Hope and Healing for Haiti

Isaiah 60 describes a scenario in which people who have walked in spiritual darkness are drawn to the light of Christ:
1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

If we are intent on knowing Christ and making Him known, then we can carry His presence into places where darkness reigns to people who are walking without the true light of Christ.   This can be expressed in not only our own communities, where we can take the initiative to make Jesus famous to people that need hope and healing, but in nations all around the world - where there are physical needs that we can meet, and spiritual needs that Christ can meet through us.   We are called to be people who display the love of Jesus and hope that can only be found in Him, hope that can be visible even in the most desperate of circumstances.

In 2nd Corinthians 3, we find an encouraging reference to the freedom that can be experienced through a relationship with Jesus Christ - the hope-giver!
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Just 3 years ago, a devastating earthquake afflicted the nation of Haiti, resulting in some 300,000 deaths and widespread destruction.    Ceremonies marked the occasion over the weekend, with U.N. special envoy for Haiti, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, joining Haitian president, Michel Martelly, for a simple wreath-laying ceremony held at a mass burial site on a hillside outside the capital of Port-au-Prince.

According to Reuters, "Today we're here so that we don't forget, and to do better," Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told reporters. "We were heavily hit, that's true. But we're standing strong to rebuild our country."

Earlier in the day, Haiti's government marked the occasion with a subdued ceremony on the grounds of the razed national palace in downtown Port-au-Prince. In a short address, Martelly paid homage to those who perished and praised the courage of those who survived.

According to The Christian Post, more than $12 billion has been collected through international charities and fundraisers to help Haitians recover from the tragedy, but a lot of work still remains to be done. Nearly 358,000 people are still living in over 500 camps scattered around the capital and rural areas. The people in these camps often lack access to basic services, such as health care, sanitation and education, and they are suffering from cholera outbreaks and other diseases.  A host of missionary groups has been working hard in assisting them to rebuild their homes and gain better access to food and water.

In the wake of disaster, people are awakening to the presence of Jesus Christ.   For many years, voodoo has been a way of life and a guiding influence for many Haitian, brought from Africa to the island during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. When the French occupiers banned the practice of voodoo rituals, however, Haitians began integrating Roman Catholic saints and beliefs into their understanding of religion. Today, over 80 percent of Haitians profess to be Roman Catholic, while another 16 percent are Protestant.  A mix of voodoo and other religious practices is found throughout the nation.

 

But, there is a strong integration of the truth of the gospel of Christ in the nation, as the earthquake has resulted in a flood of evangelistic groups who are going in to provide relief - for the structures, as well as for the soul.   People who have been held captive by the godless practice of the witch doctors are experiencing the freedom that comes from a knowledge of the one true God, and as a result, they are experiencing hope.   Sure, rebuilding is taking place physically, but the renewal of lives spiritually is an important work.   We regularly pray for missions teams who are making an impact on the people of the nation, making Jesus known by the love that is shown.