Seeking Cancellation of Haiti's Debt
Submitted by tcblack on Wed, 06/13/2007 - 9:05am
Just a quick notation for you to consider. Having been to Haiti several years in a row I've seen first hand the effects of poverty on the island nation. Over at Doing Theology From The Caribbean there's an article regarding a chance to eliminate Haiti's national debt. Do me a favor and read that article.
Certainly I agree with the precept of the article that eliminating the debt may well help the people of Haiti as money could be used to take care of simple things like paying the police and maybe provide medical or other infrastructure building funds.
My experience in Haiti however is that this is a people who are both cunning and capable on so many levels. One Creole word which I learned is apparently descriptive of a way of life "degaje" (day-gah-jay) means "make due" or "get by". And those beautiful people know how to degaje.
I am not ignorant of their financial needs, and I am also eager to see them all a little better off. But my greater concern for Haiti however is it's legal debt... to the Lord.
I'm not going to wax long and eloquent on the subject. From my perspective it's a good thing to act mercifully towards that nation in relieving her debt. But to a much greater extent it is necessary to faithfully reach them with the truth of Jesus Christ. To awaken Haiti to acknowledge her debt of sin and to urge them to accept the complete repayment made by Jesus Christ on her behalf. Oh, how I long to hear the news of revival sweeping across Haiti.
So I will call or email my representatives in order to help Haiti get free of debt. But I will also set aside extra time today as well in order to call on the Mighty God of Heaven to woo this Island nation to Himself. For as the Father calls, so too must they answer.
Haiti! I have great news for you; your debt has been paid!
Comments
i agree in some aspects that
i agree in some aspects that voodoo is keeping haiti down, because it is a brain numbing religion, urging one to blame his problems on others and enter the vicious cycle of "c'est pas ma faute" (it's not my fault). However, i fail to recognise the impact that a widespread christian faith can have on haiti, religion has little to do with it. the country has little industrial or natural capital, and it's industrialists often tend to exploit the population. What we need is to create new markets in haiti's economy, not bring them bibles.
Voodou is the cause of
Voodou is the cause of Haiti's downfall, are you for real? Haiti's downfall has to do with the greet that many of us has, lack of unity, the betterment of oneself, as opposed to helping others. My dear friend, let's please focus on how to ceased us(haitian)from falling down, then bringing us new forms of markets, where there will be no form of money to make it work. Haiti needs clean waters, work/jobs/ improvement on farming/electricity, and so one. Without forgotten EDUCATION as a whole, where does RELIGION takes place on these issues?
Christianity is the impetus
Christianity is the impetus for healing. Greed cannot be overcome by mere education. It takes a new heart.
I know many in Haiti who themselves are laboring to drill clean wells for villages, build new schools , and in the process even provide at least short term work and income all of it in the name of Christ.
It is Christianity and the recognition of the value of human life, the correcting of evil and the changing of the human heart which through the centuries helped spur people on towards bettering not only their own lives but most importantly the lives of those around them. The heart of the cure is indeed a cured heart.
What you suggest is akin to applying band-aids to a gaping wound. First remove that which has created the problem, then repair it correctly.
Hello I have seen a few of
Hello I have seen a few of the posts about Haiti and this time I just had to comment. I am a missionary’s child and went to Haiti when I was 4 months old, and spent about 13 years in the country, now I know children our often obvious to the realities of life but I certainly agree that what Haiti needs is a transformation by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No amount of money, government help or any other aid really can change Haiti. Only with a changed heart will Haiti become a land free from mass poverty and uprisings.
For both, Tomato's and
For both, Tomato's and Anonymous' posts I would just reply in a grand generalization. The reason the United States of America has faired so well can be traced to one of two reasons.
Atheistically it can be attributed to the wealth of natural resources available in this country. From God's point of view however it must be clearly stated that "...the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes..." (Dan 4:17 NASB95). It is God who establishes kingdoms and God who deposes them. Natural resources given to a land plot or not it is ultimately God who will bring blessing to a nation or not. America has experienced two-hundred years of explosive growth and economic windfall because God has blessed the nation. I would argue that the blessing has come on the heals of the Lord being a major foundation of the country.
Haiti is not without it's natural resources; though the greatest resource at the moment might be it's people. An enormous labor force is begging for work and they would do so for much less than other nations and walk away from the deal much richer than they are.
But the current state of affairs in Haiti is a result of layers upon layers of societal and economic woes which ultimately go back to the heart issue of "who is in charge." Just over 200 years ago the nation was dedicated to Satan, and through Voudou it continues to be --officially or otherwise-- dedicated to Satan. The true Christian core of Haiti is growing and over time will generate significant change.
Personally, given the choice of boatloads of cash being poured into the country which would doubtless provide much needed relief from short term woes and the option for a national revival to sweep across the nation and a transformation of the hearts and minds of the people of Haiti - I'll take the latter.
It would be easy to build a manufacturing facility in Haiti and begin hiring laborers but bring on the next coup and the facility is almost guaranteed to be torn down and all of it's equipment stolen. A simple before and after photograph (if I had one) of the Cap Haitian airport during the last coup is proof enough of the concept. No, at it's heart Haiti's problem is not economic - that is merely a symptom of the greater issue of bondage and slavery to sin.
Bring on the revival.
Amen, Amen, Amen!!!!
Amen, Amen, Amen!!!!