Wideline, 21, is sailing through her junior year at Grace Emmanuel School. This quiet, intelligent, and hard-working young woman could justifiably boast in all she has overcome to make it this far in her life. But instead she boasts in something far better—her faith in Jesus Christ.

Early tragedies

Wideline was born in Côtes-de-Fer, a city on the southern coast of Haiti, the second of six children in her family.

When she was 6 years old, her mom died suddenly in childbirth. Wideline was sent 100 miles away to live in rural Cabaret with her aunt. She lost all connection to her dad and siblings.

Soon tragedy struck again. Her aunt passed away when Wideline was barely 10 years old.

Though she loved her uncle and cousins, it grew increasingly difficult to live with them. Space was tight and money was tighter, and as Wideline grew, she began to search for any opportunity to continue her education beyond 8th grade.

God provides

In 2018, Wideline found a spot in 9th grade at Grace Emmanuel School. With a free education now available to her, Wideline wouldn’t have to worry anymore about how she would pay for high school.

The only problem was the school was located too far away from her uncle’s house. Timidly, she reached out to her uncle’s niece, Kerline, in Source Matelas, just a few miles from the school.

“She approached Kerline and asked her if it would be okay to come stay at our house for the school year,” said Roger, Kerline’s husband and JiHM’s director of operations. “That was 2019, and I guess the school year hasn’t ended yet,” he said with a grin.

Becoming a family for Wideline has been a mutual blessing. “She is kind and helpful,” said Roger. “She loves being in the kitchen because she loves to cook. Often she goes to the market for Kerline, or with Kerline to the grocery store.”

“I am grateful for the school,” said Wideline, “and for the family God has placed me in.”

Growing in faith

As a kid in Cabaret, Wideline remembers always going to church with her aunt, and accepting Jesus at a crusade.

When Wideline moved in with Kerline’s family, she began attending Victory Bible Church with them. Her time there has helped her take her faith in Jesus to a new maturity.

In December, Wideline made what she calls the first major decision of her life. She chose to be baptized.

“I know this is the biggest decision I can make in my life,” she said. “I’m also aware that it will not always be easy because I am young. But despite my youth, I choose Jesus. Being young doesn’t mean all we do is sin, like some people think, but we can be strong in Jesus.”

Wideline’s faith is what truly marks her character. “She loves Jesus,” said Roger. “She often tells us how grateful she is to God, and she believes she will do great in the future.”

Future dreams

Speaking of the future, Wideline hopes to be a doctor one day, just like Kerline. Her teachers consistently praise her hard work and commitment to her studies, and she continues to excel each year.

Yet Wideline knows her success is not found in her own strength or intelligence, but in the Lord, who has shown her over and over again that He is near, working in her life to rescue and redeem.

Will you join us in praying for Wideline’s faith and her future?

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11