I wanted to write about
the Haitian culture here (specifically voodoo), and how it plays into the
spiritual climate we’re experiencing now as missionaries in Haiti. It’s
necessary to write a short history of Haiti ONLY as a relevant prelude to my next
blog… I’m not a historian. This background and story is given in
our orientations, from Haitians themselves, to our groups of volunteers of
short-term mission projects with AIM. 
Haiti was a French owned
colony back in the late 1700’s when the slaves started a long revolution to
gain their freedom. One of the most important events in the start of the
revolution was the beginning of a voodoo ceremony where evil spirits possessed
priestesses who made a sacrifice of a black pig. The ceremony also
involved a pact with the devil where the people asked for freedom in exchange
for their pledge to his rule. The ceremony and subsequent revolts of the people
ultimately resulted in the liberation of the Haitian people from French
colonial rule in 1804, and the establishment of the first black people’s
republic in the history of the world. Also, the second Western
nation after the U.S was born. Fast forward through that 200 year
pact (which wasn’t a bright history), and in 2004 the President declares Voodoo
the national religion of Haiti, and then extends the pact another 5 years, and
embracing it as identity and a part of their cultural heritage. That
would then expire in 2009. At that time, eight months ago, (November
’09) the pastors of Haiti held a national meeting. They prayed for revival.
They prayed that God would “shake” their land. They prayed that he
would tear down the strongholds in government – the evil forces in the judicial
system, the presidency, and the corrupt politicians. Well, of course, Jan
12th 2010 happened, and it devastated the country with a
catastrophic death toll and incalculable amount of material damage to homes,
buildings, etc. 
The spiritual fathers
and Christian leaders in Haiti believe that something was transacted in the
spiritual realm. When the earthquake happened, the pastors believe
that it was the physical manifestation of a pre-existing spiritual reality.
They believe that it was a direct answer to prayer.
In downtown
Port-au-Prince today the presidential palace lies in ruins. The supreme court
is a pile of rubble, and thousands of corrupt politicians were removed from
power as their buildings fell around them. The world gasped at the
tragedy that struck the country, and they asked for help from all over – even
their own people.
Kanaval is a
celebration and masked party, much like mardi gras, held in Feb of every year
before the season of lent. This year, the celebration was canceled
and replaced with a mandatory time of prayer and fasting for three days. The
spiritual atmosphere of the country is completely different now. Voodoo priests
by the hundreds have given their lives to Christ. But the pastors of the
country believe it didn’t happen because of the earthquake. The
earthquake was in some way a physical act of a spiritual change that took place
in November.
A paradigm shift is
always hard to grasp. Is it easy to believe that a spiritual reality
resulted in a physical manifestation? It shouldn’t be.
It will make you think
of Jesus’ last moments on earth as described in Matthew 27:51. After he gave up
his spirit, “The earth shook and the rocks split.” In other words, an
earthquake.
Remember this though. It’s reassuring and awesome.. “Therefore,
since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and
so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” – Hebrews 12:28.
