My guess is that most of you would never flat out say this (and I may even be wrong with that assumption) but as American’s we often live as though we believe this. For some of you it might even be a shock that I would even suggest this. Regardless, I believe with all of my heart that it’s true.
The world was shook when it heard about the devastation in Haiti from the Earthquake on January 12th. Was this the first time Haiti needed help? No. Year after year Haiti gets ravaged by hurricanes and mudslides… Decade after decade has seen a growing amount of dependence and declining amount of fertile soil (at least the physical kind.) For a couple centuries, Haiti has been marked as one of the poorest nations in the world and has been filled with orphans. This is one of the hotspots for selling children into sex slavery. It was before the Earthquake as well. This country was in desperate need of help far before the Earthquake in January.
The world responded in a very unique way. Think about it. There are wars in Iran and Iraq but there’s also oil. There was a war in Vietnam but that was more political struggle. However, the world has turned a blind eye to refugee’s in Burma in a terrible situation and for a long time the people in Sudan. Why? My guess is that there wasn’t a lot to gain except for doing the right thing. Well, I think Haiti fits into that category. However, the news of this Earthquake actually provoked a response worldwide where they wanted to help even though they weren’t going to get much in return (or so it would seem.)
The nations of the world have poured in money, supplies, food, water, aid and people to help rebuild the infrastructure of Haiti. Some of these organizations do a lot of good and some make a lot of messes. Regardless, their intentions are often similar. I’d like to think that most coming in are here more because of their desire to help than their desire to raise more funds. Either way, the nations have come to bless Haiti.
God has been cultivating a soil that has seen very little fruit over the past centuries for such a time as this so that He can bless the
nations through Haiti. Yes, I said it. I think God is trying to bless the world with what Haiti has to offer even though the world thinks it’s coming to the rescue.
Haitians know desperation and hunger in the natural and I firmly believe that God is trying to install a spiritual hunger and desperation into those who come down so that they will take that back and it would mess them up. After being here, people go home with perspectives changed and the things that surrounded them before that didn’t satisfy are still there. The only difference is that they satisfy less because there is an added hunger for something that will satisfy.
His desire is that hunger leads to intimacy and His kindness in revealing it leads to repentance. That then becomes contagious in families, friendships, work places, communities, cities, states and countries.
“As a pastor, it’s hard to say this but this has been the first time in a long time that I’ve been able to spend a lot of quality time really just me and Him…and He’s shown me insurmountable grace but He’s also working on me…”
“I’ve known a lot about the bible, but it is the first time I’ve really known who He’s created me to be…”
“I’ve been in youth ministry for 10 yrs, been a leader and a deacon and this is the first time when I’ve been called into listening prayer…I knew there was a peace of the puzzle that was missing and I didn’t know what it is… He said ‘You need to learn how to pray.'”
“I’ve never had visions like that…it’s completely changed my whole life.”
“we think we’re being humble by letting someone ‘better’ step up instead of stepping up yourself…”
“I’m dreading going back into my own church after the experience I had a church tonight…”
“I thought I came down to serve and here I am being served…”
“They’ve got next to nothing physically and yet they’ve got hope and joy…back at home we have next to everything physically and yet we lack hope and joy…”
I could keep going with this list…you can ask them yourself. In fact if any of you are following this little series I’d encourage you to drop a comment to readers thinking about coming.
