In December of 2007, I went on a mission trip to Haiti with Family Health Ministries (www.familyhm.org), a non-profit dedicated to improving the health of underserved communities around the world. On this trip, I met a special young Haitian named Huegens Mercier. Huegens lived in the slum of Cite Soleil, a section of Haiti occupied by 80,000 and built on top of a landfill. His parents had an annual income of $350 per year.

At age 5, his parents brought him to his pastor and said that they couldn’t feed him any longer. Over the years, the pastor did his best to support him, and now 18, Huegens began dreaming of something bigger – studying in America to become a Christian minister like the pastor of his Haitian church. I talked with him about a small NC Christian bible college (www.roanokebible.edu) that my parents helped found in the 1940’s - but with no resources other than the clothes on his back, his dreams were hardly achievable.

After the visit, I learned that a week later, Huegens was the victim of a random shooting while walking home from school. His pastor called me with regular updates on his condition, and although he was not expected to live, he fortunately did.

I have been attracted to Huegens because of his remarkable will and determination. Despite his hardship, he graduated from high school, learned English, and has initiated taking the Tofel (English proficiency) test twice in order to pursue his college dreams. But even with these tools, he had no money, no support, and no scholarship of any kind. Most in his circumstance would have given up on their dreams long ago.

In May of 2008, I received a call from New York – it was Huegens, who along with his father had received a green card and admission to the US. He had gotten a part time job and was attending Brooklyn College studying English. He asked again about the bible college I had mentioned. On his own initiative, he contacted the school, visited and took and entrance exam, and was admitted – but again, he had no resources, beyond his determination, of any kind. That said, Huegens did have an undying faith that God will provide, and that he was going to serve God as a pastor, despite those that told him “your dream is too big for a child of the slums”.

Inspired by his determination, I decided to raise the tuition for Huegens first semester at Roanoke – and let him apply for whatever financial aid he can receive beyond that point. On December 20th, Huegens was admitted to Roanoke Bible College and he began classes in January of 2009. His professors say he is a model student – one with a hunger for learning and a love of Christian teachings.

The college has agreed to allow the tuition to be paid monthly, and in this economic climate, fundraising has been very difficult. This fundraising task is daunting, but I am making progress in small ways.

If you are interested in providing financial support, please send donations to Family Health Ministries, 2344 Operations Drive, Durham, NC 27705, Attention: Huegens Mercier Tuition and help me help Huegens fulfill his dream of becoming a Christian pastor who will serve “the least of these” – his fellow Haitian countrymen.

Sincerely,

Chip Chesson
chip@trinitybuilders.com
919-280-1605