Wesley has sent us some photos from his day with the President and Minister of Education of Haiti.
How exciting for him, and for Institution Univers! Wesley is truly a role model.

I don't know why I find this so funny but I do, so I wanted to share a chuckle with you, too!

I just met Chedlyne, the MVP volleyball player of the country of Haiti, who graduated from Institution Univers this past June. She and I are going to begin meeting three times a week upon my return from traveling (I leave tomorrow for two and a half weeks) to practice her english. She is outstanding in volleyball, so if anyone has a relationship with women's volleyball coaches at colleges please get in contact with me, as Chedlyne would like to further her education, and has already graduated, as I stated previously. I am working on getting some film on her, but no one here has a video camera, so hopefully this next mission team coming is able to bring one. They are working on it. What a precious spirit Chedlyne has, yet I understand it's all competition out on the court! I was so excited to put a face with her name, finally.
Students are stopping in to wish me bon voyage. I have so many students I am now in daily contact with, it's such a blessing and pleasure to serve them.
Rodelin and I hung my world map in my office yesterday, now that I have a hammer and nails from my supply shopping run to Santiago. This way, I can now show students the various countries and states where we may be considering education opportunities. This year, the U.S. and Canada are the priority!
A verse to share with you from my morning devotion, "Jesus said to him, "If you believe, all things are possible to him who believes". Christ turns His power upon us, He gives us the power to believe, so that we will not be defeated. In dealing with Christ, much is put on our believing and very much promised to it. Dare to believe, today. You have a very big God.

Our happy chickens! Happy chickens lay happy eggs! Bigger picture = Haiti producing products in Haiti - Amen!
I have begun a "newsletter" that I will be using with our church, college and corporation prospective affiliations so I will be sharing it with all of you, too! Please feel free to cut and paste it to a word document and email it or print it and share with others. The more relationships that are built, the better for the students!
Here's my first "Updates from Univers":

Updates from Univers

Ouanaminthe, Haiti

September 24, 2012

In June 2012, Institution Univers (I.U.) had its fourth graduating class consisting of 99 students. Three of the students are now in the U.S. studying for their undergraduate degrees. Here are the top English students in the graduating class of 2012:

·Welsey Saintilnord (M) – attending Gloucester County College, NJ – 1^st overall

·Peterson Saintilmond (M) – attending University of Kentucky – 4^th overall

·Angelot St-Vil (M) – attending University of Kentucky

·Filsto Auguste Junior Michel (M) – 8^th out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams

·Manakelle Raphael (F) – 11^th out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams

·Jempsy Juguerson Tisma (M) – 15^th out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams 

·Clarel Algere (M) – 26^th out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams

·Smay Saintilma (M) – 2^nd out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams

·Ema Dulene (F) – 3^rd out of 98 overall in the most recent set of exams

 Two of our I.U. students have received the highest honor for the NATIONAL graduate exams -
Evelyne Cherenfant has been awarded National Laureate for the 12th grade "Baccalaureate I" graduate exam and Wesley Saintilnord has been awarded National Laureate for the 13th grade "Baccalaureate I" graduate exam. These honors are given only to the top ten students in the entire country. It earned them a meeting with the President of Haiti, at the National Palace.
I am humbled and honored to serve the students of Institution Univers. Thank you to all of you who make it possible for me to be here.

In May, as part of our economic development program, our first chickens arrived at the Univers Farm. The chickens are producing the first eggs ever to be sold commercially within our “department”. Prior to this, all eggs were purchased across the border in the Dominican Republic. Our chickens began laying eggs in August. Of the 4,500 chickens thus far, over 1,000 eggs are laid daily; with the number of eggs increasing daily. We are marketing and securing a number of vendors to sell or use our eggs at their businesses. We have also secured a shop at in the Town Square vicinity, the “Univers Farm Shoppe”. Haiti producing products in Haiti – Amen!

I arrived in Ouanaminthe on September 4, and immediately began working on developing relationships to assist the students to secure scholarship and host family participation in our high school graduate placement program. When I was still in United States I met with a number of colleges that would like to partner with our school. The critical challenge is the financial commitment and host family commitment. I am pleased to have opportunities to meet with individuals, companies, and churches in Southeast Florida at the end of September and Southwest Florida in October.

In the month of August, prior to my departure to Haiti, I was privileged to coordinate the English as a Second Language (ESL) Curriculum Program visitation to Ohio of the two top seventh grade students from our school. Each year, our school chooses the two top students from the 7^th and 10^th grades to study and experience the U.S. for the month of August. One of the purposes is for the students to return to Haiti determined to work even harder so they may return to the U.S. or elsewhere upon high school graduation to study at a university. The program proves to be very successful. Of the graduating class years we’ve had thus far, the following chart indicates how many of those students now studying in the U.S. qualified to study in the ESL program visit initially:

Graduating class         Number of Students in ESL now in U.S.           Total in U.S. 

            2009                            4 out of                                                            5

            2010                            3 out of                                                            4

            2011                            1 out of                                                            2

            2012                            3 out of                                                            3

Report by:

Marylee Lewis, Director of High School Graduate Placement Program

www.haiticocina.org

marylee.lewis@gmail.com

Oh boy - I'm a very happy girl! I have found Wilnese. And do you want to know how neat God is? She lives two blocks, TWO!, from me, in a city of 125,000 people. I saw her as I passed yesterday and as soon as I called her name, she looked, her eyes lit up and she came running around the cactus fence and gave me a big hug. We visited for a minute, able to tell her I've moved to Ouanaminthe, and when I hugged her farewell she gave me a big kiss right on my face. Oh praise you Lord, for giving me the desire of my heart to find where she lived and see her. Best part, I get to watch and be part of her life as she grows up.
I had a wonderful visit with Wesley this morning. He has arrived for the funeral. He gave me good insight on comparisons and contrasts to America and Haiti. He is a freshman at a Gloucester County College in New Jersey. Wesley has also returned to Haiti, for a very honorable meeting with the president of Haiti at the National Palace, for his accomplishment of earning Bacculaureate II, one of the most prestigeous awards a student can achieve in Haiti. It is representative of the top 10 students in the country.

My creole lesson was especially challenging today with many, many new words. Manakelle is such a good instructor. She is patient with me. Thank you for your prayers in this matter!

Also, please pray for the family and friends who are arriving for the service tonight and the funeral tomorrow for Mauclar. Thank you.

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"
- Isaiah 41:13

Good Monday Morning from beautiful Haiti!
We did have rain on Saturday, 10 minutes this time! I understand there was more rain out at the farm, which surely needs it more than at the Village right now.
I sat with Jusbine at church yesterday and then went home with Justine, Joubert, Jusbine and Joubens. Justine taught me how to make passionfruit juice. Oh my, I think it was the best juice I have ever had. Really! Then, Justine gave me a whole bag of passionfruit to make the juice for myself at home. Wow! As we were departing I asked Joubert what is his mom's favorite bonbon (cookie) so I may bring her a gift next time. He said, "anything"!
She is teaching me so much about the haitian way in the kitchen. I'm just taking it all in, and loving it! Gerald let me borrow his Haitian cookbook which after reading through it yesteday I am ready to try many dishes for my friends here in Ouanaminthe. I just need more experience at the market. Thanks to Pam Mann, I am beginning to learn my way around the market. I am asking where the best stores (magazen) in my neighborhood are too. Gerald and Hans are helping me with this.

I began working on a handout for the high school grade parents, to educate them on the college planning process. Thanks to Randy Tomich at CVCA for sharing your wealth of expertise and knowledge, and resources for me to utilize with the students and parents. Also, I am now in contact with Career Direct. Took some time to make a connection with someone there. I am hoping to get the career assessment program up and running soon.

I was finally was able to upload my photos that I've taken thus far. Here they are:

This is Cubby! He did not want me to put anything in my suitcase. Eventually, I did! He is enjoying his "new digs" at my mom and dad's. I sure miss my little angel kitty! I get updates from Mom. He's doing great!

This is my Haitian pet. I named him "vet" (which means "green" in creole - with an accent mark on the "e"). I learned my colors in creole on saturday, along with the days of the week, and the months of the year. It just so happened he showed up in my kitchen on saturday. I fed him a dead fly and beetle. He likes to live on the back of my refrigerator and peek around the corner. Yes, I do talk to him. Yesterday, I realized I named him a rhyme, he is "vet my pet"!!!

Here is the entrance to my Haitian home, as you enter the front door.

To the left from my front door is my kitchen.

To the right is my living room. Here's a few more shots...

And here is my bedroom...

My bathroom...

Recognize the towels, Mom?!

My home office and guest room. See, it is ready for all of you to come visit!

Recognize the bedding, Hannah?!

And, here are some views from my veranda. One towards the city and one towards the mountains. I am so blessed! Thank you, everyone, who is making this possible. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for you and to you!

Exciting news I've come to learn:
Two of our I.U. students have received the highest honor for the NATIONAL graduate exams -
Evelyne Cherenfant has been awarded National Laureate for the 12th grade "BaccI" graduate exam and Wesley Saint Il Nord has been awarded National Laureate for the 13th grade "BaccII" graduate exam.
I am humbled and honored to serve the students of Institution Univers. Thank you to all of you who make it possible for me to be here.

Yesterday afternoon, the sky darkened, the thunder sounded, there was talk that rain was coming. It did come, but only for four, yes I said four, minutes. Please continue to pray for rain. It was apparent it was raining all around Ouanaminthe, but not in Ouanaminthe, all afternoon and evening. Accomodations are now being made to make sure there is enough water at the clinic and elsewhere.

I had my first creole lesson this morning with Manakelle. Thanks to Zeke, she seemed pleased with my pronounciation. We will be meeting twice a week, with alot of homework in between. Manakelle graduated this past June. She speaks impeccable english. This will be so enjoyable to work with her, and get to know her.

Ana and Evelyne stopped in, finally! I was wondering when I was going to see them!

I finished and submitted a thorough proposal to a church this morning, that has taken a few days to accomplish with the internet and electricity up and down. But, it is finished, prayed over before pressing the "send" button, and now I pray it will bring students a number of opportunities for host families. I structured it as a template to use for future situations, so please provide me any contacts you may know of so I may introduce our program to them.

Two more prayer requests for the day:
1. Jim and Chris MacMillan leave Ohio today for Haiti.
2. My car ships from Miami to Cap Haitian today, expecting to arrive next Tuesday.

Thank you!

Yesterday was a very productive day, with having the internet most of the day! We are told we will be losing power soon, so I wanted to get an update out as well as a couple photos for your enjoyment.
Last night was the first night I didn't need the fan on full blast in order to sleep, and the disco quieted down earlier than usual, therefore I got a very deep sleep rest. It felt good!

our "futbol" (soccer) field at back of the school, with the school truck.

Sunset in Ouanaminthe. Those are the mountains I get to view everyday from my veranda. This photo is taken from the roof of our medical clinic. I live on the edge of town so my view is not as densely populated, but rather is all wilderness.

I had the privilege to speak to an english enrichment "Philo" (what the senior class is called) class this morning about my position at the school and how I will serve the students and school. When I left the room I felt like I was not touching the ground. They welcomed me so willingly. I am so blessed to be here!
I now have a creole tutor, Manakelle, who will work with me in addition to doing my sentences with Robenson. I will learn this language, with the help of God and my tutors!
No rain yesterday. We were so hopeful.Please pray for rain.
Some have inquired about making donations for my support, as I am 100% self-supported. Please check out the tabs in this blog and look at previous posts, until I am able to put a little package together in one place on the blog. Thank you so much!
Thank you for your love, prayers and support. Hugs to all!

International student's drowning stuns friends at JSU

International student's drowning stuns friends at JSU: Maucler Charles, a Haitian student in JSU’s International House, drowned Saturday when a canoe he and three other students were paddling across a pond at Horn’s Creek Resort in Polk County, Tenn. f...

It's been a very challenging day with regards to the internet. Literally, one minute it's up then it's down. One person has it, the other doesn't. Like my friend Pam says, "If you have water, electricity, and the internet it's a good day". I so agree!
One week today, in Ouanaminthe. Today we have an amazing breeze, very tropical with the mango trees and the palm trees swaying. I sat under the mango tree near the mission house this afternoon and read some of my research reading, as I needed to take a breather from the computer delays. Hard for me to only get a few tasks done in a day, and they really aren't completely done.
I had my first creole lesson paper graded my Robenson today, and he marked it, "very good". I laughed - At the humor in it being graded, but more so that he graded it in english!!

If anyone has some strong ties for possible scholarship at 2 or 4 year colleges in the most southern part of Texas, please contact me, as soon as possible.

America has been in my prayers throughout all of today, as we remember 9-11. My heart is turned toward you, those of you who are still and will forever mourn the loss of a loved one.

It was a very sad day yesterday for the Institution Univers family. A student, who is studying at a university in the U.S., died during a canoe outing on a lake. The canoe capsized and he drowned. My heart is very heavy for his family and friends. It's in these times that we must trust in God with a faith that we don't even understand. He is trustworthy. He knows His purposes, His thoughts are not our thoughts. I sometimes will lightly say, thank goodness my thoughts are not His, yet in a time like this, it is somber to know His thoughts are not out thoughts. I don't understand why this had to happen, but I do know His ways are only good, and we can trust that He knows best.

To recap other events of the weekend, went to the market in Ouanaminthe with Pam Mann on Saturday morning. Got lots of wonderful fruits and vegetables. Avocados are in season and they are huge; three times the size of those we get in Ohio. And, so delicious. I ate one with salt and hot sauce for lunch and then made an avocado puree and used some as a salad dressing. So glad I brought my blender!

Saturday afternoon I cleaned my ceramic floors for the first time. I didn't do such a good job. I'll have to perfect that with time! I am now all unpacked except the guest room/home office. That I plan to do tonight. Yesterday, I attended church with Pam and then visited at their home before heading back home. Justine, Joubert, Joubens and Jusbine came for a visit and brought me a proper pail (to make my floor cleaning easier!). I am enjoying getting to know Jaccin's family. They all are so precious!

I'm so excited for the MacMillan's to arrive this week. We will be just across the road from one another. Our apartments face each other. Coffee on the veranda, Chris!

Just an update on technology, I have no capacity on my computer to have wireless nor skype, I have come to find out after a few others have looked at my computer. Therefore, unable to communicate via skype, nor use my computer at home, as The Village is wireless. As well, the cursor pad works intermittently. So I need to look into obtaining another computer when I come to the states, as the computer is also incapable to download the software I need for my job. It is an older computer, and from others input here, looks to be on borrowed time!

My prayer request for this week: Please pray that the pending host families opportunities will confirm so that we can move forward with preparing to secure the immigration for the students who are still able to be placed in Second semester from the 2012 graduating class. As well, please pray for my creole language skills. One word at a time, I keep reminding myself, yet I so much want to converse more quickly than I am. Patience grasshopper (that was for you, Hannah and Mark!)
Let me know what I can be praying for you, too, by posting a comment, or contacting me directly through email.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" - 2 Corinthians5:7

This post will be short as we are losing our electricity at 12noon due to the generator needing work. It's another beautiful day in Haiti. I now have a fan in my office, so I am very content!
Please be praying for the churches I am in the process of contacting in SW Florida, to speak on behalf of our program, in October. I am trying to get four churches scheduled, as I have two universities who would like our students to attend their university.
If anyone reading this has any "in's" at universities, techincal schools, or colleges near their church and are willing to have me speak to your congregation, small groups, or sunday school classes, please contact me, as I am very interested in speaking to you. Please check out more information on this blog under the various tabs. my email is marylee.lewis@gmail.com
got to go, i'm racing the clock!

Good morning from Ouanaminthe! Photos and skype will need to be uploaded at a later time, as I am trying to figure out how to do all this on my own now...I miss you Mark! For so many more reasons than tech support - really!!!!
Monday, Hugues, Angelot, Lugee, Rose-Dania, Marline and I departed in the wee hours for Miami, then onto Port-au-Prince. We stayed overnight and flew to Ouanaminthe via Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Tuesday morning. Movina flew with us (from 2009 I.U. graduating class). So good to see her. She is a nursing student in P-a-P. I loved flying onto the "field", of which we had to first "fly by" to shoo the cows and goats off the field.
Blessings encountered: no charge for our 14 bags or their overweight of 52 lbs, as the airline had booked us in business class. Then I thought I left my computer charger in the Columbus hotel room and just when I realized it while waiting in Miami, across the gate area was a computer accessory store of which they had a charger that fit my laptop. Then, one of our bags stayed in Miami in error, and it made it to P-a-P before we departed for Ouanaminthe. That is amazing!
It is so good to be here! The school looks beautiful - ready for a new school year to begin. My apartment is wonderful. No electricity currently as the generator is broken, but there is water for showering and propane for cooking, so all is well! I had fun cooking my first real meal by candlelight last evening. I had been living on protein bars, and rolls and laughing cow cheese until last night! Jaccin, Justine, and Joubert took me to the D.R. on Tuesday afternoon to buy supplies and food. I hope the haitians don't mind the garlic smell coming from my kitchen as I cook with it in almost everything, especially the rice and beans! Although last night I made a potato "bowl" with potatoes, onions, garlic and tomatoes, and of course hot sauce!
This is for my mom: 1st thing I did on tuesday, clean the stove and kitchen! You taught me well!
A couple of funny things: I have a "neighbor" donkey, who let's out these crazy sounds about every hour on the hour, day and night. I guess he thinks he's a cukoo clock. He's cukoo alright! I live next to a discoteque that plays music REALLY loud; a haitian custom! Jan Iannetta, that's a memory for  you!
Yesterday, I moved into my office at the school. Immediately, some students came by and helped me unpack. So willing to help, such precious spirits. I'm so happy to be here!
I have been overwhelmed with joy these past few days, and asked the Lord how can I ever thank Him enough for this opportunity, and He's reminded me of His Word, to be faithful and serve Him, no matter what, with all my mind, with all my heart, and with all my strength.

My bags are packed I'm ready to go, I'm standing here...in Columbus!
Tonight is our first annual Haiti COCINA www.haiticocina.org Fundraising Gala. The tables are set, the auction items are displayed and I have a few minutes to catch my breath, as I anticipate in less than 48 hours from now I'll be... leaving on jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...well, I do know it will be sometime in December! Just a little take away from the Peter, Paul and Mary song that I love so much.
Next time I blog I expect it will be from an internet cafe, as I've already been informed that the generator at the apartment building is broken and there is no set date it will be working again.

It's a great day to praise the Lord!