Haiti

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere though it was once called the Pearl of the Carribean. It began as a French colony and thrived in the 18th century due to importation of large members of African slaves. Slaves revolted and declared their independence in 1804. Since then unrest and political turmoil are common to see. It's poverty is striking, 80% live in poverty. The people are plagued by a lack of education, many times due to not having enough money to pay for tuition, uniforms and the books needed to get an education. There isn't enough work and so many families are starving. Yellow hair on children is common to see. The Haitian people very often are involved in voodoo, looking for that chance to escape misery. It seems like one voodoo holiday after another around here. And yet it is an island in the Carribean. The water is beautiful and (where there isn't deforestation) it is lush. The weather is always warm, too warm and humid for me. The people are friendly and curious when it comes to foreigners(blancs). And Haitians are very hardworking, it always surprises me that even though life is so hard for them (having to haul water daily, cook on coals, and handwash) they still smile so much and often sing as they work. There is nothing like Haiti and I know that the Lord Jesus longs for all His Haitian children to come back to Him. This is why my husband and I are serving in Haiti, to reach the Haitian people for Christ.