WELS Connection: Haiti
WELS Connection Close-up
Life hasn't been easy for Judeline Mady, an orphan in Haiti. At age 10, she lost both of her parents, and surviving family members were unable to care for her and her four-year-old twin sisters, Kesley and Keslande. But God had plans for her. He provided another family—one that would take care of her physical and spiritual needs.
In 2009, Judeline and her sisters arrived at an orphanage in the Leogane area run by Gesner Cledo NOZIL and his wife, Marie (whom the children affectionately call Mommy Dudu). “I think of Gesner and Mommy Dudu as parents for us,” she says.
WELS became involved with this orphanage and 18 others in the area in 2010 after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in January of that year. WELS Christian Aid and Relief is providing humanitarian aid for the physical needs of the children. WELS Missionary Terry Schultz is serving their spiritual needs by teaching Gesner and workers from seven other orphanages about the Bible, so they, in turn, can teach the children. In 2011, Judeline and many other children were baptized. She continues to learn Bible lessons from Gesner.
Life still isn’t easy for Judeline, now 14 years old. She spends most of her days at the orphanage as caregiver and cook— helping prepare rice and noodles for the meal of the day, washing clothes by hand in a washtub, and cleaning—for 42 other children. “She is a big sister to the little ones, caring for them, feeding the babies, and praying with them,” says Gesner.
Judeline does attend school—a 30-minute walk away that she makes either barefoot or in ill-fitting shoes. She is behind in her school work, with only a fourth-grade level education.
But there is hope for the future. Gesner says he wants all the children to complete primary and possibly secondary education to train them for jobs in the future. He is working to improve orphanage conditions and to prepare the children for what lies ahead. “My goals are to develop the children’s spiritual life, help prepare them to become responsible citizens, and help them develop their skills according to their talents,” he says.
Most important, Judeline and the other children have eternal hope through the promise found only in Jesus, a hope they will continue to learn about at the orphanage.
Click on the link to watch the video. WELS Connection Video on Haiti
Life hasn't been easy for Judeline Mady, an orphan in Haiti. At age 10, she lost both of her parents, and surviving family members were unable to care for her and her four-year-old twin sisters, Kesley and Keslande. But God had plans for her. He provided another family—one that would take care of her physical and spiritual needs.
In 2009, Judeline and her sisters arrived at an orphanage in the Leogane area run by Gesner Cledo NOZIL and his wife, Marie (whom the children affectionately call Mommy Dudu). “I think of Gesner and Mommy Dudu as parents for us,” she says.
WELS became involved with this orphanage and 18 others in the area in 2010 after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in January of that year. WELS Christian Aid and Relief is providing humanitarian aid for the physical needs of the children. WELS Missionary Terry Schultz is serving their spiritual needs by teaching Gesner and workers from seven other orphanages about the Bible, so they, in turn, can teach the children. In 2011, Judeline and many other children were baptized. She continues to learn Bible lessons from Gesner.
Life still isn’t easy for Judeline, now 14 years old. She spends most of her days at the orphanage as caregiver and cook— helping prepare rice and noodles for the meal of the day, washing clothes by hand in a washtub, and cleaning—for 42 other children. “She is a big sister to the little ones, caring for them, feeding the babies, and praying with them,” says Gesner.
Judeline does attend school—a 30-minute walk away that she makes either barefoot or in ill-fitting shoes. She is behind in her school work, with only a fourth-grade level education.
But there is hope for the future. Gesner says he wants all the children to complete primary and possibly secondary education to train them for jobs in the future. He is working to improve orphanage conditions and to prepare the children for what lies ahead. “My goals are to develop the children’s spiritual life, help prepare them to become responsible citizens, and help them develop their skills according to their talents,” he says.
Most important, Judeline and the other children have eternal hope through the promise found only in Jesus, a hope they will continue to learn about at the orphanage.
Click on the link to watch the video. WELS Connection Video on Haiti
Comments
Post a Comment