Security

Security: the good, the bad, and the ugly...

One of our biggest questions/concerns in coming to Haiti was about security.

While we have been safe and truly never felt "in danger", Haiti is different than the US. We have had to make some changes since we moved here that I have been wanting to post about, but have not been able to because this blog is public. From the tracker it looks like other people in Haiti are looking at it and you just never know who they are.

So changes-

1- The back wall to our house was only like 6 feet tall so we had to raise it like 3 feet.

2- We added barbed wire around the top of the whole fence.

3- We hired a separate night guard who will be armed as soon as we can get the gun "legally". Apparently in Haiti the constitution gives you the right to bear arms, but the government does not really let people get guns legally so an estimated 80% of weapons on the street are illegal.

4- Our old "night guard" is now going to be here during the day so we will always have a Haitian man on our property.

Why the changes-

1- Basic common sense. While I have no doubt God wants us to here and he will protect us as he sees fit (more on that later), we have to do our part.

2- There is some new construction going on around our house and while the workers have never been anything but nice, the general opinion around here is that Americans are rich and given the situation that a lot of these people are in I do not want to give an unnecessary opportunity to come to our house.

3- Starting around carnival we have been hearing a lot of gunfire around here. I am sure most of it is just kids playing around. But it still a little disheartening to hear while you are trying to sleep

4- We have been learning more about voodoo. It is not good, really not good. It is really evil and whether or not I believe it, they do it and it makes people do and believe crazy things.

5- The changing political climate- The prime minister recently resigned. Basically the government has stopped working now. There are all sorts of scary political rumors going on around here. It makes me again ever grateful for the country I call home. I know it is not without issue, but living here makes me be grateful for the issues we have.

So the good part, we know that we have done and continue to do, all that we can to be safe. This, however, is not what brings peace. As a good friend reminded me and what brings us peace is just remembering Who keeps us here. We are learning a lot about where and who we need to be putting our faith in.

The fence before we raised it.

The wall after, here you can see our banana trees. I hope some get ripe while we are here.

Our new security guy, "Johnny", in his security shack.