Growing up in a small Haitian village, Kesmy St. Louis M.A. ’17 recalls a childhood overshadowed by poverty and fear. One tragic day, Kesmy was seized by an epileptic attack and fell into a cooking fire, suffering third-degree burns.

Kesmy’s family took him four hours by boat to the nearest hospital, where amputation was deemed necessary to save his life. When Kesmy awoke from surgery without arms, he was inconsolable.

Then some Haitian evangelists prayed with Kesmy and told him about Job, a man who lost everything and wanted to die. But God stayed with him.

“I started praying,” says Kesmy. “I said, ‘I’m going to serve this God.’”

While in the hospital, Kesmy met American missionary Ann Hume. She arranged for him to receive medical treatment in the United States and taught him to write and dress with his feet.

Today, Kesmy is working toward a master’s degree in Christian formation and ministry and plans to pastor an orphanage in Haiti.

“I have six hands helping me,” says Kesmy. “The Holy Spirit, the Son, and the Father. God has blessed me so much. How little I do for him.”