Haitians Seek Solace Amid the Ruins
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2430590/posts
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — With their churches flattened, their priests killed and their Bibles lost amid the rubble of their homes, desperate Haitians prayed in the streets on Sunday, raising their arms in the air and asking God to ease their grief.
Outside the city’s main cathedral, built in 1750 but now a giant pile of twisted metal, shattered stained glass and cracked concrete, parishioners held a makeshift service at the curb outside, not far from where scores of homeless people were camping out in a public park. The bishop’s sermon of hope was a hard sell, though, as many listening had lost their relatives, their homes and their possessions.
“We have to keep hoping,” said Bishop Marie Eric Toussant, although he acknowledged that he had no resources to help his many suffering parishioners and did not know whether the historic cathedral would ever be rebuilt. He said the quake had toppled the residences where priests stayed, crushing many of them.
Baptized at the cathedral, Jean Viejina, 68, said she had visited the church every Sunday morning for as long as she can remember, using it to help her endure what she described as a challenging life raising six children. Now, even this place of refuge, like so much in Port-au-Prince, was gone.
With their churches flattened, their priests killed and their Bibles lost amid the rubble of their homes, desperate Haitians prayed in the streets on Sunday, raising their arms in the air and asking God to ease their grief.
The judgment of God does have a way of getting people's attention, and I'm sure that those practicing voodoo are engaging in their rituals, too -- along with whatever Christians are in Haiti (and there were some, trying to change the culture of voodoo and Satanic practices that were rampant and widespread in Haiti).
Even the righteous Daniel, in the Bible, was carried away and dislocated from Israel and put in another country and had to serve another government, as part of that judgment of God upon the nation of Israel. And so, you will also find Christians and those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Messiah of Israel -- caught in "national judgment" upon nations, too -- just like many Christians here are caught up in the "national judgment" of God upon this nation -- in the form of Obama as President.