One local woman’s undeniable call to reach out to the Haitian community has taken her on several mission trips to the Western world’s poorest country.
“We feel a burden in our hearts for the people of Haiti,” said High Springs resident Misty Emerson, 35. Along with her husband, Ryan, and 9-year-old daughter, Cary, Emerson spent two weeks in the small town of Pignon in July. For basic supplies, the nearly 30,000 residents there must travel four hours to the nearest city of Cap-Haiten. People walk miles to get water from the river since there are no government services, little running water and limited electricity. Although some are fortunate enough to live in concrete houses with dirt floors, many people live in homes built from sticks woven together. “People bathe, wash clothes and drink water from the river,” Emerson said.
She has been traveling to the Pignon region at least once or twice a year since 2002 on short-term mission trips. During her most recent trip, Emerson’s family brought food directly to people’s homes and helped families with home repairs. They also painted classrooms and worked on renovation projects at College de la Grace, a school for 850 students from kindergarten through the 13th year. Emerson’s sister-in-law, Kara, 30, has lived and worked in Pignon as a missionary at the school for three years through Hosean International Ministries (HIM).
Headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., HIM was started in 1984 by Caleb Lucien, a Haitian native who recognized a need for the ministry in his home town of Pignon. Lucien was educated in the states and started this mission to improve the lives of people in his native community, both physically and spiritually. In 2005, HIM initiated an electric cooperative that provides some residents with electricity for several hours each evening.
Emerson got involved in ministry work in Haiti through churches and is a member of Christ Central Ministries of Alachua.
But you don’t have to travel to Haiti to do mission work. Anyone can minister to the Haitian people from here in the states, she said. A donation of $30 a month pays for one child’s basic educational needs, which includes French, English and computer classes, as well as one hot meal per day along with a school uniform.
As long as there are willing hearts and helping hands, non-profit groups like HIM will help missionaries continue to bring smiles and much needed resources to those in need.
Hosean International Ministries www.hosean.org A tax-deductible donation can be sent to HIM, 10816 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 203 Little Rock, AR., 72211. For information about the local group, e-mail Misty Emerson at love2haiti@hotmail.com .
