Cape Fear connection to Haiti speaks out about her recent encounter

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — There’s a Cape Fear connection to Haiti. The Executive Director of the non-profit organization Haiti Awake just returned to Wilmington from Haiti. 

WWAY spoke with her Thursday about what she encountered while in Port-au-Prince. 

“We said goodnight on Saturday night, and we said what we have been saying for a while now, ‘we’ll see what tomorrow will bring,’” Haiti Awake Executive Director and Co-founder Becky Graves said. 

Becky Graves with Haiti Awake has traveled to the country as a missionary several times over the past decade. 

In her most recent visit, she was there for only 48 hours before she felt it necessary to head back to the states. 

“The streets were not as busy as they would normally be, but it looked like another day in Port-au-Prince,” Graves said. “On Saturday, we woke up and we didn’t leave the house because we heard that the streets were bad.” 

Graves said she’s unsure what the future holds, including when she will return to Haiti. She normally travels there every month. She said she doesn’t want to return, not because she fears for her safety, but because she doesn’t want to use any of the limited resources people have access to right now. 

“I actually filmed my room where I stay on the way out because I don’t know when, or if, I will see that room again,” Graves said. 

She said people have reached out to her to ask how they can be a helping hand during this difficult time. She said nothing tangible can even be put to use at this time. 

“People and know and feel your prayers. They know that your heart is there with them and if you know someone at our organization, send them an encouraging message, especially our senior staff, it’s hard right now,” Graves said. 

She has a plane ticket to return to Haiti three weeks from now, but she said that trip might not be possible if conditions there worsen.