Pentecostal Fire In Haiti

Please pray for the peace of Jesus Christ to reign in Haiti as people in Port-au-Prince and several other towns protest against government corruption.

 Please pray for Sharon and John Harbottle and the Methodist Church in Haiti during this tense time in the country.

Sharon and John Harbottle have written to us about their experience on Sunday when the protests began in Port-au-Prince:

“Yes the symbols of Pentecost are wind and fire but we did not want them yesterday.

 We had received word from Yachelle that there would be a march on Sunday coming from town to Petionville  - she had had it on Whatapp.

We contacted Edzaire as I was due to preach at Duplan and the church was doing a farewell for us and a pause cafe /lunch afterwards. We were concerned to get home asap esp by 12. Edzaire said we would finish in time  - but we know Duplan  - not only do they start late - their clock is 10 mins slow but also they worship and sing for 3 hours.

It was a lovely service - oh the singing , the place packed - not a seat to be had, bunched up on benches, children reciting memory verses, choir singing an anthem  and then another in English too for us  - When I feel the Spirit. They did a presentation to us  - speeches and a gift of a clock  - how ironic - with our photos on it and we love you written in creole from the church. Eventually we closed having ditched 2 hymns and a reading   - well there were 17 items on the order of service and more being added and more choruses as we went along.

Into the back room with the stewards and choir for refreshments and time was after 12  - we were concerned.

Suddenly Edzaire said “You must go and take the cake to go.” They packed the leftover food, put it in our hands and we ran out with a box. Circuit Steward Beaubrun waved us out, moving cars and we set off - but tyres had already been burnt at the road end that leads to Duplan. The road was black with scorching. We passed a closed Caribbean supermarket as swiftly as we could but people were out rolling rocks across the road. We dived down the side road past Berthe church because we saw people lining the pavements in readiness and the way to the cemetery was not available. Te march was coming up Route de Delmas..

Though Peggyville and then at Bobbin there was a big fire of tyres with plumes of  black smoke and crowds of people . We turned quickly and backtracked down to Djambala nightclub junction, came up Freres past Point Chaud and then at the road with Peggyville where we would have come out if Bobbin was not blocked. There was debris on the road and one tyre burning but few people. We approached cautiously and a car came out of the side road that leads to the church and as it swerved round the tyre we did the same after it and entered the road he had left. 

We passed our church - steel gates shut and offices and reached our road. Looking right we saw the march on Delmas and police at our junction and we turned left to get to our entrance. Ahead we could see they were putting the tyres, already flaming - dragging them to the gas station to block Delmas 95  from Freres.

We rang Edzaire immediately. We were in at 12.40pm and the adrenaline began to quieten in us. John had  driven well and fast ! Later in the day we saw Rev Gelin who had been preaching at Soisson and he had decided not to take his car but went by moto (motorbike taxi) for speed and convenience.

Needless to say we had a sleep after lunch.

Today has been iffy - no one knows if it is safe or not - a handful of children came to school and teachers who could walk but no cars have been out on the roads. Maxo came and got us fuel and the last gallon of drinking water at the garage. Church office opened but closed at midday. We have, as before, food for a few days so we will see how things go.

However we are safe.

 Much love to you all

 Sharon and John