Haiti. The people of this island nation live in desperation, trapped under the yoke of poverty, violence, and superstition.

However, the Lord is answering the prayers of His people in Haiti. This was recently seen in the miraculous conversions of Clemezine and her husband Malenga, voodoo witchdoctors who recently committed their lives to Christ.

While many Haitians claim to be Roman Catholic, the majority also practice some form of voodoo, relying upon witchdoctors to heal their illnesses, interpret their dreams, provide love potions, and otherwise guide their lives. Voodoo teaches that God has abandoned his people and left everything under the control of spirits. If something goes wrong, one must appease the spirits by offering sacrifices. In doing so, poor families will often sacrifice everything they own, leaving them with nothing to eat, and languishing in despair.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) missionaries Karen and Michael Broyles are prayer warriors in this battle for the people of Haiti. According to Karen, “There is a never-ceasing need here for prayer, as Satan has a strong grip on the people of Haiti. Voodoo is the national religion and influences almost every aspect of life.”

Clemezine became a witchdoctor to support her family. This also gave her a certain status in the community, and soon she convinced other members of her family to join her in the practice of witchcraft. However, this brought neither joy nor prosperity, and the family struggled to survive.

Years ago, Clemezine had met a missionary who told her about the love of Jesus. This had made little impact at the time, but that seed had yet to sprout. In the spring of 2007 Clemezine dreamed of falling off a cliff.  Though she cried for help, no one came to her aid. Then she saw the missionary she had met those many years before. He told her that another person would come to help her. Then, a pastor appeared in her dream, and saved her life.

This dream had a great impact on Clemezine. Though still practicing Voodoo, she wanted to learn more about Jesus. She attended an informal worship service at the home of JeanJean and Krissie Mompremier, directors of United Christians International. During the service she asked Jesus to forgive her sins and become Lord of her life.

Upon becoming a genuine believer, Clemezine renounced voodoo and burned all her witchcraft items. However, her transition to a new life was not easy. In addition to giving up her livelihood, Clemezine endured a great deal of persecution from family members whom she had led into the practice of Voodoo. Like other Christian converts, she experienced pressure to return to her former way of life. All the while, her husband Malenga continued to practice voodoo.

The MAF team in Haiti began praying for Clemezine and her family. The Broyles shared Clemezine’s story with their ministry partners, and began praying they would be able to minister in a tangible way to Clemezine and others in the town of Pignon. After praying through the summer, their prayers were answered when a church in Tennessee provided the funds to replace the roof on Clemezine’s home. Another Tennessee congregation sent gifts for village children as well as the means to purchase 21 pigs for needy families in the area.

Through these gifts, the MAF team demonstrated God’s love to local Haitians. With the funds donated to purchase tin for a roof and hire local laborers, construction was begun on a new home for Clemezine.  Her family collected stones for the walls, and a four-man work-and-witness team from the U.S. completed the structure.  Responding to this unexpected show of love, Clemezine’s husband Malenga decided to give his heart to the Lord.

“I’ve seen the change that God has made in my wife,” said Malenga. “And I have seen God’s love through the giving hearts of her new ‘family.’ I want this God in my life as well.”

Karen speaks excitedly about this ultimate answer to prayer. “We’ve been praying since we met Clemezine for her family to turn from voodoo and come to Christ. Praise God! Through her life, and through the people who have ministered to her family, God has added another precious soul to the flock.”