Frantz is a resilient, 30-year-old deaf man from Jacmel, Haiti who is close to our hearts, attends our Saturday Lavi Reyel (Real Life) bible club and has an incredible story.
We first met Frantz shortly after moving to Haiti to aide in the 2010 earthquake recovery. At age 16, he had just graduated from a special needs school and was working hard manual labor alongside other deaf teens lifting water jugs for customers at the purified water station. Within a few months of meeting Frantz and the other deaf guys, we created a CIDM wood shop, hiring and training these capable young men to use power tools building school benches, roof trusses, furniture and much more. CIDM employed them for nearly five years until we moved back to California in 2015.
A few years later Frantz married a wonderful young woman, Marie, who is also deaf. Within a couple years, they had a healthy baby girl who could hear!
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Shortly after her birth, Frantz and Marie faced a huge challenge. They lived in a small house with Marie’s mother, who, in her love, became very overbearing and limiting to the couple, not trusting they could properly care for their baby because they were deaf.
For years the mother in law thought she was helping, but was making life miserable for this sweet family. They WERE capable of caring for their daughter and being a family unit. Frantz shared his situation with our CIDM staff and we began praying for God to work.
Led by these three deaf women shown above, the CIDM deaf community recognized Frantz and Marie’s need to live independently and stepped up in an amazing way. Every Saturday CIDM provides funds for transportation for the deaf to attend Lavi Reyel. These women’s brilliant idea was to give up the ride, walk instead, and save the money to someday meet their caring goal. Week after week, month after month, the deaf community saved the money from CIDM and endured the long walks to and from Lavi Reyel. Through the hot Caribbean sun, the dusty roads and exhausting hours, they joyfully endured with a goal in their hearts. After months of effort, they were able to raise $95 for Frantz and Marie to rent a room for six months. Step by step, they sacrificed to show Christ’s love to Frantz and Marie!
Grateful for their community and blessed by God. Frantz and Marie are enjoying their independence and family God has given them. They visit Marie’s family, and the mother is happy they are doing so well on their own.
Frantz’s story reminds us of the powerful effect of generosity! It touches my heart on many levels, challenging me to be more generous. Thank you for being a part of transforming lives in Haiti through your giving! ! DONATE HERE