Eridien, 21, is one of the most personable kids in the Philo class. He smiles a lot, and can often be found joking with staff members. He is outgoing and charismatic, and well-liked by his classmates.

But while his personality tilts toward the flirty end of the social spectrum, his heart’s desire is to be a faithful husband and a dad who provides.

“I want to have a wife and kids,” he says earnestly. “I’m not a vagabond, I don’t want to be a vagabond. I just want one wife.”

“I want to be able to provide moments like that with my family—moments that I didn’t have as a child.”

He recalls a moment when he watched a father buy his child a bike. “I want to be able to provide moments like that with my family—moments that I didn’t have as a child.”

Growing up without Dad

Eridien was born in Delmas, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince where his father was from. When Eridien was six months old, his parents separated and his mom returned with her infant son to her hometown of Source Matelas (where Grace Emmanuel School is located).

She married another man shortly after, and today Eridien still lives in Source Matelas with his mom, stepdad, half-sister and half-brothers. His stepdad cleans shoes in Source Matelas and his mom travels over an hour each day to sell at a market in Saint-Marc.

Eridien praises his mom for all the sacrifices she has made to raise him. “She loves me so much,” he declares confidently.

Though he calls his stepdad a positive role model in his life, Eridien has never stopped thinking about his real dad or desiring to be with him. “I’ve always missed knowing my dad,” Eridien shares. “Sometimes I would cry for him.”

When Eridien was in fifth grade, his heart soared when his father came one day for a visit.

“I was so happy and surprised when I saw my dad,” remembers Eridien. “I just wanted to go home with him.”

That visit in 2008 remains the only time Eridien has talked to his father. He remains hopeful they can connect again in the future. Eridien explains this desire by simply smiling and saying, “He’s my dad.”

Coming to Grace Emmanuel School

Eridien attended other schools through 11th grade. Then tuition increased to a point beyond what his family could afford.

In 2015, his friends told him about Grace Emmanuel School and he was able to register for one of the available spots in his grade level.

“Grace Emmanuel School is a privilege. It helps parents who don’t have the possibility to send their kids to school.”

“Grace Emmanuel School is a privilege,” he says with genuine gratitude. “It helps parents who don’t have the possibility to send their kids to school.”

After graduation, Eridien hopes to study to become a mechanical engineer—at a college just down the road so he can remain close to family.

Join us in praying for Eridien’s future, and asking God to bless his desire to one day be a faithful husband and loving father—a light that would shine so brightly in his community.