Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryse Nelson.
Maryse, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a little girl growing up in Haiti, I often heard the story of the Good Samaritan. I loved it so much that I would envision myself as the heroine, somewhat like Wonder Woman. I daydreamed about being the ruler of Samarita, of course the beautiful land of good, the source and home of all good things including the native Good Samaritans.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always despised what I now can define as darkness. Darkness, in my world, is comprised of hatred, evil, injustice, poverty, anything and everything contrary to the concept of good. I grew up around quite a bit of darkness in Haiti, but I was surprised, when I entered the United States, at the tender age of ten, to find it staring me in the face. The older I became the more I realized I had work to do. I would fight darkness with my light and create a utopia for victims, my Samarita.
In my daily walk, I carried out its mission but Samarita itself would not become a movement until the year 2013. On my way to 2013, life presented me with a series of harsh, painful blows that rendered me emotionally paralyzed, incapable of working on my utopia dream. A shaky upbringing, marked by emotional and psychological poverty and scars, the lack of self esteem, the struggle to assimilate in a brand new culture including a language deficit, the awkwardness of adolescence, the pressure to yield–to conform to Haitian expectations as a first-born, the constant, dry search for love and appreciation, subsequent failures in what seemed to be everything (relationships, personal aspirations, businesses, etc…) and finally, the sudden, shocking death of my only sister, all catapulted me into periods of great despair. At times, I felt I would never get back on track but God had other plans.
In 2013, I timidly established Samarita Solutions, which later became Samarita Ministries, with a small prayer line. I found great pleasure in praying with and for others and in providing small acts of service within my means. The biggest storm of my life arrived at the end of that year and after God it was Samarita that saved me. The more I hurt, the more I began to understand the importance of faith and ministry in my life. The ministry grew in proportion to my struggles until one day, it actually surpassed them. I learned from the process that my challenges were really nothing but training for what is now the best work of my life, my purpose, my destiny.
Currently, Samarita Ministries has a flagship program, FANM KAJOU (Women of Mahogany), which carries out the mission of the organization to rescue, educate, motivate and empower individuals to excel to higher standards, all while diligently promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We encourage our ladies to stand up to adversity and to remain productive even as they struggle. In addition, we provide services to the elderly and send care packages to poor families in Haiti on a regular basis. We travel to Haiti annually on mission especially to our disabled friends (in association with a sister organization, OFRYH). We provide much needed information and encouragement to hurting friends via published works (the latest, FROM THE ASHES), our radio programs Plus Haut Plus Loin (Aiming Higher and Farther) and Good Etat. We are also very active in public speaking, planning and conducting conferences, seminars, retreats etc… Our prayer line has grown tremendously and provides a great source of relief for many throughout the states and abroad.
God has truly been faithful. Samarita Ministries is the home of all good things and true to our motto, we will “never grow tired of doing good”.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
President of Samarita Ministries, Inc, Nonprofit organization, I am a Physical Therapist and also earned an MBA during a very trying period of my life. At C & J One-Stop Services Maryse Nelson Consulting, my partner, Christela Estiverne and I, provide tax education and preparation services, professional writing/editing services, immigration services, interpretation/translation etc… My books: From the Ashes, lessons we Learn ( also available in french, Renaitre de ses Cendres), Second to None –at amazon.com. My radio shows: Plus Haut Plus Loin (Aiming Higher and Farther), Motivation and encouragement on Radio Esperans, Creole/French. Good Etat, promoting all things good in our communities and beyond on Caribbean Rhythms Radio Network, English.
I am most proud of FANM KAJOU where I encourage women to overcome tragedy and adversity but never to come out of it empty-handed. I teach them to find opportunities in adversity and to continue to serve. I encourage them to create something as tangible as possible to bless others with and once they make it, I charge them with the responsibility of reaching back and helping another sister find her way.
I have a very soft heart for underdogs. I love the handicapped, the poor, the people who hurt every day. I think they are the greatest and strongest among us.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I believe more people will follow the route of nonprofit. The direction of our world is toward creating opportunities for folks to find more people to help and create ways of making a bigger difference in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mysamarita.com
- Phone: 321-804-8044
- Email: mysamarita@gmail.com
- Instagram: marysenelson
- Facebook: Maryse Nelson, Samarita Ministries, C&J One-Stop Services
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
