Haiti….what a unique place, country, and people. When I got here I wasn’t sure what to
expect. Would it be the same as I had
left a year and a half ago? Would it be
a lot worse? Would the people be
devastated? Would there be any hope?
A little Haitian history: When Haiti was fighting for its independence from French rule, the
leaders made a pact to practice and worship the gods of voodoo for 200 years if
they were granted freedom. They won
their freedom physically but became slaves to a dark spiritual power. The 200 years ended in 2004 with the
governing body deciding to renew the covenant for another 5 years. This ended in late 2009 with church pastors
from across the nation praying that God would shake Haiti and loosen the chains
that had held it captive for so long. A
few weeks later an earthquake put Haiti on a new course.
leaders made a pact to practice and worship the gods of voodoo for 200 years if
they were granted freedom. They won
their freedom physically but became slaves to a dark spiritual power. The 200 years ended in 2004 with the
governing body deciding to renew the covenant for another 5 years. This ended in late 2009 with church pastors
from across the nation praying that God would shake Haiti and loosen the chains
that had held it captive for so long. A
few weeks later an earthquake put Haiti on a new course.
And so, here I am, five months after the quake, looking at
Haiti in a new era. Yes, the earthquake has destroyed many things here. The
infrastructure has crumbled, the government has collapsed, and the people have
been displaced.
Haiti in a new era. Yes, the earthquake has destroyed many things here. The
infrastructure has crumbled, the government has collapsed, and the people have
been displaced.
But in the midst of all these things, an awakening has
started. A church that believes God is
still in control and can bring life no matter the situation is alive in the
midst of the brokenness.
started. A church that believes God is
still in control and can bring life no matter the situation is alive in the
midst of the brokenness.
Since I’ve been in Haiti, God has been putting Ezekiel 37 on
my heart. It’s a familiar story. Ezekiel is standing in the middle of a huge
valley that is covered with bones….covered with death. And God asks, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “You alone know.” Then God has Ezekiel prophesy over the
bones. He tells them to hear the word of
the Lord, come to life, and know that the Lord raised them up. So the dead, lifeless bones did just
that. They were brought to life and a
vast army stood before Ezekiel proclaiming who God is. What an amazing picture of who our God is and
what He does! He’s in the business of
bringing dead things to life!
my heart. It’s a familiar story. Ezekiel is standing in the middle of a huge
valley that is covered with bones….covered with death. And God asks, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “You alone know.” Then God has Ezekiel prophesy over the
bones. He tells them to hear the word of
the Lord, come to life, and know that the Lord raised them up. So the dead, lifeless bones did just
that. They were brought to life and a
vast army stood before Ezekiel proclaiming who God is. What an amazing picture of who our God is and
what He does! He’s in the business of
bringing dead things to life!
See, it took me a while to realize this, but my main reason
for being in Haiti isn’t to work tirelessly to try and fix the country. It’s not to rebuild everything that has been
damaged or destroyed. My main purpose
here is to love on people, hear their stories, to encourage and be encouraged,
to see God moving, and to share what He’s doing here with all of you. I’ve realized that only God holds the key to
bringing Haiti to a better place….and I believe that He is. I believe that the people of Haiti know that
they can’t do anything without God. That
unless He speaks life into them and their land, it won’t matter how many
foreign relief efforts are launched to help, it just won’t repair the true
issues that have plagued Haiti for centuries. And that’s a good place to be….dependant on God to sustain you.
for being in Haiti isn’t to work tirelessly to try and fix the country. It’s not to rebuild everything that has been
damaged or destroyed. My main purpose
here is to love on people, hear their stories, to encourage and be encouraged,
to see God moving, and to share what He’s doing here with all of you. I’ve realized that only God holds the key to
bringing Haiti to a better place….and I believe that He is. I believe that the people of Haiti know that
they can’t do anything without God. That
unless He speaks life into them and their land, it won’t matter how many
foreign relief efforts are launched to help, it just won’t repair the true
issues that have plagued Haiti for centuries. And that’s a good place to be….dependant on God to sustain you.
Isn’t it funny how God works? So backwards to the way the world
functions. An earthquake should crush
people’s spirits and leave them with little hope for the future. But God takes the things that should destroy
us, the things that bring us to utter despair and brokenness, turns them upside-down
and uses them to start life. He uses
them to draw people to Himself. He uses
them to show how much He loves and how he can make all things new! That’s the God we as Americans and Haitians
serve!
functions. An earthquake should crush
people’s spirits and leave them with little hope for the future. But God takes the things that should destroy
us, the things that bring us to utter despair and brokenness, turns them upside-down
and uses them to start life. He uses
them to draw people to Himself. He uses
them to show how much He loves and how he can make all things new! That’s the God we as Americans and Haitians
serve!
