By Message Staff
After spending several tense days sheltered in a compound after violent protests broke out in Haiti last weekend, a Louisiana Baptist mission team has made it safely back to the United States.
The team of 35 landed in Miami, Florida, early in the evening on July 10 and caught a connecting flight to New Orleans at 11:15 p.m.
“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to city of Miami,” Louisiana Baptists church planting director James Jenkins told the Baptist Message. “The word relief is just not strong enough to convey my feelings about safely leaving Haiti and returning to America.”
Jenkins said the team left the missionary compound at 6 a.m. and arrived shortly afterward at the airport, where they spent most of the day until their departure at 4:30 p.m.
“Despite the events of the past days, I am convinced that we cannot give up on Haiti,” Jenkins said.
Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana Director of Missions Stan Statham posted on the association’s Facebook page that the team members were in good spirits.
“We want to thank everyone for their prayers and ask you to continue to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters in this time of need in Haiti,” he wrote. “Our team of 35 missionaries has bonded and supported each other in the face of difficulties. To God be the glory!”
The Associated Press reported at least three people were killed in protests July 6, after the Haitian government planned a fuel hike from 38 percent to 51 percent. However, the following day the government scrapped those plans.
