December 2025

Dear lakayTimoun family,

In this season of thankfulness, there’s so much to be grateful for.

At lakayTimoun, that includes blessings both big and small.

We’re grateful for sweet smiles on children’s faces, and the opportunity to provide living wages to our committed staff. We’re grateful for a group of graduates moving on to high school, ensuring a better future for themselves and generations to come. We’re grateful that our kids are learning computer skills, finance, self-development and even embroidery. And we’re grateful that the gift of a commercial oven means cooking classes will soon be underway.

We’re grateful for spiritual revival among our kids and staff; for the ability to feed hundreds of hungry bellies every day; for medical assistance; and for the provision of books, t-shirts, backpacks, clothes and shoes for our students.

And we are so very grateful for you.      

For almost 10 years, God has softened the hearts of his people toward lakayTimoun, ensuring every need has been met. Your gifts, your prayers and your encouragement have allowed us to create profound and lasting change for the community of Saint Michel de l’Attalaye—and beyond.

Just last year, we were in dire trouble at lakayTimoun. The kitchen had burned. There was no money to rebuild. But God, as always, had a plan. Your prayers helped connect us with the head of Samaritan’s Purse in Haiti, and the kitchen was built back larger and better.

That fire turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In recent months, we have been serving 400 meals daily at lunchtime, in addition to breakfasts. This food is a lifeline for our students, staff and community. God has expanded our reach in beautiful ways.

And we couldn’t have done it without you.

Our school continues to grow by leaps and bounds, with more than 200 students in attendance. Fifteen graduates are continuing their schooling. And we’re able to employ 30 staff in a country where it’s otherwise challenging to find work. Next up will be an administration building, which will allow us to keep computer equipment and other supplies in a more permanent, safe structure.

God is moving powerfully among us. More children are attending our Sunday services, and several of our staff are experiencing a deepening of their faith. Spiritual revival is underway, and we’re grateful to be in the very midst of it.

Thank you for joining us there. When we count our blessings, we count you among the big ones. We so appreciate your ongoing support. It’s vital to ensuring our work can continue.

As you plan your year-end giving, would you thoughtfully and prayerfully consider a donation to lakayTimoun? Secure, tax-deductible donations can always be made through www.lakaytimoun.org/donation.

We are watching to see where God is at work, and jumping in to join him. Thank you for your commitment to doing the same. Blessings to you and yours!

the lakayTimoun team 

PS: lakayTimoun will celebrate our 10-year anniversary in 2026! Thank you for every gift, every prayer, every way you have helped us to be faithful in this work.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Gal. 6:9, NLT).
 

September 2024

Dear lakayTimoun family,

On the last night of August, a fire ravaged the kitchen at lakayTimoun, reducing it to rubble.

But this isn’t just the story of that night. It’s more about what has happened since. If you follow us at https://www.facebook.com/lakaytimoun/, you’ve no doubt seen the video and the pictures of the devastation. Have you also seen the way the community has rallied to help clean up, to gather in prayer, and to give God praise for all that he’s doing regardless?

Teachers have been out buying food with their own limited funds to help feed the children. Parents have been clearing the area and getting the campus ready for school to start. A church in St. Michel took up a donation. And here in the States, hundreds of items on an Amazon wish list were bought and shipped within days. New churches have joined in our mission. We’re seeing the power of community at work, each and every day.

The kitchen, built in March 2019 by missionaries and locals, was a total loss. Also gone: $2800 worth of food that had just recently been purchased, a freezer, a stove, a water reservoir and more.

Here’s the thing: Just as God promised to restore what the locusts had eaten (Joel 2:25); to restore the fortunes of Job (Job 42:10); and to deliver a double portion rather than shame (Is. 61:7); he has continued to be faithful to lakayTimoun. Truly, he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Eph. 3:20).

Consider this:

• Because the fire was on a Saturday evening, there were enough people out and about to notice it happening and spring into action helping put it out. Had it happened later in the night, the damage could have been more extensive. Had it happened during the week, children, parents or teachers might have been injured or even killed. 
• With the help of the faithful community (and lots of prayer!) the fire did not damage any of the other school buildings. A brand-new member of our staff was able to scale the wall and force the gate open to start extinguishing the flames. Hundreds of community members brought water in containers from home to help.
• The start of the school year—with 198 students—was only delayed a week. Before the fire, the kitchen was providing more than 200 meals for breakfast and 300 for lunch each day. Since the fire, our staff has been preparing meals in Suzelle’s home, transporting the food to the school, and feeding kids from the back of an SUV. 
• A mission trip has already been planned for October, including members with extensive construction experience. That team was supposed to travel in February, but the trip was delayed due to violence in Haiti.
• The weekend of the fire, one of our board members was at a church conference and shared what had happened. He received immediate promises of help from other congregations and international ministries as word spread.

So, what happens next?

Just as Isaiah 54:2 instructs us, we are enlarging the place of our tent, stretching our tent curtains wide and not holding back. We will build back better.

Plans have already been drawn up to expand the kitchen by 50 percent, and this time, to build a more permanent, concrete structure than the first version in 2019. It will be more in line with the classrooms and offices that have been built since.

Recent weeks have been challenging, and our staff and community are tired. At the same time, we’re energized by seeing God’s hand each and every day. Will you join us in this fresh wind of faith, presence and community?

• The kitchen will require an estimated $34,000 to rebuild, including solar panels and storage areas for food.
• Additional funds will be needed for items like appliances; buying them in-country will help us avoid exorbitant shipping and customs costs.
• Prayer continues to be needed. Please pray that the staff would be refreshed and supported. Pray that the children would be inspired by God’s hand, and that the community would be motivated to continue banding together. Additionally, pray for strategic connections that have been made with other churches and ministries, that we can continue doing God’s work most effectively together.

With all of the chaos and violence in Haiti, we’ve been asked whether the fire could have been malicious. There’s no evidence that’s the case. Regardless of how it happened, it’s an opportunity to continue sharing the story of God’s goodness, grace and provision. Won’t he do it?

If you feel compelled to give toward the kitchen rebuild in this season, you can do so here: https://lakaytimoun.org/donation/

Thank you for your ongoing love, support, prayer and gifts. We so appreciate you!

the lakayTimoun team 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1.6, NIV). 

July 2024

Dear lakayTimoun family,

For many, summer means hot days, slower speeds and a chance to catch our breath.

At lakayTimoun, it also means a prime opportunity for looking back at the year that has passed—and looking forward to the year to come. Isn’t God faithful?

 End of School Year Party
On June 23, we held a going away party for our sixth graders. It was joyful event, with staff, community members and friends from abroad helping pull it all together. Of the eight who completed the program (two from 2022-23), three were the first people in their families to attend sixth grade. They are setting a legacy for future generations! Five of the kids have received sponsorships to continue their education.

The remaining three students are still seeking support for the nearby secondary school, including books, uniforms, cafeteria and transportation. If this touches your heart, the costs can be covered for $800 each child per year, and you can donate through lakayTimoun. Simply designate your gift for “secondary school.”

There was a 90 percent chance of rain on the day of the party, and Suzelle, our founder, asked God to hold it back until after the party. He did! By the time Suzelle returned home, it poured. People said they knew it was because the people of lakayTimoun pray.

Community Impact (and God’s Faithfulness!)
As gang violence and political upheaval continue in other parts of Haiti, lakayTimoun remains a safe haven. God offers His hand of protection and favor here, and the people of the Saint Michel community recognize it. They’ve become more involved. Our parents’ committee members are active and inspiring. More than 50 parents stepped in to clean the schoolyard before the end of year party.

Last fall, while enduring some international banking delays, we didn’t know how we were going to feed the kids before the money arrived. We let them know that if each student could bring just one pound of cornmeal, we could make do. One three-year-old boy, Avdji Answer Alexis, arrived the next day with a pound of cornmeal, a pound of rice, two bouillon cubes and a garlic bulb. Suzelle doesn’t know how the boy even remembered, but God made it happen. She showed others what he had brought, and by the time the week was over, the staff, parents and community had brought in 250kg (about 550lbs!) of rice, 250kg of cornmeal, vegetables, oil and more. Jesus used a young child to remind us all that He is still in the business of multiplying loaves and fishes!

We also saw a miracle healing as one of our students was hit by a motorcycle. It was uncertain whether he’d survive, but with prayer, he is now in full recovery, even making good grades.

Future Plans/Needs
Each night, a number of birds hang out in the preschool classrooms, often eating prey. This results in a strong smell and necessary clean-up with expensive chemicals. We could solve this problem with the addition of windows and doors. Suzelle posted about this strategic opportunity on the lakayTimoun Facebook page on her birthday. Would you prayerfully consider giving to meet this $1200 need?

Summer school begins August 5, and our official school year starts September 2. As always, we would welcome prayers and gifts to help us transition into 2024-25 with strength, confidence, provision and stability. We can’t do what we do without you.

Suzelle in Nashville
Suzelle arrived in Tennessee in early July for a respite, and is open to presentations and opportunities for sharing all that God is doing in and through lakayTimoun. Evening groups and Sunday services tend to be the most convenient time. If you’d like to book her, reach out directly through lakaytimoun@gmail.com. Suzelle makes the most of her time in the States, and encourages audience members to join in supporting lakayTimoun through prayer, donations and short-term missions. The needs are great for the precious kids, parents and staff of the lakayTimoun community, and it takes all of us to bring lasting, positive change.

We are so thankful for your ongoing commitment to lakayTimoun. Blessings to you and yours in the days to come. May you be fully aware of God’s presence, kindness, favor and love in all you do, and may your generosity return to you a hundredfold.

With sincerest gratitude,

the lakayTimoun team

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1.6, NIV). 

December 2023

Dear lakayTimoun family,

All the blessings of the season to you!

If you’re continuing to follow the news of what’s happening in Haiti, you know that the situation—especially in Port-au-Prince—has gone from bad to worse to unimaginable. In some areas, there are sounds of gunshots all day and all night. Those who go into the city have to pay gang members to get in and get out, and the rate is whatever the gangs feel like charging.

Suzelle, our founder, hears people talk about the misery of it all. Food is scarce. Tensions are high. The future is uncertain.

And yet….

“God always provides. Always.” Suzelle says this while smiling. She runs through a list of miracles happening at lakayTimoun beyond mere coincidence. There was the day, for example, when she recognized that there was no money in the bank to buy the month’s food. A Haitian couple that now lives in Canada were in town for a visit, and came to see Suzelle. They just happened to have a cousin with a grocery store—and made a generous offer to cover the costs.

There was the time one of the school’s parents stopped Suzelle on her way home. She had 25 pounds of corn that could be used to make the children’s breakfasts—just as Suzelle was contemplating how she could no longer afford bread. The funds continue to come in at just the right time to cover the payroll for our staff of 25, providing consistent, stable wages to our community. Classes have continued.

“I’ve been seeing the hand of God on this ministry for so long, I just feel at peace,” she says. “He will take care of us. He will take care of the kids.”

From the outside, it can be hard to comprehend. lakayTimoun currently provides a solid education to almost 200 students through sixth grade. In addition, the ministry serves up to 450 meals a day. One recent day, Suzelle says, there were 75 additional kids on hand, hoping for food. One sweet girl, just three years old, arrived on a Monday morning, and hadn’t eaten over the weekend. We wish we could say her story was unique.

“But the Lord is here,” Suzelle says. “He shows me and shows other people that He’s been at work.”

This time of year, you’re likely to receive letters from a variety of worthwhile organizations, each one in desperate need of your support. Suzelle asked us to pass along a different message: one of gratitude.

God continues to show up for lakayTimoun. So do you. We are sincerely thankful for each time you’ve followed a nudge and given financially, every time you’ve felt a pull and said a prayer. The Lord does His work through hands—and hearts—like yours.

Of course, there will always be needs at lakayTimoun. One of the biggest challenges, Suzelle says, is that the gang situation in Port-au-Prince means items must be received elsewhere; fees for shipping and customs are a significant—and unbudgeted—debt. There’s also a need for a room with a bathroom where visiting missionaries can stay. The next team arrives in early February.

Suzelle, however, remains calm. She trusts that God will provide, just as He always has.

“It’s not easy,” she says. “God didn’t promise it would be. But He did promise to be with me, and He has never let go.” She specifically requests prayer for confusion among the gangs, that they would lose focus and their ability to control.

In the meantime, thank you for all you do to support lakayTimoun. We hope and pray that God would be fully present in your lives and that you would continue to see Him work. If and when you feel that nudge to give or to pray, we hope you’ll be willing. He has a way of showing His hand and heart at just the right time—and you just might be the vehicle for another miracle.

With sincerest gratitude,

lakayTimoun

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4, NIV).