Last night, after journaling, I picked up and finished the Haiti book that Roy gave to us (better late than never, eh?). Amidst all he information on the culture, economy, and politics of Haiti was a small section on religion. The book described a delicate interplay that is ongoing between Christian religions that have, for lack of a better term, been "brought" to Haiti, and the traditional Haitian Vodou. The two work together in Haiti and many do not see any problem with participating in a Vodou ritual one night and getting up the next morning to attend a Christian church service.
I am not entirely sure what I think of this. I have always known that religions & cultural rituals, such as Vodou are alive and well in the world, but I have never had personal contact with them. I am open to learning more about Haitian Vodou. In fact, I think it would be super interesting to see how the Haitian people believe the traditions of Vodou & the Christian faith fit together.
(Haitian Vodou temple)
How prevalent is Vodou in Haiti? Is it more commonly regarded as a way of life or simply a tradition to be preserved?
Haiti seems to be a culture rich in tradition. The unfortunate illiterate state of Haiti renders it ideal for the sharing of verbal stories. As I read & as Roy shared with us at Camp Haiti, Haitians love to tell jokes and stories. To me, this is beautiful. In our fast-paced modern society, we have lost this. The oftentimes impersonal approach we take hinders our cultural bonds. We lack tradition. We are missing those critical strands that could bring us together. Maybe it is because the US is a melting pot - a mixture of people from all over the world, each bringing with him his own set of values & traditions. It's too hard to make them all mesh, so we either keep them to ourselves or abandon them all together. Then again, maybe not. Instead, I see that we've allowed ourselves to get too wrapped up in our business so that we neglect to share our experiences. We've become a people living together in separate worlds. In this way, I believe Haiti has an edge on us; they're a cut above the rest. I hope this is truly the way it is, because that would be something amazing & wonderful. I'll have to wait and see.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord...
(evening)
So much to take in! In many ways, it feels like Mexico - crazy driving, hot climate, dirty, damaged, people always looking to you for something. Yet in other ways, it is so very different.
As we passed through customs this morning, we were greeted by mobs of Haitians all trying to fight for our business. Hundreds of Haitians pushing & shoving & yelling. It was like getting a taxi in New York x100.
Once one the road, I was struck by the absolute beauty of Haitian countryside. I no longer question that Haiti was once a major tourist spot. What a shame that dumb Americans got involved & tried to blame them for AIDS. The crystal blue waters of the Caribbean, the booming presence of the mountains, & the vibrant colors of the plants leave little to be desired. Liter, that is, other than the regrowth of the trees that once covered the countryside. Deforestation for the sake of coal production has altered the lay of the land forever. I truly admire the efforts to replant and was glad to get to see them firsthand today.
The resilience of the Haitian people is astounding! Life goes on here as if the earthquake never happened, yet it's imprint is visible everywhere you go. Structures are collapsed, businesses are set up in the streets and people are living packed in like sardines in hot, muddy tent cities. But they go on. Despite the devastation & lack of a plan for the future, they go on. They smile. They laugh. They tell jokes & stories. They cook. They work. They go to school. They go on - seemingly without skipping a beat.
It does make me consider my life & what is truly important to me. Could I live in a tent? Of course I could, but I wouldn't be happy about it. And if I did, what belongings would I deem important enough to bring with me? All the things I have accumulated at home over the years would not fit. In fact, not even the things I have accumulated in my apartment since August would fit. Why do I need all these things? Because they allow me to fit into my own little slice of reality, right? Well, that's not what being a follower of Christ is all about, fitting in. Actually, it is about standing out. Making a radical statement for Him. Allowing Him to light your way, instead of some pre-determined set of standards the world sets for you. Now, I'm not saying I am going to go home and turn in my phone, TV, & laptop (although maybe I should), but I am going to make a change that says I understand & desire the freedom that comes with living a simpler life. I am going to make it more of a priority to listen to the still, small voice of God prompting me.
(tent city at Matthew 25 ministries, Port Au Prince)
On a lighter note, Gusnord is great, the accommodations couldn't be better, the hike to the top of Tout Mon was humbling, & dinner was delicious. I enjoyed fellowshipping with Brittany & Sister Pat very much. Haiti news seems so much more pertinent now that I know what we're referring to. We'll see what new things tomorrow brings.
Simplify my heart, Lord...
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