Haitian MudcakesA couple weeks ago, four women (including me) had the most wonderful opportunity to go to Haiti to put on a women's conference in Cite Soleil (the poorest area in Haiti and I have heard that it is the poorest area in the northern hemisphere). It was a privelege to bring God's Word and His life and Truth to women in the most desperate circumstances. As an American, it is hard to witness the living conditions of these women, children and families.
The unemployment rate is 80%. Those who work get an average pay of $2/day (I spend more than that on my diet coke & water). The land has been devasted by natural disasters and the government's corruption keeps their people oppressed....very much it reminded me of the Israelites under Egypt's oppression. Jesus is the only hope to this nation! Lord, send a deliverer....hear the cries of Your people!
As we worshipped with the 600 women daily, we were all transformed into a sisterhood of the Beloved daughters of the King. Each one of us, God's favorite! Each one of us, praising the name of our Saviour in the midst of our circumstances! Each one of us, seeking the face of God! Each one of us, inviting His Spirit to dwell in our midst! After the 2nd day of the conference, Pastor Vincent (the pastor who invited us to come lead a women's conference) took us on a "tour" of Cite Soleil....to show us the condition of his city.
We drove for several hours and there was never any relief....homes, more like boxes, some tents, some a little more of a structure...but no running water; no electricity; no trash pick up...the images were so hard to absorb. In America, we cannot imagine such poverty. And up one of the streets, winding through a very small village area, we saw several women walking with their conference folders...they smiled at us and waved~ so excited that we were seeing their "neighborhood". And then Pastor Vincent stopped...and explained what was happening...As we looked on 2 women were stirring something, up to their elbows in a pot-like structure...mudcakes...they were making mudcakes...mud, salt & vegetable oil, all mixed together...then laid out to dry in the hot Haitian sun. Sold for a few cents/piece, but to the Americans, we paid $.25 each (4 for $1). These will be given to their children to eat, because there is no food~ no other option. Mudcakes...the practice has been deemed illegal by the gov't, but they offer no relief; no help to their citizens, so up in the villages, women work to make mudcakes so children can fill their tummies with something.....
Dreadful. Can you imagine? A food source made of mud~ parasites live in it...many get sick and even die from this as their only sustanance.
BUT, as I think about us in America, we too live on spiritual mudcakes. We do not fill ourselves with the Word of God, chewing on His Words of life; spending time in God's presence to be filled to overflowing; giving Him first place in all things in our lives; desiring to know Him & abide in Him; listening for His voice. Instead, we live on mudcakes~ filling our lives with things that don't matter; will not satisty; that even contain parasites that can cause us to be sick and possibly die. And what am I feeding my children, spiritually? Do I feed them mudcakes? Or am I cultivating their hearts to know God and feed upon His Word and His presence~ teaching them to hear God's voice and be still/quiet? Beloved of God~ say no to mudcakes. God calls to us; pursues us; loves us; desires us~ Do not fill your spirit on things that will not satisfy and don't fill your childrens' spirits with the mudcakes of this world... we have a choice, spiritually what to feed on. We are in a priveleged country in many, many ways. And yet, in some ways we are more impoverished than the poorest countries in the world.
I look at the picture of the children and think of my own~ oh Lord Almighty....physically, would you transform the mudcakes into bread from heaven~ give them fresh manna Lord~ that which sustains and fills and nourishes. And Lord, spiritually for us, would You cause us to feed on the fresh manna from Your Treasured Word...and refuse the mudcakes this world offers us.
1 comment:
The reality of mudcakes has really transformed my home and my children this past week. As I showed them pictures an explained what the kids in Haiti eat they felt compassion. Every time they complain about their food I gently remind them about the mudcakes and they seem to have a change of heart. It's amazing what perspective will do.
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