"Everyone was running, trying to find a place to hide. One man was shot in the outside courtyard, with his Bible in his hand. Bullets were zinging left and right. I saw a pregnant woman screaming for help and holding onto her stomach. A man had just speared her there, and she was bathed in red blood. Another priest was trying to organize people to give her first aid. I saw an American journalist running up and down the aisle with torn clothes; the men with red armbands had torn the clothing, trying to hurt the journalist. A group of young women were in the front courtyard and were attempting to resist, with our own kind of arms, the heavy weapons that the men were using against us from the street- this was a prohetic, historic resistance that we will never forget."
Excerpted from "The Uses of Haiti," by Dr. Paul Farmer.
I write this blog with heaviness in my heart. In lieu of being in Haiti, I am finding quite a bit of material on the country's history. I am reading tons of material and also trying to practice some Creole (a mixture of African and French) What I am finding is that the story above is not one of extrodinary circumstance. It is not a rareity to read. In Haiti, it is everyday life. And I ask myself how can this be? How can there be any hope for this country who, since it's birth as Saint Domingue in 1492 has battled the nations for it's own indipendence and freedom, only to be repressed, used, and drained for hundreds of years, of it's resources, it's pride it's dignity. How can there be hope? 80% of children will die by the age of 5. Many are orphaned simply because their parents can't afford them anymore- they can barely afford themselves, but you don't have to tell that to the starving bellies of the Haitians... It is survival of the fitness.
There is a man in Haiti, who believes in God's plan to redeem the people of Haiti. That one day Jesus Christ will clothe them in righteousness, who will set them at His feet, and call them His own. Arcenio Jimenez is a Pastor who is supported by G.O. Ministries in Haiti, and has a dream of God's fame and glory to be made know on this island. Currently G.O. supports his school, feeding center, and church, and we are finshing the dormotories where teams will be able to come down on short term trips and spend a week there (this will hopefully be my new home as well).
As I spent only a day there last year, I am reminded of the simplicity of hope. Jesus is not complicated- and his hope is freely offered to anyone who will accept it. In Haiti, G.O. offers hope in many ways- through a church, where 1500 can meet to hear the Word of God preached, through a Christian School, where kids will recieve a Christian education, through the Nutrition Center, meeting the most basic needs of the kids in the community by feeding them a hot meal 6 days a week while recieving spiritual encouragement. And the orphanage, filled with kids who are handicapped, starving for human touch, and love, who were once abandoned by their parents are now cared for by their heavenly father who loves us so unconditionally.
I read these verses tonight and I know there is hope in Haiti:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.[a]
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,[b]
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
3 To all who mourn in Israel,[c]
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations.
5 Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards.
6 You will be called priests of the Lord,
ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
and boast in their riches.
7 Instead of shame and dishonor,
you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice.
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be recognized
and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
the Lord has blessed.”
Isaiah 61: 1-9
...Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed...
Proverbs 3:27 "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
I urge you to please pray about how you can play a role in bringing hope to Haiti. How you can change a life.
1. Pray- pray for people to rise up to follow the LORD to Haiti and preach the good news to the poor- pray for the Haitians to be freed from the bondage of Voodoo and oppression.
2. GO- Come to Haiti. Lead a trip with your small group, church, Bible study, school, work. Spend a week in Haiti, serving the LORD.
3. Give- G.O. seeks to create partnerships between Nationals and Americans. Pray about how you might be able to support someone in Haiti who, with your support, will answer God's call for their life. If you feel led to support the work that I will be doing, please email me at jackie.douglas@go-ministries.org or leave me a comment.
Con amor de JesuCristo,
Jackie
