During my recent trip to Haiti, I was able to spend some time with one of our older children, Rene Steevenson. He has such a fun personality & I loved being able to spend some time with him and hearing some of his story.

Steevenson was brought to the Regency Children’s Home by the Brigade for the Protection of Minors (BPM) in September of 2018. He had run away from his owner to escape the abuse he had been suffering, and was rescued off the streets by BPM. I’m so glad he’s safe in our Home now!

While Steevenson enjoyed being off the streets, he was unruly and extremely disobedient. In fact, he was setting such a terrible example for the other children that one day Poyis had to show Steevenson extreme discipline. Poyis placed Steevenson in the car and drove him away from the Home, explaining that since Steevenson couldn’t behave he would be better to live on the streets again. I can’t imagine how hard this was for Poyis, but I’m glad Steevenson decided then and there to make some changes.

Steevenson told me that it was then that he realized how much he needed Poyis and everyone at the Home. More importantly and over time, he realized that he needed Jesus more than anything, and he accepted Him as Savior.

In January of 2021, Steevenson was baptized! When I asked him why he wanted to be baptized, he shared: “I was baptized because I wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior, and I wanted to be different from those who are living and doing evil things with their life. After I listened to Pastor Poyis preaching the Gospel, I realized that the world doesn’t offer anything valuable but in Jesus we can find eternal Salvation.”

Steevenson admitted to me that prior to accepting Jesus as His Savior he was a sinner. He said, “I was disobedient when people around me instructed me, and I would even insult them. I was full of sin. Now, I am pleased to serve and I am living the way God wants me to. “

I am excited to share with you that Jesus is transforming Steevenson’s life! He told me, “I am very happy because Jesus came and he forgave our sins. My joy comes up when I am worshiping, praising, and praying to the Lord with other brothers and sisters, Christian like me.”

He would love to be an engineer or architect one day, and that his goal is to “always be in the gospel.” Steevenson asks, “Pray for me to always be able to avoid temptation and to always be close to Jesus.”

Thank you for praying with me for Steevenson’s goals and for all the children in our Home, too!

Lizzie Friginal serves as Outreach Supervisor. To find out more how you can be a part of our Children’s Homes visit Sponsor a Child (https://connect2ministries.org/sponsor-a-child/).