What If We Were in Their Shoes?
Sunday, September 13, 2026 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]
Today's update is from Renèe, Jonathan, and Taran
Thoughts from Renèe:
Over the past several years, we have watched the lives of so many Haitian families change in ways they never could have imagined. Violence and instability have caused thousands to leave their homes, some seeking safety in other parts of Haiti and others leaving the country altogether.
In Grand-Goâve, we have welcomed families who once had homes, businesses, jobs, and lives they expected to continue, only to find themselves suddenly starting over. Watching all of this has caused me to think deeply about how easily we form opinions about what someone else should do when we have never had to make the choices they are facing.
Sometimes I have to remind myself to stop looking at a situation from where I am standing and try to see it from where someone else stands. Jesus made that pretty simple: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). What would I want if the frightened mother were my daughter? If the hungry children were my grandchildren? If my family no longer felt safe in the place they called home?
In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus described a man who encountered someone wounded and vulnerable and chose to care for him. Then He turned the question back to us: Who was a neighbor to the man in need? (Luke 10:36). Perhaps before deciding what someone else should do, we should ask ourselves a different question: If I were in their shoes, how would I hope someone would treat me?
Not long ago, a family arrived in Grand-Goâve after fleeing violence in another part of Haiti. They had lost everything, slept under trees, and walked about 30 miles on their journey. By the time they arrived, their babies were malnourished. Their story reminds me that someone's circumstances don't tell us how hard they have worked, how intelligent they are, or what kind of life they had before everything changed.
When this family came to MOHI, their babies entered our START NOW program, their older children entered school, and the family found a church community ready to walk alongside them. Their days began to look different. This is what so many wonderful friends and partners make possible. Together, we feed hungry children, provide education and healthcare, teach skills, strengthen families, and share the hope of Christ. We are helping give people tools to build a life, even in a very hard place.
Would I love to see every student who graduates from our schools stay in Haiti, become a leader, and help build a stronger future for the country? Absolutely! But their lives do not belong to MOHI. Each one has a path the Lord has set before them, and it isn't ours to choose that path for them.
I have known so many Haitians living abroad who still long for home and dream of returning someday. Wouldn't it be wonderful if fewer people felt they had to leave the place they love in order to find safety and opportunity? That is one reason the work we do matters. We can help make staying a more viable choice without judging those who decide they must go. We can educate a child, nourish a baby, care for a patient, teach a skill, encourage a family, and create opportunities. And wherever that person eventually builds a life, perhaps our responsibility remains the same: to see our neighbor, to love our neighbor, and, as Jesus said at the end of His story, to “go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
School is coming — and families are getting ready.
The Ministry of Education in Haiti sets the official date for the start of the school year. For as long as we can remember — certainly for the past 20+ years — that date has almost always been pushed back. Sometimes families simply need more time to prepare. Other times, violence, natural disasters, or other circumstances make it impossible for schools and families to be ready.
This year, though, something unusual happened: the start date was delayed by only one week.
The new target is October 1, giving families a little more time to get ready financially, purchase what they need, and, for some, find the support that will make it possible for their children to attend school.
At Mission of Hope International, we have at least 100 newly enrolled students who are still waiting for sponsorship support. That need is greater than ever.
This week, we'll introduce you to two of those students — two children whose families are doing their best to find a way forward.
Will you be the person who helps make that possible for one of them?
If you are able to sponsor Mike or Neilla, please email support@mohintl.org and let us know!
Physical Therapy Clinic — Outreach Day
This past week, our Physical Therapy Clinic held a special outreach day with a simple goal: to help more people in the community learn about the services available and connect with individuals who had not yet visited the clinic.
Throughout the day, the team welcomed 28 new patients. The outreach also created an opportunity to connect people with other medical care they needed, with several patients being referred to our main clinic for additional services and follow-up.
We’re grateful to see more people in the community becoming aware of the Physical Therapy Clinic and, most importantly, getting connected with the care they need.
A Quick Update from the Mission House
We now have Starlink set up at the Mission House in the Dominican Republic! We're grateful to have a more stable internet connection, which will make communication and our day-to-day work a little easier.
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