While in Michigan we will be shivering under blankets of snow this Christmas, Haitians will be enjoying week after week of sunny, dry and warm winter weather. While Christmas in Haiti is very different outwardly, there are many similarities with our experience. For example, Haitians travel back to their hometowns to enjoy time with family, they often spend too much money on gifts, they get Christmas bonuses (the lucky few with jobs get two-months’ salary in December), and they go to church (though unlike us, they often spend entire afternoons and evenings at these services). The greatest similarity, however, is the need that both Haiti and North America has for the Christmas child—Jesus Christ. Here we are assaulted by the temptations of consumerism—to satisfy our deepest needs with new cars, jewelry, toys and electronics. In Haiti, the Christmas season is a time of greatly increased theft as people steal from others to give gifts to loved ones. Whether we live in North America or Haiti, we all need to be transformed by a relationship with Christ.
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