When Plans Change

Sunday, March 8, 2026 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]  

Today's update is from Jonathan and Taran

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One of the lessons we learn quickly in ministry—especially when serving internationally—is that plans rarely unfold exactly the way we expect.

Schedules change. Resources shift. Circumstances evolve overnight. What seemed simple can suddenly become complicated, and what once looked impossible can open in unexpected ways.

Yet again and again, we are reminded that even when our plans change, God is still at work.

This week’s update from Jonathan captures that reality in a powerful way. His story about helping a young man named James navigate a complex medical journey reminds us how flexibility, perseverance, and faith often go hand-in-hand in this work.

Before sharing Jonathan’s reflection, we wanted to offer a few updates from the ministry happening this week across Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

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Haiti Updates

Life-Changing Care at the Clinic

Our clinic team recently witnessed a powerful reminder of why access to healthcare matters so deeply.

A patients who lives with diabetes arrived at the clinic in extremely serious condition. Their blood sugar levels had become dangerously uncontrolled. When they first came to us, they had to be carried into the clinic because they could no longer walk.

Our medical team immediately began daily treatment and close monitoring.

After just one week of consistent care, the patient was able to walk into the clinic on their own.

Moments like this remind us that the work happening here is not just meaningful—it is truly life-saving. We are incredibly grateful for the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians who serve our community with such dedication and compassion.

Physical Therapy Clinic Progress

We are also excited to see continued progress on the new physical therapy clinic.

Photos from this week show the waiting area taking shape and the roof now being installed. Once completed, this space will allow us to care for patients recovering from injuries, strokes, and other physical challenges that currently go untreated for many people in our region.

This clinic represents another step toward providing holistic healthcare for the communities we serve.

Church

Our church in Haiti continues to thrive.

Each week we see people gathering to worship, pray, and encounter the Lord together. The worship team has been working diligently to create meaningful times of praise that help people connect deeply with God.

It is always encouraging to see the church healthy and growing, and to witness lives being transformed through faith and community.

School

Our schools remain one of the most joyful places.

Each day around 800 students fill the classrooms—learning, laughing, and growing together. Education continues to be one of the most powerful tools we have for breaking cycles of poverty and creating long-term opportunity.

Currently about 200 of our students are sponsored, but 600 children are still waiting for a sponsor.

For $41 per month, sponsorship provides:

• Christian education

• A daily meal at school

• Access to free medical care

• School uniforms and supplies

• Books and learning materials

For many children, this support makes the difference between attending school and staying home.

If you have ever considered sponsoring a child, this would be a powerful way to invest in the future of a young life.

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Dominican Republic Updates

The Garden Continues to Grow

The garden at our Luperón campus continues to produce a wonderful harvest.

Fresh vegetables are being used to help feed visiting teams as well as support local village feeding programs. As we continue developing the mission house property, we are excited about expanding the garden even further to increase food production.

Another blessing has been the steady supply of eggs from our chickens. Every day we collect fresh eggs that are used in meals for teams and children in our programs.

And as you might imagine—the kids absolutely love the eggs.

Business Academy

Our Business Academy continues to invest in young adults who are eager to build brighter futures.

Here is an update from Chedner Brunot, who teaches both English and computer classes:

We started a new session for English and Computer classes. In the English class we currently have 24 students and in the computer class we have 26 students. Some of the level two students from last year are continuing because they are eager to learn even more.

Our goal is to help students gain the confidence to hold meaningful conversations in English, while also developing computer skills that will help them find good employment opportunities.

We are incredibly proud of these students and the dedication they show each week.

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We Need Your Help

This summer we are preparing for an important construction project at the mission house in Luperón.

The existing roof must be removed and rebuilt with a simpler design that eliminates ongoing leaks. Replacing the dormer layout with full-height walls will also transform the space into a more functional sleeping area for visiting teams.

We are looking for construction teams who would be willing to come serve this summer.

If you have construction skills—or know someone who does—we would love to connect. Teams will assist with demolition, wall, and roof reconstruction.

If you or someone you know may be interested, please reach out. Your skills could make a lasting impact.

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Update from Jonathan

When Plans Change: Lessons in Flexibility

If there is one thing that international work in places like Haiti and the Dominican Republic has taught me, it is this: even the best-made plans can unravel in a moment’s notice.

As an American, I am wired to believe that things should happen in a particular order — according to a defined process, at a projected cost, within a set timeline. You make the spreadsheet. You follow the steps. You execute the plan.

But that mindset rarely survives long in the developing world.

Over the years, this work has forced me to become more patient, more flexible, and far less rigid in my thinking. It has required me to loosen my grip on timelines and expectations and accept that circumstances — political, economic, logistical, even global — can shift overnight. And that’s not failure. That’s reality. And sometimes, it’s even grace.

An Update on James

Many of you know that James is in need of two mechanical heart valve replacements. He previously underwent two valve replacement surgeries, but those valves were biological (tissue valves), and they are now failing. Mechanical valves are his best long-term option.

When Renee at Mission of Hope International first asked if I could help explore options for care in the United States, I immediately began thinking through the pathways that had worked in the past — a particular nonprofit partner, a hospital in Miami, familiar systems that once made cases like this possible.

But the landscape has changed dramatically.

Visas are not being issued to Haitians the way they once were. Hospitals that previously absorbed international charity cases have had budgets slashed due to shifting federal funding priorities. Services that used to be offered freely are no longer viable options. What I assumed might be straightforward quickly became an exercise in pivoting, adjusting, and starting over.

By God’s grace, we were able to secure a hospital in the United States willing to receive James for his surgery at no cost. That was the first major hurdle. With that confirmation, we could then pursue authorization for a medical visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

There was no guarantee he would be granted that opportunity.

Then, last week, everything accelerated.

On a Monday, James received word: be at the U.S. Embassy the next day for your interview.

The next day.

Anyone familiar with travel in Haiti understands how impossible that can sound. You cannot simply decide to “go to Port-au-Prince tomorrow.” Flights are limited and frequently fully booked. Roads pass through fragile and gang-controlled areas. Transportation is unpredictable at best, dangerous at worst.

My first instinct was to say, “You can’t go. This isn’t realistic.”

But when the nonprofit assisting with the appointment reminded James that declining this opportunity might mean never getting another chance, the decision became clear.

So we did what this work so often requires: we adapted.

James traveled by public transportation — multiple buses and then a motorcycle — through unstable and high-risk areas to reach a safe place where he could spend the night before his interview.

And we are incredibly grateful to report: his visa was approved.

At the embassy, when a visa is granted, they keep your passport for processing. They kept his passport. That simple act was confirmation that he will be allowed to travel.

It happened faster than we anticipated.

The Costs We Didn’t See Coming

While we celebrate this milestone, we are also navigating realities we did not foresee.

The cost of safe housing in Port-au-Prince while he waits for his passport has been far higher than projected. Airfare to the United States has surged due to instability in the Middle East and global travel pressures. Temporary housing near the hospital in Texas where James must remain for up to two months post-surgery is significantly more expensive than our original estimates.

Months ago, I built a budget based on the best information we had.

But international work constantly reminds us: assumptions are fragile.

Global events shift. Local crises escalate. Prices change. Access disappears. Doors close, and others unexpectedly open.

Holding Plans Loosely

Despite the challenges, we are deeply encouraged.

James is currently in Port-au-Prince.His visa has been approved.He is completing dental work ahead of surgery to reduce the risk of infection and complications.He is waiting for his passport to be returned.

Each step forward has required flexibility, courage, and faith.

We know a way will be made for him to travel to the United States in the coming weeks, undergo surgery, recover well, and return home to Haiti stronger and healthier.

If this journey has reminded me of anything, it is that international work is not about controlling outcomes. It is about responding faithfully when plans change. It is about perseverance. It is about community. It is about stepping forward even when the path is unclear.

I am deeply indebted to the supporters who have come together to help save James’ life. Your generosity, prayers, and encouragement make moments like this possible.

From my heart — thank you for continuing to walk with us.

Jonathan