I don’t know about you, but when I was in school years ago, we were taught about Haiti. I first learned about Haiti through the school lunch program at school. I was taught to be grateful and to eat what is on our plate, because there are people starving in Haiti and other countries.

These last few years, I have learned even more about Haiti through my church. Bridgepointe Community Nazarene Church has a good pastor who came from Haiti. Since he understands the plight of those in needs, he started a church pantry as an outreach in Fargo-Moorhead.

This is just one of the things Bridgepointe Community is doing as an outreach. I will mention the church’s connection with Haiti as well.

Haiti is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. Though it’s still recovering from the 2010 earthquake, many of Haiti’s landmarks dating to the early 19th century remain intact.

The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince.

The official languages are Haitian Creole and French.

Haiti is east of Cuba and Jamaica; and south of The Bahamas.

We all know about Cuba and Fido Castro, a dictator of Cuba, who kept the people there poor and under his thumb.

We also know about The Bahamas as being a hangout for the rich and famous.

The island of Haiti was claimed by Spain after Christopher Columbus discovered it. After the 17th century, the island ceded to France in 1697. The French colonists established sugarcane plantations, worked by enslaved persons brought from Africa.

The Haitians scramble to survive, seeking food, water and safety as gang violence chokes the capital.

The United Nation says deaths rising sharply as gangs vie for power in Haiti; after overtaking the capital a couple months ago.

There is a do not travel to Haiti warning right now. The security situation is volatile. Violent crime is common, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, sexual assault and carjacking.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and one of the poorest in the world. The latest official poverty estimated suggested that over 6 million Haitians lived below the poverty line of US $2.41 per day and more than 2.5 million fell below the extreme poverty line of US $1.12 per day .

Gangs united to overthrow the remainder of the government, releasing more than 4,000 prisoners and causing violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has announced that he will resign once a transitional presidential council has been created. Many families have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety with very few safe places to go.

A long-simmering crisis in Haiti has escalated over the last few weeks, resulting in unprecedented spikes in gang violence which have shut down the country’s airports, disrupted movement of people and goods, and displaced over 362,000 people inside the country, including 33,000 newly displaced.

The Leftist news media here in the United States and the those on the Left says that they shouldn’t have overthrown the capital. The reason for them saying that is because they are so in favor of the corrupt government. They don’t see anything wrong with the government. It goes to show that when you have Socialism government, it leaves the people poor and the government rich and powerful. Anyone who tries to stop them; they go after hard.

What’s going on in Haiti right now is a lesson for us in America to learn. This is why we need to stand against our corrupt government we have in Washington; especially those on the Left. This is why I will continue speaking out against those who wants to destroy America.

Now back to the other connection with Haiti and Bridgepointe Community. Through the Nazarene church and United Hearts for Haiti, we have started a church in our pastor’s home town, where he came from. We also started a technical trade school in that same town as well. People have gone there for a Work & Witness trip to help build the church and school.

Pray for the people of Haiti as they are going through this latest crisis. If you want and can give to help those in Haiti, you can do so through, United Hearts for Haiti. You can even send money in care of Bridgepointe Community Nazarene Church in Moorhead for United Hearts for Haiti. United Hearts for Haiti have had fundraiser at the church, most recently a chili feed.

I’m so glad for the connection I have with Haiti. It helps me understand more than what I was taught back when I was in school. This gives me a heart for mission and a heart for the people of Haiti as well. I stand behind them!

How about you, will you stand behind the people of Haiti in this crisis they are facing right now?

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF Haiti!!