The following words were written by Daryl Nations (HOF Co-founder & Board member) , addressed to US Army Chaplain Jacob Golden. They describe the character and “richness” of Junot Cochilus, co-founder of HOF who was killed while serving the US Army in the Middle East.
Junot Mevs Legrand Cochilus
At 34 years old, Junot was rich – he was one of the richest people that I ever had the privilege of knowing. I am qualified to comment on his riches because my father was rich also and he taught me how to recognize true wealth.
Junot, made the wages of a Specialist in the Army. After taking care of his immediate family, and their needs were modest, he was a very wise investor.
Junot was a pretty sharp dresser – he always looked very nice. He was conscious of who he was representing. Not really fancy, but neat and what we would call sharp. He had a keen eye to be able to spot really nice cloths for a good price at the Goodwill Industries. He could have afforded brand new cloths, but he preferred his investments over spending money on expensive cloths.
Junot could afford and he did spend money on everything that he wanted for himself. This is quite an accomplishment for a man born of very modest means in Haiti .
Junot had everything that he wanted – he just did not want much – for himself.
One key to his riches was that he had a friend at an early age that taught him about investments. She was a missionary that paid for his education at an English speaking Christian School . Someone, perhaps the same lady, also made an investment in his college education in Charlotte , North Carolina .
Junot followed the example of the missionary that supported him by reinvesting according to her example. He helped many people in Haiti. I knew many of them by name, including the new Christians the prayed to receive Christ during our first trip after the earthquake.
Junot was a wise and conscientious investor. When I asked him about someone that he had been helping to support, he told me that he did not need to send him money anymore as he was now able to support himself. Junot told me the person new he was helping instead of the other one that I had met previously.
Junot and the other truly rich people that I know have invested in the lives of others.
When In Haiti, he would not negotiate a price – unless he was negotiating on my behalf. He would always pay more than the price that he could have negotiated.
While he was being generous with people, he was careful to be sure that God received the glory for his actions, but in subtle ways. You could tell that he was different and people wanted to know what it was about him.
Junot helped start the Haiti Orphan Foundation. Not only did he help found it, it would not have been possible without him. At the Haiti Orphan Foundation, where Junot was our Haiti Coordinator, he wanted to be sure our children received a good secular AND Christian education. To that end, he made sure we have someone to tutor after school for academics and the teachings of Christ. He also spent hours on the phone every week from Afghanistan helping us coordinate things.
Junot made the wages of a Specialist in the Army. He did not have any expenses or things that he wanted. On a friendship basis, he would tell me how he was spending his money but never in a bragging way. He would tell me, one friend talking to another, what families, friends and causes he was helping.
Junot was a humble man.
I have never heard him speak boastfully or brag – even once.
He had a “savings” that he had managed to put away, which is difficult when you are trying to invest as heavily as he was investing. The “savings” was to go to start the ministry of another orphanage when he finished his tour with the Army. He already had the property picked out and secured and persons selected that would be hired to handle it.
Junot was a man of God. His goal for Haiti was to introduce them to the person of Jesus Christ and educate them. To do this, he believed we had to take care of their physical needs of hunger and cloths. While educating the little ones, he was also concerned that they learn about Jesus Christ.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NASB)
Junot was rich. He invested in the treasures of heaven.
I am proud to be considered his friend.
Daryl Nations
