-The human mannequin who stands strong in the faith
SHE travels from country to country to stand almost catatonically in the busy shopping centres amidst clothing near to or amongst mannequins. Her coiffure adorned with a tiara, she wears white gloves which reach up to her wrist, whilst she holds a basket decorated with purple, blue, gold, red and silver ribbons and filled with tracts. Decked in a long, flowing gown with sash, she proclaims the words: “Jesus is Lord” on one side, and Acts 4: 33, Romans 1:7, and 1Cor.1:9 on the other. She also wears long, golden gloves and carries a sceptre when invited to official functions.
She is Judith Anne Marie De Verteuil, a missionary mannequin.  And what is she doing standing motionless yet very aware of her surroundings? She is silently praying for the country, and in so doing, attracting thousands of stares and thoughts each day.
Our missionary mannequin explained that her dress code is all scriptural.  Ephesians Chapter 6 speaks of the “armour of God”. The tiara represents the “crown of righteousness”; the Word of God can be read through the sharing of tracks, and the colours which are specific to the temple were given to Solomon by God. She has added red to remind us of the blood of Jesus, which was shed for all.
Her presence here is by no means peculiar to the Caribbean, since she has been seen in Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Venezuela, St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and St. Marten. What is unique for Guyana is that this is her first visit here, the tenth country she is visiting, and it also marks the tenth anniversary of her Mission.
I spoke with this very human mannequin for the first time at the Charlotte Street Wesleyan Church on Sunday December 18, 2011, but she had already started working outside of the City Mall on Camp and Regent Streets, and subsequently moved to the Ariel Hardware Store; and it was there that I saw her in action. She operated with a stoic countenance, and spoke only when questioned.
“I am not supposed to move,” she said. “People should read the banner out loud. But I must bow to the Name of Jesus every time, and say amen, in accordance with Philippians 2:9. Ideally, for the ‘ministry’ to be more effective, there should be brethren joining me on the street, talking to the people and leading them to the Lord while I am silent.”
“Is she real? Is (she) a statue? Is she mad?  I frighten!” were some of the remarks uttered as curious onlookers gathered. Some of those were more in sync with what was happening, and they placed love offerings in her basket.
She said that she was heckled by passersby in some countries.  People would ask her if she were hungry and/or offer her water; and some would pelt her with popcorn, nuts, and even blow smoke in her face to see if she was real. And she started wearing long gloves because people would pinch her. But she would return to her station the next day, her favourite scriptural injunction being “less of me is more of Him”.

Training
In an exclusive interview, Judith told me that, in 1995, she and thirty-six persons were trained in Street Ministry Pantomime (silent drama) by the 700 Club. At that time, they painted their faces white, wore white gloves, dressed in black, and acted out verses of scripture or danced to gospel songs. They danced in the streets, in the Savannah, and in front of the malls; and when people stopped to look at them, they would give the people tracks and administer the Word of God in a form of evangelism. To date, she is the only one who continues to practise the art.
Judith declared: “It was in December 2000 that, as I was about to do a full pantomime, God showed me myself in a vision as a mannequin. When I received the vision, I said, ‘Lord, I can do that? If so, I will bless your Kingdom with it’.” She will always remember the words of Pastor Myles Munroe, who said: “We have something to do for the Kingdom of God. This is my job, what I was born to do, and it comes naturally.”    
Today, she is not painting her face, but her ‘mannequin ministry’ has developed over the years, to the point where she calls it work. She is on her feet for at least five hours a day, taking occasional breaks to wiggle her feet, refresh herself, or to endorse her tracks.
This diminutive lady has mothered two young men, aged 21 and 27, and they have always been supportive of her work and prayer life.  She is a member of the Holiness Revival Ministries (HRM) of French Street, Woodbrook, Trinidad, under pastorate of Reverend Earland Banfield.  She hails from East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. 
Ever mindful of her mother’s words of advice not to waste time, she has founded, and is the Principal of, the Mozart School of Music and the Paideuo Learning Centre in Trinidad; and she heads two ministries at her church. She is also the coordinator for the HRM Computer Literacy Class, HRM Adult Literacy Class, and Assistant Administrator of the HRM Junior Church Ministry. 

Motivation
But what propels Sister Judith to manage her time so well? Her reply is found within the scriptures: As a mannequin, a servant and a woman of God, she adheres to Matthew 24:14, 1Corinthians 1:17 and 1:27, and 1Timothy 4:10; and is firm in her belief that Jesus is real.
The idea for the learning centre came to her one day as she walked along and noticed the growing number of young men on the streets of Port-of-Spain. As she spoke to God in prayer, He said, “Start a school, get them off the street.” And so she did, in l998.
Over 300 children have since passed through that school, some to the world of work and some to higher education. In 2007, four students were sent up for the London Music Examination with Trinity College; all passed, and two gained distinctions. The learning centre teaches subjects such as: English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Moral Instruction, Music, Handwriting, Art, Physical Education, and Computer Technology. These subjects were all designed with a literacy approach. 

Full circle
Judith’s work has now come back full circle, as my son recalled seeing her in Trinity City Mall, Trinidad, when we were there on vacation ten years ago. I vaguely remember seeing ‘this statue’ and asking myself whether it was a real person, but I had quickly dismissed the curiosity and moved on. I have had the privilege of hosting this remarkable lady for one week, during which she shared with me one experience she had in St. Lucia, when a crowd had converged on the corner where she stood, and some factions were trying to stir up trouble. Even the police who were summoned to save her were frightened, and it appeared that they did not know how to handle the situation; but, somehow, they managed to eventually disperse the crowd. 
Sister Judith leaves these words with Guyanese: “Know your purpose. Get direction for your purpose. Everything about you is tied up with what you came into this world to do, and through obedience you would find your purpose. This is the truth.”
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians1:27). Her translation of that scripture is: “He will take the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.”