Mark Stockeland

After Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the devastation and suffering in Jeremie were at catastrophic proportions. I’ve never experienced desperation at that level before or since. As the main organization on the ground, myself and team were making frequent trips to the airport to receive and distribute supplies brought in by various international aide organizations. One late afternoon we had loaded our trucks at the airport and were headed back to the compound when we came under attack. A large group of desperate individuals had dragged tree trunks and boulders into the road to block our path and began attacking our caravan that included an escort by the UN and Haitian police. Large rocks, gun shots, and tear gas filled the air around us and collided into our vehicles; we honestly thought we wouldn’t make it home. By the grace of God, we made it back to the compound with minimal injuries, but very shaken. I can only explain it as the Holy Spirit’s compulsion, but the next morning I gathered our team and we loaded our trucks with supplies and drove straight to the scene of the attack. I knocked on the gate and the leader of the assault was staring back at me; the shock on his face was priceless. My team proceeded to unload the supplies we had brought including tarps, food, and other necessities at his feet, while I gave the man a little encouragement along with a not so subtle message that he would never be attacking me or my team ever again. We never had another problem at that intersection. Only God!