Welcome to Haiti
The poorest nation in the western hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line, Haiti struggles with more issues than almost any nation. Fifty-four percent of people live in abject poverty.1
The poverty has intensified in the past few years with a series of natural disasters that crippled Haiti’s staple agricultural industry. Just to find work, thousands of Haitians try to cross the border into the Dominican Republic. The reality of the situation is that most Haitians struggle daily for essential needs such as food and water.2
The country is also spiritually impoverished. There have been tremendous strides by missionary efforts in recent years, however most of the supposedly 90 percent Christian nation practices voodoo regularly. Haiti is the poster-child for religious syncretism. Eighty percent of the country claims to be Roman Catholic, but is more actively enslaved to voodoo.3
The nation is also heavily involved in the drug trade. Whether transporting South American drugs to the U.S. or using cannabis in significant amounts, the people of Haiti have tried to solve or escape their problems through drugs.
The government is powerless against these challenges because of the long-standing history of political violence. The latest uprising overthrew the president in 2004, and took two years for the United Nations and other forces to reinstate democracy. Still the government holds very little power and has no military force to shut down the drug trade or cut down on crime.4
In January 2010 a massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital. Thousands have died, but many millions have been injured or otherwise affected. Haiti sits in our backyard, impoverished and hopeless for years, but it took a massive earthquake for many to see their struggle.
Since the earthquake several nations are flooding support into Haiti. There is plenty of food, water and medicine to go around but these do not provide hope. Only the truth found in God’s Word will restore hope to the people of Haiti. Click here to see OneHope Founder Bob Hoskins’ response to the earthquake in Haiti.
Economically, physically and spiritually, Haiti is impoverished. The people of Haiti have no answer for the problems they face. They look to drugs to escape the problems, voodoo to protect them, and other nations to help them stay alive. The Haitian people need to know they are not alone, and that they are loved and treasured by God.
