Haiti deserves our compassion, not only for her recent tragedy, but for her history of poverty, political violence, and spiritual darkness.

The following information was found mainly at the following three sources.  (Note: Information differed slightly from source to source.)

 •  The CIA online World Factbook, Country of Haiti.

 •  Operation World.  Online information and prayer material excerpted from Operation World, a prayer handbook for the Church with concise information on every country from a Christian perspective in calendar format to assist systematic daily prayer.  Also available are: a CD version, Window on the World (Children's version), and a wall map.

 •  The U.S. Department of State.  Background Note: Haiti.

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic).

 •  Size:  slightly smaller than the state of Maryland

 •  Terrain:  mostly rough and mountainous

 •  Climate:  tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

 •  Natural hazards:  lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

 •  Map Study:  Map of Haiti

 •  Globe Study.

Locate Haiti on a globe and notice the relative position and nearness to the United States and other Caribbean countries.  (Links go to CIA World Factbook.)

1.  Republic of Cuba (Communist state)

2.  The Island of Hispaniola (Republic of Haiti and Dominican Republic)

3.  The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (territory of the US with commonwealth status).

After Columbus discovered the island of Hispaniola in 1492, the native Taino Amerindians were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years.

The Spanish genocide against the indigenous Arawakans, the cruel slavery instituted and maintained by the Spanish and then the French are a tragic background.  Haiti has been plagued by tyrannies, cruelties, and political violence for most of its history.

During the 18th century, African slaves were brought to work on sugarcane and coffee plantations.

In 1791, a slave revolt against the French resulted in the 1804 independence and the creation of the first black republic in the world and the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States.

The impending defeat of the French in Haiti is widely credited with contributing to Napoleon's decision to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803.

The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the the United States and opened the door for westward expansion.

Haiti has endured a troubled history of bloodshed and dictatorships since then.

 •  Read a May 3, 1971, Time magazine article on the death of Francois Duvalier and his voodoo associations, and the January 23, 2010, article "Voodoo despot who bled Haiti dry is tracked down to Paris where he's plotting to use quake tragedy to return to power."

Since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti.  Illegal migration and smuggling of illicit drugs are continuing problems.

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The people of Haiti are called Haitians.  Here are some facts.

 •  Population:  9,035,536 (estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to HIV/AIDS).

 •  Urban population:  40-47% of total population

 •  Ethnic groups:  black (Afro-Caribbean) 90-95%, mulatto (Eurafrican) and white Euro-American 5-10%

 •  Official Languages:  French and Creole

 •  Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write):  56%

 •  Poverty:  Haiti is the poorest and least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54-75% in abject poverty.

Frequent natural disasters, soil erosion, pollution, drought, famine, and the lack of a viable government all contribute to this problem.

 •  From U.S. Department of State, 2003 data:  Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 28%, voudou (voodoo) practices pervasive.

 •  From CIA World Book:  Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%; roughly half of the population practices voodoo.

Voodoo is a development of West African spiritism.  The word (also spelled Vodun, Vodou, Voudou, Vodoun, Vaudou, Vaudoux) is seldom used by Haitians, who speak of people following or serving the loa.

Haitians tend to see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs coexisting with Catholicism.  Most Protestants, however, strongly oppose voodoo.

 •  Missionaries to Haiti:  449 in 76 agencies from 13 countries: USA 373, Canada 32, France 21.

 •  Voodoo and Haitian History

 •  Description of the Voodoo Religion

 •  What does the Bible say about Voodoo?

 •  BBC's Country profile of Haiti.  Includes a list of 13 natural disasters, beginning with the 1770 Earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince.

 •  A Country Study of Haiti

 •  The Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C.

 •  Faces of Haiti.  46 photos (none offensive).

As Christians, we are called to do what we can to help alleviate pain and suffering.  We can express the love of Christ to the people of Haiti through our prayers and gifts.

"I have never seen Haitians crying out to God like now," said Food for the Hungry's health program manager in Haiti.  "We need you to pray for lives to be changed by the grace of God."

The people of Haiti need our prayers!

"We pray for all Haitians, relief workers, pastors and missionaries, and that saving light may shine in a land of great distress." – Dr Peter Masters, pastor, Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

 •  The physical and spiritual needs of Haitians to be met

 •  Those that are meeting these needs in Haiti, for wisdom, strength, and protection

 •  For the thousands of children who are separated from, or do not have, parents

 •  That those who can, will give

Give through your own local church or one of the following organizations.

Many quality relief organizations are doing tremendous work in Haiti.  The following are trusted ministries that give in Christ's name and share the Gospel.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

You can learn more about each organization and see a report of their relief work in Haiti by accessing their website.

 •  Samaritan's Purse (supplies aid to the poor, sick, and suffering with food, medicine, and other assistance)

 •  Compassion International (works with children, families, and communities)

 •  World Vision (works with children, families, and communities)

 •  Food for the Hungry (Supplies food)

 •  Mercy Ships (operates hospital ships)

 •  Habitat for Humanity (builds housing)

Under certain conditions, people who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti (Jan. 11 - Feb. 28, 2010) can claim these donations on their 2009 or 2010 tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

"Americans have opened their hearts to help those affected by the Haiti earthquake," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.  "This new law provides an immediate tax benefit for the many taxpayers who have made generous donations."

You many want to order these resources, point your church or ministry to their availability, or support their ministry with a donation.

 •  Haitian Creole Bible online

 •  Download copyright-free HTML software for Haitian Creole Bible

 •  Introduction to the Haitian Creole Language with everyday and spiritual/biblical vocabulary enabling you to share the Gospel.  Low-cost, self-study book plus tape or CD from Logos Language Institute.

 •  God's Simple Plan of Salvation gospel tract in Creole

 •  Solar-Powered Audio Bibles for Haiti.  Available for relief groups, churches, and ministries.  (800) 545-6552, Haiti@FaithComesByHearing.com

 •  The Jesus Film, the full 2-hour classic movie, in Haitian Creole French.  (This movie is also offered in more than 1,000 languages!)  Watch the full or children's versions or listen to the sound tract online.

 •  Radio Lumiere is a network of nine Christian radio stations and a Christian television station.  It covers 90% of the island of Haiti with the message of Christ's love.  In addition, it streams live.

 •  Haitian Creole Bible - order online.

 •  Answers in Genesis Booklets available in Haitian Creole

The Haitian government has halted the departure of all orphans until it can guarantee that only legitimate adoptions are being approved.

World Vision's chief executive, Justin Byworth, said a wave of adoptions could leave children vulnerable to trafficking and abuse.

Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children's chief executive, said: "The vast majority of the children currently on their own still have family members alive who will be desperate to be reunited with them and will be able to care for them with the right support."

Organizations are registering people, children and others, who are separated, homeless, in hospitals, and are trying to reunite families.