The Reality of Voodoo (in my short experience)
Those of you that live on the other side of the pond (no, not England, the U.S.) may wonder if this voodoo stuff is really a problem here. I know in the States we have become so desensitized by what we see on the t.v. that when it is talked about it becomes no big deal. Zombies and witchcraft and sorcery…well it has become a norm. For me and for Christians around the world…it is very much real and alive.
In Deuteronomy it says this, “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let know one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.” This has seeped into every culture in some shape or form. I don’t know about you, but for me this makes the hair on my arms stand up and makes me cling to the One who can help me and show me the truth.
The evil one has a way of disguising himself as harmless and little by little…just as it has in the states…it is the Norm. Let me tell you it is a very real norm here. In the time I have spent serving the Lord in Haiti…I have listened to heartbreaking stories from my fellow missionaries and cringe each time they are told. Of the youngest child being sacrificed in order for the family to be well…curses being made because of what someone said or did to them, spirits in a tree that causes someone to die, burrying a chicken to keep Satan away (though you are a Christian, you just want keep the bully away). These are true and very real and what they believe to be true.
Early Sunday morning (1:30am) I took Sophie out to do her buisiness. As I stood outside half awake I felt an uneasiness in my spirit. In the distance I could hear the beat of the drums and the playing of the horns. As I listened more closely I could here screams and chanting. It wasn’t the youth practicing their preparations for Mardi Gras ( which is yet another form of this voodoo…scaring and bullying). These were real screams and loud chants.
As so many of you know we have had our share of difficulties in these last months and the drama at times seems never ending. As I headed to church yesterday I looked ahead to see a big crowd practically blocking the way to the church. My very first thought was…”Now what Lord? Who is trying to keep us from church now?” As I walked closer I could see a chair in the middle of the road a bleach bottle and 2 bamboo polls laying on the ground. One on each side of the chair. The drums were still beating and the horns were still blowing. I saw an old man hunched over and it looked as if he were going to sit in this chair. This particular corner of the road I know the people who live there…I did not recognize him. As I approached, people were looking at me and giving me the once over. I was trying to decide how about going through. I smiled…said Bonjou, shook my head and walked straight through knowing full well this was not going to stop me from going to worship!!!!
Sadly enough I believe it kept others from coming, as service did not have as quite as many people.
Please continue to pray for the people here that they would stand in boldness and courage, trusting Him who is faithful to protect and provide. Please pray for those in our midst that are pretending to be sheep, but showing us that they are wolves. Pray that their hearts will be broken and that the pride and jealousy that have festered in their hearts will be filled with Gods truth, compassion, love,and mercy. Only God can bring down the forces and walls that have been built. Pray for our leadership to stand strong under this and to walk in His peace. Pray for their hearts and minds to be guarded.
Again please remember that these forces are very real… ” for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-13 and the next time these things catch your eye on t.v., bookstores or movies…please think twice and pray for the reality here, the U.S. and around the world.