Happy. Blessed. Joyful. His. New Year.
These are the words I pray for each of you for the new year.

Love,
Marylee

Dr. Charles 2012

It is with sadness to inform the friends of Univers that Dr. Francoeur Charles, our medical director at Univers Medical Centre, passed away today.  He had called Hugues this morning asking to be picked up and taken to UMC because he was not feeling well.  Then, shortly after arriving at the clinic, he passed away.  We do not have a lot of information, but from our vantage point the symptoms seem to point to a heart attack as the cause.

Please pray for the family of Francoeur and for all of Univers, especially the clinic.

COCINA 2013

It is hard to believe I have been back in Ohio for a week already. But then, it was really hard to believe that I had been in Haiti for three months...time flies!
It been a week of visiting, cleaning out more of the condo contents, continuing to make contacts, and confirming meetings and visits. I will be traveling to the New England states the first and second week of January to meet with colleges and churches in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, thus far. As well, I will be presenting at a SCRAM (Students Committed Radically About Missions) meeting at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on January 25, 2013, 10:30am. Would LOVE to have other alumni and parents in the audience. Still hoping I will be able to give a short introduction at the CVCA Chapel service prior to the 25th. Please, Matt Koons!
I then have a luncheon scheduled at the end of December with a group of women interested in hearing about our ESL students and Philo students.
I have a presentation with a church in Medina this Sunday. Please be praying about that meeting. It's very important; as they all are.
I'm busy confirming what colleges will financially commit to, and continue to talk up the students with everyone I meet. Please contact me if you are being led to consider hosting or sponsoring a student. We would love to have all 11 "proficient-in-english" students placed in the U.S. or Canada. As well, we are happy to have $7,000 commitment per year for a student to attend college in Haiti, or $10,000 commitment per year for a student to attend college in the Dominican Republic (that cost includes EVERYTHING: tuition, room & board, books, fees, etc.).

As I was organizing my computer, I came upon some photos I hadn't posted from August with the ESL students and traveling to Haiti. Here they are for your viewing pleasure!

I've made some changes to the "Partners" Tab (page) of my blog, as requested by some of you. 

As you are considering your year-end giving I will be so thankful if you will support me. By partnering with me you are supporting the bigger vision of being stewards of the students at Institution Univers. These are eternal gifts; we are privileged to serve these students, their families, their community and their nation.
Thank you for partnering with me. I am eternally grateful for you and to you.
Love,
Marylee

I am back in Ohio. A good night's sleep - no disco playing until 2:00am outside my window! a dishwasher! a washer and dryer! hot water! Not to take anything for granted! And it's Christmas time. That hit me this morning as I unpacked. Oh, it is good to be here! Forecast calls for possible snow this afternoon. I'm excited! I love the warm weather, but I'm still a skier at heart and LOVE snow!
I had sweet fellowship with my daughter yesterday; picked me up from the airport then spent over two hours at a sushi bar, catching up on our lives. Surprised my parents. Loved my mom's face and the love in her eyes as I held her in my arms. And my daddy is to tender and dear. Cubby stayed hiding and we never did find him at their house, so I'll have get him later. Oh Cubby!
I am able to spend this afternoon with the TKO gang volunteering at the Christmas food drive filling food boxes. I am very excited to see everyone!

Just received some God-news! Timote, from Small Farmers Alliance, will now be able to meet with Gerald and Hugues BEFORE heading to Les Cayes, which is a bigger blessing then Timote going to Les Cayes before the introduction meeting with each other and therefore bringing the parts we need for the tractor. Now he will be able to inspect the tractor in person and then obtain the needed parts rather than Pierre trying to dissect my photos to figure out what parts we need. Timote, after inspecting the tractor will now be able to travel to Les Cayes after the meeting to obtain the parts. This is good news, trust me!

I am half way to Ohio for two months, as of yesterday afternoon. I am visiting with friends for a couple days, meeting lots of wonderful people through my friend, Marion, who are all interested to hear about what we are doing in Haiti, what I'm doing in Haiti, and most important, about our precious Philo students.
I am missing my sights, sounds, smells, but most of all, the smiles of my loved ones in Ouanaminthe.