Community Unity

I live in a tiny community we call Delmas.  The real Delmas is the 'nicer' part of Port-au-Prince.  We took the name from there.  Ours is a nice community.

I was encouraged last night to see the community 'rise up' in the face of a group of suspected thieves.  As the story goes, a group of young men with 'checkered pasts' wassighted in town lately.  We've learned (apparently) that some of them recently passed off bails of flour as if it was bails of cocaine.  They made terrific money and also made some terrific enemies...as you can imagine.  The story says that the deceivers (who are from around here...one was a former student of mine) are back 'home' in order to collect the money they need to get the big dealers off of their backs.  Their targets are houses where foreigners or business people live.   

SO, last night someone spotted them after dark.  He called someone, and a makeshift phone chain (made possible by Digicel - - Thank God for Digicel) was initiated.  Young men were out with clubs moving around and occupying intersections.  It was good to see.  So often people in Haiti close their doors and turn out the lights at the sign of a security risk.  I felt good that some folks came by to check on me and the people at my house.  They lent me two young men for the night as added security.  We finally caught some sleep at around 3:00 or 4:00 this morning. 

Tonight there are plans for an even more organized 'brigade'.  Let's pray that it is an eventless evening.