On June 28, 2016 LSM hosted a Dedication at the Welsh school. Nearly 400 people came to celebrate, including:
• LSM staff and construction workers
• A team from the U.S. whose family and friends funded significant portions of the school project
• Officials from the region
• Surrounding Home of Hope families
• Welsh community members
• Welsh Church members
• LaSource Church members (a church plant in early 2016 from the Welsh Church)
It was a powerful celebration of hope and excitement for what God continues accomplishing through LSM! Here are some of the highlights:
Acknowledging the first few students at Welsh, who began several years before there as even a building! Today, the school provides quality education for around 220 students from around the community!
The Dedication included many speakers and worship during a four-hour service, followed by a shared meal. Standing in the picture are many of the construction and manual labor workers from this project.
Many on this team were instrumental in fundraising and support of construction at the Welsh school. It was special for them to see the effects of their time, energy and financial gifts!
The LaSource Church (a church plant from the Welsh congregation) shared a worship song at the Dedication.
A TESTIMONY OF HOPE
Pierre* was just four years old when his mother died and he was sent to live with his biological father — a man he had never met. Within a couple of months, his father tired of him and sent him to live with a distant relative in Port-au-Prince where he became a child slave (restavek.) He was verbally and physically abused when he didn’t work fast enough. Malnourished and exhausted, he felt utterly alone and rejected.
He later ended up at a local orphanage, but his situation did not improve. He was unable to go to school, was frequently sick and completely mentally and physically broken. If that wasn’t bad enough, he found out that he had contracted HIV from his parents.
Eventually, a pastor familiar with his situation brought him to the LSM Home of Hope family in Welsh. It was then that Pierre’s life took a dramatic turn at that point.
Today, Pierre carries no bitterness from these tragedies. Instead, he is choosing a different story. In his Home of Hope family, he is cared for and thriving as a successful, educated and inspiring young man.
At the Welsh Dedication, Pierre stood up in front of 400 people and shared his story. He presented a compelling encouragement to those in attendance.
We are thankful for this bright young man and the many other children who will come through the Welsh school. Thank you so much for making the Welsh School in Haiti possible!
*name changed for privacy