A Legacy of Love
& Direction
Honoring Madame Linda Counts, who believed in us, guided us, and taught us how to find our way.Song by: The Afters
A Tribute to Madame Linda
Madame Linda Counts lived a life marked by faith, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to the children of Haiti. Her calling began when she witnessed children in her community running barefoot, full of potential yet lacking opportunity. Rather than look away, she chose to act.
From that moment of conviction, TLC Barefoot School was born.
As a missionary and educator in Port-au-Prince, Madame Linda believed education was the foundation for lasting change. She created a place where children were not defined by poverty, but empowered through learning, care, and love. Her classroom became a sanctuary of hope, discipline, and encouragement, shaping young lives with purpose and dignity.
Madame Linda passed away peacefully on April 22, 2004, at her teacher’s desk at TLC Barefoot School, fully devoted to the mission she had embraced with her whole heart. Though she is no longer with us, her vision continues to guide our work. Every lesson taught, every child fed, and every future shaped stands as a living testament to her legacy.
We honor Madame Linda by carrying her mission forward. Through education, faith, and community partnership, we remain committed to transforming lives and building a brighter future for Haiti, just as she envisioned.
"Follow the Directions"
-Madame LindaTo many, they were simple words. To the students who sat under the care and instruction of Madame Linda, they became a compass for life.
“Follow the directions” was more than a classroom reminder. It was a lesson in discipline, wisdom, and trust. Madame Linda understood that when a child learns to listen, to obey, and to walk in order, they gain more than knowledge. They gain clarity. Years later, her former students still repeat those words, often in moments of uncertainty. When faced with difficult decisions, career paths, or further educational pursuits, they remember her voice and find their footing again.
For many, those words have become a steady guide when life feels confusing or overwhelming. They remind students to pause, to seek understanding, and to move forward with intention rather than fear. What began as a daily instruction in a humble classroom has grown into a lifelong principle that continues to shape character, purpose, and direction.
Above all, Madame Linda taught that the greatest directions to follow are not written on a chalkboard, but found in God’s Word. She believed that true guidance comes from obedience to God’s commands, His wisdom, and His purpose for our lives. When His Word becomes our foundation, our steps gain meaning, and our paths become clear.
Today, “Follow the directions” stands as both a remembrance and a call. A remembrance of a woman who led with faith and love, and a call to anchor our lives in God’s truth. Through this guiding principle, Madame Linda’s voice still speaks, pointing generations toward a life of purpose, obedience, and hope.
Madame Linda: A Mother to Many
Celebrating a life devoted to love, education, and the future of Haiti’s children.Madame Linda Counts was a mother to all the children of TLC, and to those who worked alongside her, she was truly our founder. She carried a powerful dream for every child who walked through the gate of her home. She welcomed us into her house as if we were her own children, and the things she did for us were beyond anything we had ever imagined.
Where many people saw poor children in need of food, water, and clothes, Madame Linda saw something greater. She saw the hope of our country. She saw intelligent children who needed love, education, and care. She believed in us when others only saw our circumstances.
She taught us to be honest, kind, trustworthy, and loving. But more than anything, she taught us how to follow directions. Not in the sense of blind obedience, but in learning how to think, to understand, and to figure things out. She taught us comprehension. She taught us how to tell the difference between truth and lies.
Madame Linda was a loving woman who never grew tired of teaching us what love truly means. Even now, she is still with us, standing in front of us in spirit, reminding us to follow directions and to keep moving forward. Losing her was painful, but we did not give up, and we have never stopped trying to become better.
TLC may still be far from what Madame Linda Counts dreamed it could be, but there is hope. The children need an education that goes beyond what they receive at home. They need to be taught how to love and to be shown what it truly means to be a TLC child.
