When Plans Change, Purpose Doesn’t
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Sunday, March 22, 2026 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]
Today's update is from Jonathan and Taran
When Plans Change, Purpose Doesn’t
Sometimes, the most meaningful moments in ministry aren’t the ones we plan.
They’re the ones we didn’t see coming.
Later in this update, you’ll hear from Jonathan as he shares a powerful reminder that even when plans change, purpose doesn’t. His story reflects something we see often in this work—God is always moving, even when the path looks different than expected.
And this week, across both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, we’ve seen that truth unfold in so many ways.
Dominican Republic Updates
A Life Being Restored
When we first met Kerlens, he was covered in sores and scabs across his body.
He has special needs and struggled with significant anxiety. His parents shared that he couldn’t be left alone, which meant only one of them could leave the house at a time. He didn’t speak. He lived in constant discomfort.
But over the past several months, something beautiful has been happening.
Dr. Carmen from Bless Back Worldwide visited his family in January and again in February. Since then, our
Community Health Promoter, Marlous, has been consistently visiting and supporting them.
Last week, she shared an incredible update.
Kerlens has seen major physical improvement—and now, he is beginning to speak.
For the first time, he was able to say the word:
“Mama.”
It’s hard to fully capture what a moment like that means for a family.
This is what consistent care, relationship, and presence can do.
Growing and Learning in Luperón
In Luperón, we are continuing to see growth—not only physically, but in leadership and development.
We’ve begun harvesting beans from Lex’s garden, a simple but meaningful reminder of sustainability and provision.
At the same time, the Business Academy continues to equip leaders with practical tools:
Level 1 students learned how to calculate the true cost of their products and services
Level 2 students focused on brand management, developing their identity and understanding the value they bring to the marketplace
These are more than business lessons—they are opportunities for individuals to grow in confidence, clarity, and purpose.
The Mission House in Luperón
We are also continuing to move forward with the mission house in Luperón, a space that will serve teams, host ministry, and create opportunities for deeper relationship.
Right now, we are actively working with an architect to finalize the layout, design, and materials so we can move toward a full estimate.
One of the most urgent needs is the roof.
The current roof is leaking significantly and is causing ongoing water damage inside the home. This is a project that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
We are currently:
Raising funds to cover the cost of replacing the roof
Looking for teams who would be willing to come this summer to help complete the work
This house represents more than a building—it is a place where ministry will grow, relationships will deepen, and lives will be impacted for years to come.
If you are interested in supporting this project—either financially or by serving on a team—we would love to connect with you.
Summer Internship Opportunity
We are also continuing to prepare for our Summer Internship Program (July 1 – August 1).
This is an opportunity for young adults (ages 18–25) to spend a month living and serving alongside our team in the Dominican Republic.
Interns will:
Help host mission teams
Serve in children’s programs and feeding initiatives
Shadow community health promoters
Assist with agriculture projects
Support daily operations on the ground
The work interns participate in will cover their room and board, making this an accessible opportunity for those who want to grow in faith, leadership, and service.
Haiti Updates
A Season of Testing and Growth
Last week was a testing week at the school in Grand-Goâve.
Throughout the year, students complete multiple rounds of testing as they prepare for their final exams. These moments are important milestones, reflecting both their hard work and the investment being made in their education.
Reflecting on the Cross
In church, the focus has been on the Cross.
Together, the community is reflecting on what it means that Jesus would willingly give His life—an act of love that continues to shape how we live, serve, and care for one another.
Ministry in St. Etienne
It was also a joy for our congregation in St. Etienne welcome Pastor Edon this week.
Some may not know that MOHI also operates a second church and school in this village, where faithful ministry is happening each week.
Caring Through the Dental Clinic
Our dental clinic continues to serve patients with a wide range of needs—from cleanings to fillings to extractions.
What stands out most is not just the procedures being done, but the way each patient is treated—with dignity, care, and compassion.
When Plans Change, Purpose Doesn’t:
A Field Update from Jonathan
This past Sunday, I flew into the northern part of Haiti with a clear plan in mind: spend a couple of days connecting with our teams in the north, then hop on a small local flight down to the south and make my way to Grand-Goâve. The goal was to spend a week or two at the school there with Mission of Hope Haiti, helping train staff on new database systems and child tracking tools we’ve been developing and preparing to implement.
It was a solid plan. Organized. Thoughtful. Efficient.
And like many things in this work… it didn’t quite go that way.
The local airline ended up bungling my reservation—not once, not twice, but three separate times. Each delay meant another adjustment, another day waiting, another attempt to make it south. After the third setback, it became clear that the timeline I had carefully mapped out wasn’t going to hold.
So, I shifted.
Instead of continuing to push against closed doors, I made the decision to travel to another region of Haiti where I’ll now spend the next couple of weeks investing in relationships, supporting ongoing work, and being present where I can be effective right now. The plan is to head to Grand-Goâve toward the end of March or early April and spend intentional time with the team there then.
If there’s one thing I’m continuing to learn, it’s this: flexibility isn’t just helpful in this work—it’s essential.
But what might feel like disruption is often something else entirely.
Around the same time as all of this travel shifting, we encountered a situation in the Dominican Republic that reminded me exactly why.
A young Haitian girl had been born with a severe eye condition—her eyes were significantly crossed, and as a result, they weren’t working together. Her vision was extremely limited. She struggled to see clearly, to read, to learn. Each eye was essentially developing on its own, forcing her to strain constantly just to make sense of the world around her.
Her situation was brought to the attention of Pastor Lex, who then reached out to me. From there, we began trying to figure out what could be done—and quickly.
By what can only be described as perfect timing, I was able to connect with a mission in the Dominican Republic that was preparing to host a team of ophthalmologists coming down from New York City the very next week.
We were able to get her on the schedule.
She had the surgery.
And today, her prognosis is 100% positive.
It’s hard not to step back and see the bigger picture in moments like this.
A delayed flight.
A shifted plan.
A conversation.
A connection.
A team already scheduled to be in place.
None of it was something we could have orchestrated perfectly on our own. And yet, somehow, all of it aligned at exactly the right time for one young girl to receive life-changing care.
That’s the reminder I’m holding onto in this season:
Not every detour is a delay.
Not every obstacle is something to overcome.
Sometimes, they are redirections—placing us exactly where we need to be, so we can encounter exactly who we’re meant to serve.
In the work we do at Mission of Hope International, we often talk about being “on mission.” But the truth is, mission isn’t just something we plan—it’s something we walk into, often unexpectedly.
The people we meet.
The places we go.
The interruptions we didn’t anticipate.
All of it can be part of something much greater than we can see in the moment.
As I continue these next couple of weeks here in Haiti, my plans may still shift. Schedules may change. Logistics may fall through.
But the mission remains steady.
And if this past week has shown me anything, it’s that even when things don’t go according to our plan, they may still be unfolding according to a much bigger one.
Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us, pray with us, and support this work. You are part of every story—planned or unplanned—that unfolds along the way.
With gratitude,
Jonathan
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