Coastal Haiti Mission
August 2025
-AWARENESS-
Maybe I should work a little portion of comedy into my Message this Month. I mean I could tell about the time one of my beloved cats came into the bathroom with the sole intent to lie down on top of the toilet seat
(I think he liked the soft cover). He was unaware that the cover was still up. Up he jumped above the water-filled bowl, and then, in full view of the open toilet seat and water below, he Spread Eagled –that’s what he did! All four paws and eighteen claws and digits reached out to clutch the side of the toilet seat as he decended. Then, having avoided CATastrophe, he jumped down from the toilet to the floor and I think I heard him say “What are you looking at? I meant to do that.” (Well, if he could have, he would have said that!) Anyway, he then immediately left the room in that “huff” that cats do.
So, there it is, a bit of humor probably inappropriate considering the subject we are going to discuss: The End Of Days.
“Sky and earth will pass away…” (Matt.24:35a TAB)
“As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of
the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the
flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying
and [woman] being given in marriage, until the [very]
day when Noah went into the ark, and they did not
know or understand until the flood came and swept
them all away…” (Matt. 24:38 & 39 TAB)
Clearly, the “coming of the Son of Man” refers to Jesus Christ returning to this planet. But what does it mean as “ in the days of Noah”?
Now the folks of Noah’s day had been sufficiently warned of impending destruction. The population had lost its true direction. It had become degenerate, debased, and vicious (Gen. 6:12 & 13 TAB). The incoming disaster would put an end to it all. The Mother of All Floods would sweep it all away. Everything would go except for the righteous man, Noah, and his family.
Apparently, the people did not believe it and locked it away from reality.
“False prophecy,” they most likely proclaimed, and, besides, the prophet had been saying that for years. It wouldn’t happen. And so, the prognostication became peripheral. They ate and drank and married…life as usual – Unaware. Off guard. But I suspect there was a dark cloud somewhere in the recess of many minds.
Time to shift gears! We also have a prophecy. A wonderful one. As Christians we are awaiting the day that Jesus Christ returns to this planet and eventually makes all things new. (Rev. 21:1 TAB) No more tears, no more anguish, sorrow, mourning, grief nor pain. (Rev. 21:4 TAB). No more separation “…Death shall be no more.” The Holy City of Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, will be our capital city, and the Father’s Son will be our King Jesus!
But what about us now throughout this interim period? I wonder if this event (the coming of Christ), is also peripheral in many Christian minds. “Oh yah, it’ll happen some day, I mean they’ve been preaching about it for years! But right now, we’ve got things to do, places to go, things to see, lots to accomplish.”
And, so, we too are eating and drinking and marrying…life as usual. Unaware? Off guard? As in the days of Noah?
My dear readers, an old friend of mine, now with the Lord, Pastor Fred Bopp who preached the gospel among the workers in the great tobacco fields in the south, once said that “This is the only time in eternity that we can serve our Lord in His rejection.” When He returns it’s over. All we have done for our Lord and others will be “all we have done” whether it be much or little. Standing before kings and poets or giving a cup of cold refreshing water to one who is thirsty. Remember, what is done for others is done for Christ.
I am certainly not proposing that we throw in the towel and just hang out waiting for the Rapture, counting it all spiritual or “religious”! Jesus has given us life now, abundant at that! Give it all you’ve got. Love and care for one another. Have things to do, places to go, and things to see. But, in all of that, do a reality check: Always be “aware”– work, play, and live in the knowledge that JESUS IS COMING BACK!
And there is still time to give someone that fresh cup of water!
Walking this Way with you,
Connie
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Food for the Needy Program
Pastor Coty Writes:
As I mentioned in my article last month, the Northern and Northeastern departments of the country are filled with people who have been displaced from the Central department, more specifically from a town called Mirebalais. They were forced to leave because gangs took over their area and drove them out.
At the church, we’ve welcomed many of these newcomers. Many of them are staying in Cahess, and I felt it was my duty to support them in any way we could.
With that in mind, I loaded several small bags of rice onto motorcycles, and we distributed them to several of these families. They didn’t hesitate to express their gratitude and share their appreciation.
I chose to do it this way to avoid drawing attention to myself. If people saw me in a car handing out rice and oil, everyone would have rushed over to get their share. So instead, I contacted them by phone and sent the food directly to their homes by motorcycle, without anyone knowing it was from me.
This time, it wasn’t just the usual recipients—we were able to help others as well. That’s how it always is: when we think of one group, we can never truly imagine how many lives are impacted by that support.
Thank you, in my name and in the name of all the beneficiaries of this program. May God continue to answer prayers and bless, in every way, those who support this program.
Pastor Coty Joseph.
Saturday Sunday School
Pastor Coty Writes:
As I mentioned in my article last month, the number of children has increased significantly these days. What I didn’t mention is that some have come from other areas to join the group, such as those from the town of Mirebalais. These children, along with their parents, have fled from their homes, because the encroaching gangs from the southern part of Haiti, have been moving north and taken over their town.
There’s no way to gather all these children in a single classroom. Even though we could technically meet indoors, but due to the extreme heat, we’ve had to place their benches outside and meet with them in the open air, which actually makes a lot of sense.
Our children also had the opportunity to benefit from a Samaritan’s Purse program this year, where they received a book with a series of lessons to study. After the lessons were completed, they were awarded a certificate.
On Sunday, August 10th, we took the opportunity—while they were preparing to sing during the church service—to present them with their certificates. It’s important to note that in the Saturday class we hold for them, which we call “Saturday Sunday School,” all the children gather together. Some of them come to church every Sunday and sing in a children’s group every second Sunday.
The parents made a great effort to dress their children beautifully so they could come and receive their certificates—both those who regularly attend church and those who came just for this occasion. But all of them were happy to receive their certificates.
As the pastor of the church, I thank you deeply for supporting and helping these children in every way. I also want to encourage my wife Nana, for the way she loves these children.
Pastor Coty Joseph
Class is cooler here!!!
Handing out the certificates
These students are honored for completing the 12 lesson course.
Children’s Summer Vacation
Pastor Coty Writes:
Every child or young person has their own way of enjoying their vacation. Some take advantage of the summer break to spend a few days with family living in other areas, especially those who live in the city. It’s a great joy for children from the countryside to spend time in the city. And the reverse is true too: some city kids go spend time in the countryside with their grandparents. It’s always a joyful time—flying kites together, playing marbles, swimming in the river, and enjoying many other games.
It’s also a time when young people and adults play cards more often. In many places, you’ll see two or more people sitting and playing cards. Some play just to count rounds, but others make it more exciting by playing for “chen.” I should explain that “chen” refers to the person who loses the game—they agree to give that person a punishment. Either they have to stand up, or else stand with a weight hanging from their back, like a cement block.
As for the children, they invent all kinds of games you wouldn’t expect. In these photos, we see Witchelda lying inside a small roofless house she built, where she arranged all her toys as if they were furniture in her home. Since there are no other children living nearby, she chose to create something that brings her joy. She walked around cutting small branches and wove them together to enclose a little space she considers her house.
Pastor Coty Joseph
This is Witchelda’s Play House
The Drought Resistant Garden Project
Project Leader Kathy Kangas Writes:
Many of you have asked about the Solidarity Gardeners and how this program is going. Over the past several months, we have been in a place of transition and we have been making some changes. In the next newsletter, we will introduce you to our new lead gardeners.
The goal of this program has always been to teach. It started with just a simple challenge to overcome. To successfully garden in drought conditions. Then, we learned of the rainy season.
But there is so much more to bring to the table. Successful gardening can not only bring food to the table; it can bring a sustainable income. By expanding what we teach we can help our gardeners to craft businesses from their gardens.
This requires us to be able to communicate in a way we have not been able to do before. We are bringing on a new team with communication being the top priority.
Many have asked about the trees. It is my understanding they are doing very well. I want to grow more trees and I want to teach the gardeners how to do so from seed.
I look forward to updating you again in our next newsletter.
Kathy Kangas
Photos of some of the trees that have been planted at the homes of the Solidarity Gardeners:
This Passion Fruit is picked from a tree that CHM supplied, and is in the yard of one of the Solidarity Gardeners.
Whoever is generous to the poor, lends to the Lord
and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 19:17
A prayer for you from the scripture:
Numbers 6: 24 to 26 NLT
24. ‘May the Lord bless you
and keep you
25. May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious unto you
26. May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace’
Thank you, Family and Friends of Coastal Haiti Mission, for all that you do to help the people in Cahess, Haiti. You are making a huge difference for these people.
Please remember, that CHM must continue to send our monthly commitment of $2000 to carry on the ongoing CHM ministry in Cahess. This is in addition to the cost of the School Lunch Program.
If you desire to help, please send your tax-deductible check to our address and tell us how you want us to use your donation:
Coastal Haiti Mission
C/O Constance Goddard
3048 Spring Fancy Lane
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Or For tax deductible “online donations”, please use our PayPal service. Also please designate how you want us to use your donation.
May the Lord our God, who knows your heart and sees your actions, grant you great joy as you serve Him. Connie, Esther, Pastor Coty, Carl, Dan, and Ken are very grateful for your sacrifice. Ken Johansson CHM Newsletter Editor