why?

We’ve gotten the same question a few times recently:  “There are so many poor people, people that need help, and people who need to hear the Gospel HERE.  Why do you have to take your kids and work  in Haiti when there is so much to do here?”

We could, of course, argue for the fact that Haiti is a fourth world country, one of 49 in the world, meaning that it has one of the lowest human development index ratings.  This means that the national average for income is less than $750 US, that it shows major weaknesses in areas of nutrition, health, education and literacy, and that it shows great economic vulnerability.  AIDS, lack of political stability, lack of social stability, extensive political corruption, ongoing and widespread conflict, and conditions of extreme poverty all characterize the 49 countries in this category, though Haiti is the ONLY country categorized as fourth world in the western hemisphere. 

We could also tell you about the many areas of Haiti that still have NO churches and entire communities that have NO Christians, or talk about the grip that voodoo, animism and Satanic traditions have in Haiti.

We could even talk to you about how the Haitian people and culture have become close to our hearts.

And while all these things are true, they’re not why.

We’re in Haiti doing what we’re doing because we felt, and have felt clearly each year since, to this day, that God asked us to be. 

This past Sunday we were privileged to hear a man name Rich Nathan preach.  He spoke about God’s will and about how you can know what that is.  Our original calls to preaching and teaching His Word in Haiti were a process that spanned years and included Him revealing Himself and His next steps for us over and over and in so many ways. 

Every summer when we leave Haiti for a few weeks, we commit to searching out His will again, not wanting to be committed to a call of the past, but committed to Christ and what He is saying and doing NOW.  We’ve asked Him to keep calling us, WHEREVER that is, and to help us discern His voice and be ready to obey.

“As you’re praying for His will and seeking His plan for your future,” Nathan shared Sunday, “Don’t forget what He has already made clear to you for now.  Don’t neglect what you know for sure while you’re searching out what you don’t!”

For now, that’s still Haiti, still Emmaus Biblical Seminary.  But if He clearly closed that door and directed us towards ministry in a different country, to inner city New York or the upper class in Idaho or a church or a school or a homeless ministry or to open a Taco Bell ministry (I dunnoJ) or WHATEVER, we pray and trust that He would help us to do just that, just His way in just His time.