Hope for the Hopeless

It's difficult to think of anything to write when my heart is so burdened for the people of Haiti.

Since Pat went there in October, our hearts have been turned toward these people and this nation. As soon as we heard of the earthquake, our thoughts rushed to the many friends Pat has there and the mission that we support - Haiti Arise Ministries.

We were relieved to hear that Grand Goave (where HAM is located) was not affected, and the people we know are are safe. But so many are not...

One of the biggest tragedies is that there is no hope for restoration. There is no heavy equipment in Haiti - no bulldozers to push away piles of rubble. There are no landfills in Haiti - nowhere to put the rubble if (and that's a big if) they try to clean it up by hand. As for the bodies within that rubble - they will not be found, they will not be buried, and disease (more disease) will run rampant. And in just a few short months, hurricane season will be upon them...

I say there is no hope, yet I do have hope. Our God is the God of hope and restoration, and though the streets and buildings may never be the same, our God is right there in Haiti right now, calling the people to be restored to HIM.

The story goes something like this... A hundred years ago (or maybe two?) the political leaders of Haiti made a deal with the devil. They wanted wealth and success for themselves, and in exchange for this they turned over their nation to the hands of satan. So for those years, while corrupt leaders grew fat and rich, an entire nation was covered in darkness. Disease, starvation, voodoo, satanic rituals, garbage, filth, poverty, and child slavery ruled.

But now, that deal with the devil has come to an end. His time is up. And the spiritual battle for the hearts of the Haitian people is raging.

God is calling the people to Himself. What will it take for them to see His face, to seek His deliverance? Hurricanes, earthquakes, plagues? (I'm not saying that God is causing these tragedies, but I know - without a doubt - that He can use them for His glory.)

Please join us in praying for the Haitian people. Yes - pray for their health, safety, healing, rebuilding. But more importantly - pray for them to seek and see the face of God! Pray for them to turn from voodoo and run into the arms of Christ, spread wide on the cross for their salvation. Pray that the people who come to help in this tragedy are a light for the people of Haiti.

Because with Christ, nothing is as hopeless as it seems.