It can take some a long time to find God’s grace, but once found it is always deemed worth the wait! Throughout Haiti, families are challenged by all aspects of daily life—economic depression, poverty, disease and catastrophic destruction of property and lives are the daily background for life on the Island. The presence of voodoo remains strong. Food scarcity is of constant concern. People are hungry and desperate and lacking in God’s grace. After the Haiti earthquake in 2010—which led to a Cholera outbreak— Haitian Christians are on the front-lines ministering to hurting families. This is Haiti’s social fabric. This is the island where Anel lived for many years, never knowing the love of Jesus Christ or God’s grace.
Trust
As a young boy, Anel placed his trust in his brother, looking to him for guidance. “We left our parents to live in Port-au-Prince, hoping for a better life,” says Anel. “We lived together in a small rented space, and my brother made his money by stealing cars.” However, the influential lifestyle of his brother was soon stripped away. “One day, he was caught by police and sent to jail.”
Abandoned
Alone for the first time in his life, Anel was desperate. “I sold my brother’s things to pay his bail. When he was released he pulled a gun on me because I sold all his valuables.” Betrayed by his brother, and fearful for his life, Anel spent the next few weeks sleeping in a train station, longing to soothe the ever-present hurt in his heart. “I also slept on the floor of a kitchen for a month, which led to thoughts of committing suicide.”
A new path
Anel was homeless, hungry, and alone, yet God had a plan. Anel found food and shelter from an uncle who lived nearby, and the path of his life changed for eternity. His uncle—unbeknownst to him—was a Bible Planter working with other Haitian Christians in his church to lead Bible studies throughout Haiti. His uncle was filled with love and compassion. Anel’s uncle didn’t just share the Good News of the Gospel with passing words. He spent time with him. Loved him. Explained the Bible to him through Bible study in a way Anel could understand it. And God did a miracle in Anel’s life. He lifted the loneliness that once consumed him. “I gave up on committing suicide, and I have found a new family in Christ. What grace God has!”
Anel rejoices that the Bible is now his daily bread, and he places his trust in Christ alone. He is filled with an all-consuming passion to reach others with the message of salvation. “I want to bring hope to orphans and to those who contemplate suicide.”
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
Throughout Haiti, faithful Bible Planters are reaching the lost and hurting of their country, bringing them into God’s grace and His light. As Haitian Christians reach out, God reaches into the hearts of their people. Pray with us today for the people of Haiti as they continue to rebuild their lives after the devastation of the earthquake in 2010.
