A ROOF WITH A VIEW
Standing atop the roof of the orphanage in Bercy, I get a 360-degree view of this growing community. My assignment for this morning is to patch holes in the metal roof of the building. It is a beautiful island day. The sun is warm but a gentle tropical breeze keeps me refreshed as I put generous portions of tar on the nails that are the source of the leaks.
Stopping for a break, I can’t help but look around me and make some observations. Off in the distance I see the beautiful shoreline and the emerald waters shining brightly in the sun. In every direction I see banana trees as well as other tropical plants. It is a paradise. My survey of the area brings me to this conclusion. I am seeing only half of the picture.
View of Bercy
In Haiti, as in any place on earth, there are two “worlds” to view. There is that which is seen and that which is unseen. On this island, the seen is a composite of physical beauty, rampant poverty, and a hearty people seeking to survive in a demanding Third World environment. But it is not the seen world that has captured my attention.
On the Mountain
The unseen battle for the souls of men, women, and children in Haiti is going on daily. It is the age-old battle between the forces of good and evil. It is a spiritual battle against “the powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6: 10-12).
From a spiritual perspective (the unseen), Haiti is not that different from America. The difference comes in the manifestation of the evil forces that are at work. These forces are evident in the form of Voodoo and superstitions that produce a black cloud over the spiritual landscape of this island. In America, the black cloud takes the form of materialism, self-sufficiency, and syncretism. The needs in both places are many and demand the church at its best.
The clock is ticking in Bercy. This village is growing. With that growth there is an ever-increasing challenge to reach these people with the claims of Christ. Our window of opportunity is open for the moment. Like the man of Macedonia (Acts 16: 6-10), Haiti beckons us to respond to the call of God and the challenge before us.
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