Dear Friends,

Many students have come into my life for a reason.There is one student's story that has touched my life as I hope it does yours.Her name is Elena and she is a first year student at our Christian University of Northern Haiti (UCNH).She is one of the 2 girls, the other named Valdi that chose Theology as their major. They both came from the Baptist church of Belladere where I first preached in Creole in 1999 and I have a special relationship with this church. I was looking forward to their start at the university and took an interest in them because they were females in the theology program. I was planning to approach them with the idea to give them the taste and the interest of women ministries.

Elena's strong relationship with me started in mid November when I found out that she was having some sort of breakdown.She was very agitated and biting, going crazy.I called her friend Valdi and asked her if Elena had this problem before.She told me a little about Elena's past.While growing up, Elena suffered from these episodes every so often, but she had not seen any signs of them since 9th grade.She made the promise to God that if he healed her she would serve him as a minister.Doors opened for her and she is now studying to become a pastor. At the same time Elena had her breakdown, the university had planned a retreat for all the students.I told Valdi that Elena could stay with me instead of missing the retreat to stay with her, but she decided to go anyways.Unfortunately, the attack arrived again so she returned to my home.I was a little nervous and asked if she was going to bite me.She said no and started to cry in my lap.I welcomed her and we talked for hours.She opened her heart and explained to me what really was going on.

Elena came from a poor family of 12.Her parents could not afford to care for her so she moved into her aunt's house with some of her siblings.One of her older sisters left school in order to work and put Elena through school.Although her aunt and sister were willing to help, when she arrived here she quickly found that they were limited.She was in debt with the school and felt humiliation and frustration.But, those feelings were nothing compared to the blow she received before arriving to school.As she was preparing to leave Port-au-prince to start her journey to the university, her dignity was stolen.A group of men held her at gunpoint stealing her clothes and we don't know for sure what more…She came to her first year of school away from her family filled with shame.She felt self-conscious as she looked at the other students' clothes and realized she had none for herself, and the trauma of the event in Port-au-prince was a probable cause of her attacks.

Because of your support, I was able to help this girl as much as I could. Paying her debt and finding her clothes and shoes was an important act, but the chance I received to give her a listening ear was what really helped her find her way through this hard situation.Many times, she has told me: "I don't know what would happen to me if you didn't show me that kind of love." In addition, I am grateful to God that He helped me guide her through the hard times.

Would you please be praying for Elena that she may come, with God's help, to overcome her situation and to realize God‘s love in spite the trauma she went through.I would also appreciate your prayers as I struggle to play the role of her mother, her pastor, her mentor and her friend, at such a challenging time as this.

Your servant,

Kihomi Ngwemi Nzunga