My real name is Jean Marc but I am known as Moise which is my nickname my grandpa gave to me. I was born December 14, 1990. I grew up in a big family in my grandpa’s house. It was a little house but there were a lot of people living in it; my grandpa, my grandma, my mom, my uncle, my aunt, my brother, my sister, and my two cousins. When I was 8, my mom and my dad went to live in a different house and my brother and sister went with them, that was the time things weren’t too good. My mom was a vender and that is how she used to take care of us. My dad did not have a job but sometimes he had something to do to make a living just not all the time. We always skipped school because my parents did not have enough money to pay for school for us. When I was 12 years old I used to go fishing with other people and used to do some side jobs. I used to have fun with my friends. When I was 13, my mom passed away and things started getting really difficult for us. It wasn’t too long until my Aunt Gracia found a place to put us and that place was King’s Garden. In March 2003, King’s Garden welcomed us. We ate better, made some good friends, and had people who took really good care of us. We went to school and was taught the word of God. It was like we were in paradise. We were happy we did not miss anything. Sometimes we felt sad too because we remember family members and friends we left at home that used to live with us. God helped us to get through all those times. In the year 2006, I started secondary school. I was happy, I am not perfect but I always had good grades. When I was 18 I left the garden and returned to live with my family. Things weren’t better but God put people in my way to continue to help me go to school and take care of some important needs for me. I continue to go to church and school. This year(2014) I graduated from high school. I am working, I teach English for kids in primary school and I do other things too. I hope and pray to God to make a way so I can go to the university this year. This is my dream to become an architect. I like to watch action movies. go to the beach, swim and travel. And I like mangos.
Emmanuella's Story
Each month we will be featuring one of the life stories of the King’s Garden Graduates. This month we highlight Emmanuella's story. My name is Emmanuella. My birth date is September 2, 1990. I have five sisters. I had one sister pass away so now I only have four. She died from the earthquake, January 12, 2010. I was very sad because she left my mom with a pain in her heart. I have one older brother. In 2005, my dad passed away my mom did not have enough to take care of us. After my dad’s funeral, all of his family left us. He used to do retail to take care of us. It wasn’t really good because there used to be gun shots in Matisan. Even though there were gun shots, my mom still went out to do business because she can’t stay in the house because she needs to take care of us and feed us even if she can only bring home 5 gouds a day. A few months later I went down to Besantne to see my mom at the dentist where she was working. I used to go see a guy named Phillip each time when I go see my mom and I would always say hi to him and he used to call me daughter and that is how my mom met him. I told him my dad passed away and he said “what would you like me to do for you, my child?” I said to him, “I don’t know.” He thought a little bit and asked “what will you choose? I will pay for your school or find a place for you.” I told him, “let me talk to my mom and I will get back to you.” And I told my mom and she thought about it and she said yes to have him put us somewhere because she didn’t want the young boys in the neighborhood to take advantage of us because she was the only guide for us. A few months later, Mrs. Pricille from King’s Garden called my mom to bring us in. And my mom took me to the King’s hospital. At that time, we went to Basantne to see Mrs. Pricille and my mom signed for us, me, Sindy, Manouchka and Erika. After that my mom left and Mrs. Pricille took us to the orphanage. In 2009, I turned 18. I went back to live with my mom. At that time, my mom was living with my older sister, Minouche and her husband. A few months later, Ms. Jeanty asked for me to come live with her because my sister’s house was too small for all of us and that’s how I went to Ms. Jeanty’s house. She paid for school for me and she put me to work really hard but I wasn’t really worried because I kind of got what I was looking for. After some months I wanted to go back to live with my mom because I was doing a lot of work and that is not was Ms. Jeanty told my mom. I called my mom to come get me because I wasn’t in a good condition like when I was at King’s Garden. Some years later on January 12, 2010 was the earthquake and my sister’s house collapsed and my little sister was inside. The neighbors took her to the hospital but she passed away the same day. After that my mom went to live at the tent city called Chmp de Mars because there were still aftershocks. My mom was crying the whole time because my little sister passed away and I was really sad for my mom. Some months later, my mom built a tent with wood and tarps for us to stay in. At that time, Sindy my little sister turned 18 and it was time for her to leave King’s Garden. Too bad she had to come live in the tent with us. I was thinking about how God sent Sindy back to my mom to help her feel better because it was so many years since she saw her. In 2011 we told Tia (Manouchka and Erika’s adopted mom) we live in a tent in Chmp de Mars and after a month Tia sent us a tent. My mom put it on a piece of property that my grandpa gave us when my dad passed. One time Tia came to visit us and saw the place and she thought she could help to build a house. Sadly it wasn’t big enough. One month later she called my mom and told her that she and Lynn (Sindy’s sponsor) will pay rent for us where we are living now. I am always thinking when I am done with school I would like to go to University to be an electrician or to be a nurse so I can help my family. I trust God one day my dream will come true. When I have a job I will mostly help people who are in need, like those kids without parents. That is all I want to do in my heart. Thank you, love you.
Juniot's Story
Each month we will be featuring one of the life stories of the King’s Garden Graduates. This month we highlight Juniot's story. Juniot left the Garden when he turned 18. He has been able to finish high school and is the second one from King's to enter college. He has completed his first year and is one his way to becoming an engineer. This was only possible due to the support he has received from the sponsors of The Hearten Haiti Project. Learn more about the Garden Graduates and how you can help. My name is Juniot. I was born in 1990 in an area called Furcy (Kenscoff) West Haiti. It’s cold in this area. My mom and my dad have nine children. I am the fourth one. The youngest one is 8 years old. Because of pain and sickness my parents no longer are able to farm, and are not able to take care of us. Three of my siblings still live with my parents. The rest of us live in Port au Prince. My sister Wydeline is 14 years old and in the seventh grade. With support I receive from my sponsors, I am able to help her continue with her school. We don’t have a job but we are a Christian family. Before I went to King’s Garden in 2001 at age 11, all the siblings and my parents were living together. We siblings would work on the farm, go to school and go to church. Dr. Morquette and Dr. Junie with other people used to come do a medical clinic in the area and my mom used to go to the clinic. One day Dr. Junie asked if it would help if she took one of us to the orphanage. My parents did not like that I was going to live in an orphanage and that they would not be allowed to visit me. But they agreed it would help. That’s how I ended up in King’s Garden. My parents came to visit me but were not allowed to see me. They ended up discouraged. In 2004, the orphanage moved to a different location. My parents didn’t receive any news about me. From what I’ve heard, my parents were very sad and crying all the time. They thought I was lost. I was in King’s Garden for seven years and the people at King’s were my family. When I turned 18 in 2008 I had to leave. Dr. Morquette and Dr. Junie asked me if I remember the way to go to my house. They had a driver take me to visit them. When I got there my family was shocked. They thought I was lost. It was a celebration. They thanked God a lot and praised God and they had joy in their heart. When I left King’s Garden I was in tenth grade. I did not have any family living in Port au Prince. I stayed with Dr. Junie’s friend to continue my school, the same school I used to go to before, New College Bird; One of the best schools in Port au Prince. Things weren’t easy for me to be able to respond to the need from my school: books, transportation, and clothing. Funds I received from my sponsors were just enough to pay for rent and food. I did not stop praying to God for more help. Some of my friends knew my situation and always helped me out with what they had. Somehow God sent another special sponsor to me who helped me a lot. Oh, that was marvelous! Thank you to all of you, all the glory to God in Heaven. Right now I am living with my older sister (Viergelie) and my little sister too (Wydeline) for about six months. We live in Tabarre. Since I was little my dream was to be an engineer. With the grace of God I am in my first year of administration in a private University. I will graduate after five years. I know God will help me to finish my degree and I know my life’s plan is in my savior who has all the power. (Jeremiah 29:11) I enjoy reading, listening to music and watching educational TV, spending time with people I love, changing ideas, and talking about the future. When I compare my life with my childhood friends, I realize God blessed my life. I understand it was all God’s plan for me to grow up in King’s Garden, living with strangers who became brothers and sisters, and I know the Word of God more. I live my life to be a model and a blessing to those who don’t understand God. I learned everything is possible for those who believe in God. Today with the blessings of God, and all the people who help me, I am the only one from my brothers and sisters who ended up in college. I understand when you work with God he always puts people in your way to show you agape love, courage and good things. I thank God for the Holy Spirit he put in my life to give me strength and courage when I feel alone, discouraged and sad. Thank you to all of you who have thought and will think about King’s Garden and to all of you who are not in King’s Garden anymore. I would like to say a special thanks to Lacart family and Schramm family for all the love they have for me. God bless you all. I wish everyone who is going to read this story would like to help children in King’s. Do not hesitate. May God bless you. Thank you in advance to you all. Juniot
Michele's Story
Each month we will be featuring one of the life stories of the King's Garden Graduates. This month we highlight Michelle's story. Michelle was the first orphan from King's to turn 18, leave the security of the Garden, and face the world on her own. Learn more about the Garden Graduates. My name is Michelle. I was born on March 8th 1989 in Port-Au-Prince Haiti. I have five brothers and I had two sisters but one of my older sisters died. I share the same parents with my three younger brothers, Jean Marc, Marc Noel, and Coffy. The other two brothers have a different father. I have never lived with them so I don’t know what is happening in their lives. Before my mom’s death, I lived with my biological parents. I have some family from my mother side. They don’t really know my brothers and me. Most of my father’s family lives in Carrefour but everyone minds their own business. We are a part of the family but that’s it. My life before King’s Garden is fuzzy and nasty. We did not have a comfortable house. We couldn’t go to school or church. We didn’t have any food. We ate only once a day and not until nighttime. Some times our neighbors would give us some food and drink in the morning. When my parents had enough money, I got to go to school for a little while. If they got more money than one of my brothers could also go to school. When my parents were moneyless, none of us got to go to school.
I came to King’s Garden after my mother’s death. My aunt knew someone who worked at King’s Hospital and they talked to Dr. Junie about our situation. Our mother was our all and all. She was our nights and days. Unfortunately our father was a drunk so he couldn’t think or plan anything for us. So that is why we ended up at the Garden.
I live in my hometown; Carrefour and I live with my youngest Aunt Estephanie. I would like to be a nurse because there is a many sick people and only a few doctors and nurses to take care of them. I love to care for other people.
I love to go the beach and of course I feel better when I’m with the other kids at King’s Garden.