Monday, April 4th, the CEP announced the preliminary results of the presidential and congressional elections. The popular Haitian musician/performer Michel “Sweet Mickey” Martelly came out on top, defeating 70 year old, former first lady, Mme. Mirlande Manigat. In general the population was very happy with the results, knowing that they had indeed overwhelmingly voted for him. The country has stayed relatively calm.

In Grand-Goave, however, there have been difficulties. The congressional race was very heated and very close all along. The incumbent, Marcel Lumerent, lost to his opponent, the 2nd mayor of Grand-Goave, Franck Laporte. This week has been marked with unrest in our little city. Marcel Lumerent supporters blocked the only road that goes from the southern peninsula to the city of Port-au-Prince. The UN, and CIMO (speacial police force from Port-au-Prince, with a reputation for beating any men they find in the street – sometimes women, too) came to unblock the street, only to find it blocked again at a different location. They stayed to patrol the streets, which keeps people at home.

This kind of activity, obviously, interrupts daily life for the people in Grand-Goave. Our office has been closed, schools closed, construction stopped, projects suspended and payrolls held up. We are glad that we finished food distributions PRIOR to this announcement!

Please pray for our city and especially for the candidates, who have the ability to end these activities. Pray for their hearts to be supple, so that they will listen to godly wisdom. After a week in the US, Lex is scheduled to return to Haiti on Monday with a small group from Be Like Brit. It is our desire that the work they have to do next week can move forward as planned.