Four ways you can pray for Grace Emmanuel School as a new year attempts to get underway

As the final days of break draw to a close, the students at Grace Emmanuel School aren’t yearning for summer to linger any longer.

“Because of all the grief, I can’t think of anything good that happened to me this vacation,” said Chamaëlle, who will be in 4th grade when school starts on October 7.

After months filled with constant rumors and continued gang attacks, the village where Chamaëlle and her mom live, Cabaret, is now mostly under gang control, making every part of their lives dangerous and distressing.

But Chamaëlle and her mom have nowhere else to go. Her family found out this summer that their application to leave Haiti for another country had been denied.

And so, like many other families remaining in Cabaret, they have learned to live a new life of quiet submission to the “government” put in place by the gangs.

“At the market in Cabaret, gangs walk through the stalls to collect money from the vendors,” said Roger, JiHM’s Director of Operations. “Some have guns, but otherwise the people just know who’s working for the gangs. They hire people from the area to do their work.”

“My mom takes me everywhere she goes now because of the insecurity,” said Chamaëlle, who turned 9 on Saturday.

“God protects us every day, especially on Tuesdays when my mom and I take a motorcycle taxi to sell at a market in Casale. That route is very dangerous.”

Going back to school fills her with excitement, even as it fills her mom with the anxiety of separation.

“I can’t wait for the first day of school,” Chamaëlle said. “I’m eager to see my classmates and my teachers.”

Pray for Grace Emmanuel School

But reopening school is coming with heightened danger this year, especially as gangs inch closer to Arcahaie, where Grace Emmanuel School currently meets.

Some of these obstacles seem insurmountable once again, but we continue to trust that our God can move mountains.

Will you join us in praying?

Though it is constantly under the threat of gang attack, Arcahaie has so far proved to be well protected by its own people. A handful of officers from a special police unit called UDMO are also stationed there.

Last year, the school had to flee on two different occasions because of attempted gang attacks, both of which amounted to nothing but were still terrifying.

When asked about her hopes for the school year, Chamaëlle said, “I hope we don’t have to flee again and can have a good school year.”

Will you pray that for Chamaëlle and her classmates? Pray that gangs would not gain control of any more villages between Cabaret and Arcahaie, but instead leave the area entirely.

Pray for a healthy partnership

After losing the school property in April 2023, the staff of GES found a nearly defunct school in Arcahaie that was willing to share its facilities. In exchange, Grace Emmanuel School would allow the handful of students enrolled there to join into its classes.

Since last fall, enrollment in the other school has continued to grow. By the end of last year, GES was providing an education and free lunch for 75 bonus students.

This summer, the director of that school enrolled 156 students. Financially and practically, GES cannot bear this additional burden. Please pray for a solution to be reached.

Pray for transportation

For years, Grace Emmanuel School has been able to provide free transportation to students with its own bus. Because gangs now control large portions of Cabaret, it is no longer safe to drive the bus or any other JiHM ministry vehicles there. (Because the vehicles are well-known as belonging to the ministry, they are a target for kidnapping/ransom.) This leaves nearly 200 students without a free option to get to school.

To hire private vehicles (“tap-taps”) to make the trip each day to bring kids from Cabaret to and from school is financially unfeasible. Last year JiHM spent about $450 each month to hire just one tap-tap to pick up and drop off in Cabaret, providing transportation for 15-20 kids. To hire tap-taps for 200 students would cost thousands of dollars each month.

Distributing funds to each student to pay their own private fare on a tap-tap every day would cost half as much, but cash distribution is not a safe endeavor at the moment.

Please pray God makes a way for the students to get to school.

Pray for funding

Finally, pray for funding for the school. Though the Haitian Hustle had a phenomenal season, giving in general is still down 25% this year. Even with reduced expenses, there is a $50,000 gap in funding at the moment.

Please pray for a strong final quarter of giving this year so JiHM doesn’t have to cut back services.

Why it matters

Despite the obstacles they face, the staff at Grace Emmanuel School knows the importance of finding a way to stay open for the 350 kids enrolled this year.

“I’m always glad whenever school is able to meet,” said Billy Jean, who teaches high school math. “Teaching is the best way I can contribute to change in my country.”

With the magnified trauma and difficulties of the past few years, the school has become an absolute life line to hundreds of children, providing a sanctuary where the peace of the gospel drowns out the chaos of life outside of the walls, and the only lasting hope for a better life—eternity with Jesus Christ—is proclaimed daily.

Thank you for praying and for giving generously for this work to continue.