Running for their lives: Haitian family finds sanctuary in Decatur

Dec. 16—For four years, Josué and Julie Lamy did not leave their house at night. For four years, they moved cautiously around Port-au-Prince, Haiti, constantly on the lookout for gangs. For four years, the gunfire inched closer to their home.

In fear for their lives, the Lamys, with their then 5-year-old son Johensly and 5-month-old daughter Johëlie, boarded an airplane to the United States. On July 1, they arrived at their new home at Decatur's City Church.

"We had been living in fear for so long that the first two weeks we were here, I kept touching myself to make sure this wasn't a dream. We couldn't believe we were in the States. We couldn't believe that we could breathe now. We couldn't believe we were safe," Josué said.

That safety came thanks to Dr. Don Beach and Susan Beach of Moulton.

"We are so thankful to finally have Josué, Julie and the family here and safe. My wife and I have been working on this for a long time," Don Beach said.

The connection between the Beaches and Josué dates back to 2012, when the Moulton couple traveled to Haiti on a medical mission trip aimed at providing basic health care to a country still reeling from the 2010 earthquake that killed approximately 220,000 people.

"There was a typhoid epidemic because people had been living in tent cities," Beach said. "I speak several languages, but I needed a translator out in the bush. Josué (who speaks Spanish, French and English) was my translator. I think me being with him was a God thing. He was my translator, yes, but there was something more between us."

Before the Beaches left, they left their backpacks with Josué.

"I remember sitting in the balcony with them and them giving me their backpacks. I felt so blessed because I didn't have a backpack. I told them I will never forget you and you will always be in my heart," Josué said.

Through Facebook messages and FaceTime calls, Josué and the Beaches remained in touch. From 1,400 miles away, the Beaches celebrated when Josué and Julie got married in 2016 and when their son, Johensly, was born.

In 2018, messages from Josué and Julia darkened as they talked about the increasing gang presence. In 2021, the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise caused more turmoil in the Caribbean nation.

"At first, we didn't feel so affected by the violence because it was two hours from us, but it got worse and worse and got to the area we lived," Josué said.

Gangs currently control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince. According to the United Nations, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, more than 2,4000 people were killed and more than 950 were kidnapped. More than 200,000 Haitians have been displaced from their homes because of the violence.

Eventually, the neighborhood where the Lamys lived was dubbed a "red zone," meaning the police would not respond to calls in the area.

"If something happened, we had to run for our lives. No one was coming to help. We became a target of the gangs so we moved to a mission house," Josué said. "That was only 15 minutes from where our home was. When Julia's sister was almost kidnapped near there, the police told us to pack our things and get out because the gangs would be back."

The Lamys believe they became a target of the gangs because of their connection to a white American missionary.

"Having a white person with you normally means the gangs think there is money there. They will often kidnap someone with that group and hold them for ransom," said Devin Hudson, pastor of City Church of Decatur, who has been following the Lamys journey for several years.

After fleeing, the Lamys found refuge in a two-room clinic with more than a dozen other people. After a week and a half, the Lamys and the other individuals occupying the clinic moved to a three-bedroom apartment.

In north Alabama, Don and Susan Beach kept City Church apprised of the danger the Lamys faced.

"Susan is very loving and outgoing. When she gets her heart attached to something, she is all in. She kept an ongoing burden and concern for the Lamys. As we realized the danger they were in, we as a church asked what can we do to help," Hudson said. "We knew we needed to get them out of there."

The Lamys decided to leave Haiti after a barrage of gunfire occurred near their home.

"Julie and I were coming home from church and there was shooting everywhere. We couldn't get home. Joey was at home. We needed to know how he was, but we couldn't go home. We knew it was time to leave," Josué said.

Josué learned of a humanitarian program, which allows individuals from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, to seek asylum in the United States for two years. To be eligible for the program, the Lamys needed a sponsor in the United States. Josué sent a link explaining the program to the Beaches.

"Susan was very goal-oriented and driven. She was ready to get them over here and did everything in her power to make it happen," Don Beach said. "I'll never forget calling Josué and telling him, 'It's really going to happen.' He said, 'Oh my, I'm going to have to buy a suitcase.'"

City Church raised money to pay for airplane tickets from Haiti to Miami for Josué, Julie, Johensly, who they call Joey, and Johelie, who they call Baby Faith. The church also provided the family with an apartment.

"Before we moved into this building, Grace Baptist was here. They had a school with apartments for teachers in the back. We never knew what to do with those apartments until Josué and Julie came," Hudson said.

To help with the family's transition, members of the church helped secure Josué a work permit and a driver's license and the Beaches bought the family a car.

Along with the physical challenges of moving, the family has experienced mental and emotional challenges.

Johensly, who witnessed a killing in Haiti, sometimes hides under the bed, wondering if he is still in danger.

"When they had an active shooter drill at school, that put a lot of fear in him because he thought he was away from the bad guys," Hudson said.

"He asked me if the bad guys were still after us," Josué said. "One time an ambulance drove by with sirens and he said, 'Daddy, are we still in danger?' It is the same for Julie. At night, she double checks the doors."

Despite finding sanctuary in Decatur, Josué and Julie Lamy's hearts and minds remain centered on Haiti. Since they left, two people from their church have been kidnapped and released and gang members invaded the church during a Sunday morning worship service and robbed the congregants.

"We were helping others in Haiti. We were helping families and finding food for them. We loved what we did, but we had to leave because we were living in fear," said Josué, who served as a campus pastor in Port-au-Prince and with ministry groups.

For 34-year-old Josué and 29-year-old Julie, leaving the country where they were born and raised was not an easy decision.

"Haiti is our home. It is where I was called to minister to," Josué said. "We strongly believe that one day God will bring change to Haiti and we will be able to do ministry in Haiti again. That is my prayer."

City Church is currently raising money to bring Julie's sister, her sister's husband, their 2-year-old child, another sister and a cousin to the United States.

— cgodbey@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2441. Twitter @DecaturLiving.