A couple of weeks ago, I honestly thought that I did not have the time to go to Haiti to be a part of the Team’s effort to work at the Children’s Home in Les Cayes.  I also did not think that I could do much good since I have never considered myself to be good with children.  I love children, but my time in the ministry has been, except for a few youth retreats here and there, with adults.  As an Army chaplain, I have dealt mostly with Soldiers and their Spouses in times of trauma and bereavement, but not a lot with their kids.  I was never a Childrens or Youth Pastor in a civilian church so I don’t have those type of experiences to draw from and thus I feel more confident dealing with adults.  This is probably why I had to go to Haiti; to be forced to minister outside of my comfort zone.  I learned so much about myself, my fears, and my lack of confidence in the Gospel.  I soon realized that the children in Les Cayes were ministering to me! They helped me see that Jesus is the only source of hope and confidence we have in this present world.  The skills that I thought I did not possess were manifested during the mission trip–to be honest with you, I thought that I would not be compassionate enough to be a good minster to those children.  Now I am sitting at my computer with tears in my eyes as I remember those precious souls at the Cambry Children’s Home.  I really miss them.

Former Sr. Pastor Mike Higgins