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TEXT Mélinda

PHOTOS Cécile

The Ellis - Never without my God or my family

Melissa and Wayne.



Wayne and Melissa have just recovered their privacy. Until recently, they slept with their last son Elijah, 10 months. But he joined the second small room in the house with his brothers: Everett, 5, and Logan, 4 years. The family plans to build a third bedroom, as she learned that she will have a fourth child in June.

At 26, this young Texan from Huntsville lives only for God and her family.



Raised in the Pentecostal religion, she married Wayne (ten years older than her), a Baptist at that time but converted since. She strives to follow the Bible literally (this is the credo of Pentecostals), however she was eight months pregnant at the ceremony. "My mother was a little disappointed because she was raised in the religion, but my parents are divorced since I was little, so she did not make a scene..." Melissa explains that, as a teenager, she was wearing a ring of virginity.



Since then, the family has gone through many difficulties. Last year, Wayne had a lot of trouble finding a job. "This is a blessing from God to he has found this work," says Melissa. "It's really hard to get a job in Huntsville, as employers prefer to hire students," says Wayne. His position as a janitor in the sports complex of the city allows him time for camping weekends with children. He is part of the Royal Rangers (Scouting Pentecostal) and he is a coach of Tee Ball.



Each month, Melissa explains texts of the Bible to the children of her church and participates in various Pentecostal meetings. She would like to become the Pastor of her community in a few years and she adores her full time mom life.





























































 





"Stay at home, take care of my children and my husband, it is the job of my dreams. And no need of a degree for that."





However, early in their marriage, The Ellis faced challenges. Melissa, so fervent and devoted to her family today, had a nervous breakdown two months after the birth of her first child. The couple separated three months. The time for Melissa to have a homosexual relationship with a friend, also raised in religion.



But for Melissa, homosexuality is evil. "In the Bible it says that homosexuals should be stoned and killed. I tried homosexuality and there is no life in this way, no happiness. I apologized to God. My friend is gay and she plans on getting married in New York. But here in Texas, her marriage will not be recognized. God thank you! " Wayne, furious at first, succeeded after "much prayer " to forgive his wife after a few years.



GOD IS THE ONLY JUDGE



If she is totally opposed to homosexuality, yet Melissa ensures: "God says that whoever is without sin cast the first stone. This is not the role of humans to judge their fellow men. God is the only judge. Always leave a chance for people to repent and ask for forgiveness." And if one day one of her children told her he is gay, she thinks she would have raised him bad. "We want to be an example for our children and we do not let them mingle with homosexuals. We do not want us to think it is normal and acceptable." And it concerns the gay sister of Wayne, forbidden to see her nephews.



Before meeting with Melissa, Wayne was going to church, but he also drank alcohol with his friends. Since Melissa, it is church twice on Sunday and two to three times per week in addition. And since six years, no alcohol. The Ellis live without cable and without internet. But because Everett begins to need a computer for school, the family decided to invest in the coming weeks.









































On the financial side, Wayne earns a salary of $ 1 200 per month. The family receives food allowance and children are under Medicaid. The home (older than 30 years) belongs to the family of Melissa and cost only $ 350 monthly. When her children are grown, Melissa imagines herself as a photographer for weddings. Wayne dreams of having his construction company. He renovated a good part of the family home alone. If the children go to college, the couple will do their best to help. And because they are boys "they will provide everything for their families", Melissa wants them to go as far as possible.



But assuring studies of four children -or more- is not easy in the United States. And Melissa uses no contraception. "We want four children and God knows. If God wants us to have more, it is His will. He can do what he wants of me" she assures.



But the mother and the grandmother see with a dim the arrival of a fourth child because of the financial difficulties of the family. "My grandmother wants me to take the pill..." says Melissa.



The presidential election is not really in The Ellis' environment. Melissa just knows that if she is going to vote, it will be for the "one who is against Obama." She does not understand the difference between Republicans and Democrats and is more interested in the Bible. For her, the election is "not really important in the end ... because anyway the Antichrist, symbolizing the end of the world, will come." And she is sure to go to Paradise. Obama and Romney following her or not is irrelevant. In Huntsville, the Ellis pray but certainly not for a political party.

 

Photos 

Melissa the mother, Elijah the baby, Wayne the father, Logan and Everett.

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