Anglade Berlynda |
My name is Anglade Berlynda. I am 20 years old and live in Merger Route National #2 with my parents.
Before I joined the program, life was not good for me. I used to have several relationships at once. I would go out secretly when my parents thought I went to school. I snuck around and carried other clothes in my bag and went out with friends. I fell in love with an older man because my parents could not meet my needs and this older man would give me food and buy me clothes. I did not have confidence in myself. Someone explained that the HTC program can change my life. I agreed to register and was accepted as one of the few women to get into the program. When I started the program, it did not go well. I found it difficult living with a lot of people in the same room, away from my mother. The other women in the program were not from my neighborhood. They were completely unfamiliar, but they did have the same addictions and the same temperament. The change in my daily schedule was challenging. We all got up early every morning to do chores. I would fall asleep during class because I wasn’t used to hard work. I would hang out in the dorm room, avoiding work. The problem was that I wasn't used to people having expectations of me, and it caused quite a bit of disputes between me and the staff. I did not want to stay in the program. But a strange thing started to happen. I got used to getting up early and completing my chores. In fact, now work has become a passion for me. I have come to realize that I love clean places and I learned that it takes effort to make it that way. I have grown deep friendships with the women. Now I can't live without them. If one is not around, I feel very sad and miss them very much. With God's help, I'm starting to change. I don't have the same unhealthy desire for sex like I did before; or want multiple relationships, because I know that God has something better than that planned for me. Thanks to this program, I feel changed and reborn. I thank God for that. |
Denejuste Sylvia |
Hello, my name is Denejuste Sylvia. I am 20 years old. When I was very young, my father left my mother and me and married another woman. My mother couldn’t take care of me. I would walk to the house next door to get fed. She died when I was seven years old. That was the first time I was raped. When my father heard about it, he took me to his home. My stepmother beat me. My father took me to stay somewhere else when he saw the bruises that she had left on me. I moved from place to place because everywhere I went they weren’t able to care for me. During this time of being moved from place to place, I was raped several more times. I returned to Port-au-Prince to my father’s house, where I have always suffered. I have not found love from my mother or father. I have not loved myself. I have no love for any of the people I lived with.
I began sleeping and staying outside because I did not want to live with the people my father sends me to. He thought he was doing everything to help, but he wasn’t. It was just making things worse. I have a brother-in-law who gave me money to go to school. I told at friend at school about my homelessness problem when they saw that I had been beaten. He got me the help I needed through someone who knew about the HTC program. I put together my application and was accepted. After two or three months in the program, I struggled to stay. I felt trapped. I couldn't have sex. I couldn't smoke and drink. I didn’t want to stay because I saw that my life had been miserable. But the staff members were fighting for me. They are always passing on the advice from Mrs. Suzette, “always believe that my past doesn’t determine my future”. They believe that I can pray to ask God for strength, and He’ll give it. And I did! Now, I always meditate on the word of God. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”. I can claim this and face any obstacle. With help from the Holy Spirit, I am a new creation in Christ. He changed me. All glory is to God! |
Erm-Djulie Guerrier |
I am Erm-Djulie Guerrier. I am 23 years old, and I lived in Delmas 33. I grew up in a Christian family. I am a young, determined woman with many dreams. I believe in God and my education is optimistic. I have other qualities that are good, and I thank God so much for these qualities.
Two things I have gained from being a part of Haiti Teen Challenge.
My mother did come to find out what I had been doing behind her back. She correctly assessed that God alone could put a stop to my poor decisions. Unfortunately, I did not listen to her warning. I listened instead to friends who lead me on a bad path. In 2017, I did something horrible; I went to a nightclub, and I was drinking too much. I ended up breaking a glass door and was arrested by the police. I spent a night in prison. I felt bad for my family and the shame I caused them. I had told my mom that I would change, yet I lied and returned to do the same bad things. I am very sorry that I used to do such things. I did them out of curiosity, not to dishonor my family. When I first got to HTC, I met all these new women. I struggled with my immediate attraction to them. I never would have thought that I could resist my old patterns of thinking. But God gave and gives me strength and courage. As part of the process of healing, we had a “funeral” for our old ways of living. I wrote down my list of addictions and asked God to remove them forever. Then, we physically buried them in the ground, where they belonged, dead and gone. It brings me great joy to say that I repented, was baptized and was made a new creature according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. God has healed my relationship with my family. I have peace of mind because the Holy Spirit dwells in me. I trust that He will continue guiding me to the place where He wants me to give up everything to Him. I gave up my destructive habits and replaced them with prayer, devotion, worship and reading God’s word. |
Angelitha Hytamar Lydie |
I am Hytamar and I am 22 years old. I was born in Carrefour area. I grew up in a single parent family. I have two brothers and five sisters. I grew up with only two of them because the others have different mothers.
I was raised by my mother and never knew my father. All the fatherly affection I experienced was from my stepfather. When I got old enough to ask my mother about my father, she refused to tell me at first, but later on explained her side of the story and I accepted her explanation. Prior to that, I would blame her for his absence, but I ended up understanding. My mom fought hard to give me a good life, to raise me properly and allow me to go to school. After senior year in High-school, my perspective changed. I had only one idea in mind, it was to get a job and be independent financially. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd. My mother used to try to warn me about them, but to me, they were my friends and the best option at the time. I had a lot of needs and was lacking a lot. I wanted to fill the void I was feeling and started dating the wrong kind of people. My mother was sick all the time and unfortunately unable to work. With her at home, I realized that I could no longer live the way I wanted with her around. I then spent my days on the streets either at a friend's house or out with someone. Sometimes I would return, but most of the time I wouldn't come back for days. My mother was very angry and was constantly reprimanding me for my choices. I couldn't take her talking any longer, so I decided to leave the house and go stay at a friend. I cut all contact and ties with her and was free to do what I pleased. One day while at work I received a text message on my phone from my mother writing to let me know how hurt she was to know I was living the kind of life I was. She asked me to leave and to come home. Without hesitation, I obeyed. She shared her concerns with Sanders and Judelin who suggested she talk to me about HTC. At first when she told me about HTC, I wanted nothing to do with it but after several talks, I decided to give the program a try and that is how I ended up at HTC. When I was first in the program, things were not easy for me, and several times I asked to be sent home. The staff continuously spoke to me and finally persuaded me to stay. I was encouraged by their advice and care for me. I realized it was better to be at HTC than out there doing all the thing I was doing before. I stayed, and I can say that I am no longer the same person, and this is by the grace of God. I cannot put into words how God has transformed my life, but I am convinced that He who has begun will for sure complete. Thank you. |
Zidor Kenlore |
I am Kenlore. I am 25 years old, and I was born in Jeremiah. I grew up in a Christian family with three brothers and one sister. I attended church with my family, but I was not a Christian.
At the age of 17, I left my parents' house in the province, then moved to my cousin’s house in Port-au-Prince. Initially she treated me well, then came a time of struggle and there was no food in the home. I was going to school without food, and I didn't have the money. I was so hungry. Out of this need, I became connected with a married man. Every time this man gave me money, I had to sleep with him. I had to accept this in order to get the things I needed. The man was jealous and controlling, he did not want me to talk to other young men. I became a prisoner to this man; I was bound to him if I wanted his help. I had no one else to stand with me, so I left and began to sleep outside. At that time, I started having several girlfriends because I was really in need. My mother and father couldn't help me. I tried to get into university in 2015, but I didn't succeed. I didn't continue my studies anymore because I didn't have anyone left to stand by me with support. I was homeless at that time. I came to consider myself a professional prostitute. Kimberling, a graduate of Haiti Teen Challenge came and talked to me about the program. She encouraged me to apply and I got accepted. Initially, it was very difficult for me to be in this kind of structured environment. But I got to hear the word of God and accepted Jesus as my personal savior and master of my life! My life began to change. I don’t think so negatively anymore. I don’t have a spirit of revenge anymore. There has also been a transformation in my home. My family is starting to change. All this is happening thanks to God. I can’t thank Him enough for the way he operates in my life. |
Ludnie
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Hello, I'm Ludnie M’guetchine Michel. I am 22 years old. I grew up in a single parent home where my mother raised five children where I am the youngest. Before Haiti Teen Challenge, I did really, really, bad things. I just never realized that they were bad things, I just thought they were fun. I got to a point where I became obsessed with smoking marijuana. I smoked so often that it no longer had any effect on me. I moved on to cocaine and was addicted to alcohol. I got to a point that my family cursed me. I had developed a rage that dominated our home. The rage and addictions developed into something new. I began to enter into relationships with other women. Together with my new “friends”, I started sleeping outside, coming home late. I didn’t give my mother or sister straight answers about what I had been up to. My mother never gave up on me; she knew I was in great pain. I wanted to change. I wanted to make my heart happy, but I didn't have the strength or courage to do it. I have a cousin who was similar to me. He heard about a place where they help people with the same problems we face. My mother, without hesitation, applied for me at HTC. I interviewed for the program and was accepted into the program. It was difficult to suddenly be among all these new women that I hadn’t been familiar with. I would tease them that they are as forbidden to me as all the other forbidden addictions like "Marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, sex". It was hard to be in this program. I was angry about not being able to do whatever I wanted to do. I asked to go home. The staff talked to me about my behavior and about the choices I had. They encouraged me to work through the pain, and they prayed for me. I got to stay. They continued praying with me; I started praying for myself. I gave my life to Christ and was baptized. He started dealing with my addictions. I was able to start offering comfort to the other women as we prayed together. God was working in my life. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I see the women differently. I don't see them as sexual objects, but I see them as my sisters. Even though I have not yet changed completely, and even though sometimes there are old thoughts that go through my mind, I pray. I ask God to help me deal with this, and I thank God for His work in my life.
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Luidienne Joseph |
Hello, my name is Luidienne Joseph. I am 19 years old. I lived with my grandmother until the age of 13 when I moved in with my mother. I had older friends who smoked and drank. They would have sex with people of the same sex. I used to enjoy the same pleasures they did. I disobeyed my parents. I feel like I was always “missing something” and I was searching for it in my friends. But my friends not once led me in a good direction.
Satan had a hold on me… but God said, “Satan you may have scored a goal, but the game is mine, and it’s not over yet.” My mother learned that there is a facility that helps young people, a biblical way to help them see who they are. When I arrived that first day, I saw women everywhere with piles of all their belongings; it was scary and not easy for me to deal with. It was overwhelming. My first few weeks in the program, I was angry. I wanted to die. The word says, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:36. Mrs. Lutchilla says, “discipline allows you to grow up.” I didn't want to see my parents, or my mother even. My anger made me unhappy. Now it's different, I act different. My mother is proud of me, and I'm a new creature of God. I discovered a lot of wonderful qualities that I have: love for the meditation of the word of God and helping others without hypocrisy. HTC does a great job in the lives of young people, especially the staff members. They have the courage to counsel us with wisdom and love that will help. 2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone comes to Christ long ago they are gone and new things replace them !!!!!!!!!! |
Mikanda Joseph |
My name is Mikanda Joseph. I was raised in what I would consider a non-Christian family. My dad did not believe in God, and my mom used to rarely go to church. My parents were separated, and I wasn’t raised in a loving environment. My father was married to another woman and left my mom pregnant, alone, to fend for herself. At least that is the story my mother always told me. My father would rarely help her with financial needs, and most of the time she had to beg him for money to take care of me. My mother gave birth to nine children, and eight of us were still living with her. After a while, I had no choice but to leave my home to go live with an older sister because my mother couldn’t take care of all of us. Unfortunately, my older sister was quite abusive and wasn’t really taking care of me. I had to fend for myself and find ways to pay for my schooling, and the clothes I was wearing. At the age of twenty, I couldn’t take the abuse any longer and decided to leave her house. I rented my own place and started living alone. Shortly after that, my father passed away and despite him never caring for me, I decided to go to his funeral. While living alone, I made all kinds of friends, some of which had really bad reputations. I began doing what I wanted, when I wanted, and even doing things I didn’t necessarily want to do just for the sake of it.
I made friends of the opposite sex who I would hang out with. When with them, I would go to parties, drink alcohol, smoke weed. I was doing what I wanted when I wanted. After a while, one of my little sisters came to live with me. In order to pay rent, take care of her and myself, I started doing unquestionable things. I would sleep around in return for money, and in the process was beaten and sometimes sexually assaulted. After one of those attacks, I became pregnant. I did not want to keep the child, so I had an abortion by drinking a special concoction. I enrolled at HTC later on and upon entering started to meditate on the word of God. The Holy Spirit is now in my life and I can say I am a new person. My life is different thanks to the loving power of Jesus Christ. I am a new person. Thanks to the HTC staff who, despite me wanting to leave, kept firm and continued to shower me with love. I got to a point where I would be depressed and allowing my thoughts to get the best of me, but they were always there to speak truth and love over me. I am a new person. My family is now proud of me. I want to thank God for this change. |
Jean Baptiste Wideline Neika |
My name is Jean Baptiste Wideline Neika. I am 19 years old, and I was born 04 June 2001. I live in Bon-repos Lilavois 1a. Today it is a great pleasure for me to share the experiences I have had in my life and the differences HTC makes in my life.
I didn’t grow up in a Christian family. Before entering the HTC program, I was living my life the way I wished. I felt no shame with satisfying myself sexually, smoking and drinking and letting my free spirit guide me. I was enjoying my youth. My parents didn't like it, but I didn’t understand what their problem was. They weren’t going to stop me from living the way I wanted. I wasted my school years. I left my mother's house because of my bad mood. I was convinced they didn't like me. At that point, the reality of life hit me! I felt like there was no place for me in the world. I lost all confidence. I thought my life had no purpose. When I entered HTC, I felt lost, weakened, and I didn't feel comfortable around all these new people. I was new to me to wake up in the same house day after day. I couldn’t escape, and I was bored. A sense of bitter pride came over me while I was realizing my true character. My mind was tormented. I was ashamed to realize that I wasted so much because I did not recognize all that I had and turned away from. I did not want to have my place in society. The enemy firmly understood what I was wrestling with. But he did not win! I got a lot of help from the Lord, who firmly proclaims that he will never abandon me. Staff members who acted like mothers, the interns, and my mentor can testify to who I was, who I am today, what my dreams and life will look like after 18 months in the program. When I first joined HTC, it was not easy. I felt like I was in prison. At that time, I was led by my own desires. But now, I let God lead me. I learned to enter into the fullness of the life He so graciously gave me. Because of His love, I have learned to forgive myself. I know that when I fall, it is not the end. I feel like I love myself. I can stand proudly to say that I have value; that life is not by chance. I am happy because I am one of the young women that HTC helped. It changed my life. Isaiah 49:10 claims, “They will not be hungry or thirsty. The burning heat of the sun will not trouble them. For He Who has loving pity on them will lead them. He will lead them to wells of water.” Despite everything I’ve done, my God has compassion. |
Stephanie
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My name is Stephanie Saint-Georges. I am 21 years old, and I was born into a poor Christian family. I left my parents' house at the age of 15 to live with my aunt. At the age of 16, I was raped. I kept it a secret from everybody. Since that moment, my life can be summoned up with sex, heartbreak and hurt. I slept with so many men after the rape. I would lure them in and then just leave them. It's like I was in love with a spirit; a spirit that enters a different body every day. I broke a different man’s heart almost every day because I couldn’t stay with just one. This is how my life was unfolding before HTC.
I met a friend, who told me about this program. I stubbornly applied, and God had plans for me to be accepted. When I got to the center, it was hard! I always wanted to smoke, and I always wanted to drink Prestige (Haitian Beer). Learning all the life skills has been the greatest experience I have had during my 21 years! I accepted Jesus! I have come to love God! I have learned to love people! I have learned to love my family! I was living without purpose, but now I have a dream. I grew spiritually and mentally. God has forgiven me, and now I can forgive myself and others. I have experienced the transformation in Christ. If you look into my heart now, you will not see the darkness in me. I am a light. I am a child of God. I don't have to break anyone's heart anymore because I made God the leader of my life. He changes all my negatives into positives, I feel like a bird hovering in God's hands following his voice. God says, in His word, that even the lowly person God calls to take him among the great ones. He says even if all my earthly parents would abandon me, he will not leave me alone. He will not leave me an orphan, since I walk with Him. Even though I am still selfish, I now know who I am. I am leading a victorious Christian life. I am a child of God Now, my whole dream is to grow closer to God every day! Thanks! |
Mesmin Woodeline
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I am Mesmin Woodeline. I am 23 years old. I grew up in a Christian family with my father until I was three years old. From that point on, my aunt raised me and cared for me. When I was 16, I started dating a young man the same age as me. I noticed that when I was with him sexually, it didn’t feel good. I found that I was attracted to women, especially because they were kind to me and pursued relationships with me. That’s when my life started falling apart. I stopped going to church. I stopped dressing like a woman and changed my wardrobe to dress like the men. I went to bars with friends and where they would drink, smoke and play ball. I started to join them more and more.
When my aunt saw that my life was becoming so disoriented, she confronted me and told me that she didn’t want to take care of me if I was going to behave this way. I lied to her, I told her I was staying with families who needed a helper, that everything was fine. But I was out with other women. We went far away from my aunts home so that she would not find out. None of this worked, because when I would come back home, she could smell the drugs on me and could see that I was high. I was going out early in the morning to sell drugs and my body. I thought it was for the money, but I smoked or drank all my profits. When my aunt saw how low things had gotten for me, it was too much for her. She told me that I had to join HTC. She saw that I was completely addicted. She asked me to do it out of my love for her and my family, including my daughter. I registered, but I did not want to. I think I was a little afraid that if Jesus returned and found me partying that he would not take me with him to heaven. When I arrived at HTC, it was as if I had come to a prison. I wasn't comfortable at all. I missed all the things I used to do. I can't do it again. The staff told my aunt that they believe that HTC was the ideal place for me. I will place my trust in God. They believed, even when I didn’t; that I have a great future ahead for me and my daughter. If I can be motivated by this, I would do well. My Aunt left me there and that made me think deeply. She left me, but the staff at the center were still there for me. They weren’t giving up. At first, I didn't know how to pray when I was in the chapel. I didn't know how to sing the same songs that the group was singing. I didn't know how to end a prayer. But then I started to trust God. The same Bible classes that didn’t interest me because I would sleep through were more and more interesting to me. I began to take them seriously. I started to pray. I started to sing in chapel. When I am struggling, I seek God first in prayer. I have found answers and solutions thanks to God and Haiti Teen Challenge. |
