CELEBRATING: BIRTHDAYS AND DREAMS

Stephenson Jentry

Last evening Shirley and I along with Haitian college student Erve Joseph who is attending school here in N. E. Indiana attended a surprise 21st birthday party for Stephenson Jentry who arrived from Haiti last Friday evening. Stephenson was last here in the U.S. in the summer of 2007 and lived with several other Haitian students in our home. This time he is staying in Warsaw, Indiana in the home of Amy and Travis Turk. Possibly about 16 of us gathered at the Turk home to eat pizza, cake and ice cream and celebrate his birthday and arrival in the U.S. for a six month stay.

The Turk's worked very hard over the last 2.5 months in there effort to get Stephenson a visa to travel to the U.S. He is currently enrolled in a study class to enable him to achieve his short term goal of passing and receiving a GED. His long term plans are to get accepted in a vocational school and learn a viable trade he could pursue in Haiti to help his family. Amy was very adept at researching the various options of helping Stephenson receive a visa so quickly especially considering she did it all from the U.S. Her knowledge in the procedure will be a great asset in helping others through this often difficult process.

Erve also has some celebrating to do. He arrived here in the U.S. last year in July so he recently completed his first year of college. Once he finishes summer classes he will have 33 credit hours of completion. He will attain another 12-15 this coming Fall semester before he starts attending school in Branson, Mo. He recently was accepted at The College of the Ozarks with a full ride scholarship. His short term goal is to get a 4 year nursing degree. Long term he hopes to go to med school if that doesn't happen maybe a nurse/practitioner. These two guys represent the hope and future of Haiti and we wish them both success in reaching for their dreams and God given potential. In God's love , steve