He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 19:17 KJV

Schooling In Haiti

Having completed the 6th grade my dad said to me “I didn’t go further than that, so it will be for you.” And so, I spent the next five years without going to school. During that time I became a tailor. One day while I was going to work I met a former classmate. He asked me what I was doing and I was proud to say that I was a tailor, then I asked him, “what about you?” He said that he was in Philo, which is 12 grade in the US. A deep sadness fell over me. In my heart I said I could have been in Philo also if my dad knew the value of education. Since then, I paid my way back to school.

Schooling In The United States

I left Haiti when I was in 9th grade. Arriving in the US, I went to work during day time and studied for my GED at during the night. After getting my GED, I graduated as an (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician. I went to Lake Michigan College and graduated as a nurse. I believe that God let me go through those life challenges so that I could learn to help the young people that I’m dealing with now.

Coming Full Circle

Yesterday, Gustama, 14 years old came to the school looking to see if there’s anyway I can help him to go to school. No parents, living with his uncle. Even though the classrooms are full, I couldn’t afford to turn him down. That could be his last chance to attend school. Today he was happy to start in third grade. The number of children like him that is not going to school is unthinkable in this age. I give thanks to God for providing this opportunity in this community to make a difference in the lives of the least fortunate.