Renewal of the ministry in 2014

Dear Loved Ones:

With having completed my first year at Institution Univers I reflect on how much God is accomplishing in the life of our students and in the ministry itself. We are celebrating 20 years of seeing God at work in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. As many of you already know, Haiti has had a very special place in my life for many years. After seven short-term mission trips, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of C.O.C.I.N.A. (Coalition of Children in Need Association) for the past four years, last September I began working in a permanent position as Director of High School Graduate Placement at Institution Univers, the Christian school that is supported by C.O.C.I.N.A.  (www.haiticocina.org). One of the principles of the school is to raise a generation of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ that will change the nation spiritually, socially and economically. With some students already in undergraduate and vocational placement in Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Senegal, and the United States, the foundation has been set for the high school graduate placement program. Yet, there is much work to be done as the majority of our high school graduates are still falling back into the poverty cycle after graduation. This letter serves as an update for those who know I’m now in Haiti, and an introduction of what I’m doing for those of you who I may have just met!

When opportunities are secured for students to further their education, they are required to return to Ouanaminthe, the city where we are located in Northeast Haiti, to serve the various entities of C.O.C.I.N.A. equal to the number of years they study outside Haiti. Every one of the students understands their responsibility, and personally feels, even if there was not such a requirement, they would still return, for they know it’s up to them to be the leaders for change in their nation – the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.

To summarize the program as it stands today, I am responsible for securing educational opportunities at one-year certification, two-year colleges, and four-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational education opportunities and apprenticeships.  My responsibilities also include securing host family homes for at least the first year of the student’s residence outside of Haiti, as well as ongoing financial sponsorship while students are completing their studies. As part of the placement program, the Philo students (grade 13 “seniors”) have completed career assessments and counseling these past two fall semesters. These assessments are now part of the evaluation process that the administration thoughtfully completes each year. Occupations specifically related to the needs within our organization include planting or husbandry agriculture, education and medical related administration, teaching, business administration, accounting, computer and technology related professions, X-ray and laboratory technicians, electricians and plumbers, just to name a “few”!

Thus far, for the upcoming 2014 graduating class we have secured a number of U.S. college tuition scholarships for our top 10 academic students who are also English proficient. I am seeking host families and financial sponsors. Additionally, we are seeking sponsorship for those students who will remain on the island. It is very cost effective to attend college in Haiti or the Dominican Republic; $7,000 or $10,000 respectively for all costs including living expenses per year.  I continue to work on behalf of other 2013 graduates who have an opportunity through colleges to attend college in the U.S. but have yet to secure financial sponsorship.

I am in awe to have the privilege of seeing God in action, by repeatedly proving He has called me to this position. We have Saturday afternoon Bible studies and fellowship time at my home as part of developing a young adult ministry. Last fall, we had courtesy classes of which I wrote the curriculum. When I return to Haiti in January I plan to conduct the classes with this year’s Philo class. I’m also assisting with administrative duties at the Univers Farm, health network coordination at Univers Medical Clinic, mission team coordination with Pastor Dave, and helping wherever else it is needed in the organization. The skills I have developed from all the years in business are very useful in my new career!

I so appreciate your prayers for this step of faith I’ve taken. Because I am now a full-time donor- supported missionary I ask you to please consider partnering with me financially. Thank you, again, to those who already are partners. I trust the Lord and my partners for 100% of the necessary finances for the position’s expenses.  The financial support is processed through Christ Community Chapel in Hudson, Ohio so that it will be favorably treated as a tax deduction.  To financially support me, you have the option of online or mailing your support. If by mail, please print and complete a segment of the form located in the "PARTNERS" tab of this blog each time you submit a donation on my behalf.  The church’s address is on the form. To ensure that the donation is applied to my account at the church, this form must be included with each donation.  At the bottom of this letter you will find instructions for online giving and recurrent giving. A receipt for all donations will be mailed to you at the end of the year, by the church.

For ongoing updates, please log onto my blog: www.calledbacktohaiti.blogspot.com. The blog serves as my newsletter to you, due to not having any formal mail service in Haiti. Please check the blog for my upcoming speaking engagements when I’m in the United States; click on the “Calendar” tab on the blog. If I’m in your area, please come visit!

Thank you for your prayers and support as I serve the upcoming generation of Haitians who will be equipped because of Jesus Christ and education to change their nation. I am forever grateful for your friendship and partnership.

Glory to God in the Highest,

Marylee

marylee.lewis@gmail.com

When in the U.S., telephone number: 440.343.2532

Haiti: 011.509.4829.3130

Here's an update I wrote this past Fall of the ministry and the accomplishments that God has allowed me the privilege to be part of:

Institution Univers High School Graduate Placement Program – Update of Ministry Autumn 2013

Standing at the threshold of my apartment in Ouanaminthe, the moment I released from my hands two of the five duffel bags I had brought with me, I said to myself, “I am home”.

And the first year has made me feel more at home with my co-workers, the students, friends and the community of Ouanaminthe.

I am in a constant state of learning and listening, as my greatest challenge is the Creole language. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, whether it is with the language or other environmental or social challenges, I call on my very big God and He graciously answers my prayers with renewed hope and energy.

I look forward to see what God has planned for the 2013-2014 school year, and the opportunities that will open for the upcoming graduates of Institution Univers. To summarize the first year of the “formalized” High School Graduate Placement Program:

·      Within the first week, both 2012 graduates and Philo (Grade 13) students would stop in my office to introduce themselves. Gratefully, my office continues to be a regular “stopping ground” for many students.

·      Prior to leaving for Haiti last September a friend invited me to attend a trip with her, to China and Japan, to meet many new people, and to tell them about C.O.C.I.N.A. At the end of September I was able to do just that. It was a trip of a lifetime! From that trip I was able to secure new donors to my ministry personally and to C.O.C.I.N.A. in general.

·      Before returning to Haiti from Japan, I stopped in Southwest Florida for a few days, to meet with a college in Ft. Myers and a church in Naples, as well as have a meeting with the staff at ECHO International and tour their facility. ECHO is an international organization dedicated to providing resources to small farmers in developing countries, especially Haiti.

·      In October, Career Assessments were completed with the Philo students. They were amazed at the technology.

·      One little personal situation: I shipped my car to Haiti at the end of August. Between customs and the Haitian government, it took almost two months to receive my car. I picked it up in Cap Haitien on October 22. It provided a crash course for me in the government and political system as well as in the Creole language.

·      November and December were filled with new contacts, networking and follow up with the contacts. I was in the states December through early February.

·      January and early February were filled with travel to nine colleges, speaking at two churches, and visiting with my daughter in Seattle.

·      Because of Hugues motorcycle accident I cancelled my participation in a mission conference in Southwest Florida in Febraury, but am grateful to be invited to participate in 2014.

·      The spring months brought hours of coordination and paperwork as the students were chosen to attend colleges in the U.S.  As well, the English as a Second Language (ESL) Experience students were chosen from seventh and tenth grade, and I coordinated their host family logistics for their visit to the U.S. in the month of August 2013. The ESL Program feeds into the College Placement program, in that all but one of the U.S. College students came to the U.S. either as a seventh or tenth grader.

·      Each short term mission team, of which we are blessed with many, but can use many more to come along side us, gave me the opportunity to speak to them about the graduate placement program, which was very exciting for me.

·      Due to the generous support of colleges, families, and churches five students are now attending U.S. colleges as freshmen from the 2012 and 2013 I.U. graduating classes. We have secured two Haitian college scholarships; one partial and one full scholarship, as well.

Looking to 2014, I’m excited as I begin working with this year’s Philo class. Thus far we have 14 families interested in hosting a student to attend college, and one full tuition scholarship already secured. We still need churches and benefactors to come around these opportunities to fill the financial gap. Will you consider becoming part of this program; the program that helps Institution Univers students be the generation to change the nation of Haiti through Jesus Christ and education?

For more information please contact me at: Marylee.lewis@gmail.com OR www.calledbacktohaiti.blogspot.com

All for Him,

Marylee

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To support Marylee through Online Giving, here are the instructions:

To make a one-time gift:

·       Log onto: www.ccchapel.com

·       Click the "ccb" tab located in the upper right hand of screen, sign up or log on, then click the Give Online. Use the drop down menu to find  “Hudson”, click “Continue”.

·       Click “Haiti- Lewis”.

To make a recurring gift, i.e. automatic withdrawal payments from your checking account, here are the instructions:

·       Log onto www.ccchapel.com.

·       Click the GIVE tab in upper right hand of screen. Click on Sign Up and follow the instructions. If you have any difficulty please contact bob.adamov@ccchapel.com.

·       Click “Haiti- Lewis”

**Please make sure “HAITI-LEWIS” is written on all correspondence you send to the church, as there are other Haiti ministries connected with the church**