Teacher Seminar

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for our teacher training seminar that is going on this week.  Yesterday something happened that was purely the work of God.  During this week Pastor Marcus is teaching through five "non-negotiables" of our faith.  As he spoke yesterday about a Holy God and about the the helplessness of sinners, he had not planned to share his own testimony, but ended up doing so to help the teachers understand a point he was making. 

As he shared, one of the new teachers from Port-au-Prince felt his words pierce her heart.  It was so similar to her own experience, an experience that she had never shared with anyone.  She told me afterward that something inside her was pushing her to speak and try as she might to keep it in, she couldn't.  She began to cry and with all the teachers around her asking her what was wrong, she finally stood up to share.  I will not get into all the details she shared but she has been going through an incredibly intense spiritual battle.  As she shared things with us that she has not even told her family it was as though light was able to flood the darkness that she had been trying to fight so hard on her own, in secret. 

Over their lunch break, Marcus was able to talk to her, and while I cannot predict what her future will look like, I feel like this is an opportunity that God has given her to renew her relationship with Him and to pull others around her to help her fight this battle. 

Please be in prayer for this young lady.  Her name is Bergeline.  Pray that she will grab hold of the promises of God and be able to distinguish and reject the lies that come from the Father of Lies.  Pray that she will intentionally pull people around her who can help her and that she will never again try to hide this, or fight this battle alone.

As we go into our second day, please continue to be in prayer for Pastor Marcus, for all of us who will be involved, and for the teachers who will be listening.  May God's will be done.

Prayer Request: Teacher Seminar

At some point today all of the teachers for the primary school will be arriving.  They will be spending this next week in preparation for school to start on October 1.  Each morning there will be two seminar sessions and after lunch the school director will be working with them to "teach them the ropes" and help them prepare for the first few weeks. 

Also arriving today is Pastor Marcus Guthrie from Lake Tomahawk Bible Church in Wisconsin.  Pastor Marcus was here with the LTBC team last November and has kindly agreed to come do some Bible teaching as part of the teacher seminars.  We have teachers coming from different areas and different churches so it is important to address some basic doctrinal issues and make sure everyone is on the same page, especially as in concerns what the children will be taught. 

The second morning sessions will be taught by the Lemuel Administration, explaining to the school staff a bit about Lemuel and how things work here.

We would greatly appreciate your prayers for the seminar, for all the final school preparations, and that even now that God would be preparing the hearts and minds of those who will be attending.

Thank you!

Update Letter: Changes

Dear Friends,

As we look toward a new school year, I want to thank all of you who have supported Lemuel over the last year through your prayers, encouragement and financial support.  We hope that you know what a vital part you are of our ministry here.  You are not just a far away, unknown supporter - you are a part of every single thing that Lemuel is able to accomplish. 

As part of our team, we would like to get to know you better.  If you would be willing to drop us an email just sharing a little bit about yourselves, maybe a picture, and any prayer requests you might have, we would consider it a great honor to be able to become better acquainted with you and to pray for you.  You can write to us any time at judy.dilus@lemuelministries.org.  If you have any questions about our work here or any suggestions about how we can connect with you better, please let us know that as well!

This past year has brought a significant change in Lemuel.  As many of you know, Lemuel was started in Port-au-Prince and worked primarily with underprivileged kids from some of the worst slums in the city.  Back in 2005, the staff in Port-au-Prince voted that Manis himself should move up to the Plateau to head up the work here.  No one they sent was able to pierce this community.  Being that he is from this area they knew that he was the only one who would be truly accepted into this community and able to work with the people here. 

Over the past seven years, the Port-au-Prince staff has continued to hold up the ministry there as best they could.  They have worked sacrificially to continue reaching out to the surrounding communities and to the students in the sponsorship program.  We have seen many of our youngest children grow into young men and women, and this past year a large number of them completed their final year of high-school. 

As we looked to the future of Lemuel in Port-au-Prince, and prayerfully considered our role there, we have felt the need to turn over that ministry to those who are there.  Being so far removed, we have become increasingly disconnected from the situation and needs in Port-au-Prince, and have felt God’s direction in focusing our time and energies on where he has placed us here on the Plateau. 

Leon Cameus, a long-time administrative staff member in Port-au-Prince, has expressed a willingness to head up a new ministry in Port-au-Prince along with the help and support of those who have grown up in the program, as well as some key men who have supported and helped Lemuel from its infancy.  It has been a difficult process to turn over the ministry that was once such a huge part of our lives and to trust God with its future, but He has proved Himself faithful time and time again and we know the ministry and the people we love in Port-au-Prince could not be in better hands than His. 

This past year, as we brought to a close our involvement in Port-au-Prince, we have also been thinking and praying through where God is leading our ministry here on the Plateau.  As part of this whole change process, we decided that it was time for a change to Lemuel’s logo and appearance.  Many of you have grown to know Lemuel’s image as a lighthouse.  Indeed, we have sought to be a light that would draw people to Jesus Christ, and we pray that we will always hold that as our utmost goal.  But as we looked at our ministry here on the Plateau, we felt that there was more to what we are doing and that a new logo might help us to express that better.    

Our new logo is not just to represent the trees that have been planted or the environmental improvement of the area.  Much more importantly than that, it is to represent growth.  Our desire is to see the growth of people in every aspect of their lives.  First and foremost: growth in their spiritual lives as they come to know the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ and as they grow in their faith in Him.  The Gospel, though, is meant to impact every aspect of our lives.  So as a part of their spiritual growth we also seek that they may grow in their physical and social lives as well: growth toward greater maturity, growth toward better relationships with themselves, others, and the environment that God has placed them in. 

To summarize this, we have defined our purpose as:  

To impact lives by investing in people as whole beings.   

This is a shortened form of our complete purpose statement which is:  

To make disciples of Jesus Christ among the destitute of Haiti 

by investing in people as whole beings. 

We have defined our dream as:  

To develop a generation of disciples of Jesus Christ who will carry on this vision. 

You have probably noticed that our new logo is in French.  Lemuel is a Haitian organization.  As such, our official name in Haiti is OLAD, which, translated from French, stands for “Lemuel Organization: Aid to the Destitute”.  Instead of continuing to have two separate logos (English and French) we have decided to go with one official logo in which the name Lemuel is clearly apparent.  We hope that we have attained that.  You may see in some publications the use of simply the “L” and leaf.  This is also an official version of Lemuel’s logo. 

Infinite thanks to all of you who make the work of Lemuel possible.  May God bless you today and every day and may we all know Him, love Him and follow Him more each day.  

Sincerely, 

Judy Dilus

General Secretary

A special thanks to Joshua Hamer for creating our new logo and for his patience with me in the process!

Profile: Lenique Tima

I have decided that one of the ways I can maybe help you all feel more connected with what is happening here is by introducing you to the people we work with.  So, from time to time (I will try to do it regularly but no promises!!! :)) I will be doing a profile on someone.  So, without further ado... our first profile:

LENIQUE TIMA

Lenique Tima was born in Anse-Rouge, the town closest to us here on the Plateau, on July 3, 1976.  His father, Icedieu Tima, was a carpenter and farmer.  His mother, StAnna, was a micro-merchant.  Lenique completed up through the sixth grade in Anse-Rouge.  He was then sent to live with a brother and sister in the city of Gonaives to continue his studies there.  It is common in Haiti for children to be sent into the cities for school, as the quality of country schools generally leaves much to be desired. 

After completing high-school, Lenique went on to study Economics and then Library Science.  His first job was as the School Disciplinarian for a high-school in Gonaives.  Lenique returned to Anse-Rouge in 2007 to work as president of the Voting Office there.  During this time he married Kerline Branche-Dor, his long-time girlfriend, and became the father of a baby boy.  Today his wife and 5 year old son, Mackendy, live in Port-au-Prince where his wife is studying nursing.  They plan to join him when his wife has completed her studies. 

In 2011, his job at the Voting Office completed, Lenique was planning to return to Gonaives to look for work there.  It was at that time that he happened to see a poster advertising that the Lemuel Primary School was looking for teachers and a General Director.  For Lenique this presented an ideal opportunity.  He preferred to stay in his own home town and work with others to improve the area than to work in some city with thousands of others and never see any difference from his efforts.   He just never imagined that he would be able to find such a job.  

By the time Lenique applied for the job of General Director the role had already been filled.  We were so impressed with him, however, that we decided to create the role of School Administrator so that we could benefit from his participation in the school.  In addition to his job as Administrator, Lenique also taught fifth grade.   

 Lenique teaching the 5th Graders last year. 

One of the things that impressed us the most about Lenique as he worked for us last year, was the interest that he took in everything that was going on within Lemuel and the community – not just in the school.  Lenique would come on Saturdays to work with the school kids to clean the campus.  When work as being done on the new school building he was right there out in the sun shoveling sand with the kids.  He even came over the summer, when the walls of the school were going up, to help however he could.  

Handing out trees for the school children to plant on Haiti's "Agricultural Day"

Seeing Lenique’s love for community development and noticing his commanding presence and the respect and he has gained in this community, Manis felt Lenique would be a perfect fit to work alongside Samuel in the development office.  While Sam works on the more technical side of things Lenique can interact with the people from the community and take care of the social side.  So, starting two weeks ago, Lenique made the switch from School Administrator to Administrator of the Community Development Office. 

Sam is back home in Germany right now and activities haven’t really started up for the year but Lenique has already gotten down to business, clearing brush and thorns around Lemuel’s campus and encouraging families to clear the thorns from around their homes as well.  Some of the things he hopes to accomplish this year are: to work with the people to rid the area of thorns, continue work on the school building, begin the process of fixing/replacing the current fence with something more permanent and more effective at keeping the goats out!

List of Favorites:

Favorite Color(s): Black&White; Grey; Light Blue

Favorite Meal: Rice, Bean Sauce, Meat Sauce; anything made with flour

Favorite Music: French Ballads

Favorite Verse: John 3:16

Favorite Pastimes: Soccer; listening to music; chatting and joking with friends and co-workers; watching or listening to Haitian comedians

Favorite Memory from last year: Time at the beach with the Lake Tomahawk team

 Lenique in background with Khaki/Grey Polo at the beach with the Lake Tomahawk Team

Favorite thing about this area: The ocean

 Lenique (with two other teachers at a youth beach day) and the beautiful ocean that he loves.

Prayer Requests:

1. That his family would continue to stand firm in their faith.
2. For his mother, particularly for her health: Lenique’s dad died suddenly back in July and the care of his mother has fallen to him and an older brother.  Her health has been fragile but is improving as she has been to the hospital and continues to follow medical care.  
 3. For God’s protection on his wife and son as they are far away in Port-au-Prince

The Summer

Gracious!  A lot has happened since I last posted!

First of all, tropical storm Isaac did pass near us but we actually fared quite well.  We got some really nice rains out of it - nothing strong and destructive, just long and gentle.  We did get some winds that got a bit strong at one point but they did not last too long and, all in all, I have not heard that they caused any damage in the community.  Thank you to all those who were praying for us.  

I (Judy) arrived back in Haiti on August 1... and cannot believe that 26 days have gone by since!  My parents, brother and sister-in-law, niece and a family friend flew back with me.  My mom's cousin and his son joined us a week later.  It was quite a full two weeks with lots to get done and me trying to catch up on everything after being away for two months.  In addition to helping Manis and I with our house*, the team worked on fixing the electrical system on the campus, preparing Manis's office, and doing all kinds of odd jobs. 

 Mom worked with one of the girls, Rose-Mathe, teaching her to do nails.  She is already known as one of the best girls to do hair.  Being able to do nails as well can mean an extra income for her. 

 When I got back I was pleasantly surprised to find some of the girls I had worked with through the year and the two who had been in school in PauP had formed a team and were doing all the cooking and cleaning for the summer.  Krischelle had worked with them quite a bit and things they had started to learn they now can do all by themselves... like making bread!  

I haven't made one loaf of bread since I got back!  It's been great!

 The guys who had been away at school have also been working through the summer.  

In addition to their regular jobs of water trees, filling cisterns and that sort of thing they have also done some masonry work!  Manis needed a little wall built and felt it was the perfect project for them to learn on. They did a great job! 

  They also did the rock area in front of Manis' office.  

Another exciting thing as I arrived back was to see all the progress on the school.  The walls are up!  The next step is to tie the tops of the walls with rebar and cement. Then we can put on the roofs!  After that, the conduit for the electrical has to be put in and the floor poured.  At that point we can begin using the classrooms!  I am waiting to get an approximate price on the roofs.  Once I have that I will be able to finish a budget for these next steps.  If you would be interested in receiving this once it is done please let me know (judy.dilus@lemuelministries.org).




*Manis and I are in the process of building our own house and will be turning the Lemuel house over to Bonita Sparling who will be joining our team in November.  More on that in the next few months...

School Construction Update

Yesterday I got the exciting news from Manis that they have begun putting up blocks in the school!  I don't have any pictures yet but here are a few from last week when the kids were carrying the blocks from where they make them to closer to the school.  I have also included some of the top of the cistern being poured.

Time to work and they're still smiling!

 

 Kids can make anything into a game.

 Enjoying crackers and juice after working so hard.

 Cistern Top/Classroom Floor!

Been a While... Blocks and a Party!

About a month ago our internet on the Plateau went down.  A week ago I got here to the US with great plans to update the blog right away... then I got sick... again!  Well, no more excuses!  Here we go...

One of the most exciting recent developments is the BLOCK MACHINE!!!  We now have a motorized block maker that can make blocks much faster and much higher quality than the old way.

 The "old way" with one form and one shovel... pounding the cement into the form.

On May 22 we were finally able to crank her up!  We had a trainer from the company that makes the machine come out and teach our guys.

Before they could start we had to get a group of ladies to wash the sand!  It had too much dirt in it so they had to pass loads from one wheelbarrow to the next to get it "clean" enough to use.  

It was great to be able to give these ladies work, even if just for a few days 

(they now get "cleaner" sand from another place).

Another group of guys had to sift the sand and limestone to get the bigger rocks out of it.  

The sand and limestone is then mixed with the cement powder and a little water.

Then... since I am now in the land of super-fast internet I can SHOW you the machine at work!  

This is a video of the first blocks being made.

 Isn't that amazing!

 They've made thousands of blocks and already have people wanting to buy them!

In other news...

 ...the girls in the Young Girls' Group put on a special presentation for their moms for Mother's Day.

 Let me back up a bit though because I am not sure I have told you about the girls' group. Back in November I started working with 8 girls between the ages of 13 and 16. 
 

The girls back in November with their binders and the first cookies they learned to make.

Every Saturday we met for two hours.  The first hour is Bible Study. 

 Part of an activity from one of the Bible studies where they learned that we cannot simply "tie" the fruit of the Spirit onto our lives... just like you can't tie fruit onto a tree.  The fruit of the Spirit must stem from His work in our lives, not our efforts to "look Christian."

  During the second hour they learn to do or make something.  Some of they things they learned this year are how to make cookies, bread, and meat filling, how to set a table, and how to cross-stitch.  They each cross-stitched a lady holding a basket on her head.  

 Making and decorating cookies for the Christmas Program.  They gave out plates of cookies to eight lucky winners who found a paper taped under their seat!

Making my favorite cookies!

 Learning cross-stitch

 Working so hard on their cross-stitch projects.

 
So, to finish out the year, we decided to put everything they had learned together and throw a great party for their moms.  They made rolls, chicken filling, macaroni salad (with a bit of help on this one since they were learning it for the first time), popcorn, two kinds of cookies and acerola cherry juice.  They set the table and decorated the front of the house.  They shared what they had learned through the year and sang a few special songs for their moms.

Manis shared some words of encouragement with the moms and challenged the girls to not just treat their mothers well on Mother's Day, but to respect them and love them all year round.

The girls then served their mothers the meal they had prepared for them.

 To wrap up the evening the girls each presented a gift their mothers.  In order to be able to give these gifts, each of the girls had to work for me for fifteen hours total (3 hours, 5 times).  

In return I sent to the city to get special gifts for their moms.