Photo: RICARDO ARDUENGO / AFP / Getty Images
The last 12 missionaries who remained cau tive in Haiti executed a daring escape plan to free themselves from their captors, after God sent them a sign , officials from the Christian Aid Ministries organization said at a news conference Monday.
The last group of captives, a married couple Four single men, two women and four children, including a baby and a three-year-old boy, had agreed that they would try to escape if they received a sign from God, said Deston Showalter, a spokeswoman for the group.
On two occasions, he said that the group received divine signs to stay still, but after receiving a signal to flee, they sneaked under the cover of dusk following a message on 15 from December.
“Sometimes they felt that God was preparing a way for them, ”Showalter said. “God was leading them.”
The hostages prepared for their great escape by putting on their shoes and packing water on their clothes.
They left the small room of 25 x 30 cm where they were being held with guards around them and headed for a mountain in the distance.
The group managed to reach that site safely and the Coast Guard airlifted them to Florida , where they were reunited with other hostages, after two months of captivity.
All are expected to reunite with their families on Tuesday, he said.
Since his return to the United States, “all the hostages seem to be reasonably well,” he said Monday , David Troyer, director of Christian Aid Ministries.
The 17 Christian missionaries were kidnapped by the gang 400 Mawozo, after visiting a local orphanage in Port-au-Prince on 16 October.
The group, which consisted of members of Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities, included 16 US citizens and one Canadian.
Five of those abducted were children.
Haitian gang leader Wilson Joseph threatened to kill the hostages, demanding $ 1 million for each.
On 21, two hostages were released, followed by three plus the December 3.
At the press conference, Showalter showed photos of the 12 adults and five children taken by the Haitian gang, including a photo showing a smiling girl from 10 months and a 3-year-old reading a book.
Said the captors seemed to have taken good care of the children.
Showalter said he has spoken with the hostages who appear to be in a good mood and whom he called “very resistant.” He said the group’s faith has helped them get through difficult times.
While in captivity, the group spent their days praying and singing, he said .
They were allowed to go out every day.
They were fed Haitian food regularly, such as spaghetti and half a boiled egg for breakfast , rice and beans for dinner.
On Thanksgiving, they were fed Haitian stew.
While adults sometimes hungry, the captors always provided plenty of baby food.
“Babies are precious to everyone,” he said, adding that guards enjoyed playing with the baby.
They also had access to basic hygiene items such as toothbrushes and soap.
While they remained uncomfortable in the heat r humid Caribbean and some children experienced some illnesses, they were never physically abused.
Showalter said that the group has decided to forgive their captors.
” In his mind, the real hostages are those who took them, “he said. “Our prayer is that the kidnappers be transformed. We choose to extend forgiveness to them. We would love for you to become brothers in Christ. ”
The Christian organization has worked in Haiti for more than three decades, but will re-examine its security protocols for future missions.
“We can’t abandon them in their greatest time of need,” Troyer said. “We want Haitians to prosper economically and spiritually.”
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