The story of my kidnapping ordeal

To the People of God, family, relatives and friends who prayed for me,

On February 4, 2007, I finished the morning message in Dumay. At about 1:20 or 1:30, I, along with another visiting pastor and 3 other church members, was in my car in the area after Roche Blanche. Ahead of us, we saw a Haitian Tap Tap blocking the narrow dirt road. It appeared to be broken down. When I slowed my car down as I approached the vehicle, four heavily armed men jumped out of the vehicle and immediately surrounded my vehicle. They informed us to open our doors or they would shoot us all. They then pushed me to the passenger side of the vehicle and forced the other passengers out of my car to leave with me and my car only. Later they pushed and kicked me to the back seat of the car between two of the four armed men. They drove in a very wild manner and had me to put my head down. After driving for a while, these 4 men delivered me to 11 other men in an area between Croix-des- Bouquets and the Dominican Republic Border. This was a vast empty, thorn covered field. This is where I spent the next 5 days as a victim of kidnapping.

When I arrived there on Sunday afternoon, there was another kidnapped victim there. We were blindfolded and tied back to back together so that we could not see and communicate with each other. That night, late, he was released. I then remained alone with these men. The treatment was very harsh: I spent those sleepless nights on the thorn covered ground in the open air in the woods.

I had only a total of 3 slices of bread and very little water during these days.

I was informed that I would be killed on a daily basis.

At times, my hands and feet were tied tightly.

I was beaten by the gang leader and another man when they got angry. I was forced to walk for miles during these five days to keep changing our location. The thorns penetrated my skin and scalp. For a brief moment, due to exhaustion and dehydration, I fainted. There was no opportunity for a bath or any type of cleansing of my body. However, through it all, I felt the prayers of the Saints. I remained confident that God would deliver me from this situation. I shared the word of God with these men. I prayed for their souls. I told them that I forgave them just like Jesus asked the heavenly Father to forgive those who were piercing his sides on the cross of Calvary, because they did not know what they were doing, and that God was able to change them.  These boys/men smoked marijuana almost 24/7. But some seemed to be softened by the Word of God and stated that they knew that what they were doing was wrong.

The day I was finally released, I walked again for miles/hours. It was so hard on me as now I was exhausted and had very little strength. Three men escorted me to a place in the woods near the pick up point. It was at the foot of a mountain area called Morne Cabrit/Goat Mountain. It was 10:00 p.m. and they left me alone there. The person designated to pick me up was not informed until two hours later where to find me. So, I would walk a little and then fall down for a while. I did this for two hours in hope that I would soon see a familiar face.

Then at approximately 20 minutes after midnight on February 9th, while I was on the ground, I saw a car approaching, it slowed down and my heart leaped. Thank God it was for me. The driver drove quickly to remove me from the area and delivered me to my wife and son.  My physical appearance was frightening that I am thankful that my son was already asleep. I was met at the door by my wife, my nephew, my niece, a couple of my wife’s co-workers, and as well as a couple of my church members who came to be of support to my wife during this long wait. This ordeal had taken its toll on them also. The negotiating process was long and cruel and often uncertain. BUT GOD delivered!

I want to thank all of you that prayed. Also, thank you to those who contributed money to help us meet the ransom amount. I do not question God' purpose in allowing this to happen, and I do thank him for his protection over me. My family and I are presently in Virginia undergoing the proper medical treatment and counseling. I am not sure of our return at this moment as this kidnapping was directed at me. FBI and the Haitian Police are still investigating in an effort to make as many arrests as possible in this case.  I have served God since I was 12 years old and I have never doubted Him. I am thankful for a faith that can and does past all tests that are put before us. Jesus was the ultimate example of a life of a believer and I learned to lean yet-the-more on Him. Again, thank you for your prayers. We continue to ask for your prayers as we are yet dealing with the memories of this ordeal.

Praise the Lord Always,

Nathan Dieudonne