My Confession
6 weeks ago I returned from Haiti. I had the opportunity to lead a mission trip through Waters Edge. God did incredible things while the team was there, people came to know Christ and we built new and hope filled friendships with many Haitian people, children, and orphans. Even though it was a successful trip in all aspects, there was something heavy weighing on me that carried through until we got home and later. I had secretly conceded that it would be nearly impossible for Haiti to be a nation of hope. After witnessing voodoo and hearing stories of the demonic oppression firsthand it was very easy to silently “give up” on Haiti. I prayed and prayed for God to do something so that the beautiful island nation would look to Him for direction and salvation, and no other gods. Meanwhile, if I had to be brutally honest, I did not think anything would happen, at least in my lifetime.
Less than a week later the devastating news of the earthquake came to me, I was shocked, broken, and overwhelmed in concern. Are our new friends alive? how many dead? The team got together and prayed that Tuesday night and asked God to be with our loved ones there. As I went home that Tuesday night with a very heavy heart, I had a glimmer of hope in me. God was telling me that he was going to bring something good out of this. But why? Why OUR friends? Must they suffer? This began a journey in my life that began to unfold in the next month.
Most of our friends survived the earthquake thankfully. As the weeks went on, something incredible happened. Firsthand reports started coming in from some missionary friends of ours. I was dumbfounded at the news.
- Stories that people are turning their backs on voodoo and looking to Christ for salvation.
- They are realizing that the evil spirits are nothing but destructive and empty, and that these chains that held their nation hostage for decades must break.
- Most of the corrupt government officials have been killed.
- People by the hundreds are joining the Kingdom of heaven.
- A large percentage of church buildings are still standing, while the surrounding areas stand in rubbles.
- A testimony of a woman who recently turned from voodoo to the arms of Jesus being asked by a missionary what they can do for her. Instead of asking for food, clothing, or shelter, she said, “I just want to hear the voice of God.” So they prayed.
There is already much fruit that came out of this disaster. It makes me think of a verse in Genesis.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
Genesis 5:20
For me, this has been one of my greatest lessons yet, I forgot about the sovereignty of God because of the circumstances around me. This is a new beginning for Haiti, a fresh start, a clean slate. This is a new beginning for me. How about you? What are the things in your life that you have given up on? Things and circumstances where you think there is no hope. I will argue that there is actually life, even in the most dead of places. It is up to us to see it and bring it out. There is joy in tragedy, and it will change you and the world around you. I pray that we learn to embrace divine perspective, things might not always be as they seem in the eyes of God.
-Yanni
love it yanster! It is amazing to watch the Lord sit rightfully on his throne.
Amazing!!! Sweet Tears are poured!!
Great blog. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Aw Yanni, thank you for sharing this! I have applied to go to Haiti with 12Stone at the end of June, and this blog entry fills me with so much hope about my trip.
I am glad that you found this helpful, every time there is a tragedy I look for Gods next big move