The recent kidnapping of 17 missionaries from a U.S.-based Christian ministry on assignment in Haiti has the country in shock. "Something's got to be done," says Joan Conn, executive director for Restavek Freedom, a community dedicated to ending child slavery in Haiti. She has been to that country many times and said she will go again. In the wake of a gang kidnapping 12 adults and five children from an American-based Christian ministry, demanding ransom, she described the streets as dangerous and traumatic. Kidnappings happen routinely there, she says, so we asked her why she intends to go back. "Well, I feel called to Haiti," she said. "And so does my husband. And I think that, you know, it doesn't, it defies reason, for sure. It's not reasonable. But I think, oftentimes, you know, God puts you in places that don't seem reasonable at the time. I mean, I am a suburban woman driving around in an armored car."Conn said they have put gates and bars and locks on their doors and windows. They even hired a security company. "So, it's expensive, because of how you're having to pay for all these different things that you never dreamed you would have to pay for," she said. Restavek does much of its work in southern Haiti, but locals say it's too risky to drive there now. And with a recent earthquake, transporting goods to the south is problematic. About a month ago, one of Conn's staff members was kidnapped. "It's every day in Haiti," she said. "Every day, somebody's getting kidnapped there. It's just, I mean, it's an industry."Her staff member was beaten but then released when his family paid ransom money.She spoke about a woman merchant in Haiti who was unable to afford the ransom demanded for her daughter.So, her daughter was killed. With a breakdown of the rule of law and a government unable to find enough purchase for stability, the gangs have seized the moment as equal opportunity kidnappers. "It can be rich or poor," Conn said of kidnapping targets. "It can be a child, it can be an adult. It can be a professional, it can be a street merchant. You know, they don't discriminate against who they kidnap. So, it's a huge problem. I mean, yesterday eight more people were kidnapped in Port-au-Prince." Asked what impact the lawlessness is going to have on mission work there, Conn said a lot of people have already pulled out. One local group with staff on the ground in that country declined to talk, fearing anything they would say could exacerbate the peril for their workers. Those who kidnapped the group of seventeen are reportedly demanding a ransom of $1 million for each captive. The FBI has joined the effort with the U.S. government to try to bring about the safe return of the hostages. Back to those initial words of hers, that something's got to be done."I believe if I were sitting in front of President Biden right now, I'd say, 'Send troops into Haiti,'" she said. "There has to be a rule of law in Haiti and, right now, there is no rule of law. And, without rule of law, you cannot function, and you don't feel safe."She said children are depending on us. One can read a double meaning in that statement. The commitment to mission work, and "us" as in U. S.
The recent kidnapping of 17 missionaries from a U.S.-based Christian ministry on assignment in Haiti has the country in shock.
"Something's got to be done," says Joan Conn, executive director for Restavek Freedom, a community dedicated to ending child slavery in Haiti.
She has been to that country many times and said she will go again.
In the wake of a gang kidnapping 12 adults and five children from an American-based Christian ministry, demanding ransom, she described the streets as dangerous and traumatic.
Kidnappings happen routinely there, she says, so we asked her why she intends to go back.
"Well, I feel called to Haiti," she said. "And so does my husband. And I think that, you know, it doesn't, it defies reason, for sure. It's not reasonable. But I think, oftentimes, you know, God puts you in places that don't seem reasonable at the time. I mean, I am a suburban woman driving around in an armored car."
Conn said they have put gates and bars and locks on their doors and windows.
They even hired a security company.
"So, it's expensive, because of how you're having to pay for all these different things that you never dreamed you would have to pay for," she said.
Restavek does much of its work in southern Haiti, but locals say it's too risky to drive there now.
And with a recent earthquake, transporting goods to the south is problematic.
About a month ago, one of Conn's staff members was kidnapped.
"It's every day in Haiti," she said. "Every day, somebody's getting kidnapped there. It's just, I mean, it's an industry."
Her staff member was beaten but then released when his family paid ransom money.
She spoke about a woman merchant in Haiti who was unable to afford the ransom demanded for her daughter.
So, her daughter was killed.
With a breakdown of the rule of law and a government unable to find enough purchase for stability, the gangs have seized the moment as equal opportunity kidnappers.
"It can be rich or poor," Conn said of kidnapping targets. "It can be a child, it can be an adult. It can be a professional, it can be a street merchant. You know, they don't discriminate against who they kidnap. So, it's a huge problem. I mean, yesterday eight more people were kidnapped in Port-au-Prince."
Asked what impact the lawlessness is going to have on mission work there, Conn said a lot of people have already pulled out.
One local group with staff on the ground in that country declined to talk, fearing anything they would say could exacerbate the peril for their workers.
Those who kidnapped the group of seventeen are reportedly demanding a ransom of $1 million for each captive.
The FBI has joined the effort with the U.S. government to try to bring about the safe return of the hostages.
Back to those initial words of hers, that something's got to be done.
"I believe if I were sitting in front of President Biden right now, I'd say, 'Send troops into Haiti,'" she said. "There has to be a rule of law in Haiti and, right now, there is no rule of law. And, without rule of law, you cannot function, and you don't feel safe."
She said children are depending on us.
One can read a double meaning in that statement.
The commitment to mission work, and "us" as in U. S.
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