Recently a few or our board members had the opportunity to visit us in Haiti. Mike Bradley shares some of his thoughts about his time with us. I had the privilege of spending 11 days with God’s Vision For Haiti in September, and what a time it was! This was my fourth trip since 2017 and I have certainly seen a change. Haiti has been a troubled nation for a long time and as in any place that is experiencing challenges, it is the least able to adjust; the most dependent and in need are the ones who suffer the most.  When I joined the board of God’s Vision For Haiti there were promises from the Haitian government that the situation would improve, that the common peoples lives would be better. Not only has that not happened but the situation has gotten substantially worse since my first visit. Unable to travel to Les Cayes by car because of the unrest, we needed to take a commuter plane. Upon arriving in Les Cayes, everything was in lockdown and there were many roadblocks we crossed. The roadblocks made travel by car impossible and we spent the time there walking through the campus and the nearby neighborhoods.  Even still, I experienced an island of hope in the despair. During my last successful trip in 2018, God’s Vision For Haiti had just started building a wall around the mission property. Upon our arrival this time the wall was completed, and the mission house, ministry center and outbuildings were completed or nearly done. The God’s Vision For Haiti campus formed an island of the Holy Spirit’s peace and joy in the midst of chaos. Just walking around the grounds you can feel the presence of Jesus. Many in Haiti can enjoy a safe place for worship, sports and fellowship on the campus. Above and beyond that, over 150 children have been served. God’s Vision for Haiti not only places many children in loving families, but also provides wellness checks and education. During natural disasters like the recent earthquake, people were fed, houses repaired, and lives changed for the better.

I was glad to be in Haiti to encourage those working with God’s Vision for Haiti by leading devotions each morning. This time was a great way for me to connect with everyone and start the day with an encouraging moment. One of the days we led a worship service where more than 70 community members attended. To my joy, we were able to encourage not only God’s Vision for Haiti staff, but also individuals and families in the community. It was a blessing to be a part of bringing the hope of God to many facing challenging circumstances daily.  The differences between Haiti and the US are hard to imagine without experiencing the contrast. With a non-functional government, nonprofits like God’s Vision For Haiti are the only thing standing between the most vulnerable and devastation. Thank you for your prayers and monetary support. You are making a difference in people’s lives! Mike Bradley