Haiti is currently in chaos. Hundreds of gangs are ravaging the capital of Port Au Prince and the surrounding region. These gangs have continued to gain more control after the power vacuum which opened up after the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in 2021.
Indiscriminate killing, arson, kidnapping, and rape have skyrocketed since then causing more than 200,000 people to flee their homes.
Unelected Ariel Henry replaced Moise after his assassination and is viewed by many as an illegitimate president. Gangs have sought to overthrow the government, overtaking fuel terminals, and police stations.
Unfortunately, young boys are lining up to join the gangs instead of trying to stop them. As of January 2023, it was estimated that Haiti only had 500 men in their army.
Despite all the evil and suffering, there are pockets of light amongst all of the chaos. La Limye, which means "the light", is one of those positive forces for Jesus. Ellen Humerickhouse started the girl's orphanage in Haiti after visiting on a mission trip to Haiti when she was 19 years old.
I was in the same group as Ellen when she went to Haiti for the first time, and I remember how overwhelmed with grief and emotion she was when she saw the conditions of the Haitian people.
Shortly after she was obedient to God's call to go and serve in Haiti. She was able to buy some land but was unsure exactly how God wanted to use her. One day walking up a nearby mountain she encountered some orphans wearing rags and it became clear that God had brought these children along her path for a reason.
Since 2013 she has been able to take 10 young Haitian girls out of the chaos of the streets and provide a safe, nurturing environment for the orphan girls. Along with a safe place, she is able to provide an education for them and teach them life skills. The goal is to eventually be able to teach them a trade so they can provide for themselves when they become adults.
Gnarly Nomad Brand will be donating 50% of all its profits to La Limye's ministry to the orphans with the hope of helping provide for the needs of these 10 girls.
Ellen communicated to me recently about what they are facing and their upcoming major needs. She said,
"We evacuated last year. The gangs are literally taking over everything. A plane got shot yesterday so flights are grounded. Things just keep getting worse and worse. But I stay because of my ten girls. It’s not their fault they have to live this way. But since we moved our expenses are higher. The biggest one is a rental house. We have a perfectly good house down South at the ministry base but it’s too dangerous so we’re having to rent a house up north. Rent is due in April. Another huge need is school fees. Which will be due in July/August. Being forced to relocate was so hard but honestly such a blessing for the girls to get to go to an English school now…but expensive. So, any money raised I would really want to put it towards either of these two desperate needs!!"
Support La Limye Directly on their website by clicking here
Check out a more in-depth interview with Ellen in the video below!