Recently
Orphaned Marie-Angẻ Aceus joins Actionnel and Yolande's family.
By Actionnel Fleurisma
Born in early
1989 in the mountains of Bayonnais to Isabelle Donatien and Saint-Ange
Aceus, respectively mother and father, Marie-Angẻ attended elementary school in
a public school in her home town from 1st to 6th grade.
While Marie-Angẻwas in
the 5th grade, her father died from a strange disease. He was just in his late 40's. About a year
after Mr. Aceus death, his wife Isabelle decided to turn her life over to the Lord
which she did along with
her daughter ,Marie-Angẻ. They both attended the Christian Church of Bayonnais, where
I (Actionnel) have served as pastor since early 2004.
Not too long after their attending our church, we discovered that Isabelle was
having health problems. While the ministry would accept her daughter freely in
the
7th grade at our school in Bayonnais, even though some time now we
have had a very large
number of students. the ministry would also send Isabelle to see the doctors
in places like: Lacroix, Jonc, Gonaives, and Ennery. In addition the ministry would
provide for their food.
Sadly, in early
May, 2007, Isabelle died and left behind her 21 year-old son, Rito and
her
daughter, Marie-Ange
who was almost 18 years old. So, both Rito and Marie-Angẻ have now lost both
their parents. It was easy for the ministry to decide to pay the expenses for
the funeral. But it was a big concern about the future of this beautiful, young
and brilliant girl, Marie-Angẻ. She was in 9th grade in our school in Bayonnais.
The need
being great, the Fleurisma's felt led to open their home for Marie-Angẻ. With
Marie-Angẻ now in our home, we hope to help her as she starts a new life not
only without her parents but also without her brother who has moved in with
relatives. She has many adjustments to make in grieving the loss of her parents
and now living in a new home. By her being a part of the Fleurisma family, since the end of
May, she has brought with her much joy and happiness. We are all felt so blessed to have her in our
home.
On the first week of August, news about the results from national exams for 9th
graders came to me. I was in the USA making contacts for the ministry when
news came that
Marie-Angẻ was number 11 out of 137 students who
took the 3-day exams in the
city of Gonaives. (They were tested on Math, French, Experimental Science, Creole,
English/Spanish and History). Since going back and forth to Bayonnais for school
would be way too much for a young girl, we have decided that she will attend
College LaRonde des Gonaives, which is in the city about a mile a way from our
house.
Marie has been a true blessing for the Fleurisma family and we have seen it as
another way of giving hope to somebody who is among the least fortunate in our
Haitian society.
Well, my mom and my dad are still living -- glory be to God. But at the age of 18, on
September 22, 1982, Rev. Michel Morisset and his wife Firolene opened the
door of their home for me at Eben-Ezer Mission in Gonaives, Haiti. I joined so
many others that were there also at that time and I had the the greatest
privilege
to attend 7th grade at the mission. It was here at this mission where
I first met Mrs. Helen Hunter of Charlotte, North Carolina in July of 1985. There, a new life got started, not only for me, but also later for
thousands of boys and girls in the region of Bayonnais where I along with some
dear friends began a new school for Bayonnais. Here, in my home community where
life has always been dark, a new work began and this would probably never had
happen were it not for Rev. Michel Morisset and his wife Firolene who took me
in.
(Note:
Please read the "History" of the
Bayonnais Mission to know the full story of how Mrs. Helen Hunter brought
Actionnel to her home in Charlotte. Living with the Hunters, Actionnel attended
Central Piedmont Community College. Following graduation, he went back to
Bayonnais where he
and four friends
[Dimilsaint Mondelus, Firmin Saint-Louis, Lucner Saint-Louis, and Saint-Victor
Sejour] from his mountain village of Bayonnais felt called to start a school,
which they did in late 1993. Thus began OFCB Ministries that now
(fall 2007) has over 1500
students in attendance. )
Who knows what Marie-Angẻ might become 25 years from now?
"CHILDREN ARE NOT COOKING POTS or STONES, THEY DO GROW"
Actionnel Fleurisma
