From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
HAITI –According to statement from Faith Community Fellowship pastor Mike Ennis, the church youth group on a mission trip to Haiti remains safe and well cared for, but they have not yet left the country.
On Sunday evening, Ennis said the students had been moved to the main campus compound to make it easier to provide supplies and get them closer to the airport.
“The challenge remains not necessarily in available flights but in transporting the students safely to the airport,” Ennis said. “Though we want them to come home as quickly as possible, we want them to do it as safely as possible. The students have never been in danger and are doing well.”
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Ennis said they were investigating a number of options to get the students home as quickly as possible, A meeting is planned for Monday morning to discuss a variety transportation options for the group.
“Haiti is a nation in desperate need of hope and we have been privileged to provide love and encouragement to a number of children this week,” Ennis said. “This current situation, we are looking at as another opportunity to see God do amazing things in our students. Thank you for your encouragement, support and continued prayers.”
The group was scheduled to fly out Saturday before the airport was shut down due to protests from civil unrest in the country.
The protest were triggered when the Commerce Ministry and Economic Ministry issued a joint statement announcing an increase of 38 percent to 51 percent for gasoline, diesel and kerosene. The increase will drive gas prices to near $4 per liter.
Those increases have since been suspended by the Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant who announced the change Saturday night. The announcement caused the protests to subside and some flights resumed on Sunday.
The Trussville Tribune will continue to follow this story and updates as more information becomes available.