A friend of mine arrived in Haiti earlier this month with an AIM relief team. She posted this blog about the history of Haiti:
"The only difference in Haiti now and before the earthquake is there are fewer houses"
I heard that statement on the plane on the way to Port-au-Prince, and driving through the streets I agreed that it was probably true. The city of 2 million looked just as poor and dirty as any other impoverished capital city I have seen, just with a more rubble. It wasn't until later last night when I heard of Haiti's spiritual background that I found out just how untrue the above statement is.
So to give a little background on the spiritual history of Haiti:
Hundreds of years ago, Haiti was colonized by the French who brought slaves from West Africa to work the fertile land. The Africans hated being under the French, and so the leaders made a pact with Satan that they would belong to him for 200 years if they could get out of under French rule. Haiti became free from the French in 1804 through a successful slave rebellion, and the land belonged to Satan from that time until 2004. During this time, Haitian Vodou and many other evil practices became prevalent. When the 200 years was coming close to an end in 2004, the president of Haiti extended the pact with Satan for another five years (to end in December 2009)
After much frustration with the atmosphere and spiritual practices of their country, many of the Haitian pastors gathered for a week of fasting and prayer for their country in November 2009. They prayed that the current government would be removed from power; that Godly, Christian government would be set in place; that Haiti would be shaken by the power of God. In December, the pact with Satan ended. In January, Haitishook, literally. Many of the government buildings were destroyed, and the president of Haiti became a Christian as a result of the devastation of his country. He cancelled their annual Carnival festival (similar time and practices of Mardi Gras) which celebrates vodou practices, and called the nation to a few days of fasting and prayer. Instead of fear in the streets of Port-au-Prince at night (reportedly far worse than violent cities like Johannesburg, South Africa), people are comfortable walking around now. Instead of pastors begging to get a few people to come to their churches, they are having trouble finding room to fit all the people who want to worship the Lord. Instead of riots in the streets after the earthquake, they were filled with people singing praises and worshiping Jesus! The day the earth moved truly brought a spiritual shift to these people, to this country. Although in the physical the country looks poor, devastated, hopeless – these people have hope abounding!
