What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “Haiti”? The earthquake, poverty, political corruption. It was one of those, right. Well, the phrase that comes to my mind is “miraculous generosity”

Countries like Haiti have been getting missionaries for decades, but today God is a transforming mission in a two-way street. Missiologist Samuel Escobar calls this “Missions everywhere to everywhere.”

This change has been confirmed again and again by young people around the world that are responding to God’s call to cross-cultural ministry. Therefore, as part of our family ministry in Central America and the Caribbean, we issued the challenge to our countries to send their own volunteers missionaries. This is “volunteers”, as such, raising their own funds from their own families and churches.

We have seen God work in amazing ways. ,He has raised young people from Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guyana. However, there was a country that everyone told us that they would never send a missionary, Haiti. Many church leaders told us to spend our time elsewhere. “Haiti is too poor to send”, they said.

As I met with youth leaders in Haiti, I issued the challenge. It was a new concept for them, but they assured me they were on board.

My translator during that time was a 23-year-old young man named Kesner Absolu. My first impression of him was that he lacked self-confidence. He was also sick, and frankly did not look like a successful missionary. So, obviously, I was surprised when Haiti interviewed potential candidates and Kesner was selected!

In the coming months we trained Kesner. Internet was poor quality and we never used Skype, so this was an adventure. He needed seven visas to come to countries where the mission team would be ministering. Slowly and surely these issues were addressed; however, the issue of fundraising hovered over us. Were the offerings coming in? Did the people know about Kesner’s need? Should we cancel flights and admit defeat?

Two weeks before the sending, Kesner wrote me an email (a miracle in itself!). I heard the joy in Kesner’s words while he reported that he had visited dozens of churches and shared his testimony. The entire amount raised was over $ 2,000.00! Haiti had done it!

The tears in my eyes clouded the words on the screen. I almost missed the last part. Kesner signed his email address as follows:

Kesner Absolu

First Haitian young missionary

“In the midst of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (2 Cor. 8: 2 NIV)

Taken from Blog: http://transformaelmundo.com/2015/06/17/anti-historia/#r espond

Written by: Scott Armstrong, Missionary of the Church of the Nazarene, in the Mesoamerican region – GENESIS