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I n the World Tomorrow,
everyone will have a balanced and
adequate education and Iearn one
language (Zephaniah 3:9). All
nations will benefit. Haití will
benefit more than most.
Today the people of H aití
speak Creole. When you first
hear it, Creole soun ds like
French- but is it? Over the cen–
turies the people have mixed
French with other European
tongues and the original African
dialects to make a language that
is uniquely their own. All Hai–
tians can speak Creole, but those
with education have generally
received their education in
French, which is still the official
language. Most books and maga–
zines are in French-only a hand–
ful of books and periodicals are
published in Creole each year. I
managed to buy one and showed
it toa Haitian fricnd. He couldn't
understand it! Here was an edu–
cated man, a leader among his
people, who through no fault of
his own, could not read his native
language.
This is a severe handicap to
Haiti's efforts to increase educa–
tion. It is not a unique Haitian
problem-it affects many other
peoples all over the earth. When
the full benefits of one pure Ian–
guage are really understood, the
world will welcome it with open
arms.
The Problem of Voodoo
Finally, a word about religion.
Although the o ffi cial faith is
Roman Catholicism, the popular
faith of most Haitians is voodoo.
Yoodoo is a blend of African and
traditional Christian beliefs. By
practicing the rituals, believers
try to become possessed by
"gods." These "gods" it is be–
li eved control the rain, water,
!ove, war, farming- and all other
aspects of Iife.
The guide books told me that I
could expect to be fascinated by
the primitive rituals that have
thcir roots deep in the pagan
past.
1
wasn't.
As Christ told the Samaritan
woman (John 4:22), they worship
they know not what. Yoodoo is
October/ November 1980
the worship of demons, the sworn
spirit enemies of all mankind.
Yoodoo ritual might bring in the
tourist dollar, but it enslaves its
believers in fear and supersti–
tion.
The Haitian · people need true
religion that will lead them to
understand
who
the real God is
and
why
He put them on earth.
That truth
is
available to them,
but so far only the few have found
it.
The Kingdom of God will
change that.
Transforming a Land
Even a short visit to Haití leaves
one impressed. lmpressed with
the magnificence of the scenery.
But more than that, impressed
with the people, who somehow
shine through their poverty,
maintaining courage, dignity and
hope.
Their problems are typical of
so many millions today-perhaps
the majority of mankind. They
live on the borderline of surviv–
al, in ignorance and poverty,
when there is no need to live
like that. There is a way of life
that could have kept their home–
Iand a paradise. They needed to
know that way in
1804,
when
they took their first steps as an
independent na{ion. But there
was I')Obody to teach them. T he
people who should have known
had long since forgotten it them–
selves.
God revealed that way in H is
guide book to living- the Bible.
lt
is so much more than just an
instruction book on religion. I t
can show the right approach to
health, sanitation, fam ily life,
education, civil and criminal law,
morality- a total way of life that
works- and
that would heal a
nation. The information is still
available today, but it is no use
unless it is applied.
Late one night in Haití, a
frie nd anq
1
were driving back to
Port au Prince from the south
coast. As we drove into J acmel, a
storm broke. The rain fell in what
seemed like solid sheets of water,
and within seconds, it seemed the
road was inches deep.
It
was
impossible to con tinue. Across
the town square, we could see the
lights of a little restaurant
through the rain.
The proprietor welcomed us.
For half an hour or so, we sat at a
rickety table, drinking the rich
Haitian coffee and watching the
storm through the restaurant 's
open front. The proprietor, seeing
that
1
was a foreigner asked me.
what my job was.
"1 work for a magazine, and
am also a minister,"
I
said.
"What magazine?"
"La Pure Verite"
(the French
edi tion of
The Plain Truth).
He had never heard of it. " But
if you are a m1ntster, monsieur,
perhaps we can discuss sorne
questions."
The man was quite an amateur
philosopher. He told me he had
once been devout, but was now an
atheist.
1
asked him what had made
him give up his belief 1n
God.
"Too many contradictions. So
many churches, all the same
book. And they all believe dif–
ferently. For instance ...." He
ratt led off severa! alleged bibli–
cal contradictions. " How can
you take it seriously?" " l can
explain that,"
1
said, "but l 'd
need a Bible. Mine's in the car."
1
pointed through the deluge.
" 1
don't suppose you have one."
"That , monsieur, is where you
are wrong." He disappea.red into
a large closet underneath his
stai rcase, and after much rum–
maging emerged with the re–
mains of an old French Bible. lt
had obviously been there for
many years. He literally blew the
dust off it (into my coffee) and
we answered his questions.
At first he was skeptical, but
after a while he became quite
thoughtful.
"There is more in here than
1
thought," he said.
The rain stopped, and it was
time to go. We bade him adieu.
As we waded back to our car, the
old Bi ble was returned to
the closet. So near- and yet so
far.
What
readying
nation?
about you? A re you
yourself to help heal a
o
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