Spring Retreat 2019!

“Designed for a Purpose”

(from Davidson, Bridge Program Manager)

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This retreat was the best retreat of all the retreats we have had since 2017 according to the majority! Every year we have two retreats with the students for us to tighten the bonds between students, employees, collaborators, friends elsewhere and the directors of program but it is also a few days of learning and relaxation. 

There were two reasons why this retreat was so great. The first one is the visit to this beautiful green space called Le Montcel Haiti and the second is that everyone agrees, unanimously, that they loved Pastor Phil’s teaching! His joyfulness, energy and the techniques he used for teaching helped us all to understand. In our culture most often a pastor is someone very reserved in every sense of the word, someone strict, someone who isn’t accessible or who doesn’t have an open mind to the discussion of the Bible. Pastor Phil was different.  For some people, this difference may seem a bit trivial or unimportant, as it is the norm in your culture to spend time with your pastor or to have a pastor with whom you can have a thorough discussion about your understanding of the Bible. In our country it is an exception. During these three days of teaching, through his magic of communicating, Pastor Phil paved the way for students to ask relevant and interesting questions and enjoy it. 

What was most interesting of this retreat were the tears of joy and delight that flowed on the cheeks of most of the participants. It is the testimony of some students who have been able to forgive wholeheartedly the people who hurt them in the past, the testimony of the importance of resilience in our lives, but also their new appreciation of certain verses of the Bible. 

I think that the students and staff agreed that this was the best retreat because it was a retreat where every participant came home with the satisfaction of a winner after the Champions League and that's all we want.

Stay tuned for our Fall retreat!

Philippe

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First of all, I want to thank God for the way that He invests in me. I bow before his Holy Spirit. I thank the Bridge Scholarship program for all that they do in my life to teach me to be a very strong leader and to be an important man in my society. My name is Phillippe. I am 23. I got a degree in Electromechanics last year and now I am studying Industrial Mechanics as a specialization.

I have a very large family with six brothers and three sisters. I love them so much. They are always in my heart everywhere I have go. On December 31, 2017, before I got my Electromechanic degree, I was at church. We prayed for the new year. When midnight arrived the pastor said “everyone ask God everything that they want for the new year”. I had a lot of things to ask God for and I couldn't see even where to start, but i realized that God had a plan for my life. I don't have to worry about anything. Then I started to ask about my USA Visa because I will was going to apply for a Visa in February, and my Electromechanic degree and a good job.  I said “please God this is my request for the new year it's not like rejecting your plan but if you see I am not ready for them please let me get my Electromechanic degree”. God heard my prayer as i said , the USA embassy rejected me I didn't get any job but I got my degree!

Then on December 14th, 2018 one of the employee of the Bridge Scholarship told me I got a opportunity to meet with the Human Resource department at Brana on January 14, 2019. At the same time I understood that God's plan wasn't getting a job in 2018 but rather a hope so I needed to stay faithful and patient. I couldn't wait to meet with the human resource department and I researched Brana to know about what they do and their products. Before the meeting I was like normal without stress. I felt confident that I was going to get the job, but when it was the day to meet them I felt a little stress but that day was one of my favorite days! The meeting was in English and i learned a lot about them even though I don't speak English well. The two Bridge Scholarship Program Managers were with me and we had a wonderful time. But they said they would like for me to come back in a month for another interview.

Unfortunately the interview could not happen because there were protests and demonstrations in Haiti and all companies had closed for security reasons.  I went to Brana that day anyway so that they could understand that I was very interested to get the job opportunity! When I called them and told them I was in front of the gate they completely forgot if it was that day of my interview. They rescheduled to for 2 weeks later. The interview was good and I think I did well. It was three people who interviewed me. At the beginning I felt a lot of stress but fortunately I overcame it. And now I am waiting for their call. Please pray for me and this job opportunity!