A Special Moment in Haiti

10 hours ago

4 min read

Sunday, October 11, 2026 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]

Today's update is from Taran and Jonathan

One of the greatest joys of ministry is seeing people come to know Jesus.

We are grateful for every opportunity God gives us to provide education, healthcare, food, and practical support to the families we serve. But at the heart of everything we do is a desire for people to experience the love of Christ and discover the hope we have in Him.

This past Sunday, we had a particularly special moment at our church in Haiti.

One of our ninth-grade students, who recently earned the highest score in her area on the national exams, was attending church with her mother.

Pastor Lex invited them both to come forward. He took a moment to recognize her accomplishments, speak words of encouragement, and pray over them.

During that special moment, this young lady made a decision to follow Jesus!

What a beautiful reminder that while we celebrate academic achievements and opportunities for young people to grow, we are also grateful for the ways God is working in their hearts and lives.

Jesus reminds us in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

We celebrate this young lady's academic success, but even more, we rejoice in her decision to follow Christ.

Please join us in praying for her as she continues growing in her education and her faith.

Come Serve With Us in January!

January 9–15, 2027 | Dominican Republic

Have you ever wanted to go on a mission trip but didn't have a group to go with?

Some of our favorite HOPE Encounters bring together people from different places and backgrounds. This past summer, we welcomed a team made up of individuals and families from across the United States and Canada.

Some came with friends. Others came individually. By the end of the week, they had become a team.

We're doing it again January 9–15, 2027, and we'd love for you to join us!

This trip is open to individuals, friends, families, and small groups. We're planning a variety of possible projects, including playground construction, children's programs, Business Academy teaching, and other opportunities to serve alongside our local team.

You don't need special skills or previous mission trip experience. Just a willingness to come, build relationships, and serve.

Want to learn more?

We're hosting a virtual information session on Sunday, October 18, at 4:30 PM Eastern.

We'll share more about the trip, possible projects, costs, travel details, and what to expect.

If you're interested, email us at support@mohintl.org, and we'll send you the information session link.

Space is limited, and January is coming quickly!

Help Us Name This Puppy!

A little fun from the Mission House

Renée has fallen in love with one of Kahlah's adorable puppies, and there's just one little problem...

This sweet little girl needs a name!

We've had plenty of excitement with our newest four-legged Mission House residents, and now we'd love your help.

🐶 What do you think we should name her?

Head over to this week's blog post on Facebook and leave your favorite name in the comments!

Who knows? Your suggestion might become her official Mission House name!

Behind the Scenes at the Mission House

Update from Jonathan

Things are busy here in the Dominican Republic as we prepare to welcome our first HOPE Encounter team in several weeks! There is a surprising amount of work that goes into getting ready for a group, and while we do our best to keep the Mission House maintained and ready to welcome visitors at any time, gaps between teams give us a chance to tackle some of the bigger projects on our list.

One of our latest upgrades is the addition of two new split A/C units in the residential area where our HOPE Encounter team members stay. That means nearly every room in the Mission House now has air conditioning! This might sound like a bit of a luxury to those of you reading from cooler climates, but trust us, it is a necessity here. Our teams spend long days doing physically demanding work in extreme heat, and having a cool place to recover is important for both their health and safety. A good night's sleep makes a big difference when you're getting up the next morning to do it all over again!

Of course, the improvements aren't just for our human guests. We've also added a proper doghouse for Kahla and her growing family. Kahla had six puppies, although sadly, one didn't survive. Two of the others have since started wandering now that they're getting older, and Mom could certainly use a little breathing room! We've managed to recover one or two of the pups down at the bottom of the hill near the Mission House. For now, we're keeping them safe at night while we figure out the next steps. Will they become permanent Mission House residents, or will Jonathan end up adopting one? That's still to be determined!

We're also working on improvements to our internet connectivity. MOHI is an international team, with people working across Haiti, the United States, and the Dominican Republic. We've now added two new team members working remotely from the Philippines, too! Keeping everyone connected and able to collaborate effectively is essential, especially when we're spread across several countries and time zones. Better connectivity helps us coordinate programs, support our teams, and keep the behind-the-scenes work moving forward.

There's always something happening around here, whether it's preparing rooms, improving the facilities, keeping the puppies out of trouble, or finding better ways for our international team to work together. These projects may not always be the most visible part of our ministry, but they help make everything else possible.

So, when are you coming back down to see us? We'd love to welcome you to the Mission House, show you what's new, introduce you to the latest four-legged additions, and give you a chance to be part of the work happening here in the Dominican Republic!