PIGNON, Haiti — Over the last decade, Christi Gabhart and her husband Craig have built a new life in Haiti, leaving their home town of Spencer, Iowa, to serve the nation’s people with Many Hands for Haiti.
The mission-based service group is based in Pella, but the Gabharts oversee 120 Haitian staff members that run programs and manage operations for 500 local families.
“We can't change the status of things in leadership of the country, but we can assist real people that have real needs that want to just provide for their family," Gabhart told Local 5.
The couple live in Pignon, about 70 miles north of the country’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, where gang violence has escalated, trapping hundreds of Americans.
“We live far enough away that we aren't experiencing the direct danger, but it's definitely affecting the entire country... [the] supply of necessary food items, gas supply, has been hindered," Gabhart said.
In recent days, armed gangs have torn through two neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, invading homes and leaving at least a dozen people dead, according to ABC. The uprising was preceded by an internationally-backed change to Haiti's government that some Haitian political parties have rejected.
Dozens of American citizens have been airlifted out of the country in the last week by the U.S. State Department after being urged to leave by the government, including the Gabharts.
The pair and one other Iowa couple were hesitant to leave, worrying about the people of Haiti and their safety.
“It just felt like, why is it that we can do this and this could take place for us, but there are so many people that are still just trying to survive until tomorrow?" Gabhart said.
Last Wednesday, the group left home and traveled 35 miles to Ouanaminthe, located along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. They felt it was the best and safest way to find a flight home.
"The same day we successfully crossed, there was some violence at the border, and they closed the border completely for the rest of that day," Gabhart told Local 5. "So we really feel that this was all just laid out very well, we were just very thankful."
After crossing safely, the four Iowans caught a flight out of the Dominic Republic, and are now back home safe.
Since last June, the government has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for U.S. citizens. But as soon as travel to the country is safe, the Gabharts plan to return and continue their work.
“It might seem foolish to think that we want to go back to that place, but it is where we feel called to serve," Gabhart said. "It's our home."