Madam's Monday- Holiday Break

For all of you Madam's Monday readers out there, there won't be a story posted for the next few weeks!! I want to wish everyone a wonderful CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year, too! Please keep the madams of OLTCH in yours prayers. Remember their stories and know that they are just a glimpse into the lives of these women. May God bless you and yours as you seek His heart and serve His people :)

Madam's Monday- Mimose Montus

"Hello, everyone! My name is Mimose Montus and I am going to share some of my life with you. I have 51 years.

I have 4 brothers. I had 5, but one died. I lived with my mother when I was a little girl. We didn't have any money and we were very poor. My mother was a merchant and we could eat once a day. None of us ever went to school because there was no money for that. When I was 11, my papa took me from my mother's home and took me to one of his friend's house. He didn't think my mother could care for me. A year after that, I dropped a coffee press cloth in the water well and they sent me back to my mother because I was too much of a problem. I went and lived with my mother. I didn't stay there long because one of my uncles came and took me to Port au Prince with him. I lived there for 8 years. I was able to eat once a day and I had to do all of the work around the house. I became a slave child until I was 20. When I was 20 years old, I tried to take some night classes and work, but it was too much money so I couldn't do that. I took another job at a restaurant and made $1.20 American a month. Sometimes I cooked and sometimes I cleaned. I lost that job and tried to become a merchant. I tried selling anything I could get my hands on. When I was 22, I had my first child. Then, I took a job at a woman's house. When I started working there, my mother died. I stayed working there for 5 years. During this time, I had my second child. Both of my children lived with me. 

In my life, I have had 7 children. 2 of them died and I have 5 children left. 

When I stopped working for the woman, I moved into a mud hut with my children. I started selling what I could at my house. 13 years later, my house burned down. We were homeless. Someone took us to live in their house and they helped me and my children. After some time, the person could not help us anymore and I had to go somewhere else with my kids. I found a small shack that didn't have a roof and we stayed there. After a while, we put a roof on it. I knew a few people that lived close by and they helped me and my kids. With the money we were getting, I was able to put some bricks around the house to make it stronger. I still live there today. 

Three years ago, the business I had at my house went bad. I owed a lot of money to people and I needed to make more money to pay them back. I had to look for another job. Someone called my daughter and told her there was a job available at OLTCH. I did not know what it was, but I came to see. I was interviewed and hired as a cook and house keeper. I have been here for 3 years.

I am still helping my children because none of them work and make money. I also have three grandchildren. 

The money I make at OLTCH goes to all of them. 

I enjoy working at OLTCH because I can work hard and not just sit. I like that there is always a chance to make more money and get a better working position here and I need that for my family. 

If I don't die, you will find me working here. 

I would love to be able to stay home with my children and grandchildren, but without work there is no money and we need the money. 

Thank you everyone who reads my story. Thank you for caring." 

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!"

Madam's Monday- Venite Michaud

Venite Michaud is a madam here at OLTCH in charge of the boys' house. There are 16 boys under her and she is extremely great at caring for them. With her compassionate heart and silly personality, she brightens the lives of everyone here at OLTCH. 

Today, as watched tears stream down her face and listened as she shared her life with me, I became even more passionate about allowing the women's voices to be heard through this blog. 

Rosie Exavier translated Venite's words to English for you and I, and I would not have been able to post this without her help. 

After we finished, Venite hugged me and tearfully told me she could never express how grateful she is for being able to talk about her life. I hope you enjoy her story as much as I do.  Here is her story. 

"Hello to everyone. My name is Michaud Venite. I have 28 years. I want to share my life with you, but one day is not enough for that, so I will share what I can.

I was born in Fonds-des-Negres, Haiti on June 24, 1983. I am one of 9 children in my family, but three died before I was born. Growing up, I lived in a house with my mom, dad, grandmother and 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters). One day, white people came and said they wanted to help my family. They were from Compassion International and they wanted me to be sponsored by a family in America. They paid for me to go to school and gave me the books I needed, a bible, toys, and money. They taught me about Jesus and took me to church. When I became sponsored by a family in America, they wrote me letters and sent me pictures. I met them a long time ago, but I don't know where they are now. 

I don't remember much about when I was little. Now my Mom works at the hospital. She cleans the hospital and has been there for 24 years. Sometimes I can say I don't have a family, but my Mom takes care of my two daughters. Sometimes the dad of my girls gives us money, but it is not enough to take care of two kids. My mother and two sisters help me take care of the kids while I work and send the money I make to them. My first kid has ten years and her name is Woodline Charlemagne. When she was born she was sick with seizures. That gave her problems with her eyes and she cannot see good. I don't know if she is sick in her head, but she is not like other kids. Men have done bad things to her and I want to put her somewhere safe. When I think about her, I am very sad. I love her so much and I will be happy when Woodline is not sick. My other daughter is Woodjianie and she 6 years. She is a normal girl but she has fever and cough all the time. She likes to do school and she is funny. I love her so much because she is a good kid. When I cry, Woodjianie cries with me because she doesn't want me to be sad. She asks me alot of questions when I am sad. I miss them both and wish I could be with them to take care of them. It is hard to be away from them. 

When I met the dad of my two girls, I knew nothing about love. My mom liked him for me and he said he loved me. I was a young girl. After I had Woodline and Woodjianie he stopped loving me and my family. He told me to go work and he doesn't want to give me money. We didn't have a house, so my mom gave me a house. For now, I need to work to help my kids and my family. 

When I worked at other places I was humiliated because they were bad to me and talked about me. When I was working in Gressier, it was not enough work to provide for my girls. When I was on vacation for a few days, a doctor where I worked called me and told me he could find another place for me to work so I could make more money. Later, Madam Judith from OLTCH called him to see if he knew of a woman who could come work for the orphanage. He gave her my name and phone number. She called me and asked me if I could work for the orphanage. I told her yes, and I have been here ever since. This November makes one year that I have been at OLTCH. 

I love the boys so much, but they are a lot of work because they don't obey. It makes me not want to work with them. Sometimes I want to go home, but then I would not make money. So I don't have a choice but to work here. I am looking for a job that can pay more money, but for now I am here at the orphanage. When I find a job that pays more money, I will take it. I don't want to go sit down and wait for my mom to give me money. I want to work and help my family. Because my mother is really old, it is not good for her to work. But she works now to take care of my kids. She has other children to care for with mine. My sisters and brothers have children and she helps them too. 

I don't like Haiti because we work and we don't make enough money. We work and have nothing. We can't do anything we want to do here, and it is miserable living here. But every day I wake up and I work anyways because I don't have a choice. If I don't work, I don't know what I will do.

I believe in Jesus and everything can be possible with Him. I believe in Jesus and I believe He can change all of this for me, but I don't know when. 

My grandmother cannot do anything now because she is too old. It makes me sad when I think about her. 

If I could do one anything right now, I would go somewhere else. I would take my family with me and I would take care of all of them. 

Pray for me and pray for my family. I am happy I could talk and share my story with so many people. Thank you for reading."