- April 26, 2024
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It’s hard to go to Haiti and not want to do something,’ dad says.
The Linkinhoker family sat around the fireplace on a recent, cool day in their cozy home on the beachside. They talked about how in a few months they will be living in Haiti, as fulltime missionaries with Children’s Lifeline. They will have no hot water or air conditioning in their apartment in the impoverished country, but feel called to go.
“We fell in love with the country and the people,” Elizabeth Linkinhoker said. “It’s hard to see the devastation and the poverty and disease, but you see glimmers of hope and the persistence of the people.”
Elizabeth, her husband, Dave, and 12-year-old daughter Grace have made several mission trips to the country and will be relocating this summer with a commitment for one year. After months of soul searching and prayer, they feel that is what God wants them to do.
“We never planned it, but it will be worth it,” Dave Linkinhoker said. “It’s a longing in our hearts to be there. It’s a call to our lives.”
He said it’s hard to go to Haiti and not want to do something. He had been to Honduras and Mexico but was not prepared for what he saw. “It’s overwhelming,” he said.
But he said it’s an awesome feeling when 20 kids come running up and hug you.
Elizabeth Linkinhoker said she has a special feeling for the women, because many have lost husbands and children. There is a high mortality rate for children, she said.
Haiti is still suffering the effects of the earthquake of 2010, with debris and rubble in the cities, and people in the countryside living in tent cities or homes made of old billboards or mud and sticks. There was an outpouring of help after the earthquake, which helped mainly with the digging of wells, but people still walk miles for clean water.
The Linkinhoker’s 19-year-old daughter, Sara, was the first to go on a mission trip a year ago and last spring served as an intern with Children’s Lifeline.
“Haitians are joyful, hopeful and generous,” she said. “They hardly have anything but will invite you into their home to have some fruit they’ve grown.”
The Linkinhokers decided to go to Haiti after talking to Sara about her trip.
“I told them they will see things that will make them uncomfortable,” Sara said. “But you will see beauty in the country and they appreciate your help.”
Children’s Lifeline, based in Hamilton, Georgia, employs 150 Haitians at their medical clinics, orphanages, schools and feeds 8,500 people a day. A trade school teaches agriculture, sewing, home building and plans are in place for training in welding and computers.
Christian ministry, such as conducting Bible studies, is a large part of their efforts in the country.
“Our main goal is to help people come to Christ,” Sara said.
The organization was started by Arnold Lemke in 1983. Now 82, his trips there are now less frequent. Sara said that he emphasizes the importance of ministry.
“He said you can feed a child and that’s amazing but if they don’t go to heaven, what’s the point,” she said.
The duties of the Linkinhokers will include building relationships and overseeing programs for feeding, child sponsorship, widow care and orphanages, and helping short-term mission teams.
Elizabeth Linkinhoker said that on one of their previous trips, they took a day off at the coast. She said she saw the beauty of a mountain in the sunset.
“I realized that God made Haiti beautifully,” she said. “It’s damaged, but now being restored.”
The Linkinhokers offer to help others plan a mission trip to Haiti or sponsor children, and they also ask for support. They are on Facebook at “Making Haiti Home” and also have a website, makinghaitihome.com. Call 407-421-1356 or email [email protected]. Also visit childrenslifeline.com.
