Written by Evends Monfiston, Live School Haiti Coordinator

I cannot fully explain the impact that the Live School teaching has had in my life and ministry. It has now been two years since I have gone through my training with the school. I have come to understand the meaning and the importance of love, restoration, and reconciliation. I see and comprehend the Holy Spirit’s anointing as well as its impact in ministry and people’s lives. All of this has contributed to change my perspective of life and people radically. Without this kind of teaching, Denise would be unknown. The joy and the fellowship I have enjoyed with her whole family would not exist. I praise God for Live School, and I am confident He is about to use it to bring a great change in Haiti and the whole world.  Here is Denise’s story.

Born in Cap-Haitian at the Justinian Hospital on October 26, 1992, Denise Pierre is the fourth child in a family of five. She was four years old when her Dad passed away. At the age of thirteen, as an 8th-grade girl, she became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whose name is Barbara. Unfortunately, her boyfriend has not recognized the child as his own. That incident increased her courageous mother’s nightmare with one more kid to feed and educate.

On December 31, 2010, while she was sleeping alongside her sister, both of them were bitten by a rat. They became very sick, and at the time Denise’s sister was worse, about to lose her mind and became crazy. Denise started to lose her own mind later on. With her limited funds, their mother took them to the hospital and spent a lot. Denise’s younger sister, Chrismène has recovered, but Denise was not so lucky.

At the age of 18, she gave birth to her second child whose name is Tamara. Once again, the father has not taken his responsibility. From that point on, Denise’s health and situation became worse. As she went place to place shoeless with dirty clothes, she was impregnated and gave birth to her third fatherless girl, Rachelle Bien-Aimé (adopted by Denise’s brother).

I met Denise for the first time last February 27, 2019, in the middle of the day as she was wandering in the neighborhood. People were talking outside and yelling. When I came out to inquire, I saw her sitting at my front door. I asked her to leave but she would not. My neighbor threatened with a staff, but she refused to go. I went inside and got a little cash to give to her. She took the money and finally left. I was successful, and everyone was amazed.

She came back in the evening and stood in front of my house. From that point, I started to pause and think. I don’t believe that “fool or crazy” people exist. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He never met one of them. I remembered that the Lord gave me Isaiah 58 last year as a major part of my calling. The small voice of the Holy Spirit was telling me to welcome her, feed her, and clothe her. Immediately, I prayed and laid hands on her claiming deliverance and freedom. I asked her to come inside. I poured water in a basin and gave her soap to bathe herself. After that, I clothed her. One of my neighbors provided clothes and beautiful sandals for her. She spent the night at my neighbor’s driveway. The next day, she woke up early and cleaned and swept. Later in the day, nobody wanted her to stay. Something deep in my heart was telling me not to let her go.

I made my decision. Denise would stay with us. My sisters objected though they would be kind to her later. They said, “You must be crazy! Nobody has ever welcomed a fool and crazy person!” I was calm and confident, and I said to them, “Well, I am so happy that I am different than everybody else.” I understood that I was positioning myself to be used by God. Therefore, I was very fulfilled. Denise spent a few nights sleeping at the front of our house. The small voice encouraged me to take her inside on the second floor. It is unfurnished, and no one lived there. I did that for her safety. Anything could have happened to her at our front door.

I posted a picture of her on Facebook and asked if anybody knew her family. Providentially, a lady came to see my older sister and recognized her. She was happy. Her family finally came while I was away. Now she is returned home to be with her loved ones, mom, sister, and children.

Denise is a wonderful lady. She has a great smile, and she loves singing. I’ve never seen someone so meticulous. She asked me for a toothbrush, and she washes her clothes every day. She is quiet. One day, I gave her a pen and a sheet of paper. Guess what she wrote? Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present and well proved help in trouble…” (Amplified Bible).

Denise is not entirely healed yet, but we are praying for that, and we hope the Lord will do it according to our faith. I plan to continue to help Denise and her family, especially the three fatherless girls. The older is fourteen, and she is in 8th grade. The second one is eight years old, and the last one is 4 four years old. Denise’s mom should take care of all of them. The younger sister Christmène also helps a little bit. She’s been with us since Wednesday helping with different tasks. They are very grateful to us, and we have now become a family. Denise’s story inspired us to start the “Sarepta Ministry,” a place to welcome the poor, the weak, the needy, and especially those so-called “fool and crazy.”

My name is Iday Gallardo González, I was born on February 3rd, 1968 in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and I am now 51 years old. I graduated as a civil construction technician and got married in 1991. At the age of 25, I became a Christian at a Pentecostal Church. I was always eager to teach children, and as I saw the lack of well-trained teachers, I decided to become a Biblical teacher by an International Ministry called “Kids around the World.” In this ministry, I worked in different service areas for ten years.

During that time,  I worked as a Sunday School teacher as well as a Bible Summer School teacher. I also used to visit ill people in hospitals and in their houses as well as visiting missionaries and pastors in my province. I became a bachelor in Theology and Bible after four years of studies, and in January 2011, I started meetings in my own house, inviting children and adults from my neighborhood.

Also in 2011, we started a Ministry called “Somebody Cares.”  We would visit the Oncological children hospital in Santa Clara city, and the handicap children hospital in Cienfuegos. We always brought the children a Christian performance, handcrafted toys, and food.  Sometimes other believers who heard of our efforts gave us help and support.

During this period, we studied at the International School of Ministry (ISOM) as well as at the Alliance Pro Evangelization of Children  (APEN). Since my family and I have started our in-home ministry, we teach children from three to fourteen years old every Saturday. We always give them a snack, and every other weekend we supply lunch, as well as take time to teach them how to make handcrafted items.

We also assist over thirty kids suffering from any chronic disease. We do this by bringing them things such as washing soap, detergent powder, cream, diapers, and wet towels. We have been blessed with support in this area of ministry from Pastor Dennis Banks who has helped us supply diapers and medicines. When I first met Pastor Banks, it was a miracle from God. He came to Cienfuegos, and I had to visit a seriously sick boy who had been admitted into the hospital. However, I was urged by my husband to meet with the Pastor before going into the children’s hospital.  I introduced myself to him and let him know what I was going to do later. He gave me some remaining medications that he had brought, and to my surprise and awe, among them was the one that the ill boy was needing. Since that time, Pastor Banks has helped many pastors, brothers, and sisters of the faith, and others in need of spectacles and clothes.

It would be right to recognize that we have created the Dennis Banks Project, which helps pastors in the Eastern part of Cuba where we have noticed a significant need.  Also, some elders have helped us economically and with foods.

The local authorities requested that we start working under a cover, so we became members of the Eastern Baptist Church of Cuba. Otherwise, we are not allowed to continue working by ourselves. However, this church gives us no help or support.

I attended Live School for almost a year, and I graduated under Eddie Robinson on Sunday, February 17th, 2019. Since that training, I was compelled by God to equip others to be well trained for the Work of God. This is why I decided to open a full-time Live School with seven students to be graduated in September. I have always felt the fire of God in my soul, and this fire will not be quenched.  We have our meetings with newcomers on Sunday mornings, our fasting service on Tuesday mornings,  and our discipleship class on Friday nights. These newcomers are longing to receive Live School teaching.

My dream is to have a place for a sewing workshop, a handcraft workshop, classrooms for several ages, as well as a dining hall where we could feed elders and people in need. I feel the need and desire to teach teenage girls how to earn their own money properly for the future, with the work of their hands, and not by selling their bodies or doing other promiscuous things. It would be amazing to spread out all over the world how we have been able to do many things without any significant help. I cannot write in short everything that has happened because some things would be missed. However, these photos are evidence of things that God has allowed us to do. Two names are in the deep of my heart: Dennis Banks and Eddie Robinson. Thank you, God, for allowing me to meet these warriors.

Sincerely yours, Iday