NJ Volunteers Robbed At Gunpoint, Tied Up During Service Mission In Haiti
By Pat Ciarrocchi
BURLINGTON, NJ (CBS) – A group went to Haiti to help, but ended up needing help themselves.
Far from home, a local Church mission group was robbed at gunpoint and tied up.
"I opened the door and said 'take me I'm in charge of this mission.'"
Ann Rose St. Juste is one fierce missionary.
"If you're going to kill, kill me. If you're going to whip, whip me. Whatever you have to do, do it to me."
Cracked glass from bullet holes is evidence that a medical mission to Hiati turned horrific last week.
Fourteen volunteers from "All Hands Together," based at local churches in Burlington, never imagined a home invasion at 2:30 in the morning.
The group was five nights into its mission when eight terrorists climbed a fence and unfurled a nightmare.
With guns drawn, Andrew and other men were tied up.
Andrew St. Juste says, "One guy came in and said 'I came in to kill people and take money.'"
Mylika Duga understood the threats in Creole.
"I literally screamed and the first thing I think is go to the room and tell them there's people trying to get in the house. So I'm crawling on the floor."
But it was Ann Rose who commanded the room.
She says, "I was the only one standing there confronting them, talking to them. I told them there's three things you are going to get here; you're going to get Jesus, you're going to get food, you're going to get medication. We have nothing else."
Ultimately, the men left after looting electronics and $1,000 in cash.
Five years after the earthquake, life in Haiti is desperate. Still, the volunteers intend to return, this time with security.
Ann Rose says, "We learned a good lesson. We're not going to stop. The mission continues, but we will protect ourselves."
