What a wondrous time of the year, reminding us of how much God loves us, to come to Earth from Heaven to show us how much He loves us. I am especially awestruck by this miracle this year. Not exactly sure why, but I just feel more thankful for this Truth than I can remember in past years.
With having completed my third
year at Institution Univers I reflect on how much God is accomplishing in the
life of our students and in the ministry organization. In the Spring of 2015 we
celebrated 21 years of seeing God at
work at Institution Univers in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Institution Univers is a
Christian school supported by donors, economic development and the Board of
Trustees of C.O.C.I.N.A. (www.haiticocina.org). My responsibilities as
Director of the High School Graduate Placement Program include coordination of
the English as a Second Language (ESL) immersion summer program which feeds
into the High School Graduate Placement Program, administrative assistant duties
for Hugues Bastien (the founder and executive director of Univers), health
network coordination for Univers Medical Clinic, and mission team coordination
assistance. When I returned to Haiti in January, after the holidays and meetings
with colleges and churches in the U.S., I found myself not in optimum health.
2015 began to look quite different then I had anticipated and planned for. But…God’s plan for our lives is always better
for us than what we plan for!
I retuned to the states in
late February to begin a very long process of treating health conditions that
seemingly are the direct result of the environment of Haiti, and one health
condition that finally was exacerbated from carrying 50 – 70 pound supply bags
to Haiti over the years – a herniated disk in my neck. After two surgeries, one
for the neck and one for the urinary tract, months of recovery and
rehabilitation I got the “green light” from my surgeons to return to Haiti. Labile hypertension is still a work in progress,
as are some more recent diagnoses. I praise God for a cardiologist who believes
in the work and service to the Lord and understands the passion. For the foreseeable future though, I will need
to work from the U.S. more than I have in the past three years.
One of the foremost
principles of the school is to rise up a generation of fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ that will change the nation spiritually, socially and
economically. We have undergraduate, graduate and vocational students studying in
Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Taiwan, and the United States. There
is still 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 about the ministry, 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, located in Northeast Haiti, to serve the various entities of C.O.C.I.N.A.,
equal to the number of years they studied post-secondary coursework. Every one
of the students understands their responsibility, for they know it is up to them
to be the leaders for change in their nation – the poorest nation in the
western hemisphere.
To share with you one of our
returning graduate’s thoughts: ‘I work as the mission team coordinator and
co-administrator of extracurricular activities at the school. Also, I teach,
along with two other returned grads, advanced English classes preparing the
students for the TOEFL test. I am glad to say that I love my job. I realize
that I rely on many different people to do my job and that it really is a
learning process. It demands passion, patience, good communication skills, and
a lot of understanding. I hope that with the good collaboration of others and
with God’s help I will do a good job.’ ~ Marie Claire Charles
To
summarize the Institution Univers High School Graduate Placement Program currently, Emmanuel Joseph, a returned graduate, and I are 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. Our
responsibilities also include securing host family homes for at least the first
year of the student’s residence, as well as ongoing financial sponsorship while
students are completing their studies. As part of the placement program, we complete
career assessments and counseling with each year’s Philo students (grade 13
“seniors”). This autumn we tested 70 students. These assessments are part of
the evaluation process that the administration thoughtfully completes each year
for potential educational opportunities. Emmanuel Joseph, a college graduate who
benefited from the college placement program, returned in 2014 to work
alongside me, as well as teach biology, geology and English, and assist
Hantz-Jerry, another returned grad, in the Supervision of Students department
of the school. Additionally, ten other students have now returned to Univers
and are on staff at the school or at the clinic. What a joy and inspiration
these young adults are to me!
Currently we are seeking
financial sponsorship for many students to attend college in Haiti and in the
U.S. We have partial U.S. college scholarships available for many students but
still have shortfalls financially for four students in particular. Alternatively, it is very cost effective to
sponsor a student to attend college in Haiti: $7,500 for all costs including
living expenses per year. If you are interested in more information about our
needs, please contact me.
Because I am a full-time
donor supported missionary I ask you to please prayerfully consider partnering
with me in prayer as well as financially. In planning for 2016 I have been blessed by God with almost half of my annual budget raised for 2016 but still need to raise $25,000 in order to meet all my expenses for 2016. Thank you, again, so, so
much to those who are already partnering with me. I trust the Lord and my partners
for 100% of the necessary finances for all of the expenses associated with my
ministry. My financial support is
processed through Christ Community Chapel in Hudson, Ohio so that it will be
favorably treated as a tax deduction for donors. To financially support me, you have the option
of online or mailing your donations. If by mail, please use the form at the end
of this post. Each time you submit
a donation you will need to use the form, please. More copies are located in the Partners tab of this blog. (www.calledbacktohaiti.blogspot.com) 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 every
donation. For online giving, you will
find instructions for online giving and recurrent giving at the bottom of this
letter. The church will mail you a receipt for your donations.
**Please
make sure “HAITI-LEWIS” is written on all correspondence (except the check!) you send to the church,
as there are other Haiti ministries connected with the church**
Additionally, the blog
serves as my newsletter to you, due to not having any formal mail service in
Haiti. So check it regularly!
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.
All Glory to God,
Marylee
To support Marylee through Online Giving, here are the
instructions:
You can use this link www.ccchapel.com,
In the upper right corner, click “GIVE” then choose “Give without an account”,
or Log in/Register if you want. Then in the “Select a Campus” drop down menu choose
“Designated Giving”, then choose “Haiti-Lewis”.
Please
note, the 3% credit card and bank fee is passed to me by the church if you use
a credit card to donate online, therefore if you want me to receive the amount
you intend you will need to add the 3%. I am not charged a fee if you use
a check and mail in a donation.
To support Marylee by Mail, here are the instructions:
Please use this
form:
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SUPPORT FOR MARYLEE
LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE PLACEMENT PROGRAM - HAITI – LEWIS -
INSTITUTION UNIVERS, OUANAMINTHE, HAITI
· Please complete and return this form with your check payable to “Christ Community Chapel” Address:
750 West Streetsboro Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236
· You will receive a receipt for your tax records
DonorName:____________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________
City,
State/Province______________________________________________________
Zip/PostalCode:__________________________________
Donation Enclosed: $________________
**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**
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Thank you so much for your consideration and care for
Univers and me!