Today, we set out to do house visits and Evangelism in a community nearby. We began the day with a few houses of believers so we just asked them a bit about themselves and about their walk with Christ. A few of them had specific things they are struggling with in their faith so we found encouraging verses to share with them and continued to pray for them.
We then stumbled across a house on top of a hill. We asked if we could come up and the little old lady agreed, so we climbed up the really steep stairs leading to the house. We all gathered and sat down on front of her porch and began with the typical questions we had been asking. We came to ask if she was a believer and she answered with, “No, not yet”. A bit confused, our translator asked what she meant by “not yet”. She was telling us about this thing she has to do first and then she will be able to believe. It took a little bit, but we came to learn that the “thing” she had to do was a voodoo ritual. In Haiti, voodoo is a huge culture thing. Her mother has passed not too long ago and she explained to us that she needs to do this ritual that requires her to cook all this food on the All Saint’s Day (November 1st) and lay it at her mothers grave. This is given not only as a thank you, but it is believed that if you don’t do this, the spirit can come after you. So ultimately, the fear of what would happen if she did not finish her voodoo is what is standing between her and Christ.
She seemed a bit on edge, so she went and woke up her daughter, Misma, who looked to be about 20 years old, to come sit and listen along side her. The daughter was kinda in the same boat as the mother. She said she has been to church, but she didn’t really believe and she didn’t actually know anything about God. We shared more of the gospel and I shared a bit of my story and how I came to know the Lord hoping that It would give them joy and a desire to give their life to Christ.
The mother then got up and said she had things to get done and she went on her way, but the daughter stayed. Misma was obviously quite shy, but she started asking questions. She ultimately said that it’s tough for her because she doesn’t even have money to buy clothes, much less clothes “nice” enough for church.
As soon as Misma shared this, Lucie was looking at Matthew 6:28-34, which states,
“and why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own”
We asked if she had a bible and she didn’t, so I asked if we were able to get our hands on a Creole bible, would she be interested in having it? She said yes. I don’t know about anyone else, but just in the willingness of wanting to have God’s word, gave me so much hope. Lucie then shared Romans 10:9-15
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Lucie explained that she could let the Lord into her heart RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. She thought on it for a second, and then spoke up and said this is what she wanted. She wanted to accept the love God has for her. All of us gals, literally exploding with joy, them went and laid hands on her and Lucie prayed a prayer for Misma to repeat, letting the Lord into her heart. After this, the shy girl that we had been sitting with for over an hour, looked up with a huge smile for the first time!! We finished with ensuring her to not be ashamed of her decision and know that the angels are rejoicing in heaven. Now she has the opportunity to grow in her faith in hopes to share this love with her mother!
We left with hugs, smiles to light up the world, and screaming bye to our new sister in Christ!
God is so so good!
