BOOK: Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle by Kent Annan
How I Got This Book: Kenny, my partner for CPI Haiti, gave me a copy.
Why I Read It: I read this book because Kenny personally knows the author. Kent Annan has worked in Haiti for the last few years along with John Engle. Both of these guys work with Haiti Partners, a powerful Haitian humanitarian organization.
What I Thought It Was About Before I Read It: I thought it was going to be about living a life of poverty, a call to cast away your worldly views and possessions and follow passionately wherever the need demanded.
What I Discovered It Was About: Kent Annan has a starkly transparent approach. He is so transparent at times in the book that it is uncomfortable! And this is coming from ME, folks! He is shameless in retelling some of his foibles as a newbie on the mission field living with a Haitian family, and poetically weaves his discomfort into the story of the Haitians.
He does not preach. He is not pretentious. He simply and powerfully communicates his experiences. In the end, he offers no real solutions, and is unapologetic about it really. He admits that from it all, he is simply “open.” He is open to making a huge impact or a small impact. He is open to working in Haiti as a hero, or working behind the scenes in the U.S.
His stories are at once hilarious and cuttingly disturbing. But, that is Haiti, no?!
Would I Recommend You Read It: Yes. If you have an interest in working in Haiti, I would definitely hand you a copy to read. If you want to run with me in Haiti or spark your own missions journey, I would say the same. It is a must-read on par with Mountains Beyond Mountains.
