Madam's Monday- Ysmanine St lot

 "Good afternoon, everyone! My name is Ysmanine St lot and I have 26 years. I have 2 brothers and 5 sisters. We all lived with my Momma and Poppa. When I was ten years old, I went to live with my aunt. I wanted to live with her because I love her. She did not want me to go to church because she is not a Christian, so we did not go to church. My aunt paid for me to go to school for one year. She did not want to pay for my school another year, so I went back to live with my Momma and Poppa. I was happy to be back with them. I went to school and so did all of my brothers and sisters. I did not finish
because my family did not have enough money. I did not go to school or work for three years. Instead I went to a school and learned to crochet and make clothing. My momma paid for me to do that and I graduated from that. After that, I needed a job. My friend asked Madam Judith if I could come work at OLTCH. I came and talked with Momma Greg and she gave me the job here. I have been here for 9 months. I love working here because I love everyone. I like to work with the girls. Thank you! Goodbye!"

Madam's Monday- Carline Cineus

"Hello, my name is Carline and I have 26 years. When I was little, I lived with my mother. I do not know why my father did not help her. I think he did not want her. My mother had me and two other girls with my father. She had four kids from another man. My mother has seven children. She cared for us by herself. All of us but two live with her when we were little. I love my mother so much because after God she is who I love. My mother does not know Jesus. Before she dies, I want her to know Jesus. I want to help her know Jesus before she dies and I believe Jesus will bless me for that. 

All of my sisters and brothers are married and have children, but one of my sisters and I do not.
I used to have a boyfriend when I was 17. The reason we are not in love now is because I thought I was too young. We stopped dating and I have not had a boyfriend since.

When all of my mother's kids were little, all of us went to school. One of my sisters did not. She is sick in her head and can't learn. I almost finished school but then the earthquake came. I had to move and could not finish. I have one more grade and I will finish. I want to finish, but I do not know when I will. I need money to go to school and this is why I am working. I came to OLTCH because one of my friends is friends with Momma Greg. Momma Greg called her to ask if she knew a person to come work here. My friend called me and I came to OLTCH. In December I will be here for 9 months.

I like to work here and take care of the children. On Sunday mornings I teach the toddlers I take care of. The job here is really hard.

I am here at OLTCH, but I believe God is going to take me somewhere else. This work is not what I want to do and I pray God gives me another job. When I leave here, I want to finish high school and go to college. After that I want to be a nurse. 

I love Jesus so much because two times I almost died and He saved me. Jesus died for me and gave me life. 

Please pray for me. Pray everything I would like to be can happen. I love everyone here at OLTCH. I love the madams and the children. 

Thank you for reading about my life. If someone reads my story and has many problems, I want to tell you to believe in Jesus. I believe in Him and He can do everything for us. To everyone who reads this, I want to say good luck!"

Madam's Monday- Judithe Clergoe

"Hello! My name is Judithe Clergoe and I have 40 years. I want to thank the Lord because I have life. Thank you, God, because you give me four kids. I am going to share a little of my life with you.
I found a boy I liked when I was young. We lived in the country in Haiti and he asked my parents if he could marry me but they said no because they did not want us to marry. I do not know why. We moved into a house and we had 4 kids. When the kids came, he and I did not live together. I left him because he was not nice to me. I left the kids with him because I had too much problem with him. After that I came to live in Port au Prince, Haiti. When I came to Port au Prince, I was very very sick. I had asthma. Before this time, I did not know Jesus. I prayed to Him and was baptized. Now I love Him. After that I had no more asthma. I prayed for a job.

When I came to the church, my pastor told us a lady at OLTCH needed people to come work. I came to work for Momma Greg (Jasmine) and I have been here for 3 years. 

Now my 4 children live in my sister's house in Port au Prince. They do not live with their dad. Their dad does not want to help anymore, so I work and take care of the kids. 

At OLTCH, I am now a supervisor because I have been here a long. I love my work here. I love everyone here.
Now, I want to thank God for giving me life, my four children and work at OLTCH. I want Him to help me with my patience. Please pray for me so the Lord can continue to change me and I can continue helping my children. Pray for God to help me take care of my kids so they can go to school. Please pray for me to have a house.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you, Laura, for doing this.
I love you, Momma Greg and Poppy Greg.

Thank you, God."

Madam's Monday- Esther Louis

Esther Louis is a madam here at OLTCH. She works in the toddler room and cares for them day and night. In the short time she has been with us, she has done an awesome job. Caring for one toddler is a handful. Caring for 13 is an even bigger task, yet she handles it with grace and laughter. I can't wait for you to read her story. Enjoy!!!

"Hello and good evening! My name is Louis Esther and I am from Port au Prince, Haiti. I have 25 years. When I was a little girl I lived with my mom, sister, and 2 brothers. My dad left us for his new girlfriend, and Momma raised us all. Me and my sister and brothers went to school, and Momma paid for us to do that. Momma left us when I was 16. She went to the United States. My dad gave us money to live. 

The people found her without her papers and they put her in jail. She asked to come back in Haiti and they let her come. When she came back, my dad said he would take my brothers. Me and my sister stayed with Momma. She took us to live outside of the city and we stayed there 3 months. My family helped us. 

We came back to Port au Prince. I tried to live with my dad, but he didn't want me. I stayed with my mother. Whenever I needed something I just asked my mother. 

I met a boy and loved him. I knew him for one year. We had a baby boy. When our son had three months, he got sick in his stomach. My boyfriend took care of him. We fell out of love. 

My son died when he had one year. I have a photo of me when I was pregnant with him.

It hurt so much when he died. I cried so much and wanted to die. My mom did not want me after he died because I was so sad and I wanted to do bad stuff. I went to my cousin to get help. I miss my mom so much.

I started working at Bizonton taking care of one baby. The baby had two years. I worked there for two months and then left because the girl's mom was not nice. 

I started taking care of a child at Brois-Verna. He had 5 years. I made sure he go to school and I washed his clothes. I slept at my aunt's house. I worked there for 4 months. 

I did not have a job after that and my aunt helped me.

A friend of mine knew Momma Greg (Jasmine). Her baby lives here at OLTCH. When Momma Greg needed my friend, she called my phone. I would come with my friend to the orphanage. One time I come with her and I asked Momma Greg if she could give me a job. She said yes and I have been here for 2 months. 

I am very tired working here. It is hard and there are many kids. I like to work here.

I love Haiti so much because it is my country. It is all I know. All of my family is here in Haiti. This is my home, but it is hard to live here.

At OLTCH, I love everyone. They are my family. Laura and Momma Greg and Poppa Greg I love so much. All the Haitian women I love. I love all the children.

I want to make God happy with my life and I want to have a nice life.

Thank you all for reading my story. I love Jesus and I want you to pray for me. Nice talking to you!"

I see you.

Every time I pass a child on these streets, I can't help but stop whatever I am doing and look at them. Not to simply stare, but to drink in their existence. I can't help it. My heart aches when I see them. Not a sad ache, but a heart-so-full-it-hurts ache. Many children in Haiti seem to simply be products of a decision two people made (or maybe one person made and the other had no choice). A lot of them are not wanted and are given away or even disposed of, while others may remain with their parent(s) or other family members, never truly knowing what it means to be loved and cared for. My heart smiles in the times I do come across families where the children are loved and adored. Or when a mom is in tears as she gives her baby away because she loves this child and she knows it is the best thing for her to do.  A dad who wants anything but to give his child away, so he raises her/him on his own, making the most of every goud spent. I pass women with their stomachs full of life and think about the child within them. I wonder what his/her life holds. Does she want that baby? Will she get rid of the baby once it arrives? Will she try and raise the child only to later have no choice but to give it away because she doesn't have the means to? Did she fall for some man's sweet words only to be left alone in this way? Is she married and now happily pregnant?
The stories go on and the books of these people's lives are endless. I wish I could read every one of them.
Each time I pass a child on these streets, I catch a glimpse of him. I notice her. I am so keenly aware of the child's presence... each child with his/her divine appointment for life in this generation, in this country, with these parents or the lack of. I see their life. The ones crying, the ones smiling, the ones being carried, the ones on a motorcycle with a man or woman, the ones eating, the ones barefoot and thin, the ones with a shirt on and no bottoms, the ones dirty from the dust, the ones working, the ones begging for money, the ones sharply dressed for church, the ones who are disabled, the ones that are injured, the ones who are laughing, the ones who are sitting by themselves. I see them and I love them. I think about and pray for their lives. If I could stop and talk to each one, I would. If I could hold each child and lavish them with my love and the love of Christ, I would. The spirit within me and the heart God has given me longs for these children. I want to tell them that I see them.

You are loved, sweet child. I see you.

Where are you going, sweet child? I see you.

Do you have a home, sweet child? I see you.

Are you happy, sweet child? I see you.

There is a God, sweet child. He sees you.

He created you, sweet child. He sees you.

You are beautiful, sweet child. He sees you.

There is a plan, sweet child. He sees you.

I see you. Even if only for a split second... I see you.