and boulders off the road and continued down another small street steering clear of all the traps they had put up. 

During this time, the head officer told me that there was absolutely NO WAY I would have made it to the airport without them. I thanked them, and the head of the group told me that if I ever needed them, to just call. They gave me their names cell numbers. In the time it took to get to the airport, I got to know these men a little bit. 

Praise God that I now have four new contacts, not only for protection, but also for witnessing, and hopefully they come to know my Lord in a more intimate way.

Once I finally get to the airport, I had no wi-fi and no clear internet service. It was 4 p.m. on Friday at the time. My original plane ticket was for the following week on Wednesday, then it changed to Monday, and now here I am. The person from the mountain had purchased a ticket for me to go back home, but I had no way of knowing any of the information I needed in order to get on the plane. What do Ido? 

I looked at the enormous line for Delta Airlines and the others. As I prayed, my eyes drifted over to Jet Blue airlines, and there were no people fighting for a spot. I went to the counter and asked where their flights went. He told me that the flight was headed to Fort Lauderdale. 

I asked if I could buy a ticket, and I purchased one for $230. 

I knew that once I got to the United States I could get home from there, and sure enough my wife was able to obtain a ticket to Montreal the next day. She drove the 3.5 hours to pick me up. We were very happy, but I was totally exhausted for sure.

All of this is to say that GOD IS GOOD! It’s one thing to say it, but when you have seen it and lived it, you can really appreciate this truth.The Lord gave me these verses as a reminder to trust him: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”