3 Points to Ponder
- Love requires more of us than we sometimes think possible. When evil overwhelms, what is your response?
- Generosity flows from a place of empathy. Where have you seen incredible generosity given despite hard circumstances?
- A little bit of encouragement goes a long way. It can be as simple as a short word, a small gift, or a genuine smile. Who do you need to encourage today, right now?
2 Quotes to Share
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“The best of humanity’s work has come in response to suffering.” – Viktor Frankl
1 Story of Impact
In the pre-dawn hours of March 31, 2025, Mirabalais, a strategically vital town of 200,000 people in Central Haiti, became a scene of terror. The roar of gunfire ripped through the early morning quiet as the ferocious Viv Ansanm gang descended. Some attackers, brazenly wearing red T-shirts emblazoned with names like “Taliban,” first overwhelmed the police station, forcing officers to flee before setting the station ablaze, the acrid smell of black smoke quickly spreading. The attackers then stormed the prison, releasing some 500 inmates. The violence spread throughout town, indiscriminately attacking citizens, burning homes, vehicles, and businesses, and engaging in widespread looting. Left in this violent wake, thousands died, including two nuns, who sought refuge at a neighbor’s house before bullets ripped into the building and anyone in it. Tens of thousands left on foot, fleeing into neighboring communities, including ours in Pignon.
And amidst the tragedy, Many Hands staff and community members started taking people in, offering food, shelter, and whatever aid they could find. One of our leaders took in 50 people. Another 30. And another has 10. Archbishop Mésidor’s desperate plea captures the gravity of the situation: “Here in Haiti, our Lent has become a true Way of the Cross, but we offer it up in communion with the suffering of Christ. Haiti is burning and requires urgent help. Who will come to our aid?” We will. Each of you as People of Impact will, because it is our calling to see the overlooked and forgotten, the lost and the hurting, and be the healing salve when all seems lost. We will aid with our prayers, advocacy, and resources. We don’t know what the overall future holds, but we know what love looks like. And that is how we move forward.
