History

On Friday December 9, 1994, I was hl room 217 at Graham and Parks School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My third and fourth graders, bilingual students had come from recess. All excited, they gathered on the rug ready to participate on the next class schedule, which was "story time".  In room 217, one of the goals of story time was language development.  After I had read the book, "Josephine's Imagination.", I went around asking questions about the story. One of my questions was, "What would you like to be when you grow up?"  And the follow up question: "Why?"

Of course, almost everyone had rose his or her hands ready to give an answer. In less than five minutes, room 217 was full with doctors, engineers, teachers, nurses, soccer players, football players etc. One of my third graders had had his head down and he was gazing at his shoes, this caught my attention, so I called on him. Immediately, with a determined tone of voice, he replied: "Me, I would like to be a police officer when I grow up". "Why?" I asked. "I would like to be a police officer and make a lot of money to send to my mother in Haiti so she can send my little brothers and sisters to school. Then, when they come here they won't be like me not knowing how to read and write".  

This eight year old boy had not had any previous schooling before he came to room 217. He couldn't even hold a pencil to trace his name.

This statement went straight to my heart and cut like a knife. I was so touched that I had to leave the rug area so they wouldn't see the tears rolling out of my eyes. I talked to myself then, saying, "God, why do kids in Haiti have to suffer like that? Why can't" they be like all other children in the world? Why? Why God?"

Immediately, I heard a clear voice saying: "That's why I'm sending you back to your forefather's farm to Evangelize and Alphabetize." these two words were like an echo in my ears. It was so loud that I had to press hard on them with my hands. At first, I had thought I was dreaming, then realized I was at work.

I talked to my Pastor and to my family and they suggested that I stay in prayer, for God to confirm this vision. And, Indeed He did clarify it for me.

In August 1998, I went back to the region and made a survey to see how many kids didn't go to school in the area.

It was really surprising to witness the number of kids who couldn't go to school because their parents couldn't afford to send them, or school was too far away from where they lived.

Right away, a registration form was made available. In October of 1998, the first classroom started with 29 students in a house on the farm that my mother had just built.