Juvelande, also known as Joann, is feisty and full of passion. She loves with her whole heart and when she’s in your corner, you can always count on her to have your back. She is spunky and outgoing, and rarely concerned with others’ impression of her. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and tell you exactly what she thinks - good or bad, she doesn't hold back. She is a leader in her class, on the playground, and she carries her banner of salvation proudly for all to see.
Joann and her brother were welcomed into our school 5 years ago. On her very first day in Kindergarten, she was not shy to voice her opinion. In fact, she called her teacher a name that we would know as the equivalent to the “B” word in English. It was Juvelande’s behavior during her first year that prompted us to create behavior management strategies for our school. It was a real problem though, and at the end of an incredibly difficult week, without seeing any improvement in her behavior towards other students, our staff decided to dismiss Joann for the rest of the day. We decided to walk her home and talk with her parents. It was during that home visit that we learned Joann’s dad is entirely absent in her life and her mom’s presence is fluid. Joann and her brother are raised primarily by their grandmother and constant swearing and abusive behaviors towards the children create a hostile home environment.
During our classroom observations and academic review during that first year, we also discovered that Joann was beyond her grade level and we decided to move her up to the next class where she’s been thriving ever since.
On many occasions, Joann has shown up to school with the markings from her mom and grandma’s wrath on previous days. Our Haitian staff has pleaded her case multiple times to local authorities and social workers, but with a failing social justice system, there isn’t much they can do to intervene once Joann leaves school for the day.
Earlier this year, we sent a group of children’s pastors and volunteers from a partner church to put on a camp experience for our students in Haiti. This week is without a doubt one of the biggest highlights of our students’ entire year. Each day during the school year they get to learn about Jesus through our Bible Curriculum that uses scripture, art, and theatre to bring to life the stories of the Bible. But the camp experience is an entire week devoted to learning more about Jesus and his love for us. During this particular camp, in addition to listening to Baby Shark over and over again, our team also shared about honesty and what it means to follow Jesus. At the end of the week, 17 of our students received Christ into their hearts for the very first time and Joann was one of those students.
She was elated! Her personal decision to follow Christ meant that for the first time she had permanency in a relationship outside of school. It meant stability and reliance on someone she could trust. But more than anything, as Joann has reflected, it means that she doesn’t have to be part of the bad things her family is involved in and that she is a good person because Jesus has forgiven her.
A couple of weeks later, Joann decided to attend a local church gathering for children. That night she went home excited to share with her family that she had accepted Christ and to tell them about the church experience. Her words were met with extreme hostility. Out of rage, and under the influence, her mother beat her with an iron rod. Though we didn't know it at the time, Joann’s mom had been very involved with Voodoo, and since then their home has become one of the hubs for Voodoo in our community. Joann and her brother see members of the community come to their house for healing from a variety of ailments and bad fortune. They witness animal sacrifices and people worshiping the Voodoo spirits. Altars are set up around the house in reverence to their ancestors.
Despite her circumstances though, Juvelande continues to believe in the redemptive power of Jesus. A couple of months ago she openly asked her classmates to pray that she would leave behind the bad things in her life and choose good each day.
Joann knows our school as a place of refuge, and her teachers and classmates as family. She knows that she is loved. Since that first day we visited her home, we’ve never chosen to dismiss Joann again for bad behavior - instead we continue to press in and love on her, knowing that belonging - not exclusion - is what she desperately wants and needs.
Our staff fights daily for Joann. They consistently show her love in their words and actions and they pray for her, knowing there is a real battle for her life. It doesn’t make sense, but this precious child chooses to shine the light of Jesus in her home everyday as she sleeps under a roof decorated with the flags of Voodoo spirits. We believe that God has big plans for her life and that he has specifically chosen Joann for this time. We believe that her fiery passion will help her to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. We believe that she will lead many to salvation and that just as she’s doing now, Joann will continue to use her voice for good.