“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  (Isaiah 43:19)

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No matter what season of life you are in, God is calling you to a place of deep and wholehearted relationship with Him. We desire to see women empowered to live their Christian faith confidently with transformed minds and hearts. Psalm 33:11 & 14–15 says, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.  From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.”

Our mission is helping women be fully surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ and courageously on-mission for Him – one heart at a time.  One of the ways we do that is by sharing real-life stories of Christian women both past and present who have decided to follow Jesus wholeheartedly in this way.  We pray that each story is used by God to fashion your individual heart, to know and experience Him even more deeply, and to joyfully do His will to His glory!      

It truly is a small world, and God’s timing is always on purpose.  We (Beth & Jenni) were asked to share last winter about The Wholehearted Woman for a virtual conference session with a women’s ministry called Mission-Minded Women.  As a number of ladies shared practically and passionately about many aspects of “equipping women to live on-mission for God,” we realized that Jenni knew family members of one of the women from her school days. A quick “virtual hello” that day led to a sweet connection with Rose Sims.

After a short term mission trip to Haiti, Rose was led by God to embrace fulltime mission work there.  She has spent nearly a decade of her life as a missionary to Haiti.  She returned to the United States last year but is still as much a missionary to Haiti as ever!  She explains that she has “a large and growing passion for kids to know who they are and whose they are, to know their royal identity by understanding who their Heavenly Father is.”  We are thrilled that Rose has allowed us to share some of her story about her missionary experiences and this new season into which the Lord has led her.  May God use it to birth something afresh as you, too, follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly wherever He may lead you! This is Rose’s story…             

Will you tell us about your journey and calling as a missionary to Haiti? How have you experienced God then and now? 

On January 12th, 2010, there was a catastrophic earthquake that struck the nation of Haiti. Something in me felt compelled to go help if at all possible. I ended up joining a small team from California for a short term trip. When I reached the area of Saint Marc, it’s as though God put a hook in my heart much like a fisherman would a fish. And I knew I’d be back. Fast forward 3 months and I was.  With a one year commitment to teach at an English speaking school, that one year turned into two and two turned into just shy of 10. Nearly a decade of serving on the mission field mainly with a focus on children and the educational sphere: teaching, child sponsorship for school, and foster care.

When I first went to Haiti, I was coming out of a season of heartbreak. In many ways I’d been shattered – but not beyond repair. When I arrived in the capital city of Port au Prince – the brokenness there was almost palpable as much as it was visual – in so many places. But the Lord continually spoke to me about being struck down but not destroyed and how He makes beauty from brokenness. He often gave me the image of a mosaic. That’s how I see this nation. As a mosaic. And somehow He allowed me to be a tiny piece of rose colored glass. 

I’ve been back stateside for a while now. I had finished my commitment as a teacher at a Haitian school and had been sensing from God that I may be returning back to the States. Then that year the political unrest had been intensifying, coming as close to the days of the civil war of 2004 – causing some safety concerns. But really what led me back is the Lord telling me I needed to. Transitioning back off the mission field is not for the faint of heart, and God has shown me that there is more for me to do – and that in many ways I’m still a missionary.

I’ve come to realize that while I may be geographically out of Haiti, I am not off the mission field. Yes, the light bulb has gone on folks – the light bulb has gone on. They say if you want to know where your priorities are, you look at your planner and your pocketbook. Well, that little exercise led me to see that often 30-50% of my week has still been missions related. Finances given would fall within that same percentage. For example, since July 2019 there have been $450+ dollars in phone minutes to Haiti that have been purchased so that ongoing mentoring, discipling, and prayer can continue. Not to mention all the WhatsApp + Messenger conversations. I love these people.   

Since leaving Haiti, I have continued to be involved in Starfish Educational Foundation, serving on the board as secretary. Earlier this year, I was asked to join an amazing core group of ladies leading a group called Mission-Minded Women who have both poured into me and given new opportunities such as speaking in a virtual leadership conference to Uganda last month. Also, since the year before leaving Haiti, I have known that ongoing ministry to this nation and her people would still be in the future – and now the next step is here. 

Next month I will be traveling back to Haiti. It seems a bit odd to say that I will be going on a survey trip to a country that I have already lived in for 10 years, but here we are. Of course I will be reconnecting with the people I love, but it is also a time for looking forward and watching God connect the dots He has been showing me over the last year. I care so deeply for the people of Haiti, with a special pull towards youth and children. The areas of education, physical needs, mental health, trauma care and identity have been highlighted throughout the decade of my time there, and it has been impressed upon me even more so since leaving. These areas are where my focus will be. Just recently I have been asked to return in August to be one of the speakers in a conference for teachers. This would be an example of what I am feeling led to do and God has already started paving the way. 

Please be praying for me as I travel next month and as I transition back into missionary service. (Though I am not sure I really left!) At this point, I will be based in the USA, but my heart is in Haiti. The verse He has given me is Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Whether you are joining or rejoining this adventure (otherwise known as my life), I thank you for your time and interest. And of course, please keep me in your prayers.  It’s an exciting time, and I look forward to saying “YES!” to all God has for this new season. 

***Some of what Rose shared here is from her recent newsletter entitled “New Season.”  Please email her to sign up for updates about her mission work for Haiti and upcoming trips!  This PayPal link goes toward her return trip to Haiti, as does her Venmo account: @Rose-K-Sims..  Thank you for considering supporting Rose through giving and prayer! 

Email: rosesims@gmail.com

PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/rosekate