When the plane was descending to land in Port Au Prince and I walked into the airport, I knew this was going to be the first of many trips to HATS.
God had been telling me to come for years; however, I pushed it to the back of my mind and gave Him any reason I could come up with as to why I shouldn’t go at this time in my life. I have a daughter who needs her mom, how could I leave her? I don’t have enough time to take off work; it’s a dangerous country; what if I didn’t come home? All good and understandable reasons!
Whenever Mama Karen would visit Yarmouth Wesleyan Church I would greet her with a hug and tell her that I WAS coming, however, I’m sure she started to doubt me as I said it so many times and never came. Sometimes, it takes a while for us to listen to God’s prompting and a good smack helps.
So, that Jesus smack came when a friend, Jocelyn, who I’d gotten to know while serving together on the worship team, had decided to come for an extended period of time. I thought, okay God, if you can bring Jocelyn there for six months, I have no more excuses for one week and I’m sure she’d love to see someone from home during her stay, why not me? I thank God for calling Jocelyn here as she is the reason He used to wake me up and finally listen to His call.
The drive here was amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. So much poverty, so many people doing anything they can on the side of the roads to survive. There was one stop we made on the drive at a market to pick up some mangoes and this boy, probably 10 or 11, was pawing at the van with these big beautiful eyes. In those eyes I saw all of what we drove by and more; poverty, sadness, devastation and hopelessness just to name a few.
We finally arrived at the HATS mission and all the children were there to greet us with a hug and I love hugs!! The last few days have been a mix of many emotions. I went up on the roof yesterday afternoon to take a few minutes for myself, watching the kids play together, and before I knew it the tears were falling down my face. My heart just broke for the children of Haiti but also it was full with amazement at what God is doing and will be doing through the lives of Mama Karen and Jocelyn. To leave a life of comfort in Canada where we have so much (much more than we will ever need or could want) and come to Haiti to be a light in a dark, dark world for Jesus takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes.
Welcome group
Arrival at the mission
Jocelyn and brother Keaton
Lauryn and Magdala
Go Dickieson and Ninja Nancy
Morning devotions
Things moving along. Bob needs to take a break too
Break time
Bob has a live and wiggly chair cushion in Ti Fi’s chair
Time with our kids
Relax time with Luc
I am looking forward to coming again for a longer stay to be a help and a light as well. I know God has a plan for long term missionaries but he also has one for the others, like me, that are short term and I am excited to how He will use me here in the future.
God bless,
Fancy Nancy
– Nancy Goodwin
