Spiritual Warfare in Haiti

Spiritual Warfare is real everywhere.  It is just as real in America as it is in Haiti.  However, I feel like there is one major difference.  In America, spiritual warfare is often disguised in music or movies.  In Haiti, spiritual warfare is not always so disguised.  It is the actual battle between the power of God and the power of voodoo. 

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 6:12

Voodoo in Haiti is real, and it is powerful.  A bible study I am currently doing explained, “the original word Paul used for struggle is ‘palē’ which means a fight or contest among opponents waged in close, hand-to-hand combat with the goal of pinning down and defeating one’s rival.”  This battle is real here.  A couple weeks ago we visited with a pastor who said the lady next door to the church was a voodoo priestess.  They were having a war.  While he was having church services, she was having voodoo ceremonies.  The battle is raging there. 

Another example of this battle was this past week.  For Christians, this week was a week leading up to Resurrection Sunday.  A week spent remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us ending in a celebration of his resurrection.  However, for voodoo this week is always rara.  Rara is a voodoo celebration where different bands march around playing music and drinking, often armed with guns or machetes.  My friends have told me I do not even want to know some of things that go on during these celebrations.  When one band meets another band, they often fight and many people (even innocent bystanders) are hurt.  They also will destroy people’s gardens and property simply because they can.  We were not allowed to leave campus for the week because it was not safe.  Many of my Haitian friends have told me that they celebrate rara during the week before Easter because they are celebrating Jesus’ death.  Their biggest celebration is always on Good Friday, the day we remember our Lord Jesus as dying on the cross.  They related these rioting bands to the riots that were held against Jesus surrounding his death. 

A book I am reading explains, “Voodoo is not just part of Haiti’s heritage.  It is not just for the uneducated, a way of explaining what seems unexplainable.  It is not just about cultural expressions of music and dance.”  Voodoo is real, and it is powerful.

This past week was also women's conference at our church.  Conference is a week of worship and evangelism.  Every night the church was overflowing with people.  We sang; we danced; we listened to sermons.  While we were doing this and fighting to win souls for Christ, the rara bands were encouraging people to join them.  The battle was real.  I wrote in my journal how this week the air felt charged.  The spiritual warfare was so prevalent.  On one night of conference, a rara band actually went right past the church.  Shortly after they passed, we sang a song with lyrics that said "satan you lose!"  There are no words to describe the feelings during those moments.  To hear and see the voodoo band walk by and feel the evil that occupied them and then to sing that song was extremely powerful. 

Throughout the week, over 20 people accepted Christ at conference.  Several parents of children in the nutrition program were among those 20.  I have been working a lot with one boy in the program named Benji.  His dad accepted Christ during conference!  

Benji and his dad

While I am so thankful for the 20 souls who were saved, victory is not always the result.  While the church was winning souls over for Christ, there were people choosing the other side as well.  Sometimes it is simply too late.  Two days ago Benji's dad came and asked if I would go pray with his cousin who was sick.  When we were hiking up the mountain, I was so inspired by this new Christian walking with his Bible in his hand to share the gospel with his family.  I would love to tell you that we were able to persuade him to accept Christ.  Even better, I would love to tell you that he accepted Christ and was healed.  However, that is not always what happens.  For us, it was too late.  By the time we got to the house, the man had died.  Please join me in praying for this family.  Pray for this new Christian, that his faith may not be wavered in this situation.  Pray that he still has the courage to share the gospel with the rest of his family, before it is too late for them too. 

These past two weeks have been hard, and they have been trying.  There have been moments when I have rejoiced, like when my friends accepted Christ.  However, there have also been moments I have mourned.  The battle is real, and we will keep fighting it.  I am so thankful to know that victory was found on that cross nearly 2000 years ago.