Wisdom needed to deal with danger in Haiti
LANDMARK, Man.—Beauty Out of Ashes (BOA) was established in 2017 through the vision and commitment of Gary and Mavis Unger. The Ungers had spent several years at an orphanage in Haiti when their hearts were touched by the desperate circumstances of young girls forced into domestic slavery in some of the poorest areas of Port au Prince.
Gary and Mavis are part of the Heartland Community Church (HCC); as their vision materialized, they sought a board to oversee this ministry. Harold Barg, Mark Kubanek and Len Barkman from HCC together with three members from other churches, Earl Plett, Candace Bartel and George Goosen, became part of this work.
It did not take long for BOA to be established in a rented home south of the capital Port au Prince. Haitian Social Services was very open to assign young girls into the care of Gary and Mavis and to give them legal guardianship for the girls. After several years in a rented home, a beautiful and functional residence was built.
(Photo supplied)
Twelve young girls have become part of BOA. The transformation they have experienced has been amazing. The girls came out of abject poverty, abuse and domestic slavery. Through the love and care of Gary and Mavis they have become happy and well-adjusted members of the family. They are excellent students and willingly participate in the life of the home. It has been precious to see the girls develop a close relationship with Christ. They are very open in sharing their faith wherever they go.
For many decades Haiti has gone from crisis to crisis: through natural disasters and through a dysfunctional political environment. Life in Haiti has been difficult and often dangerous; gangs seem to be in control in many parts of Haiti. There are endless stories of violence, kidnapping, extortion and murders. Despite this, Gary and Mavis and their family had, for the first number of years, felt quite at ease in moving about the country. All that has changed dramatically within the last year. In a recent letter from Gary he comments that,
“A few years ago our girls had a bright future in Haiti, today that looks very bleak. Many families have been forced to flee their homes because of the gangs, and we’ve had a family of 13 move in with us after being forced out of their home … We live in constant anxiety and fear wondering if we will be next as the gangs are moving into our neighbourhood. We often find bullets lying on our yard from stray shots. Gunshots have become common, and everyone comes in as soon as we hear shooting start. Just over a week ago, there was a gun battle between the police and a gang and many gang members were killed that night. The shooting was all around our compound and the girls were terrified. Mavis brought them all into the hallway with their mattresses … Please continue to pray. This is our family, we love them dearly and for us to leave without the girls is not even an option.”
The dangers are such that the BOA board is looking at options for the family. Three of the older girls are studying out of country. Much wisdom is needed in considering how best to proceed.
Gary and Mavis are praying for a new day to come to Haiti and place their trust in the God who has cared for them these past years. Psalm 37:35–38, “I have seen the wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when I looked again, they were gone. Though I searched for them, I could not find them! Look at those who are honest and good for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.