𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗦𝗠!
Our LSM staff is a large, international ensemble of dedicated, hard-working professionals that in many ways reflects the diversity of the Kingdom itself. Below are a few short stories, testimonies and blurbs about the wonderful people who challenge and encourage us every day and who work passionately week after week in our shared mission of serving the last, least, lost and lonely. Many of these friends of ours reflect important qualities of God’s character, and we hope that their examples inspire you as much as they inspire us!
𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲: 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹, 𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁
Nehemie serves the important role of accountant or “controller” for LSM in Haiti. Responsible use of funding is key to everything LSM has accomplished, and optimization through accounting is a subject Nehemie has cared deeply about since grade school. But even as “controller,” she recognizes it’s God who ultimately knows what’s best for each of us. When Nehemie needed a job, she took her prayer request to church. Her pastor, our own Wilfrid Remonvil opened the door for her to work at LSM. Next, Nehemie wanted to get married. Unable to resolve this herself, she simply attended to the task before her: helping LSM run effectively, serving as many vulnerable children as possible. Along the way, she fell in love with Evan Forges, a member of LSM’s business staff. The two married, and this summer, they celebrated the birth of a girl. As the name “LSM” reminds us, no matter the control we may or may not feel, the Lord is our shepherd. And because He loves us, we can trust that our true needs are never far from His attention or His Heart!
𝗟𝗦𝗠 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀: “𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝘁!”
When Jean Noel first agreed to direct our Welsh School in Haiti, the school was not under LSM management. They couldn’t even afford to pay him, but Jean Noel agreed to help because when he looked around his community, he saw a cycle of uneducated kids growing up to become adults without hope or opportunities – like their parents before them. “The school had no money to pay me, but I knew if I didn’t act in faith, then nothing would ever change. Someone had to step up in faith for these kids, and I couldn’t say no!” Since that time, LSM has acquired the school, and Jean now receives a living wage for his work. During this Season of Giving, let’s pause and reflect on Jean’s favorite Scripture: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). How is God asking you to step out in faith?
𝗗𝗶𝗼: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲
Talking to Dio, LSM’s Vehicle Manager, one is struck by his smile, his compassion, and his deep care for others. You would never guess the hardships he’s endured. Four years ago, he lost his family’s farm and house to Hurricane Matthew. Dio also lost his father around that time and was the victim of a severe car accident. The oldest of six, he was left alone to care for his mother and siblings – but his injuries confined him to bed. Undeterred, Dio read books and taught himself English during the recovery. Soon after, he learned about a job opportunity at LSM, and Dio’s mechanical skills, as well as his new ability to speak English, earned him the job. Huge thanks to Dio for helping us keep essential LSM vehicles on the road!
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘆𝘀𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶
In his first letter to Thessalonica, Paul reminds the church to “encourage each other and build each other up.” The person on LSM’s team who knows the most about physical building is Troy Leyse, our Construction Manager. Troy is the primary staff person responsible for managing construction of our new Homes of Hope and businesses in Haiti, as well as installation of other key features such as wells, security walls, bridges, and solar panel arrays. But as Troy would be the first to tell you, his biggest responsibility is overseeing the building up of people, not structures. In everything LSM does, our goal is to equip local workers and to empower local leaders who God is raising up to help usher in a new dawn for Haiti!
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Micheline Taverne, LSM’s Impact Program Coordinator, says a big part of her role is encouraging our children and empowering them to reach their full potential. She helps the children track individual progress and reach academic and behavioral benchmarks so that they can unlock advanced educational support through LSM’s new Impact Program. “Working together, LSM staff and Home of Hope parents are creating an environment for these kids’ hearts and minds to be transformed,” Micheline says. “We want them to achieve their potential so they can share that success with others and bless Haiti, beginning with those around them.” Micheline’s favorite Scripture is Col. 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men!”
𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿
Rebecca Webb, LSM’s Administrative Assistant, wears many hats. As she puts it, a big part of her job is “creating and maintaining a good first impression of LSM.” Anyone who’s ever visited or called our U.S. office has almost certainly interacted with Rebecca, who besides serving as a public face, manages our gift shop, supports our effort to record gifts and stay in touch with donors, assists with event planning, manages our supply inventory, schedules the staff calendar, and plans our recurring “Lunch and Learns,” which have become a highly anticipated tradition for the team each month. She says: “My heart’s been touched to learn about dire situations in Haiti and Ethiopia, as well as the promise of a brighter future.”
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮: 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀, 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Paulos Mamo, one of our dedicated program managers in Ethiopia, has served LSM for more than ten years, helping children and their single moms break cycles of desperation and poverty through our business, education, trauma healing, and discipleship programs. Early in Paulos’ ministry, he still remembers the first time he and LSM helped a young mother who was on the verge of resorting to prostitution to feed her kids. A decade later, Paulos has collected hundreds of similar stories. The work is difficult, but also inspiring. Paulos says he has “no greater joy” than helping our moms become business owners and seeing the kids achieve their full, God-given potential.
