Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2014

14 | Cedarville Magazine N adine (Terrill)Hennesey ’87 arrived in Kosovo as a single mother with her 10-year-old daughter, Lydia. Her husband, Ed ’88, had died at the age of 26, five months before Lydia was born. In the hard days that followed, God’s care for the widows and fatherless became more than a Bible verse to Hennesey; it became reality. She prayed for a role in life that matched the circumstances she faced, and as her journey of grace continued, Hennesey began to hear answers. God led her and little Lydia, one step at a time, from America to Peru to Albania — and then, as a single mother and fatherless child, to connect with widows and orphans in Kosovo. In September 2001, Hennesey led in the opening of a school she’d namedThe House of Laughter. Her dreamwas to bring hope to children inMitrovica, Kosovo, who had lost one or both parents in the devastation of civil war. From the outset, she encouraged her students to resist bitterness and anger with a vision to make a positive difference. “One of my greatest joys is to watchmy students succeed,” she said, reflecting on some of their accomplishments. A number of students have gone on for university training, including Kujtim, who is earning a master’s degree. Anita has earned a law degree and volunteers with the gypsy community in Mitrovica. Merita teaches English in a public school and was just named Teacher of the Year. One of Hennesey’s first students was a young man named Lavdim, whose father had been shot and killed while trying to get food for his family. Lavdimcame toTheHouse of Laughter to gain skills that would help him support his mother. Unknown to anyone then, a few years later Lavdim’s life would intersect withHennesey and Lydia’s in a special way. Laughter and Learning In 2009, The House of Laughter celebrated its last graduation, because, along with its students, the school was ready to graduate. The next step was the Kosovo Leadership Academy. The vision Hennesey proposed to government officials was that it would provide excellent education with the TEAMS (technology, engineering, art, math, science) learning program. Leadership, personal growth, and life skills would be refined through training and community service. But Kosovo Leadership Academy was not limited to first- to 12th- grade classrooms. It would reach deep into the community and country with professional development, leadership conferences, neighborhood projects, sports, and summer camps. Photos: Madison Sternberg Living Her Vision by Rebecca Baker