For the past seven years, Ben Rush has been provided with opportunities to witness the love of renewed hearts and transformed minds. Through Hope for La Gonave, an organization that provides ministry to Haitian children, he has seen the powerful transformation faith provides in the midst of poverty, hunger and a third-world country.
“The biggest reward is being able to serve Christ and His people,” Rush said. “Matthew 25:40 says ‘And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' It is an honor for me to be associated with people who in the world’s eyes are poor beyond reason but who are rich in faith. They count me as a brother and friend.”
Hope for La Gonave is an organization that provides a ministry to the children of La Gonave, Haiti. Children in the poorest area of Haiti are taught God’s Word, as well as pushing literacy and overall health and nutrition.
Rush joined the organization in 2015. Through the organization, he has traveled to La Gonave to train pastors and other church leaders. Through his journey, he and his wife Connie have also sponsored two children he lovingly refers to as “his girls.”
But when the pandemic hit, travel through the organization became difficult, if not non-existent. However, when travel restrictions slowly started to return to normal, Rush was recently able to return to Haiti, a country that has made headlines with its inner turmoil and political upheaval.
And despite those challenges, the mission was clear, strong and still needed.
“The challenges are the ongoing political instability of Haiti, the culture, and logistics, such as making sure we have enough supplies of food and more for the schools,” Rush said. The way we overcome is by prayer first. Our God knows our needs, and He provides bountifully.”
The island of La Gonave is about 15 miles off the mainland of Haiti. The island is about 35 miles long and 12 miles wide at the widest point. It is home to about 120,000 of the poorest people in Haiti. In fact, Haiti is considered the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and La Gonave is the poorest of Haiti.
Hope for La Gonave was established after Matthew Baugh, a missionary to Haiti, was traveling to meet a group of Haitian pastors. As he neared the fishing village of Luly, a truck pulled into his lane of traffic and hit his motorcycle head on. Matt died in his wife’s arms before they could reach a medical facility.
God’s call to return to Haiti was recognized, and Hope for La Gonave was born to continue Baugh’s mission of educating and spreading the Gospel.
“I work closely with Ben Baugh, the Field Director of Hope for La Gonave and brother of Matt, the missionary who was killed in Haiti,” Rush said. “It is amazing and humbling to see his passion for Christ and the work. Over the years God has grown our friendship into one that I treasure.”
Hope for La Gonave has established elementary schools in four separate towns, as well as a secondary school. A dentist visits the children about once a year, and he also trains dental students on the island. Nurses also visit the schools periodically to perform wellness checks and meet other medical needs.
At times, the need is spiritual.
“The most memorable experience was with a student named Lovena,” Rush said. She is at our school in Nan Café. We were there during a dental mission. She was near the last patient of the day on the last day of our trip. She was demon possessed, which was my first experience with it. She is five-feet tall and maybe 100 pounds, and it took seven adults to restrain her to keep her from harming herself, and I am not a small man. Fast forward three years later, and she is now a Christian, doing well in school and faithfully attending church. She lights up whenever we visit the school.”
Getting to La Gonave is either by boat or plane, landing on a coral strip. Rush said cows and goats often must be removed from the land strip. And he said when you step off the plan, it is like stepping back in time.
“An example of how He provides is how He changed the timing of how we get there,” Rush said. “We used to fly Delta from Atlanta to Port au Prince, spend the night in the city, and take a small plane to La Gonave. Delta dropped the flight, and we started taking American Airlines. Now we spend the night in Miami, take an early flight to Port au Prince and immediately go the small airplane to fly to La Gonave. I preferred the Delta flight, but after the gangs began kidnapping, going straight to the small airplane is much safer. God knew before we did what we would need and providentially ordered the Delta flight cancelled so we would have to take American.”
Hope for La Gonave also helps with providing clean water to families. Cisterns are built along the schools that collect water from gutters, and filters are provided to clean the water.
And the joy and dedication found within the spirits of these children is the biggest reward for Rush. He is amazed by the children who walk several hours, one way, daily to get to school. One student, named Makenson, was injured and lost his leg. He is one of the heartfelt stories Rush sees as an inspiration.
“Every time I have spoken to Makenson since the loss of his leg, he has never waivered in his commitment to Christ or to furthering his education,” Rush said. “He is always grateful from the prayers and support he has received and doesn’t see the loss of his leg as a handicap to keep him from pursuing his goals.”
