KKH Friends and Family,
This past Friday, Kingdom Kids Home, our children's home with 16 children in Bon Repos, Haiti, was attacked by a gang that has been invading the Bon Repos area. Let me start by saying by the grace of God and the vigilant work of our KKH security guards, no one was hurt, everyone is alive, and everyone is okay! God truly had his hand of protection on our family and house and the attack could have been much, much worse.
At 2:30am on Friday morning, Robinson, our Orphanage Director, left me a voice message terrified, crying out for help and telling me to pray because the house was under attack. He said, "Sister, help! The house is under attack and there are a lot of bullets shooting at us right now. Please pray God protects us! I'm so scared, please pray sister!"
Our two night shift security guards fought off the gang that had somewhere from 6-8 men. The gun fight lasted for about 15 minutes. The gang was trying to break through our front gate, but between the gun fight with our security guards shooting down from the roof and the three dogs we have at KKH going crazy, they eventually gave up and left. They never got through our front gate thanks to our courageous security guards and God's hand of protection. Robinson told me that when he finally got down to all our children once the fight was over (he and his family live in an apartment space above the orphanage and our kids and house nannies sleep on the main level) he found them all crying and praying by their beds, crying out for God's protection, and for God to save them.
Turns out, our house was attacked by a gang that is moving into the Bon Repos area and one that has grown to be quite large. The Haitian Police Officer who came to our house the next day to file the report told Robinson that our security guards did an incredible job fending off the gang. He said this gang has been breaking into people's houses in the area, killing the adults who live there, kidnapping children, raping women, and taking everything in people's houses. He said three nights before, this same gang broke into a house a few blocks from the orphanage. They took everything in the house, killed the man who lived there, and raped his wife. The officer told Robinson he was sorry, but said there was really nothing more the cops could do to help. Situations like this are happening daily in Haiti and right now, the gangs unfortunately out number the police force. He said they need outside help in order to solve the gang violence in Haiti.
Now, I know this isn't a happy update, but this is the reality of what is happening every day in Haiti and it isn't an issue that's hitting close to home anymore...it did hit our home. Our kids and staff at KKH are traumatized and I wish with all my heart I could be there in person to give each of them a hug right now.
I cannot stop continuously thanking God for His hand of protection on our house and all our family in Haiti. It could have been much, much worse. I am writing this email to let you know that Kingdom Kids Homes and even on a larger scale, the entire nation of Haiti, need your support and prayers more than ever right now.
HOW YOU CAN HELP KKH & HAITI:
During this tough time, there are a few specific, immediate ways you can support us:
1. PRAY
Please join us in praying that God continues to keep all our staff, kids, properties, and families in Haiti safe. Pray specifically for God to bring comfort and peace to all our children and staff at Kingdom Kids Home as they are dealing with the after effects of experiencing trauma. Pray that Haiti gets the support it needs to fight against that gangs that are overtaking the nation.
2. GIVE TO AN IMMEDIATE, SPECIFIC NEED
Here are some specific items we need to purchase immediately after the attack to help our house and to help our staff with the security situation:
1. Repairs the latch on locks on the gate at the house: $350.00
2. More Ammunition for our Security Team: $500.00
3. Hiring a 3rd security guard for the night shift at KKH: $1,800.00 pays his salary for a year
To give to one of these specific needs, you can click the button below that says, "Give A One Time Gift" and write what you are giving towards in the Gift Type box. You can also write "Most Needed" to give to whatever the greatest need is at this time.
Again, we are so thankful to have such an incredible team in Haiti who are committed to protecting our children and ministering to them everyday during times of struggle. Join us in praying for God's provision and protection and they continue to minister to the next generation daily! Times are not easy, but we press on and we know God is going to continue to go before us, just as He always does.
Thank you for your support and prayers,
Kristie Roukounakis
Founder & Executive Director
Kingdom Kids Homes