“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
When I returned to Nebraska in 2004 after living in Haiti for almost 3 years I was blessed to return to my previous employer as an entry level highway designer. I had never worked with my new co-workers but was familiar with them as they worked on the second floor and I was working on the first floor when I quit and left for Haiti in 2001. They were curious about what life had been like in Haiti. Did I bring back any voodoo dolls or drums or see any zombies? Their questions were prefaced with snickers and chuckles. All they knew was Hollywood voodoo.
If you woke up late one night to the sounds of your dog crying in the backyard and found a vodou priest skinning him alive because they believe the blood from a stressed or tortured animal has more favor with evil spirits; that would not be something to snicker about. If you went to place flowers at the above ground tomb of one of your recently departed relatives and found a vodou priest inside the tomb removing organs from the corpse of your loved one; that would not be a laughing matter.
Today is ‘Fat Tuesday’ and many will be going to a buffet here and celebrating before Ash Wednesday. The attached photo is of a TrinityHope feeding director, Jean Phillippe and a bunch of school kids. They were not in school yesterday, today or tomorrow as this is Carnival and vodou believers are out celebrating and pleasing evil spirits. Christian schools are closed and Jean Phillippe, these five kids and all those who believe in the Triune God stay home. They don’t want to be seen associating with anything vodou. We are co-workers of the risen Christ. We pray for those trapped in the lies of vodou and for the Holy Spirit to shine a bright light of Truth in their eyes.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay