Educator/Administrator

Mary Lou Wunker has served in Haiti with OMS International since 1980. Her first assignment was teaching kindergarten through second grade and serving as the principal for Cowman International School for English-speaking children in northern Haiti. Cowman School makes it possible for missionary children to live at home until they enter ninth grade, at which time they attend high school in another part of the island.

Mary Lou taught for five years in Canada before she was directed to the teaching of missionary children in Haiti. She has a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Nyack College in Nyack, New York, and a master’s degree in elementary education from Pensacola Christian College in Florida.

Committed to her role as an educator, Mary Lou says, “I feel it is important that our missionary children receive top quality education and be totally prepared for whatever the Lord has in their future. The beginning years are crucial in laying those foundations─educationally, spiritually, socially. Also, I feel the Lord has given me a real love for His Haitian people; this has become home. I definitely feel this is where the Lord wants me to be at this time.”

Mary Lou currently serves as ministry leader on the Haiti field leadership team and as administrator and academic dean for Emmaus Biblical Seminary. She is also the principal at Cowman International School and works with Emmaus Fellowship of Churches and serves on the executive committee. Mary Lou’s duties also include working with Every Community for Christ (ECC) teams and chairing the ECC committee in Haiti. She serves on the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Haiti Advisory Council, which involves planning conferences for Haitian teachers and setting up a certification program.

Being more directly involved with the Haitian church leaders than when she first came to Haiti is a real joy for Mary Lou, while she is still very actively involved with Cowman International School. Mary Lou recognizes the need to train and encourage Haitian leaders today as they have faced frustration and discouragement through many years of insecurity and unrest.

Missionary ID #801468