As we approach the annual celebration of our risen Christ
(Easter) we are reminded that this is not just something worthy of annual recognition but, instead is a daily reason for celebration! Our Lord
and Savior is risen! Our Redeemer
lives! Halleluiah!
It is the significance of this victorious event that causes
Satan to shudder and to draw his followers together to create all variety of insignificant
events to try to distract believers and potential believers away from the
tremendous importance of The Resurrection.
In Haiti, Ra Ra bands will parade the streets at all hours
of the day and night, playing dissonant music and conducting drunken dances to celebrate
the crucifixion as “their victory” over Christ. Of course, the irony is that we, as believers, also
see the cross as “our victory” -- where the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of
God has washed away our sins and given us victory over sin and death for all eternity.
Voodoo practitioners
will do more marching, make more noise and conduct many sacrifices on Easter to
distract and seek to mock the resurrection. But
their efforts are mere nuances, wasted breath to try to blow down a mountain, compared to the the majesty and significance of the resurrected Christ!
As the children of MDL reach out to share the hope of the cross and the Messiah's resurrection this Easter season, they may face resistance and persecution. Every Saturday morning, they wake up early and go out into the community -- into the ravines, the tents and out onto the streets -- sharing the hope of the Risen Lord. The enemy hates this. But our brave young warriors are strengthened and blessed when they see those they met that week appear at our Saturday and Wednesday evening worship services. Lives are transformed and the Hope of the Nations is lifted up for all to see. Yes, there is victory at the foot of the cross!
Please join us in prayer for the month ahead. It will be true warfare! The people who partake in these Ra Ra bands
and other voodoo ceremonies are the parents and siblings of MDL children, the mothers and fathers of our feeding program kids and the family members of the students of our school. They are the people who use our medical clinic
and were assisted by Child Hope during the earthquake. They are our friends and neighbors. Yet all they need is a chance to hear the Truth, to cut through the cultural melee that occurs this time of year and to embrace the everlasting Hope of a loving Father.
It is our prayer that, one day, these people will be
regular attenders at our Wednesday or Saturday night worship celebrations. That they will receive Christ as Lord and
Savior and that the Truth would set them free.
It is our hope, that this season will bring a Harvest of
Hope for the people of Haiti. Please pray daily for the people of Haiti and
our children as we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! That the victory we all know will become the same
true victory for our Haitian brothers and sisters.
God bless you.
Celebrating the Risen Christ Daily With You,
The Manasseros
