Maysville Presbyterian

Update from Suzette Goss-Geffrard, a missionary in Haiti who came to FPC Maysville to preach and lead adult education one week, during the tenure of Rev. Laurie McKnight dated 8-26-21

Dear Family and Friends,

What a month!! I feel like I am living through a James Bond Movie with: Political intrigue, assassination, organized crime, kidnappings, natural disasters...

Willys and I are presently in Germantown, Maryland with our son, Darryl. We were extracted from Haiti one week after the President of Haiti, Moise Jovenel, was assassinated. Darryl had traveled to Haiti with me after my extended stay in the U.S for some medical follow-up. Darryl was planning to stay only 10 days to visit with family and friends in Haiti. We traveled to the north. to show Darryl the community we have been working in and supporting as a family project in hopes of retiring there. We have built a little cottage there for our visits and we work with a small struggling church and school. The area has had little Christian intervention prior to this small church. In fact, one of our neighbors is an aging witch doctor who has been welcoming of our open expressions of faith. Early in the morning (4:00 am) of the day we were planning to drive back to the capital city a close friend called us with the news of the president's death and warned us to "stay off" the roads.

Water Mission International wanted us out of Haiti as soon as possible because it was so unclear as to what would happen next. The country has been unstable politically for some time and the violence was on the increase with the rise of kidnappings and brutality. Since Willys had been kidnapped at gunpoint over a year and a half ago and there were threats of extortion the organization did not want the risk of leaving us there in such uncertainty.. Unfortunately, anyone in leadership positions, including pastors, priests, and directors of organizations with relationships with foreign donors are considered "soft targets''. In fact, a dear friend of ours who worked in Haiti for over 30 years was kidnapped and held for an extremely high ransom. She and her husband consider themselves "tentmaking" Christians committed to the development of Haiti. She was held for a week as her husband begged, pleaded and negotiated for a ransom he could pay. It was terrifying. She was finally released and left on a dark street corner at 11pm. I want to thank the many of you for praying with us through this awful situation. We are still dealing with some mixed emotions.

There are armed gangs controlling major portions of the capital. There are four so-called gang groups that are purported to be located in the surrounding area where the Haiti Water Mission office is located. The Haitian police are no match for these heavily armed gangs and are even often corrupted by them. It is difficult to know who can be trusted in these crisis situations. We can only trust in our Lord God Almighty.

There are days however that I want to cry out like Habakkuk:

"How long, O Lord, must I (Haiti) call out for help,

but you do not listen? "

Or cry out to you, “violence!!"

But you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.. (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

My heart is breaking for Haiti or as my friend Ayanna says:" Haiti just can't catch a break!" because in addition to the political instability, another earthquake of 7.2 on the Richter scale hit the southern peninsula. Several of our friends and colleagues lost their homes and are sleeping on the streets or open yards for fear of the aftershocks. Exactly one week later Hurricane Grace brought damaging winds and dumped rainy flood waters over the same area. With the present new virtual work environments, Willys has been able to continue to work. He has been leading his Haiti team in a relief response to provide clean water in Les Cayes. Fortunately, since he previously worked in that city he was able to set up some critical connections in orderto respond quickly. Additionally, he has been meeting almost daily with the Water Mission office team in South Carolina. Together, they are making the decision as to when Willys will be returning to the field. It

looks like it may be within a couple of weeks.

 ou are all precious to us and have seen us through some challenging times over the last few years. We continue to count on your prayer support with the secure knowledge that without them where would we be? The power of prayer that your faithful commitment to us has been a mighty testimony for us. As you pray for the

things I have already shared in this update, please add a prayer for wisdom and clarity as we must make decisions about our future. I once saw a bumper sticker that read: “Growing old is not for sissies.”

This year Willys and I are in our 66th year. We have been blessed with 34 years of marriage primarily spent engaged in international ministry. We are seeking our Lord’s guidance through prayer, wisdom and guidance from family and friends. Together we know that we can discern what is next. It is such a comfort to be a part of the body of Christ!

Sincerely,

Suzette & Willys

P. S. Our U.S. contact info it: 18041 Cottage Garden Dr.; Germantown, MD 20874 (301-919-0050)

Herding for Hope

1st Annual Herding for Hope: Stock Dog Trial Benefiting Hospice of Hope. October 23rd and 24th 2021. Located at 4181 US 62, Maysville, KY. This is a charity event with all proceeds benefiting Hospice of Hope.