All throughout Scripture, there are men and women who had their lives turned upside down by God. In the Old Testament, men like Abraham and Moses left the comfort of what they knew, for the promise of what God had for them. Rahab risked her life to help men she didn’t even know, all because of the God they served. In the New Testament, most of the disciples walked away from careers and family to follow Jesus. Paul (formerly Saul) left a position of tremendous importance and authority all to follow Jesus, something that wound up causing him to be persecuted beyond what most of us could imagine. These are just a small sampling of men and women whose lives had a complete course correction all because they had an encounter with God.

Barry and Shelly Harp are not unlike many people living the American dream. They were highly respected in their church and community, had a successful business, and their kids were attending a good Christian school. As far as most people would assume, they had a perfect life and had arrived at the American dream. Most people would not want to change a thing. However, God’s kingdom is unlike ours. In the kingdom of God, money, popularity, comfort, and earthly success are not the keys to joy and fulfillment. God is much more concerned with people and relationships than he is with anything money can buy.

In 2011, Shelly read two books; It’s Not Okay With Me and Is it Okay with You?, both written by Janine Maxwell, that changed the course of her life forever. Throughout those books, Shelly learned about a place called Project Canaan in Swaziland, Africa. She learned about the HIV/AIDS epidemic going on in that nation, and how babies were being neglected, abandoned, and left to die in startling numbers, and in some of the worst conditions. This prompted her to learn more about Project Canaan and what they were doing to help. Eventually, through the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit, she went on an 11 day mission trip in 2012 to serve as a volunteer on Project Canaan. That was when she absolutely fell in love with the mission they were trying to accomplish. When she returned home, a piece of her stayed in Swaziland.

Shelly’s husband, Barry, was incredibly proud of her and very supportive, but also very adamant that those kinds of mission trips were definitely not his thing, no matter how badly she wanted him to go. Over the next couple of years, Shelly tried in vain to convince him otherwise, as she puts it, acting as Holy Spirit junior, to the point of causing tension on a few occasions. However, that did nothing but turn him away. Eventually, she decided to allow that dream to die, and simply focus on what she could do. She returned to Project Canaan for another short-term mission trip in 2013. Although she quit bugging her husband, her heart for the hurting people of Swaziland had not changed.

God often has miraculous ways of working in the lives of the people we love, if we would simply allow Him to. Over the next couple of years, God was also working on Barry’s heart. Little by little, Barry started to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit about the things Shelly had been telling him about Swaziland. He didn’t dare say anything to Shelly, he knew she would run with it if he did. However, as time passed, he eventually felt the need to sell his business, which much to Shelly’s surprise, he did. In the months after selling his accounting firm, things finally slowed down enough for Barry to really start to heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He eventually agreed to take a 3 month short-term mission trip to Project Canaan in 2016.

Just a few days into that trip, Barry knew that this was something that they needed to do longer-term. Surprisingly, Shelly was now the one needing some convincing, due largely because of a new grandson back in the US. After a few weeks though, she knew that God had placed them there for a reason and knew that even though it would mean leaving their grandbaby, they needed to move to Swaziland. So they did. In 2016, after selling their home and making their preparations, they, along with 3 of their kids still living at home, committed to a full year volunteering at Project Canaan.

Their lives have changed so much since the moment they said “yes”. Barry is now working as the Director of Finance to make sure that any money coming into the Project is used as efficiently as possibly. Shelly is involved in women’s ministry on the Project. She currently does 6 scheduled Bible studies per week and helps at the transition home and safe haven for women who are single mothers and HIV positive. Their year just recently ended. However, they have decided that God is not through with them yet. They have chosen to stay another year and finish the work they have been called to.

As of now, there are 195 kids age 7 and under living on Project Canaan. Around 10% of those kids  are HIV positive. After its start in 2010, Project Canaan has grown to include 2,500 acres that along with housing and schools, also includes a woodworking shop, mechanic shop, artisan center, dairy, a chicken farm, and crop production. Project Canaan currently employs about 300 Swazi people.

Barry, Shelly, and their family (Nate, 15, Sam, 12, and Eli, 9) are not paid employees of the project, they serve on a volunteer basis. They are funded through the donations of supporters. They currently live in rented housing about 15 miles from the campus (down an incredibly rough road), although volunteer housing is in the process of being built. Along with poverty and the AIDS epidemic, there is a lot of spiritual warfare that goes on in that country. Witchcraft is a very real thing among the people of Swaziland. Barry and Shelly are determined to be a part of the solution of that hurting nation. If you would like to learn more about the Harp family, or how you could support their mission, visit their website at www.wegoyougo.org. You can also learn more about all that is going on at Project Canaan by going to www.heartforafrica.org.