In a treasured photograph from 2007, Robenson sits at a turquoise table in his Grace Emmanuel School uniform. His head rests in his hands, a shy smile just visible. He is only eight, though he looked even younger.

Just two years later, Robenson’s world turned upside down. His mom was visiting her sister in a hospital in Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010. When the earthquake struck, the hospital collapsed. Robenson never saw his mother again. At only ten years old, he was orphaned.

That tragedy could have been the end of Robenson’s story. But God was already writing a different ending. Within months, Robenson and his brother, Mackendy, were welcomed into the Lighthouse Children’s Home. Later, his sister Lovely joined them. What had been a story marked by tragedy and grief became a story of provision, family, and new beginnings.

Slow but steady change

Life at the Lighthouse did not erase Robenson’s pain. For years, he was the most reserved of the eleven children living in the home. Former Lighthouse director Lauren remembered him as stoic, rarely smiling, often keeping to himself. School was difficult. The effects of early malnutrition and years of struggle made academics a constant challenge.

Yet God was gently at work, peeling back layers of hurt. By 2016, on the eve of his 17th birthday, Lauren could already see signs of change. She wrote:

“Slowly but surely, it seems the layers of pain are fading away; that tough exterior has softened. I see him smiling more often and giving hugs more frequently. He’s more engaged as he plays soccer with the younger ones in the front yard, the younger ones he used to dismiss. And most recently, I noticed he posted a photo on Facebook with the ten other kids, captioning it ‘with my brothers and sisters.’”

Small moments to an outsider, but monumental victories for Robenson. Each acknowledgment of belonging was evidence of God’s healing hand.

“He made me into a different Robenson”

By 2019, Robenson was ready to tell his story in his own words. At age 20, he shared with supporters how God had delivered him from despair and hopelessness.

“When I was living with my mother, we were tied up by the devil. We couldn’t do anything with our lives. We didn’t know how to read. We didn’t go to church. I didn’t know anything,” he wrote.

“Thanks be to God, He untied me. God made me clean. He turned me into a good person, He taught me to be nice, to respect other people. He made me into a different Robenson.”

He also recognized the gift of family restored when his sister Lovely had joined him and his brother at the Lighthouse. “I was very happy, because that was the greatest gift JiHM could have given me.”

Looking ahead, he declared with conviction: “Of all my mother’s children, it is only I who have made it to 9th grade and God will see that I graduate. The devil had tied up my family. He didn’t want us to be anything… But God had a plan He had been tracing for a long time in my life. He knew the type of person He wanted me to be.”

A young man of gratitude

In August, Robenson graduated from the Lighthouse Legacy program after 15 years of being part of the Lighthouse family. He has grown from a grieving ten-year-old boy into a young man who has fully stepped into adulthood, deeply grateful for the investment others have made in his life.

In his farewell message to the Lighthouse staff, he poured out his heart:

“I greet all the staff. I hope you all see this message. For all those who participated in who I am today, I know you sacrificed a lot for me. That’s why I want to leave this message for you.

“From 2010 to 2025, it’s been 15 years since you were everything for me. You were my mother, you were my father. You were my food, my drink, my school. I thank God so much because He put this staff in my life. I will never forget you in my life…

“Thank you is not enough for me to say to you because you have done so much in my life. I love you very much and I will not let you down. Believe in me once again. I love you very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot find sufficient words to tell you what you have done in my life… May everything you do be blessed by God.”

Looking back, looking forward

Robenson’s journey tells the story of God’s redemption in slow motion. There were no overnight transformations, no single turning points, but rather years of faithful love, consistent care, and the steady work of the Holy Spirit. From the boy with the shy smile at the turquoise table, to the young man who can write with deep gratitude and faith, Robenson’s life bears witness to the truth that God makes all things new.

His journey is also a tribute to the Lighthouse staff, sponsors, and friends who have walked alongside him for 15 years. As Robenson himself says, they became his family—his parents, his provision, his support system. Their faithfulness allowed him to flourish, and their sacrifices are now sending him forward with a solid foundation into a very uncertain future.

Robenson’s story is far from over. He steps into adulthood with a determination not to let down those who have believed in him. More importantly, he carries the assurance that God has a plan for his life—one that is stronger than the plans of the enemy, one that is rooted in redemption and love.

To all of you who have prayed, given, and encouraged him along the way, Robenson’s life stands as a testimony that your investment has borne fruit. What began in heartbreak has become a story of hope, and the next chapter is only beginning. What a privilege it has been to provide a family and a future for this young man.