We have a team departing for Zambia on November 4th, and I am looking for to so many things.
During this past month's fundraising furor, we have raised funds for travel expenses, construction at the Orphanage site, and child sponsorships. To include all the commitments not yet collected, we have raised nearly $17,000 for construction costs at the Orphanage and child sponsorships.
For this round of funding, we only have about 1,200 bricks to go. It has been encouraging to see so many people come together for these kids.
We will be funding construction of another home in November and December, $10,500, furniture for the home at $3,500, and will be seeking sponsors for the remaining children.
As of 10/29/08, we still have 8 of our 19 children that are not sponsored. We currently are spending approximately $85 per month to care for each child, and our sponsorships are either subsidized by GO! from our general fund, or in some cases the child is sponsored twice. Our sponsorships are $50 per child, per month, with a one year committment.
For more information on supporting our children please see: http://www.globalorphanrelief.org/ChildrenofSilembe.html
Blessings!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
SA will have 2,5m orphans by 2010
October 24 2007 at 08:40AM
By Mercury reporter
Little children are not supposed to die before grownups, but a staggering number in South Africa do, because they are left without proper care by a society overwhelmed by the rising need for social welfare.
In many state-funded child welfare centres, social workers - who are among the worst paid professionals in the country - are battling with 300-500 cases each, says Antje Hockley who runs the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, founded by Unilever.
Hockley, speaking at a fund-raising function organised by Unilever this week, said an estimated 25 000 new social welfare cases were presented to social workers countrywide every month, and children's homes were battling to cope.
Read More..........
By Mercury reporter
Little children are not supposed to die before grownups, but a staggering number in South Africa do, because they are left without proper care by a society overwhelmed by the rising need for social welfare.
In many state-funded child welfare centres, social workers - who are among the worst paid professionals in the country - are battling with 300-500 cases each, says Antje Hockley who runs the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, founded by Unilever.
Hockley, speaking at a fund-raising function organised by Unilever this week, said an estimated 25 000 new social welfare cases were presented to social workers countrywide every month, and children's homes were battling to cope.
Read More..........
Weeping orphan tells of her lonely life
September 08 2008 at 10:40AM
By Gavin Stewart
A sobbing teenage girl has told a packed Methodist Church in this eastern Cape Town that she had lived alone in her home since her parents died, with no money and little food.
The girl, identified only as Nomzamo, burst into tears as she began speaking.
"After my mother and father died I had no money to go to school. I had to give up. I have nothing."
Read More.......
By Gavin Stewart
A sobbing teenage girl has told a packed Methodist Church in this eastern Cape Town that she had lived alone in her home since her parents died, with no money and little food.
The girl, identified only as Nomzamo, burst into tears as she began speaking.
"After my mother and father died I had no money to go to school. I had to give up. I have nothing."
Read More.......
Orphans need homes - state appeals
October 28 2008 at 09:28AM
The number of orphaned children in South Africa is estimated at 1,5-million, according to Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya.
Although the country had done "incredibly well" to provide a safety net for the poor, which included giving a child support grant to 8,3-million children, more needed to be done, Skweyiya said on Monday.
Read More........
The number of orphaned children in South Africa is estimated at 1,5-million, according to Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya.
Although the country had done "incredibly well" to provide a safety net for the poor, which included giving a child support grant to 8,3-million children, more needed to be done, Skweyiya said on Monday.
Read More........
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Journalists schooled on child rights protection
Last Updated: Saturday, 25 October 2008, 8:10 GMT
The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in collaboration with UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday organised a workshop to sensitise journalists on the importance of ethical reporting on child rights protection issues.
According to Mr Iddris Abdallah, a UNICEF consultant on child protection with the DSW, recent media reporting on child abuses and issues relating to their health, had not been treated ethically, as most of them had either exposed these vulnerable ones to further stigmatisation or public ridicule.
Read More.........
The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in collaboration with UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday organised a workshop to sensitise journalists on the importance of ethical reporting on child rights protection issues.
According to Mr Iddris Abdallah, a UNICEF consultant on child protection with the DSW, recent media reporting on child abuses and issues relating to their health, had not been treated ethically, as most of them had either exposed these vulnerable ones to further stigmatisation or public ridicule.
Read More.........
Finding a Home
Finding a Home: Local Christian advocates want more people to help orphaned children
By Amber Baker
Loveland Reporter-Herald
By Amber BakerLoveland Reporter-Herald
Some local Christians are stepping up as advocates for children who need homes — orphans and foster children alike.
“We want to make people aware that there are kids in need of homes,” said Loveland resident Kari Stewart, co-director of Welcome Child, an adoption ministry based at Timberline Church in Fort Collins.
Read More...........
By Amber Baker
Loveland Reporter-Herald
By Amber BakerLoveland Reporter-Herald
Some local Christians are stepping up as advocates for children who need homes — orphans and foster children alike.
“We want to make people aware that there are kids in need of homes,” said Loveland resident Kari Stewart, co-director of Welcome Child, an adoption ministry based at Timberline Church in Fort Collins.
Read More...........
Creating possibilities
A Minnesota entrepreneur uses his economic success to change lives half a world away by offering high-quality education to dirt-poor Tanzanian students.
By JACKIE CROSBY, Star Tribune
Last update: October 26, 2008 - 5:30 PM
ARUSHA, TANZANIA - Francisca is beaming. She has just solved a troubling geometry question, with a bit of guidance in Swahili and English from her teacher at Peace House Secondary School. The 16-year-old breaks into a smile so big, both rows of her teeth show.
Two months earlier, Francisca Anania Kimario's future held little of this brightness. It most certainly didn't include going to school.
Abandoned at birth by her father, Francisca lost her mother to AIDS when she was 2. As so often happens to Africa's orphans, Francisca was passed around to relatives who barely had enough money to feed their own children, much less someone else's. Francisca suffered beatings and threats, and made it through primary school only after nuns at a nearby Catholic church offered to pay for it.
Read More.......
By JACKIE CROSBY, Star Tribune
Last update: October 26, 2008 - 5:30 PM
ARUSHA, TANZANIA - Francisca is beaming. She has just solved a troubling geometry question, with a bit of guidance in Swahili and English from her teacher at Peace House Secondary School. The 16-year-old breaks into a smile so big, both rows of her teeth show.
Two months earlier, Francisca Anania Kimario's future held little of this brightness. It most certainly didn't include going to school.
Abandoned at birth by her father, Francisca lost her mother to AIDS when she was 2. As so often happens to Africa's orphans, Francisca was passed around to relatives who barely had enough money to feed their own children, much less someone else's. Francisca suffered beatings and threats, and made it through primary school only after nuns at a nearby Catholic church offered to pay for it.
Read More.......
Thursday, October 23, 2008
GO! Silembe Update | House of Faith Orphanage
The follow are some addtional pictures that we received earlier this month from Zambia:
The kitchen entrance slab is on a slight slant for drainage. Sand on the fresh slab to hold water for curing makes it look very messy.
Inside the pantries also looks messy for the same reasons.
The fire didn’t show up in the picture, but they are cooking here everyday.
One room has mosquito nets up. Linda will be taking measurements and pictures to carpenters in Choma and Kalomo in an effort to more quickly get beds.
This hole is well over a meter deep. We have water where we don’t want it at 2 feet down, while 4 holes in the garden haven’t yielded an adequate supply. Once we find the right place water should be plentiful for the garden.
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We continue our development at House of Faith Orphanage with the contruction of the 3rd & 4th homes, and are currently hosting 19 children. We also have 12 children on a waiting list to join us.
Illegitimate Orphans in Gaza on the Rise
By Ola al-Madhoun - Gaza
A human rights organization in Gaza released a report showing a rise in the number of children abandoned in Gaza and warned that the problem of abandoned and illegitimate children holds grave consequences for Palestinian society.
According to statistics issued by the Gaza-based al-Dameer Association for Human Rights, 165 cases of illegitimate children have been reported since 1993, eight of them are in 2008 alone. Rising poverty and unemployment along the social and psychological pressure of living under occupation – and since January an Israeli blockade.
Read More.......
A human rights organization in Gaza released a report showing a rise in the number of children abandoned in Gaza and warned that the problem of abandoned and illegitimate children holds grave consequences for Palestinian society.
According to statistics issued by the Gaza-based al-Dameer Association for Human Rights, 165 cases of illegitimate children have been reported since 1993, eight of them are in 2008 alone. Rising poverty and unemployment along the social and psychological pressure of living under occupation – and since January an Israeli blockade.
Read More.......
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Project to Help 163,000,000 Orphans
Halloween Kids4Kids Project asks children to help rescue orphans and displaced children around the world
Newbury Park, CA (PRWEB) October 22, 2008 -- Faced with a large and growing list of families trying to adopt children, The Orphan Foundation is asking children across the nation to help out by carrying a coin canister with them on their trick-or-treat rounds. The project is hoping to raise nearly $1,000,000 to help with the foundation's grant programs for adopting families, as well as their service tours to orphanages around the world.
Students can download and print canister wrappers by going to the foundation's website and clicking on the Halloween graphic on their home page, or by going directly to http://www.theorphanfoundation.org/resources/HalloweenCannister.pdf. The wrapper will go around any size can, and includes instructions for mounting and sending in the donations.
Read More.........
Newbury Park, CA (PRWEB) October 22, 2008 -- Faced with a large and growing list of families trying to adopt children, The Orphan Foundation is asking children across the nation to help out by carrying a coin canister with them on their trick-or-treat rounds. The project is hoping to raise nearly $1,000,000 to help with the foundation's grant programs for adopting families, as well as their service tours to orphanages around the world.
Students can download and print canister wrappers by going to the foundation's website and clicking on the Halloween graphic on their home page, or by going directly to http://www.theorphanfoundation.org/resources/HalloweenCannister.pdf. The wrapper will go around any size can, and includes instructions for mounting and sending in the donations.
Read More.........
Fighting in Kashmir gives rise to orphanages
By Mian Ridge Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the October 22, 2008 edition
Between 60,000 and 100,000 children in this state of 5.5 million people are thought to be orphans – including fatherless children with mothers too poor to care for them.
Srinagar, India - Gazi Abdullah, a gentle, articulate 11-year-old considers himself fortunate. He describes a life filled with friends, games of cricket, and top scores in math.
But it hasn't always been so. Without a trace of self-pity, he tells how his father was killed in crossfire between separatist militants and the Army when he was two years old.
Read More..........
from the October 22, 2008 edition
Between 60,000 and 100,000 children in this state of 5.5 million people are thought to be orphans – including fatherless children with mothers too poor to care for them.
Srinagar, India - Gazi Abdullah, a gentle, articulate 11-year-old considers himself fortunate. He describes a life filled with friends, games of cricket, and top scores in math.
But it hasn't always been so. Without a trace of self-pity, he tells how his father was killed in crossfire between separatist militants and the Army when he was two years old.
Read More..........
Thursday, October 16, 2008
GO! Update | Zambia, Africa
I had received this update earlier this month from our team in Zambia, and thought you might enjoy.
Teaching from the small vestibule in Chingola. 
In addition to the school, Global Orphan Relief has agreed to partner with Auntie Jennifer to start an Orphanage in the community. Auntie Jennifer is very excited about our partnership, and the opportunity to expand the care for Orphans in Chingola.
The walls are up and plaster begins on the 3rd home at HOFO. The walls may take 2 weeks for completion. I have a smaller work force until such time funds flow more freely.
Our Servant's Heart Missions Team leaves for Zambia on 4 November 2008, and among other planned activities, this group is funding the 3rd home at House of Faith Orphanage(HOFO) in Silembe, Zambia.
This school for Orphans is located in Chingola, Zambia, and was started by Auntie Jennifer. To begin this work she started by washing sand for the local mines to gain the necessary funding to rent the building for the school.
This school for Orphans is located in Chingola, Zambia, and was started by Auntie Jennifer. To begin this work she started by washing sand for the local mines to gain the necessary funding to rent the building for the school.
Teaching from the small vestibule in Chingola.
In addition to the school, Global Orphan Relief has agreed to partner with Auntie Jennifer to start an Orphanage in the community. Auntie Jennifer is very excited about our partnership, and the opportunity to expand the care for Orphans in Chingola.
All of the furniture for the Orphanage is made in Zambia, and often times even right there in Silembe. This cabinet was supposed to be ready before the Jones went to the States. Finally, we have it as Elizabeth, our house mother for the 1st home, stands just behind the front door.
The walls are up and plaster begins on the 3rd home at HOFO. The walls may take 2 weeks for completion. I have a smaller work force until such time funds flow more freely.
Last year we experienced what they claimed to be '100 year rains' and water was everywhere -everyday. The ground water became so prevalent that the pressure crushed our septic tank. We are using additional support to include cement to help the brick stay in place. Rains will begin again in late November - early December time frame.
Keep the Children of Silembe in your prayers as we grow our presence in Zambia.
Peace,
GO! Zambia Team
Afghanistan: Back to Where We Started
October 15, 2008 From theTrumpet.com
After a seven-year war, the country is returning to Taliban rule.
For 15 years, Ahmed Bachar has looked after orphans. Two hundred of them, aged 5 to 16. He’s made sure they had a bed each night, food in their bellies, and a way to get to school.
When Allied forces pushed the Taliban from power in Bachar’s native Afghanistan in 2001, money from international aid agencies started to flow to him. With it, Bachar was able to get a building, books, clothes and even toys for the children.
Read More...........
After a seven-year war, the country is returning to Taliban rule.
For 15 years, Ahmed Bachar has looked after orphans. Two hundred of them, aged 5 to 16. He’s made sure they had a bed each night, food in their bellies, and a way to get to school.
When Allied forces pushed the Taliban from power in Bachar’s native Afghanistan in 2001, money from international aid agencies started to flow to him. With it, Bachar was able to get a building, books, clothes and even toys for the children.
Read More...........
African orphans visit Blackminster school
12:14pm Wednesday 15th October 2008
By Daniel Fawbert Mills »
PUPILS and staff at Blackminster Middle School were given a special presentation this week from guests who had travelled half way around the world to see them.
On Monday a group of orphans from Uganda, in Africa, visited the school as part of a fundraising mission in aid of their own school and village over 4,000 miles away.
Read More........
By Daniel Fawbert Mills »
PUPILS and staff at Blackminster Middle School were given a special presentation this week from guests who had travelled half way around the world to see them.
On Monday a group of orphans from Uganda, in Africa, visited the school as part of a fundraising mission in aid of their own school and village over 4,000 miles away.
Read More........
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Need to cut down number of orphans stressed
MARY GWERA
Daily News; Saturday,October 04, 2008 @00:02
The Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof David Mwakyusa, has stressed the need to expand Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services, to reduce the number of children living with HIV/Aids.
Closing the Regional Inter-Agency Task Team (RIATT) on Children and AIDS conference in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Prof Mwakyusa said the move would also cut down the number of orphans in the country. “By ensuring family care and putting HIV-positive mothers and fathers on treatment, we can reduce the number of orphans,” the minister said.
Read More.........
Daily News; Saturday,October 04, 2008 @00:02
The Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof David Mwakyusa, has stressed the need to expand Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services, to reduce the number of children living with HIV/Aids.
Closing the Regional Inter-Agency Task Team (RIATT) on Children and AIDS conference in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Prof Mwakyusa said the move would also cut down the number of orphans in the country. “By ensuring family care and putting HIV-positive mothers and fathers on treatment, we can reduce the number of orphans,” the minister said.
Read More.........
Works of faith: Liberty United Methodist goes on mission to Guatemala
By NORMA KING
Special to The Star
When Donna Dunn describes the people of Guatemala as “so stinking happy,” it’s with admiration and a little envy.
“I would be too if I lived there,” she said.
Dunn spent a week this summer in Lemoa, Guatemala, at an orphanage. It was her fourth trip.
Eighteen youths and four adults from Liberty United Methodist Church traveled with Dunn on a church mission. They left their cell phones, TVs and MP3 players at home — and didn’t really miss them.
Read More......
Special to The Star
When Donna Dunn describes the people of Guatemala as “so stinking happy,” it’s with admiration and a little envy.
“I would be too if I lived there,” she said.
Dunn spent a week this summer in Lemoa, Guatemala, at an orphanage. It was her fourth trip.
Eighteen youths and four adults from Liberty United Methodist Church traveled with Dunn on a church mission. They left their cell phones, TVs and MP3 players at home — and didn’t really miss them.
Read More......
Parishioners to embark on mission to help Guatemalan orphans
By Lauren O. Kidd • TOMS RIVER BUREAU • October 1, 2008
TOMS RIVER — Parishioners of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church will embark on the church's first mission trip Thursday, when they leave for the Hogar Rafeal Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala City.
The Rev. Paul Pappas, who has visited the orphanage on his own for a decade, hopes the mission will be the first of many for his congregation. He said he wants his congregation to take part in annual missions to help people in different parts of the world.
Read More..........
TOMS RIVER — Parishioners of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church will embark on the church's first mission trip Thursday, when they leave for the Hogar Rafeal Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala City.
The Rev. Paul Pappas, who has visited the orphanage on his own for a decade, hopes the mission will be the first of many for his congregation. He said he wants his congregation to take part in annual missions to help people in different parts of the world.
Read More..........
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Children affected by HIV/AIDS need community care
2008-10-07 11:56:33
By Peter Tindwa
It is very sad and disturbing to note from many regional and global reports that Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania is leading in the infections of HIV/AIDS. Staff writer Peter Tindwa writing for the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) together with the United Nations Children`s Fund (UNICEF) sheds light on importance of interventions to support children affected by HIV/AIDS:
Available statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) show that Tanzania has at least 930,000 most vulnerable children, most of whom are affected by AIDS and living in households which are below the Tanzanian poverty line.
Read More.............
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At GO!'s House of Faith Orphanage (HOFO) we currently have 3 children of 19 children who are HIV/AIDs positive. These children require additional care, but can not be turned away based on this condition. We can do more, but it is going to take an effort community by community, project by project. Will you help us?
www.globalorphanrelief.org
By Peter Tindwa
It is very sad and disturbing to note from many regional and global reports that Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania is leading in the infections of HIV/AIDS. Staff writer Peter Tindwa writing for the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) together with the United Nations Children`s Fund (UNICEF) sheds light on importance of interventions to support children affected by HIV/AIDS:
Available statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) show that Tanzania has at least 930,000 most vulnerable children, most of whom are affected by AIDS and living in households which are below the Tanzanian poverty line.
Read More.............
--------------------------
At GO!'s House of Faith Orphanage (HOFO) we currently have 3 children of 19 children who are HIV/AIDs positive. These children require additional care, but can not be turned away based on this condition. We can do more, but it is going to take an effort community by community, project by project. Will you help us?
www.globalorphanrelief.org
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
GO! Cornerstones | "Righteousness & Love"
Of Faith, Hope, & Love
October 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
Do you ever read something and just wonder if there is any hidden message? Maybe in your reading lies a truth that surpasses all understanding? I recently read a passage that was such a message and just maybe a gateway to something much more important for you and me.
Proverbs 21:21 -He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (NIV)
For me this holds great promise and there are so many things that arise out of this passage. I think that the encouraging word for me is the notion of the word pursues. The word here may not imply accomplishment, but merely the act of continued effort to capture or overtake. You might say that we are engaged in the continued effort to become righteous and or a place or state of love. I am encouraged by the proposition to pursue with no predetermined expectations, but only to find life, prosperity and honor in the process.
The next item in the passage that demands my consideration is the word righteousness and whether this concept is somehow connected to love. My dictionary indicates that righteousness is “the quality or state of being righteous”. Righteousness is somehow moral conduct. You might say the process of being right (certainly this is something I should know about). This begs the question of the deeper meaning of righteous. From my research righteous can be describes as morally justified, or upright without guilt or sin. You might transcend a religious definition and describe righteous as with virtue or morality. So righteousness becomes the state or conduct of being moral, upright, and without guilt. Hmmmm….. I won’t speak for you, but for me this is a real stretch. I know that the past does not equal the future, but even for me today -to consider righteousness is difficult, but according to the passage I am merely to pursue.
The word love in this passage is more closely associated with an action than a feeling. The original Hebrew uses the word mercy rather than the word love. The meaning in this passage points toward God and is an act of kindness –a good deed. For me, and this is not stretch, if you show this kindness to your fellow man, or you do something good for them, this act is ultimately toward God. And again in this passage, we refer you back to the word pursue.
Look at the reward here! As we pursue to become right or correct and in this process we show love or do good deeds to others, we will realize life, prosperity and honor.
If in your spiritual walk, if all you were able to gain was life, prosperity, and honor -what more would you need? Today is the day to start living by beginning the pursuit!
Peace, and be Blessed!
October 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
Do you ever read something and just wonder if there is any hidden message? Maybe in your reading lies a truth that surpasses all understanding? I recently read a passage that was such a message and just maybe a gateway to something much more important for you and me.
Proverbs 21:21 -He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (NIV)
For me this holds great promise and there are so many things that arise out of this passage. I think that the encouraging word for me is the notion of the word pursues. The word here may not imply accomplishment, but merely the act of continued effort to capture or overtake. You might say that we are engaged in the continued effort to become righteous and or a place or state of love. I am encouraged by the proposition to pursue with no predetermined expectations, but only to find life, prosperity and honor in the process.
The next item in the passage that demands my consideration is the word righteousness and whether this concept is somehow connected to love. My dictionary indicates that righteousness is “the quality or state of being righteous”. Righteousness is somehow moral conduct. You might say the process of being right (certainly this is something I should know about). This begs the question of the deeper meaning of righteous. From my research righteous can be describes as morally justified, or upright without guilt or sin. You might transcend a religious definition and describe righteous as with virtue or morality. So righteousness becomes the state or conduct of being moral, upright, and without guilt. Hmmmm….. I won’t speak for you, but for me this is a real stretch. I know that the past does not equal the future, but even for me today -to consider righteousness is difficult, but according to the passage I am merely to pursue.
The word love in this passage is more closely associated with an action than a feeling. The original Hebrew uses the word mercy rather than the word love. The meaning in this passage points toward God and is an act of kindness –a good deed. For me, and this is not stretch, if you show this kindness to your fellow man, or you do something good for them, this act is ultimately toward God. And again in this passage, we refer you back to the word pursue.
Look at the reward here! As we pursue to become right or correct and in this process we show love or do good deeds to others, we will realize life, prosperity and honor.
If in your spiritual walk, if all you were able to gain was life, prosperity, and honor -what more would you need? Today is the day to start living by beginning the pursuit!
Peace, and be Blessed!
An experiment in orphan care in Russia
International Herald Tribune
By Michael Schwirtz
Published: October 1, 2008
KALUGA REGION, Russia: Standing in a row, sweating in the bright sun, a group of boys hammer into the outer wall of a partially built log cabin. Nearby, two others paint a picnic table, while another pack of children scurry by dressed in green tunics, wooden swords drawn for a play battle.
Work and play often commingle in Kitezh, an experimental orphan community about 300 kilometers, or 190 miles, southwest of Moscow that combines features of an orphanage with those of foster care. At first glance it can seem more akin to a summer camp than a sanctuary for abused and neglected children.
Read More.........
By Michael Schwirtz
Published: October 1, 2008
KALUGA REGION, Russia: Standing in a row, sweating in the bright sun, a group of boys hammer into the outer wall of a partially built log cabin. Nearby, two others paint a picnic table, while another pack of children scurry by dressed in green tunics, wooden swords drawn for a play battle.
Work and play often commingle in Kitezh, an experimental orphan community about 300 kilometers, or 190 miles, southwest of Moscow that combines features of an orphanage with those of foster care. At first glance it can seem more akin to a summer camp than a sanctuary for abused and neglected children.
Read More.........
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
GO! Stories | "Justine"
A Place, A Story, A Journey
September, 30, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
I have not yet had the honor of meeting Justine, but look forward to getting to know him in November.
Justine came to our home on July 4, 2008. You might say that this was his ‘Independence day’! We think that Justine is about 11 years old and he was hurting when he arrived at House of Faith Orphanage (HOFO), both physically and emotionally. You see, Justine is from the surrounding rural area, and has been sleeping outside for quite some time. Just because a child has a home doesn’t mean that there being cared for properly. Justine was charged with caring for the family’s goats.
It is not uncommon for a family in Zambia to be somewhat involved in caring for an Orphaned child. In fact, some research I read recently indicated the 60% of all families in Zambia are somehow involved in caring for these children. The challenge is that these families are dealing with very limited resources. When it comes time to decide who gets a bigger portion, or who gets to go to school, the biological children take priority.
Unfortunately, this dilemma is creating a second class of citizen. Not that these children (or adults when grown) are looked down upon because of their family status, but they are more vulnerable based on a lack of education, poor health, and lower overall personal development. There is an estimated 75,000 children living on the streets of Zambia with no clear direction or opportunities for choice in the future. No choice as to where to live. No choice as to which school to attend. No choice for vocation. Just no choice!
I firmly believe that, one child at a time, we can encourage Hope that can actually give these children choices for their future. This is not easy work. This investment in these little lives will require time, treasure, and talent. I wish that you all could see what I have seen. All of these children that need help! The look in these children’s eyes! They look to you as they wonder if you will reach your hand down to lift them up. Will you provide any hope? Will you provide any relief? Can you be the one to come to their rescue?
Justine lost his last parent in 1999. The story goes that his mother had a seizure and fell into the fire and burned to death. His father had died of malaria several years earlier. Justine has had no parental care for almost 9 years now. No Mommy or Daddy to tuck him in. No Mommy or Daddy to take him or pick him up from school. You see, Justine was lucky to go to school at all before he came to HOFO. Justine didn’t have the proper nutrition before coming to our home. Justine lacked even a hug or any effort to help him learn to read. Before coming to HOFO, Justine was destined to spend the rest of his days with goats. Oh ya, Justine is also HIV/AIDS positive, but is now receiving the necessary medication to lead a close to normal life at HOFO.
FACT: 10%, or 1.2 million, of Zambia’s population are Orphaned children. 10%, or 120,000, of the Orphaned children of Zambia are HIV/AIDS positive. For more info on how you can help go to www.globalorphanrelief.org/ChildrenofSilembe.
Grandparents forced to care for orphans
Press and Journal - Aberdeen,Aberdeenshire, UK
Published 29/09/2008
The number of grandparents caring for grandchildren orphaned by Aids worldwide has doubled in the last decade, according to new research by Help the Aged.
Read More............
Published 29/09/2008
The number of grandparents caring for grandchildren orphaned by Aids worldwide has doubled in the last decade, according to new research by Help the Aged.
Read More............
Monday, September 8, 2008
GO! Stories | "Brothers"
A Place, A Story, A Journey
September 4, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
September 4, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
It was Christmas of 2006, and we were in Juarez for our 2nd Christmas Over the Border mission. This year it was different though. It wasn’t just our family blessing 20 children with Christmas gifts. This year it was three families blessing over 70 children. It was incredible to have a team beyond our own family, and it was great serve so many of His children. Admittedly I was a little stressed with the responsibility, but most things went smooth.
Most of the group stayed at the YWAM facility in Juarez, while our family again stayed at Casa de la Nueva Vida. The team spent Christmas Eve at the respective locations, and we watched a movie in Spanish. The children had a great time, and I believe that His love was shown during this experience for them.
The most difficult aspect of the trip was moving. We had 3 different vehicles and I didn’t know my way around that well. There were several times back and forth between our locations, and then there were the two border crossing –never a fun thing.
On Christmas day we were going to drive across town to another home that I had visited earlier in the year, but I had only been there one time. We would again be in our three vehicle convoy, and my directions didn’t seem that detailed and my memory worse yet.
We did arrive downtown without a hitch, at least to the right neighborhood, but we couldn’t find the home. We drove around, and around, and around again, but we couldn’t find it. I knew that the Girls Home was in this vicinity, but where had I gone wrong? We decided to stop for directions. After knocking on a few doors we found someone willing to talk to us, but it was in Spanish. I quickly dialed Sergio on our phone knowing that he could translate for us, and handed the phone to our new-found Spanish-speaking friend. After several nods, a grunt, and eventually a smile, he hung up and started for my car. What else could we do, but agree to go!
After everyone regained their positions in their vehicles, my new friend pointed to by dash and said in broken English, “Brother”. I didn’t understand, but acknowledged him. He did it again, “Brother”. I then realized that he was pointing to the Bible on my dash. He then pointed at himself, me, and then 3 different houses on the same street with a “Brother” each time and finally in broken English “Christians”.
Wow, what were the chances that this gentleman and I would meet, or will ever meet again, but for that moment he was an encourager as we finally made it to our destination just several blocks away. We thanked our new friend, and I watched as he walked around the corner on his way home. We were only two blocks away, but would have never found this place without this Brother.
FACT: Juarez, Mexico is home to 29 children homes. Many of these children are oirphaned and others have been taken away from their parents. Mexico is home to 1.6 million Orphans. Global Orphan Relief has completed 5 missions to Juarez, Mexico, to serve these children. For more information see http://www.globalorphanrelief.org/.
Government urged to do more in fight against HIV in Africa
Matthew Pearson , Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, September 06, 2008
OTTAWA - Siphiwe Hlope looks like a superhero.
Wearing a red cape and brightly-beaded belt, her small stature could belie the might she has shown in her fight against HIV and AIDS. The devastating disease has killed 17 of her 24 siblings and orphaned 13 million children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Read More...........
Published: Saturday, September 06, 2008
OTTAWA - Siphiwe Hlope looks like a superhero.
Wearing a red cape and brightly-beaded belt, her small stature could belie the might she has shown in her fight against HIV and AIDS. The devastating disease has killed 17 of her 24 siblings and orphaned 13 million children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Read More...........
Christian volunteer to address local audiences on plight of orphans in Sudan
Published Sunday, September 7, 2008
FAIRBANKS — It was nearly a decade ago that Lillian Klepp, a Christian from Wisconsin, heard a speaker talk about the plight of the widows and orphans in Sudan, victims of a civil war that disrupted the lives of millions.
She asked herself afterward, “What can I do?”
Read More.....
FAIRBANKS — It was nearly a decade ago that Lillian Klepp, a Christian from Wisconsin, heard a speaker talk about the plight of the widows and orphans in Sudan, victims of a civil war that disrupted the lives of millions.
She asked herself afterward, “What can I do?”
Read More.....
‘Kids I could love’
Publish Date: 9/7/2008
By Melanie M. Sidwell
Longmont Times-Call
Area nonprofit mentors families looking to adopt from Ukraine
LONGMONT — The summer camp was anything but typical.
The kids went camping near Cameron Lake. They attended a Colorado Rockies game. They watched SpongeBob.
What they loved most, though: family.
Read More.........
By Melanie M. Sidwell
Longmont Times-Call
Area nonprofit mentors families looking to adopt from Ukraine
LONGMONT — The summer camp was anything but typical.
The kids went camping near Cameron Lake. They attended a Colorado Rockies game. They watched SpongeBob.
What they loved most, though: family.
Read More.........
Princes revved up for great trek of Africa
September 8, 2008
LONDON: The epic trip will combine three of their greatest passions: Africa, motorbikes and charity work. Princes William and Harry are to embark on one of the world's most arduous motorcycle rides to raise money for orphans and people with AIDS.
Amid tight security, the brothers, aged 26 and 23, will make the 1600-kilometre trek across South Africa and Lesotho in a journey resembling that of Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman in their TV series Long Way Down.
Read More........
LONDON: The epic trip will combine three of their greatest passions: Africa, motorbikes and charity work. Princes William and Harry are to embark on one of the world's most arduous motorcycle rides to raise money for orphans and people with AIDS.
Amid tight security, the brothers, aged 26 and 23, will make the 1600-kilometre trek across South Africa and Lesotho in a journey resembling that of Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman in their TV series Long Way Down.
Read More........
Coca-Cola supports orphan children
Riyadh: Mon, 8 Sep 2008
Coca-Cola launched its promotional campaign “Ramadan … Sharing, Togetherness and Acceptance”, in cooperation with “Insan” (Charity Committee for Orphans Care).
Read More......
Coca-Cola launched its promotional campaign “Ramadan … Sharing, Togetherness and Acceptance”, in cooperation with “Insan” (Charity Committee for Orphans Care).
Read More......
This NY model adopts cause of orphans
8 Sep 2008, 0453 hrs IST, Kumar Manish,TNN
AHMEDABAD: She has walked on ramps for international apparel brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Jessica Simpson among other international brands. She is also a peace singer and songwriter from New York.
Now, Leah Martin is in Ahmedabad, following her heart - to make a difference to millions of orphaned children in the state and country.
Martin is using her musical prowess to make a point on adoption. Martin said, "There are around 12.4 million orphans in India. Last year less than 3,500 got a home. The best way to help orphans is to adopt them and I want to create more awareness about adoption in the country."
Read More.......
AHMEDABAD: She has walked on ramps for international apparel brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Jessica Simpson among other international brands. She is also a peace singer and songwriter from New York.
Now, Leah Martin is in Ahmedabad, following her heart - to make a difference to millions of orphaned children in the state and country.
Martin is using her musical prowess to make a point on adoption. Martin said, "There are around 12.4 million orphans in India. Last year less than 3,500 got a home. The best way to help orphans is to adopt them and I want to create more awareness about adoption in the country."
Read More.......
Saturday, September 6, 2008
GO! CORNERSTONES | "The Rescue"
Of Faith, Hope, and Love
September 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
Often times when I write it seems like I am repeating myself or that it is some kind of bizarre deja vu. I suppose that there might be common themes that stream through my thoughts that eventually land on paper. I also admit that there may be times you find me simply repeating myself or that maybe repetition is important in some other way.
I believe that I better understand the love of the Father since I now have been a father to my own children. I am not fully comprehending –only closer in understanding His love for us. I have been attempting some deep father-daughter conversation lately, but I am not sure that I am getting through. As with most teenagers there is a time that some struggle to find the way that they should be going or the place they should be focused on. In this incredible landscape of media it is difficult to focus on any one thing, but it can also cause us to crowd-out things or people of importance as we intently focus our concentration as to not be distracted.
I probably fall into the category of the former as my interest range across a wide spectrum. Maybe this is why my relationship with God has so many peaks and valleys. I don’t know that I am unusual, as I probably share many of the struggles that you have. Life can get me down from time to time, but my saving grace is the mercy of God. I can’t tell you how many times over the last year that I felt myself leaning over the abyss only to be caught and captured by God’s love for me.
As I deal with my own challenges of life, I encourage my daughter to rest in His arms to realize His peace, and to know that He loves her so very much. The only thing that saves me from being consumed by my own demise is the fact that He is there for me. I move forward in great expectation, with courage, and I am not afraid because He is with me. My admission to you is that He rescues me everyday, and my comfort comes from knowing that He will rescue me tomorrow. My challenge is to keep my eyes on the prize, and to keep myself on the way.
I am sorry that I am in the need of rescue, and I wish I had it more together. My knowledge and wisdom is fleeting as my patience wears thin. Many have ‘arrived’ it seems -though I am still running and running. My legs grow weary, and my heart aches as the darkness surrounds me. Will this burden ever leave me? I keep running though because I know that he is there somewhere beyond the darkness. He is waiting to consume me with His light, as it is written, He will bring to the light what is hidden in darkness. I will be rescued, and He will be the One who rescues me.
Psalm 31:2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Peace, and be Blessed!
September 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
Often times when I write it seems like I am repeating myself or that it is some kind of bizarre deja vu. I suppose that there might be common themes that stream through my thoughts that eventually land on paper. I also admit that there may be times you find me simply repeating myself or that maybe repetition is important in some other way.
I believe that I better understand the love of the Father since I now have been a father to my own children. I am not fully comprehending –only closer in understanding His love for us. I have been attempting some deep father-daughter conversation lately, but I am not sure that I am getting through. As with most teenagers there is a time that some struggle to find the way that they should be going or the place they should be focused on. In this incredible landscape of media it is difficult to focus on any one thing, but it can also cause us to crowd-out things or people of importance as we intently focus our concentration as to not be distracted.
I probably fall into the category of the former as my interest range across a wide spectrum. Maybe this is why my relationship with God has so many peaks and valleys. I don’t know that I am unusual, as I probably share many of the struggles that you have. Life can get me down from time to time, but my saving grace is the mercy of God. I can’t tell you how many times over the last year that I felt myself leaning over the abyss only to be caught and captured by God’s love for me.
As I deal with my own challenges of life, I encourage my daughter to rest in His arms to realize His peace, and to know that He loves her so very much. The only thing that saves me from being consumed by my own demise is the fact that He is there for me. I move forward in great expectation, with courage, and I am not afraid because He is with me. My admission to you is that He rescues me everyday, and my comfort comes from knowing that He will rescue me tomorrow. My challenge is to keep my eyes on the prize, and to keep myself on the way.
I am sorry that I am in the need of rescue, and I wish I had it more together. My knowledge and wisdom is fleeting as my patience wears thin. Many have ‘arrived’ it seems -though I am still running and running. My legs grow weary, and my heart aches as the darkness surrounds me. Will this burden ever leave me? I keep running though because I know that he is there somewhere beyond the darkness. He is waiting to consume me with His light, as it is written, He will bring to the light what is hidden in darkness. I will be rescued, and He will be the One who rescues me.
Psalm 31:2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Peace, and be Blessed!
Children Silent Victims Of Political Impasse
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT
Thursday, 04 September 2008 20:46
"COME here as a visitor and not as a spy," reads a warning sign on a rusty metal stuck on to a wooden gate at a home in Nyatondo Village in the Eastern Highlands district of Nyanga.
For a moment one hesitates to enter the homestead, not sure how they would be identified — as a visitor or as a spy.
A narrow path leads to a tiny kitchen hut that smells of fresh cow dung that has just been used as floor polish. Beside the kitchen is a neat pile of firewood. Opposite the kitchen is a two-roomed hut with a small shining verandah.
Everything at the homestead appears to be in order and one would expect to find an adult at the home. But that is not the case.
Running into the yard from the garden is a small boy dressed in a torn navy blue pair of jean shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt in the chilly weather. The boy is 14-year old Tichaona Mubako, an orphan in Ward 19 in the Sedze area of Nyanga, who has been staying by himself since the age of 12.
A Form 2 pupil at Nyajeza Secondary School, Tichaona began looking after himself after his parents succumbed to HIV and Aids-related diseases. Living by himself, doing the house chores, tilling the fields, maintaining the garden and protecting his late parents’ property has become a normal way of life for Tichaona.
"Sometimes I am scared of staying alone," Tichaona said. "When night falls, I get my friend who stays close by to come and spend the night with me, but most of the times I am by myself."
His mother passed away in 2004 while his father died two years later.
Read More......
Thursday, 04 September 2008 20:46
"COME here as a visitor and not as a spy," reads a warning sign on a rusty metal stuck on to a wooden gate at a home in Nyatondo Village in the Eastern Highlands district of Nyanga.
For a moment one hesitates to enter the homestead, not sure how they would be identified — as a visitor or as a spy.
A narrow path leads to a tiny kitchen hut that smells of fresh cow dung that has just been used as floor polish. Beside the kitchen is a neat pile of firewood. Opposite the kitchen is a two-roomed hut with a small shining verandah.
Everything at the homestead appears to be in order and one would expect to find an adult at the home. But that is not the case.
Running into the yard from the garden is a small boy dressed in a torn navy blue pair of jean shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt in the chilly weather. The boy is 14-year old Tichaona Mubako, an orphan in Ward 19 in the Sedze area of Nyanga, who has been staying by himself since the age of 12.
A Form 2 pupil at Nyajeza Secondary School, Tichaona began looking after himself after his parents succumbed to HIV and Aids-related diseases. Living by himself, doing the house chores, tilling the fields, maintaining the garden and protecting his late parents’ property has become a normal way of life for Tichaona.
"Sometimes I am scared of staying alone," Tichaona said. "When night falls, I get my friend who stays close by to come and spend the night with me, but most of the times I am by myself."
His mother passed away in 2004 while his father died two years later.
Read More......
BA, UNICEF out to curb mother-to-child HIV infection
DAMAS MAKANGALE
Daily News; Thursday,September 04, 2008 @20:02
BRITISH Airways (BA) and the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) are jointly implementing a programme titled; “Change for good”which aims at preventing mother to child transmission of HIV/Aids in 55 countries around the world, including Tanzania.
Read More.........
Daily News; Thursday,September 04, 2008 @20:02
BRITISH Airways (BA) and the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) are jointly implementing a programme titled; “Change for good”which aims at preventing mother to child transmission of HIV/Aids in 55 countries around the world, including Tanzania.
Read More.........
Liberian-American Couple Assist Orphans
By T. Michael Johnny
--More Aids Distribution For Deprived Citizens
A Liberian-American Couple based in Brooklyn, United States of America has continued the donation of several bags of rice and other humanitarian supplies to several orphanages and old folk homes in Monrovia and its environs.
Read More........
--More Aids Distribution For Deprived Citizens
A Liberian-American Couple based in Brooklyn, United States of America has continued the donation of several bags of rice and other humanitarian supplies to several orphanages and old folk homes in Monrovia and its environs.
Read More........
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
GO! STORIES | "Sibajane"
A Place, A Story, A Journey
September 3, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
It was Sunday, March 10, 2008, and we had just had finished up a great time at the local church in Silembe. I was truly blessed to have shared with the people there, and they seemed so happy to have us visit. We were wrapping up our time in the bush, as we would depart the next day for Livingstone.
Word came to us from the Head Man that his relatives at a nearby village would like to see us about a child that they could no longer care for. The orphanage was almost ready, but we hadn’t started receiving children as of yet. Elizabeth would be our first house-mom, and she was prepared to start living at the orphanage when we needed her to. Several of us decided to make the trip that afternoon to meet this child who might come to live at House of Faith Orphanage.
Of course it was a bumpy ride to their location, but many us were so tense with expectation we hardly noticed. What would this child be like? A boy or a girl? I always thought our first child would be a girl; maybe because of our baby Faith of 2005 for some reason.
As the vehicle pulled up to the little compound, most of family was gathered around in an outside area. We met his caretakers, and we were then able to meet Sibajane. What a beautiful boy! He was a little shy, and I think a little taken back by all the attention. We talked with him and his family about his situation. The family was encouraged that he would be well taken care of, and that he would be living in the area.
Jo Anne, our orphanage Director, went through a myriad of questions with the family. I could tell that she is a collector of data. She is perfect for our operation in Zambia, and I was impressed with the way she went about putting the family at ease, but also in the way that she was able to gain their cooperation and engage them in the conversation about Sibajane. I was also observing the boy wondering what was going through his mind. Was he sad about potentially leaving his family? What of his older brother? Was he close with him? What kind of life would we be taking him from, and how would his new life be different?
Before leaving we took some snaps of Sibajane and offered some hugs. I felt sad to know that it would be so long before I would see him again, but he’d be in good hands with Elizabeth and Jo Anne at the orphanage.
FACT: Sibajane was approximately 7 years old when he moved into the House of Faith Orphanage on March 14, 2008. Sibajane’s mother and father are both deceased. Sibajane’s name means, “I have not found him.” We believe that the meaning of his name is that his father did not see him before he died and he did not see the father. He has one older brother who is fourteen years old, who tends cattle for the family and goes to the same school as Sibajane. Sibajane lived one and a half hours walking-distance from school, which caused him to miss a lot of school. Now he is attending school regularly, also being taught numbers and ABC’s at home.
As of September 3, 2008, we now host 18 children at House of Faith Orphanage, and many remain in the need of sponsors. For more information see www.globalorphanrelief.org.
September 3, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
It was Sunday, March 10, 2008, and we had just had finished up a great time at the local church in Silembe. I was truly blessed to have shared with the people there, and they seemed so happy to have us visit. We were wrapping up our time in the bush, as we would depart the next day for Livingstone.
Word came to us from the Head Man that his relatives at a nearby village would like to see us about a child that they could no longer care for. The orphanage was almost ready, but we hadn’t started receiving children as of yet. Elizabeth would be our first house-mom, and she was prepared to start living at the orphanage when we needed her to. Several of us decided to make the trip that afternoon to meet this child who might come to live at House of Faith Orphanage.
Of course it was a bumpy ride to their location, but many us were so tense with expectation we hardly noticed. What would this child be like? A boy or a girl? I always thought our first child would be a girl; maybe because of our baby Faith of 2005 for some reason.
As the vehicle pulled up to the little compound, most of family was gathered around in an outside area. We met his caretakers, and we were then able to meet Sibajane. What a beautiful boy! He was a little shy, and I think a little taken back by all the attention. We talked with him and his family about his situation. The family was encouraged that he would be well taken care of, and that he would be living in the area.
Jo Anne, our orphanage Director, went through a myriad of questions with the family. I could tell that she is a collector of data. She is perfect for our operation in Zambia, and I was impressed with the way she went about putting the family at ease, but also in the way that she was able to gain their cooperation and engage them in the conversation about Sibajane. I was also observing the boy wondering what was going through his mind. Was he sad about potentially leaving his family? What of his older brother? Was he close with him? What kind of life would we be taking him from, and how would his new life be different?
Before leaving we took some snaps of Sibajane and offered some hugs. I felt sad to know that it would be so long before I would see him again, but he’d be in good hands with Elizabeth and Jo Anne at the orphanage.
FACT: Sibajane was approximately 7 years old when he moved into the House of Faith Orphanage on March 14, 2008. Sibajane’s mother and father are both deceased. Sibajane’s name means, “I have not found him.” We believe that the meaning of his name is that his father did not see him before he died and he did not see the father. He has one older brother who is fourteen years old, who tends cattle for the family and goes to the same school as Sibajane. Sibajane lived one and a half hours walking-distance from school, which caused him to miss a lot of school. Now he is attending school regularly, also being taught numbers and ABC’s at home.
As of September 3, 2008, we now host 18 children at House of Faith Orphanage, and many remain in the need of sponsors. For more information see www.globalorphanrelief.org.
Zambian President Mwanawasa buried
Wed 3 Sep 2008, 14:50 GMT
By Shapi Shacinda
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Thousands of Zambians mourned late President Levy Mwanawasa on Wednesday as he was buried in the southern African country that he had made a rare success story on the continent.
Regional leaders also attended the ceremony for Mwanawasa, who pleased donors and investors with financial reforms in the copper producing state and took a stronger stand on the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe than many of his counterparts.
Read More.......
By Shapi Shacinda
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Thousands of Zambians mourned late President Levy Mwanawasa on Wednesday as he was buried in the southern African country that he had made a rare success story on the continent.
Regional leaders also attended the ceremony for Mwanawasa, who pleased donors and investors with financial reforms in the copper producing state and took a stronger stand on the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe than many of his counterparts.
Read More.......
Chiropractor helps ‘orphans and widows’
Heather Mays - Thu, Sep, 4, 2008
A local chiropractor hopes to touch the world through his ministry, Matthew 10.
Dr. Pete Sulack, owner of Exodus Chiropractic and pictured right, founded Matthew 10 in 2004.
The ministry is based on Matthew Chapter 10, which speaks of Christians’ obligations to extend love and care in return for God’s love.
“There’s a key phrase that says ‘as freely as you receive, freely give,’ and it was just an opportunity [with] children’s homes for tsunami victims in India,” Sulack said.
Read More.........
A local chiropractor hopes to touch the world through his ministry, Matthew 10.
Dr. Pete Sulack, owner of Exodus Chiropractic and pictured right, founded Matthew 10 in 2004.
The ministry is based on Matthew Chapter 10, which speaks of Christians’ obligations to extend love and care in return for God’s love.
“There’s a key phrase that says ‘as freely as you receive, freely give,’ and it was just an opportunity [with] children’s homes for tsunami victims in India,” Sulack said.
Read More.........
Orphans Walk 60km to Beg for Food
MASVINGO, September 3 2008 - Two orphaned brothers from Zaka district recently walked sixty kilometers to get to their next of kin where they intended to beg for food, as isolated cases of starvation begin to mushroom in the province, hard hit by acute food shortages for the past six years.
Read More......
Read More......
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
GO! STORIES | "Willie"
A Place, A Story, A Journey
September 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
When we first visited Zambia in 2006 we were greeted by a number of strangers as they were there to provide us transport to our next unknown destination. Flowers in hand, and hugs or hand-shakes for everyone -it seemed that we had immediate friends in this strange new place. This was good.
After we finally did get our bags through customs we were taken to a local meeting place that they called a prayer center. We talked and shared our hearts over the next several hours as we described why we thought we were lead to Zambia –to serve Orphans.
During our talk with our new found friends we were encouraged to use this trip to establish a beach-head in their country to serve Orphans and to ultimately advance the kingdom. After we concluded our discussion with prayer, we loaded up the vehicles for the drive north to Ndola.
Rick and I were paired up with Willie for the journey. Willie was a young man, I’d say in his mid-twenty’s, and was an elder in his local church. He was so young it seemed to be an elder. He was very eager to answer our barrage of questions. It seemed that Willie was a business man, and would really do about anything ethical and legal to earn a wage. Young Willie was impressive from the stand-point that he had his own car, and I was encouraged by his demeanor.
After nearly 4 hours in the car, we had covered almost every subject you could think of. Rick was the most inquisitive as he asked questions I couldn’t have even thought of. I had had several cat-naps along the way, and toward the end of our trek north -I just wanted to be there already. We then broached the subject of Willie’s family. Willie was not yet married, but came from a family of 7 brothers and sisters, and of the 7 siblings only 3 were still alive to include Willie. One had died of HIV/AIDS and others from various other means. What struck me as unusual is that Willie didn’t miss a beat as he described his deceased family members. It was almost a matter of fact, not emotion. You see, death is something that Zambians must confront often. Later I found out that work attendance is an issue in Zambia, not only from a sickness stand-point, but there are many funerals to attend in any given year. I was beginning to connect the dots. Not only was Willie a member of a new and vibrant congregation, but there weren’t an abundance of older men at the church to fulfill the responsibilities of elder. There aren’t an abundance of older men anywhere in Zambia.
FACT: Life expectancy at birth in Zambia is 38.59 years of age, as compared to just over 78 years of age in the U.S. With a population of less than 12 million people, Zambia has the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS.
Of the 1.2 million Orphans present in Zambia, or 10% of the population, 130,000 are HIV/AIDS positive, 600,000 have been orphaned by the disease, and 75,000 live on the street.
September 2, 2008
by Scott A. Nordstrom
When we first visited Zambia in 2006 we were greeted by a number of strangers as they were there to provide us transport to our next unknown destination. Flowers in hand, and hugs or hand-shakes for everyone -it seemed that we had immediate friends in this strange new place. This was good.
After we finally did get our bags through customs we were taken to a local meeting place that they called a prayer center. We talked and shared our hearts over the next several hours as we described why we thought we were lead to Zambia –to serve Orphans.
During our talk with our new found friends we were encouraged to use this trip to establish a beach-head in their country to serve Orphans and to ultimately advance the kingdom. After we concluded our discussion with prayer, we loaded up the vehicles for the drive north to Ndola.
Rick and I were paired up with Willie for the journey. Willie was a young man, I’d say in his mid-twenty’s, and was an elder in his local church. He was so young it seemed to be an elder. He was very eager to answer our barrage of questions. It seemed that Willie was a business man, and would really do about anything ethical and legal to earn a wage. Young Willie was impressive from the stand-point that he had his own car, and I was encouraged by his demeanor.
After nearly 4 hours in the car, we had covered almost every subject you could think of. Rick was the most inquisitive as he asked questions I couldn’t have even thought of. I had had several cat-naps along the way, and toward the end of our trek north -I just wanted to be there already. We then broached the subject of Willie’s family. Willie was not yet married, but came from a family of 7 brothers and sisters, and of the 7 siblings only 3 were still alive to include Willie. One had died of HIV/AIDS and others from various other means. What struck me as unusual is that Willie didn’t miss a beat as he described his deceased family members. It was almost a matter of fact, not emotion. You see, death is something that Zambians must confront often. Later I found out that work attendance is an issue in Zambia, not only from a sickness stand-point, but there are many funerals to attend in any given year. I was beginning to connect the dots. Not only was Willie a member of a new and vibrant congregation, but there weren’t an abundance of older men at the church to fulfill the responsibilities of elder. There aren’t an abundance of older men anywhere in Zambia.
FACT: Life expectancy at birth in Zambia is 38.59 years of age, as compared to just over 78 years of age in the U.S. With a population of less than 12 million people, Zambia has the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS.
Of the 1.2 million Orphans present in Zambia, or 10% of the population, 130,000 are HIV/AIDS positive, 600,000 have been orphaned by the disease, and 75,000 live on the street.
Depression common among Rwandan youth who head households
Contact: Keith Brannon
504-862-8789
More than half of orphaned youth age 12 to 24 who head households in rural Rwanda meet criteria for depression, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
The combined effects of the 1994 genocide and the HIV epidemic give Rwanda one of the highest numbers of orphans in the world—an estimated 290,000 in 2005, according to background information in the article. "Most African orphans have been absorbed into informal fostering systems," the authors write. "Such systems, however, are increasingly overwhelmed, and many orphans either head households or live on the street."
Lost and not found: Orissa’s orphans
Zia Haq, Hindustan Times
Padampur, August 31, 2008
First Published: 01:02 IST(31/8/2008)
Last Updated: 01:04 IST(31/8/2008)
A blue, Team India t-shirt still hangs on a clothesline. Size: small. It belongs to 13-year-old orphan Golki. His whereabouts: unknown.
Almost five days after a mob set on fire a remote orphanage run by a Christian organisation, nobody can tell us for sure where and how the little children — 21 in all — are coping.
The children escaped the deadly communal fire because their caretaker, Rajani, managed to pull them out on time through a small path. Rajani, however, died after she was allegedly pushed into the fire by rioters. Ask officials in this far-flung, tiny, subdivisional town and their standard reply is: “They have all gone back to their native villages nearby”.
Read More......
Padampur, August 31, 2008
First Published: 01:02 IST(31/8/2008)
Last Updated: 01:04 IST(31/8/2008)
A blue, Team India t-shirt still hangs on a clothesline. Size: small. It belongs to 13-year-old orphan Golki. His whereabouts: unknown.
Almost five days after a mob set on fire a remote orphanage run by a Christian organisation, nobody can tell us for sure where and how the little children — 21 in all — are coping.
The children escaped the deadly communal fire because their caretaker, Rajani, managed to pull them out on time through a small path. Rajani, however, died after she was allegedly pushed into the fire by rioters. Ask officials in this far-flung, tiny, subdivisional town and their standard reply is: “They have all gone back to their native villages nearby”.
Read More......
From Russia with love
High Desert families give international children a home
August 29, 2008 - 2:56PM
BROOKE EDWARDS Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — When Katya Hughes and her best friend get together, they have more in common than concerns over starting college and boys. Both are Russian orphans who were given a new start in life after being adopted by parents from the High Desert.
Steve Hughes and his wife Jan of Victorville have adopted eight children in all, ages 8 through 23. Seven are from Russia and one, Nathan, is from a bit closer, just two hours away in Bakersfield. All of the children were adopted through Nightlight Christian Adoptions of Fullerton.
Read More........
August 29, 2008 - 2:56PM
BROOKE EDWARDS Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — When Katya Hughes and her best friend get together, they have more in common than concerns over starting college and boys. Both are Russian orphans who were given a new start in life after being adopted by parents from the High Desert.
Steve Hughes and his wife Jan of Victorville have adopted eight children in all, ages 8 through 23. Seven are from Russia and one, Nathan, is from a bit closer, just two hours away in Bakersfield. All of the children were adopted through Nightlight Christian Adoptions of Fullerton.
Read More........
Feature: The orphans of war
Last Updated: Sunday, 31 August 2008, 10:11 GMT
The war in Sudan, Africa's longest running conflict which left two million dead and forced four million more to flee their homes, ended in early 2005 after more than two decades of fighting.
Many, both inside and outside the continent's biggest country, fear that growing tensions between north and south might shatter the fragile peace.
In the last of his reports, correspondent Mike Thomson visits a children's home in the southern Sudanese city of Juba to hear the stories of two young boys who were orphaned by the last war.
Read More.........
The war in Sudan, Africa's longest running conflict which left two million dead and forced four million more to flee their homes, ended in early 2005 after more than two decades of fighting.
Many, both inside and outside the continent's biggest country, fear that growing tensions between north and south might shatter the fragile peace.
In the last of his reports, correspondent Mike Thomson visits a children's home in the southern Sudanese city of Juba to hear the stories of two young boys who were orphaned by the last war.
Read More.........
Makindu trip fortifies pledge to help children
By Jill Aho
The Register-Guard
Published: August 31, 2008 12:00AM
Mutuwa lives with his guardian, Ngwenze, in a small earthen-brick structure supported by sticks and sheltered by a corrugated tin roof. It has no electricity and no running water.
The orphan is one of more than 400 Kenyan children who are fed, taught and given emotional support by the Makindu Children’s Program headquartered in Eugene. Many of the orphans have lost their parents to the raging HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Read More........
The Register-Guard
Published: August 31, 2008 12:00AM
Mutuwa lives with his guardian, Ngwenze, in a small earthen-brick structure supported by sticks and sheltered by a corrugated tin roof. It has no electricity and no running water.
The orphan is one of more than 400 Kenyan children who are fed, taught and given emotional support by the Makindu Children’s Program headquartered in Eugene. Many of the orphans have lost their parents to the raging HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Read More........
US-Vietnam adoption pact ends, hundreds in limbo
2008-09-01 09:28:04 -
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - A U.S.-Vietnam adoption agreement expired Monday with the two sides unable to resolve disagreements over fraud and corruption, disappointing hundreds of prospective parents who will have to seek children elsewhere. The two countries said they will continue trying to iron out their differences, but for now the program will be
suspended indefinitely.
Read More..........
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - A U.S.-Vietnam adoption agreement expired Monday with the two sides unable to resolve disagreements over fraud and corruption, disappointing hundreds of prospective parents who will have to seek children elsewhere. The two countries said they will continue trying to iron out their differences, but for now the program will be
suspended indefinitely.
Read More..........
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Silembe School Project
Today I began to consider the presentation that I have on Monday, to a local industry-based philanthropy organization, and how increadibly saddened I am that I/we will be the only voice for the Orphans in Silembe as I communicated the opportunities for service there. Consider the overwhelming plight for the children in Zambia:
GO! KEY METRICS
• 920,000 people HIV/AIDS positive
• 130,000 children infected with HIV/AIDS
• 710,000 AIDS Orphans
• 1.2 million Orphans – over 10% of the population
• 75,000+ ‘street kids’
• 2/3 of the population live on less than a $1 per day
• In the past five years, 1.5 million children have died of AIDS-related causes, and 15 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease
• An estimated two million children younger than age 15 are HIV-positive
• 6% to 10% of children in need of antiretroviral drugs receive them, compared with 30% of adults
• Fewer than one in 10 infants in low- and middle-income countries were tested for HIV within two months of their birth
• HIV in children has increased eightfold in sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of the world's HIV-positive children live
We can make a huge difference in the community as a whole with a direct involvement in the local community school. With $25,000 in facility and learning material upgrades, we can dramatically increase the effectiveness in which these children excel through their first 7 grades. In addition, we will use our involvement in the school to increase awareness for HIV and to offer opportunties for testing and treatment.
Please keep this project in your prayers.
GO! KEY METRICS
• 920,000 people HIV/AIDS positive
• 130,000 children infected with HIV/AIDS
• 710,000 AIDS Orphans
• 1.2 million Orphans – over 10% of the population
• 75,000+ ‘street kids’
• 2/3 of the population live on less than a $1 per day
• In the past five years, 1.5 million children have died of AIDS-related causes, and 15 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease
• An estimated two million children younger than age 15 are HIV-positive
• 6% to 10% of children in need of antiretroviral drugs receive them, compared with 30% of adults
• Fewer than one in 10 infants in low- and middle-income countries were tested for HIV within two months of their birth
• HIV in children has increased eightfold in sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of the world's HIV-positive children live
We can make a huge difference in the community as a whole with a direct involvement in the local community school. With $25,000 in facility and learning material upgrades, we can dramatically increase the effectiveness in which these children excel through their first 7 grades. In addition, we will use our involvement in the school to increase awareness for HIV and to offer opportunties for testing and treatment.
Please keep this project in your prayers.
Orphans get a funding boost for college
By Meredith Blake
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/24/2008 01:00:00 AM EDT
At five years old, Daniel Ndamwizeye lost his parents during the genocide in Rwanda. He spent years as an orphan in Africa, living with different families.
"It wasn't a good experience. It was not a safe place to be," Ndamwizeye said, now 19. "It was really tough. I had to do most things by myself."
But in 2005 Ndamwizeye reconnected with his sister in Bridgeport. After arriving in the United States, he flourished in school, learned English, joined the National Honors Society, Key Club and eventually became vice president of his class.
And now he is the recipient of the first full-time scholarship available through the Greenwich-based Stewardship Foundation, which provides college funding to orphans and young adults from foster care families.
Read More........
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/24/2008 01:00:00 AM EDT
At five years old, Daniel Ndamwizeye lost his parents during the genocide in Rwanda. He spent years as an orphan in Africa, living with different families.
"It wasn't a good experience. It was not a safe place to be," Ndamwizeye said, now 19. "It was really tough. I had to do most things by myself."
But in 2005 Ndamwizeye reconnected with his sister in Bridgeport. After arriving in the United States, he flourished in school, learned English, joined the National Honors Society, Key Club and eventually became vice president of his class.
And now he is the recipient of the first full-time scholarship available through the Greenwich-based Stewardship Foundation, which provides college funding to orphans and young adults from foster care families.
Read More........
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Silembe, Zambia | Update 20 August 2008
We received news this past weekend that we received our 16th child at the House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia. A message from Jo Anne, our Director of the Orphanage, follows(edite):
Hello, hope this finds your day in the Lord beautiful as ours is!
Well, God has blessed us with another child. Her name is Evelyn Parknson. No, that's that's not an error -that's how they spell it.
She has been living with her grandmother in Livingstone. She is 23 months old. Evelyn has an older brother who is 5 and grandmother is taking care of him also. The mother and father are 
both alive. The father is known but has nothing to do with the child. The mother is on drugs and alcoholic. The grandmother is 67 yrs old. She brought Evelyn to the Social Welfare dept. in Livingstone. They in turned called us and ask if we could take her.
both alive. The father is known but has nothing to do with the child. The mother is on drugs and alcoholic. The grandmother is 67 yrs old. She brought Evelyn to the Social Welfare dept. in Livingstone. They in turned called us and ask if we could take her. We picked up Evelyn on Friday. She is staying with us here in Kalomo until I go back out on Tuesday. She is a real city girl, doesn't like her hands dirty, and is used to being the center of attention. So she will go through a real adjustment time. Here is her picture. Evelyn was born Sept. 22, 2006, and is from Livingstone. Her Mother is alive, and is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Her father is also alive, but has abandoned Evelyn.
For more information on Silembe and the House of Faith Orphanage go to our home page at www.globalorphanrelief.org and click on SILEMBE STORY to better understand our vision for the community. For recent scenes from Zambia, see our Zambia 2008 slide show that is also available on our home page or can be seen below.
The New Evangelical Politics
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008; Page A13
Anyone who still doubts that the evangelical Christian world is going through a political revolution was not watching Pastor Rick Warren's presidential forum this weekend. The era of reducing Christianity to a narrow set of ideological commitments is over.
Just a few years ago, who would have imagined that Barack Obama and John McCain would hold a discussion of this sort in a church? Who would have thought that the session would be moderated by an evangelical pastor who was emphatic in counting both the Democrat and the Republican as his "friends"? Who would have predicted that in such a setting, the issues of abortion and gay marriage would not dominate the pastor's queries?
Oh, yes, and who would have anticipated that the passions of the pastor in question would be engaged not in the divisions created by the culture wars but in the imperative of civility in politics and the plight of the world's 148 million orphans? Here's betting that the next president will help some of those orphans find homes.
Read More............
Tuesday, August 19, 2008; Page A13
Anyone who still doubts that the evangelical Christian world is going through a political revolution was not watching Pastor Rick Warren's presidential forum this weekend. The era of reducing Christianity to a narrow set of ideological commitments is over.
Just a few years ago, who would have imagined that Barack Obama and John McCain would hold a discussion of this sort in a church? Who would have thought that the session would be moderated by an evangelical pastor who was emphatic in counting both the Democrat and the Republican as his "friends"? Who would have predicted that in such a setting, the issues of abortion and gay marriage would not dominate the pastor's queries?
Oh, yes, and who would have anticipated that the passions of the pastor in question would be engaged not in the divisions created by the culture wars but in the imperative of civility in politics and the plight of the world's 148 million orphans? Here's betting that the next president will help some of those orphans find homes.
Read More............
Church aims to unite orphans with prospective adoptive parents
By RACHEL PARKER DICKERSON
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
New Life Church's orphan ministry, The Refuge, will soon begin promoting an effort to bring together orphans from Ethiopia and prospective adoptive families.
Amy Fechtelkotter was part of a group from the church that recently went to Ethiopia to visit orphanages. She said The Refuge will work together with the Gladney Center for Adoption, based in Dallas, Texas, to hold a Bright Futures Camp. They plan to bring about 40 orphans from Ethiopia to Conway next summer.
Read More.........
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
New Life Church's orphan ministry, The Refuge, will soon begin promoting an effort to bring together orphans from Ethiopia and prospective adoptive families.
Amy Fechtelkotter was part of a group from the church that recently went to Ethiopia to visit orphanages. She said The Refuge will work together with the Gladney Center for Adoption, based in Dallas, Texas, to hold a Bright Futures Camp. They plan to bring about 40 orphans from Ethiopia to Conway next summer.
Read More.........
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Cuts in foreign adoptions causing anxiety in USA
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY
Jodi Markoff vividly recalls the day she met 5-year-old Phan in a rural Vietnamese orphanage last April. The girl looked terrified.
Markoff gave her a book she had made about her family in Manhattan. After daily visits for a week, Phan was laughing.
"I promised her I would be back," Markoff says.
Read More......
Jodi Markoff vividly recalls the day she met 5-year-old Phan in a rural Vietnamese orphanage last April. The girl looked terrified.
Markoff gave her a book she had made about her family in Manhattan. After daily visits for a week, Phan was laughing.
"I promised her I would be back," Markoff says.
Read More......
Monday, August 11, 2008
Belmont Famility Moving to Malawi to help children Orphaned by AIDS
August 10, 2008 - 6:05PM
Amanda Millard
BELMONT - Nine-year-old Chad High knows a lot about the African country where he'll soon be living.
"There are only two major airports in the country of Malawi. It is one of the smallest countries in Africa," High said. "It's very small. It's the size of Tennessee. But it has a population of 12 million."
High will soon be living in Malawi with his parents James and Holli and younger siblings Wes, 6 ½ , and Ashley, 4 ½ months. The family has committed to spending two years there as part of Homeless Children International, a Christian organization dedicated to helping children without homes. The Highs will be working with children who have been orphaned after losing one of their parents to AIDS.
Read More..........
Amanda Millard
BELMONT - Nine-year-old Chad High knows a lot about the African country where he'll soon be living.
"There are only two major airports in the country of Malawi. It is one of the smallest countries in Africa," High said. "It's very small. It's the size of Tennessee. But it has a population of 12 million."
High will soon be living in Malawi with his parents James and Holli and younger siblings Wes, 6 ½ , and Ashley, 4 ½ months. The family has committed to spending two years there as part of Homeless Children International, a Christian organization dedicated to helping children without homes. The Highs will be working with children who have been orphaned after losing one of their parents to AIDS.
Read More..........
Orphans Get Second Chance At Hopefest
Posted Monday, August 11, 2008 ; 08:43 AM
Foreign adoption key to gathering in Kentucky.
Story by Craig McKee
FLATWOODS, KY -- According to UNICEF figures, there are 210 million orphans worldwide.
So, one local group in our area is working to make that number smaller, by hosting a festival.
"Every child, every child no matter where they're at, they deserve a home, they deserve a family, I know we can't always do it, but we can try," said Hopefest Organzier Sheila Campbell.
This is Flatwoods Kentucky's attempt at making sure the world has at least one less orphan. Hopefest 08 was organized with Family Hope International, as a way for orphaned children to find foster parents. The road to Kentucky was a long one, as the 13 youngsters flew for the first time from Ukraine.
"My children and me, we never fly, we have never fly and it was very exciting," said Ukraine Orphanage Director Alla Kolosai.
Read More.........
Foreign adoption key to gathering in Kentucky.
Story by Craig McKee
FLATWOODS, KY -- According to UNICEF figures, there are 210 million orphans worldwide.
So, one local group in our area is working to make that number smaller, by hosting a festival.
"Every child, every child no matter where they're at, they deserve a home, they deserve a family, I know we can't always do it, but we can try," said Hopefest Organzier Sheila Campbell.
This is Flatwoods Kentucky's attempt at making sure the world has at least one less orphan. Hopefest 08 was organized with Family Hope International, as a way for orphaned children to find foster parents. The road to Kentucky was a long one, as the 13 youngsters flew for the first time from Ukraine.
"My children and me, we never fly, we have never fly and it was very exciting," said Ukraine Orphanage Director Alla Kolosai.
Read More.........
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Global Orphan Relief | A Servant's Heart Mission Trip Deadline
It is hard to believe that we leave for Zambia in 3 short months for our 4th visit there! So much is happening there as we are serving more and more children and the community is really beginning to connect with the House of Faith Orphanage.
We already have 7 committed for the trip in November, but we have a reservation for 10 seats. Wednesday I have to either confirm the 10 tickets, or have to cancel the reservation and book the 7 individually. In addition, the economics for the trip work out much better with 10 on the team versus 7. I would again ask you to consider joining us. For other who have been considering the trip, please make a decision to join us by Wednesday next week. I need to confirm our commitment for the 10 tickets on Wednesday, August 6, and if we do confirm -Global Orphan Relief is on the hook regardless whether we have committed team members.
Please pass the info below along to anyone who might be interested. This will be a trip that changes many lives! Call 303.840.1123 for more information.
We already have 7 committed for the trip in November, but we have a reservation for 10 seats. Wednesday I have to either confirm the 10 tickets, or have to cancel the reservation and book the 7 individually. In addition, the economics for the trip work out much better with 10 on the team versus 7. I would again ask you to consider joining us. For other who have been considering the trip, please make a decision to join us by Wednesday next week. I need to confirm our commitment for the 10 tickets on Wednesday, August 6, and if we do confirm -Global Orphan Relief is on the hook regardless whether we have committed team members.
Please pass the info below along to anyone who might be interested. This will be a trip that changes many lives! Call 303.840.1123 for more information.
The Rich should help the Poor
The Head Pastor of Gospel Missionaries Church, Reverend Jonathan Newman-Otsiwah has advised Ghanaians, especially the affluent not to shy away from assisting the poor, widows and the needy. They should use part of their resources to support orphans and the less privileged in society to enable them to fend for themselves and their families, as well as contribute positively to the development of society.
Read More.......
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Ukraine Orphan Outreach hosts cultural exchange in Northern Colorado
Publish Date: 8/2/2008
By Marcy Ortega
Loveland Reporter-Herald
BERTHOUD — In an effort to raise awareness of the plight of Ukrainian orphans, the Ukraine Orphan Outreach is hosting a cultural exchange camp in Northern Colorado for eight children, ages 10-12, through Aug. 15.
The Ukraine Orphan Outreach is a nonprofit, faith-based group founded by Kris and Clarke Stoesz of Berthoud.
The Stoeszes have five children, three of whom are from Ukraine.
During their visit to Northern Colorado, the orphans are participating as a group in daily activities including horseback riding, boating, visiting the Denver Aquarium, bowling, attending a Rockies game, camping, and watching a rodeo at the Larimer County Fair.
Read More...........
By Marcy Ortega
Loveland Reporter-Herald
BERTHOUD — In an effort to raise awareness of the plight of Ukrainian orphans, the Ukraine Orphan Outreach is hosting a cultural exchange camp in Northern Colorado for eight children, ages 10-12, through Aug. 15.
The Ukraine Orphan Outreach is a nonprofit, faith-based group founded by Kris and Clarke Stoesz of Berthoud.
The Stoeszes have five children, three of whom are from Ukraine.
During their visit to Northern Colorado, the orphans are participating as a group in daily activities including horseback riding, boating, visiting the Denver Aquarium, bowling, attending a Rockies game, camping, and watching a rodeo at the Larimer County Fair.
Read More...........
Monday, July 28, 2008
Let's join hands to heal the world—Pastor Olukilede
VANGUARD
Written by Sam Eyoboka and MOSES NOSIKE
Sunday, 27 July 2008
PASTOR Babatola Joseph Olukilede is not a loud minister of the gospel but he is one Nigerian very determined to take Christianity beyond the craze for miracles. He received an unusual vision in December 1998, to trade covenant secrets to raise prosperous families and people for kingdom exploits.
A man with strong passion for orphans, widows, the aged and the less privileged in the society, Pastor Olukilede in February 2004 incorporated the Heal The World Mission, a non-denominational Christian charity organisation to practically meet the needs of families and the needy in Nigeria and beyond. The mission provides scholarships, welfare and other humanitarian services. It started with two students in 2000 and by now he had assisted over 100 Nigerians through various terttiary institutions in the country.
Read More...........
Written by Sam Eyoboka and MOSES NOSIKE
Sunday, 27 July 2008
PASTOR Babatola Joseph Olukilede is not a loud minister of the gospel but he is one Nigerian very determined to take Christianity beyond the craze for miracles. He received an unusual vision in December 1998, to trade covenant secrets to raise prosperous families and people for kingdom exploits.
A man with strong passion for orphans, widows, the aged and the less privileged in the society, Pastor Olukilede in February 2004 incorporated the Heal The World Mission, a non-denominational Christian charity organisation to practically meet the needs of families and the needy in Nigeria and beyond. The mission provides scholarships, welfare and other humanitarian services. It started with two students in 2000 and by now he had assisted over 100 Nigerians through various terttiary institutions in the country.
Read More...........
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Silembe Update | 20 July 2008
We receive an update from Jo Anne today, and wanted to share with you progress at House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia. Update from Jo Anne follows, be blessed (edited):
I am back in town for just a few days. My friend Kathy and I have been out at the children's house for the past week. This weekend we came in and went to Livingstone so I could get paper work done for my truck. While in Livingstone, we stayed the night and went to Victoria Falls to see the rainbow made at night. We call it the moonbow. What a creation God has made, to give us a moonbow in the full moon.
Now while we were out God has sent us three more children; 2 boys and a girl. The first boy is Justine, and he is 10 or 11 yrs old. He has been living with his grandparents since his mother died. He is a double orphan. His job was to tend the goats; he slept in the kitchen area. When I went there and saw him I knew that our Lord has sent him to us. He was covered with soars and has a fungus in his skin. The day God sent him to us it was a holiday so for 4 days I could not take him to the Dr. I went on and started him on Septrin for 5 days then when I returned I put him on Amoxicillin. This past week I brought him in to town and went to the clinic. He is having a HIV test run at this time and I will find the results this week. He has adjusted very well and is very happy to be at God's house. He has expressed this joy and peace at being here that only the Holy Spirit could give.
The second boy is Stenely, and he is 4 yrs old. He is also a double orphan. His grandmother had brought him a couple of times to come and stay but the second house had not opened. Now he is here. His mother died of TB and the grandparents are nor sure if she had HIV or not. I had never seen him smile or talk all the times his grandmother brought him. When I went to the village to get him he never talked with anyone. While his grandmother washed him up in the cold and put on his best cloths she brought him to me without a word and he stood by me. I gently held his hand and hugged him. His Grandmother spoke to him and he took my hand we turned and walked away. He never said a word, never looked back. I ask Elizabeth to ask him while we were walking if he was sad he was leaving his grandmother and he told her no. He has been with us about 12 days now, and is making friends -especially with Brian as they play and laugh together.
Now the third child is a 7 month old baby girl. Her parents are both alive at this writing. Her mother was diagnoses with cancer, and in October, had her right arm amputated above the elbow. She gave birth to Agness in January of 2008. The husband said that he has helped her with the baby along with her mother-in-law. They have 6 other children and the family thought it would be better if Agness came to the children's house so she could get proper nutrition. The village I went to was 1 hour from where the Children's home is -so that makes their village about 2 ½ hours from the town of Kalomo. Agness looks to be in good health, she does have green drainage in both eyes and a cough, but no fever. I am treating her eye infection. She can eat porridge with ground pounded groundnuts. She is able to sit if you sit her up.
Now a praise report on Constance she is smiling and playing with the other children. Thank you for all your prayers for her, I took her to the clinic last week to be checked out because she is always having a cough and not gaining weight like the others. She has tested positive for HIV.
Remember, Justine is also in the process of being tested for HIV, and I will get his report this week also. Please keep them both in prayers as our Father is faithful to hear the prayers of His saints. Thank you all and I will let you know about the test results when I am able. God's mercy and grace to all.
Your servant to the Most High God,
Jo Anne <><
-----------------------
Please keep these children in your prayers.
Aiding orphans
By Jordan Wilson
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
07/20/2008
ST. PETERS — Kim Smith wants to lend a voice to orphaned children in the St. Louis area and throughout the world.
She also wants to give them shoes.
Smith has formed the St. Louis Christian Alliance for Orphans, a group made up of her church, Calvary in St. Peters, plus 11 other churches in Missouri and one in Illinois, in an attempt to raise awareness for orphans and help find them families.
Much of her time is spent on a year-round shoe drive and on a photo gallery program called Portraits of Grace that tries to find permanent homes for orphans from the St. Louis area.
Read More.........
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
07/20/2008
ST. PETERS — Kim Smith wants to lend a voice to orphaned children in the St. Louis area and throughout the world.
She also wants to give them shoes.
Smith has formed the St. Louis Christian Alliance for Orphans, a group made up of her church, Calvary in St. Peters, plus 11 other churches in Missouri and one in Illinois, in an attempt to raise awareness for orphans and help find them families.
Much of her time is spent on a year-round shoe drive and on a photo gallery program called Portraits of Grace that tries to find permanent homes for orphans from the St. Louis area.
Read More.........
Monday, July 14, 2008
WIO calls for more parental Care for African orphans
Monday, July 14, 2008
The World Initiative for Orphans Foundation has released a message with urgency that children without parental care are spreading quickly all over the world.
More and more countries and their people are aware of the silent but devastating drama that is growing rapidly under our eyes every day. In the next two generations the world faces over 400 million direct or indirect orphaned and abandoned children. In quantitative terms children without parental care, constitute one of the major problems we are facing in this world (Alice Kakvoort 2008) according to a press release from the World Initiative for Orphans.
Read More.......
The World Initiative for Orphans Foundation has released a message with urgency that children without parental care are spreading quickly all over the world.
More and more countries and their people are aware of the silent but devastating drama that is growing rapidly under our eyes every day. In the next two generations the world faces over 400 million direct or indirect orphaned and abandoned children. In quantitative terms children without parental care, constitute one of the major problems we are facing in this world (Alice Kakvoort 2008) according to a press release from the World Initiative for Orphans.
Read More.......
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Myanmar warns against exploitation of cyclone orphans for labor
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-13 11:59:38
YANGON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar authorities have warned against exploitation of orphans for labor, left by a recent cyclone storm, a local weekly journal quoted the Department of Social Welfare as reporting Sunday.
If such cyclone orphans are found to be used as laborers, severe action will be taken against the offenders in accordance with law, the department warned, calling for people to expose such cases.
According to earlier reports, the authorities have banned adoption of cyclone orphans by any organization and any individual, promising that such survived orphans would be jointly taken care of by the government, domestic non-governmental organizations and resident United Nations organizations.
Read More..........
YANGON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar authorities have warned against exploitation of orphans for labor, left by a recent cyclone storm, a local weekly journal quoted the Department of Social Welfare as reporting Sunday.
If such cyclone orphans are found to be used as laborers, severe action will be taken against the offenders in accordance with law, the department warned, calling for people to expose such cases.
According to earlier reports, the authorities have banned adoption of cyclone orphans by any organization and any individual, promising that such survived orphans would be jointly taken care of by the government, domestic non-governmental organizations and resident United Nations organizations.
Read More..........
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Update from Silembe
I know it has been some time since posting an update....... Our family went on vacation, and Mike Jones, our Director for Africa, has also left Zambia to a stay of several months in the States.
Our Orphanage Director, Jo Anne Byrum, spends most of her time in the 'bush' at the Orphanage so she can't communicate with us regularly. She has recently sent us several items, and I want to share them with you.
From our Orphanage Director -Jo Anne Byrum (edited):
HI everyone! It has been a long time since I have written, and you may have been wondering what I have been up to.
Well, I have a friend staying here for about 4 months, and she has been a huge help and contributor at the Orphanage. Kathy came on May 21st, and she has a gift of communicating with the deaf. She has come to go out to Mapompi (the village area that includes Silembe and several others) to help teach some communication skills to the deaf children in the bush. Many of these children have only the signs they and their families have created. The communication between any one else doesn't exists, and definitely the deaf with the deaf can not communicate with each other.
She has just started teaching this week and we have seen our Father's mighty hand at work! One young girl, Betheal, was noticed mouthing all the words Kathy was telling her as well as signing them. We thought that she might have been able to hear at one time because she is able to make some sounds. So Kathy took Betheal's hand and put it to her throat and said Kathy, then Betheal put her hand to her throat and said Kathy. Well there was just shouting and Hallelujahs going out from all over the place! Betheal's mother was jumping up and down and crying and praising God too! Betheal was able to say MAMA for the first time to her own mother. So Kathy is very excited to get back out to the Children's home this coming week to see what other miracles may come her way.
As for the children -you know we now have eleven now. I hope you all are getting the news letter to keep you updated. Well, God had sent us Brain who is now 7 yrs old. and is HIV positive. When God sent him he weighed only 12 kgs. which is about 26lbs. I am happy to say that our Father is blessing him, and he is now up to 14.5 kgs that's about 31-32 lbs. He is taking a high protein supplement diet. I make it here from Soy flour, sugar, powder milk and corn meal. He has it 2x's a day between his reg. meals. I am also giving it to the younger children and have seen them stronger also.
Lovemore, he has the scaring in the right eye, went to the Zimba eye clinic when the American eye team came. The doctors examined his eye and said there was nothing that could be done in Zambia. Lovemore needs a corneal transplant and it has to be done by a special pediatric eye Doctor. It can only be done in South Africa or in the US. He would have to be in one of these countries for at least 6 months for the follow-up treatment as well. So I am leaving it in God's hands to heal him or to provide a means of medical treatment. Even if it means that he adjust his life to seeing out of only one eye, we'll have to find a solution for him. I have explained to his teachers that he needs to sit on the right side of the room so he can see the chalk board and the rest of the class more easily.
God has also sent us a little girl named Constance. She is 3 years old. I noticed early on that she didn't play or interact with the other children. She is suffering from what is known as detachment syndrome. She has lost her mother and now she has been separated from her grandparents. She has become very withdrawn. This week while at the children's house I have seen a break through though. She is now starting to be with the other children and I heard her laughing and saw her smiling at times this week. Praise God for this! I was really concerned that we might not reach her, but with the love of God being prayed over her day and night, God's grace is prevailing. When I leave the home I make it a point to go and tell her that I am leaving and inform her as to when I will return. I believe that by her seeing me leaving, and also coming back -is making her see that everyone who leaves doesn't always stay gone.
It is winter here now, and very cold. Here in Africa we don't have heat in the houses. Especially if the homes are made of grass! I wear lots of cloths in the morning and then peal them off as the day goes on -only to reverse the process as the evening returns. Soon it will be hot season again, and we will then be longing for a cool breeze.
I love being out in the bush, no electricity, only solar lights, right now no flushing toilets and a splash bath every night. Heat your water on the fire and take a bath. Really, this life is good, and the kids make it better. Thank you for all your prayers as you can see God does answer them.
Your servant to Jesus the Messiah, Jo Anne Byrum
----------------------
Please keep the team, the home, and the children at House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia, in your prayers. -Peace
Our Orphanage Director, Jo Anne Byrum, spends most of her time in the 'bush' at the Orphanage so she can't communicate with us regularly. She has recently sent us several items, and I want to share them with you.
From our Orphanage Director -Jo Anne Byrum (edited):
HI everyone! It has been a long time since I have written, and you may have been wondering what I have been up to.
Well, I have a friend staying here for about 4 months, and she has been a huge help and contributor at the Orphanage. Kathy came on May 21st, and she has a gift of communicating with the deaf. She has come to go out to Mapompi (the village area that includes Silembe and several others) to help teach some communication skills to the deaf children in the bush. Many of these children have only the signs they and their families have created. The communication between any one else doesn't exists, and definitely the deaf with the deaf can not communicate with each other.
She has just started teaching this week and we have seen our Father's mighty hand at work! One young girl, Betheal, was noticed mouthing all the words Kathy was telling her as well as signing them. We thought that she might have been able to hear at one time because she is able to make some sounds. So Kathy took Betheal's hand and put it to her throat and said Kathy, then Betheal put her hand to her throat and said Kathy. Well there was just shouting and Hallelujahs going out from all over the place! Betheal's mother was jumping up and down and crying and praising God too! Betheal was able to say MAMA for the first time to her own mother. So Kathy is very excited to get back out to the Children's home this coming week to see what other miracles may come her way.
As for the children -you know we now have eleven now. I hope you all are getting the news letter to keep you updated. Well, God had sent us Brain who is now 7 yrs old. and is HIV positive. When God sent him he weighed only 12 kgs. which is about 26lbs. I am happy to say that our Father is blessing him, and he is now up to 14.5 kgs that's about 31-32 lbs. He is taking a high protein supplement diet. I make it here from Soy flour, sugar, powder milk and corn meal. He has it 2x's a day between his reg. meals. I am also giving it to the younger children and have seen them stronger also.
Lovemore, he has the scaring in the right eye, went to the Zimba eye clinic when the American eye team came. The doctors examined his eye and said there was nothing that could be done in Zambia. Lovemore needs a corneal transplant and it has to be done by a special pediatric eye Doctor. It can only be done in South Africa or in the US. He would have to be in one of these countries for at least 6 months for the follow-up treatment as well. So I am leaving it in God's hands to heal him or to provide a means of medical treatment. Even if it means that he adjust his life to seeing out of only one eye, we'll have to find a solution for him. I have explained to his teachers that he needs to sit on the right side of the room so he can see the chalk board and the rest of the class more easily.
God has also sent us a little girl named Constance. She is 3 years old. I noticed early on that she didn't play or interact with the other children. She is suffering from what is known as detachment syndrome. She has lost her mother and now she has been separated from her grandparents. She has become very withdrawn. This week while at the children's house I have seen a break through though. She is now starting to be with the other children and I heard her laughing and saw her smiling at times this week. Praise God for this! I was really concerned that we might not reach her, but with the love of God being prayed over her day and night, God's grace is prevailing. When I leave the home I make it a point to go and tell her that I am leaving and inform her as to when I will return. I believe that by her seeing me leaving, and also coming back -is making her see that everyone who leaves doesn't always stay gone.
It is winter here now, and very cold. Here in Africa we don't have heat in the houses. Especially if the homes are made of grass! I wear lots of cloths in the morning and then peal them off as the day goes on -only to reverse the process as the evening returns. Soon it will be hot season again, and we will then be longing for a cool breeze.
I love being out in the bush, no electricity, only solar lights, right now no flushing toilets and a splash bath every night. Heat your water on the fire and take a bath. Really, this life is good, and the kids make it better. Thank you for all your prayers as you can see God does answer them.
Your servant to Jesus the Messiah, Jo Anne Byrum
----------------------
Please keep the team, the home, and the children at House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia, in your prayers. -Peace
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Silembe Update | 11 June 2008
This was an update received earlier today from our team in Zambia. Huge progress has been made since our visit to Silembe in March, and we now have 3 homes which roofs on. There are 11 children living in the 1st home, 4 children in queue to live in the second home, and the roof and floor was just recently completed in the 3rd home.
Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. God is good. Enjoy.........
Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. God is good. Enjoy.........
Hey Scott, -The floor was poured yesterday. They knocked off after 21 hours. This morning they did a little touch up work.
Putting the finishing touches on the outside of the windows. No window glass will be installed until I return. Old sacks will be tied to window frames to keep people from seeing inside.
Kathy is doing some Zambian style landscaping.
Garden taps are installed on both sides of the sinks with cold on the right and hot on the left. This will provide ample 'gray' water for our yet to be established garden.
Hot water is available from either side of the bath house through water hoses. I'll probably make shower mixers out cpvc pipe & valves when I return. It will be just like home!
The 2nd bunk bed is almost ready. The 1st needs sanding before it goes into the house.
I thought you would be able to see the fire, but I didn't get the right lighting. Hot water feels good these days, with the temperatures dropping; June and July are the coldest months of the year in Zambia.
The "fire doors" were straighten up after these pictures. When I get back I'll make a few corrections, but they are doing the job. (This is our kitchen-laundry facility)
You can see the 3 houses and the bath house. I wanted to show the bricks already on site for the 3rd house interior walls and the septic tank, but only a few of them got into the picture.
God Bless, from Mike & Team
Putting the finishing touches on the outside of the windows. No window glass will be installed until I return. Old sacks will be tied to window frames to keep people from seeing inside.
Kathy is doing some Zambian style landscaping.
Garden taps are installed on both sides of the sinks with cold on the right and hot on the left. This will provide ample 'gray' water for our yet to be established garden.
Hot water is available from either side of the bath house through water hoses. I'll probably make shower mixers out cpvc pipe & valves when I return. It will be just like home!
The 2nd bunk bed is almost ready. The 1st needs sanding before it goes into the house.
I thought you would be able to see the fire, but I didn't get the right lighting. Hot water feels good these days, with the temperatures dropping; June and July are the coldest months of the year in Zambia.
The "fire doors" were straighten up after these pictures. When I get back I'll make a few corrections, but they are doing the job. (This is our kitchen-laundry facility)
You can see the 3 houses and the bath house. I wanted to show the bricks already on site for the 3rd house interior walls and the septic tank, but only a few of them got into the picture.
God Bless, from Mike & Team
--------------------
Please be praying for Mike and Linda as they depart Zambia on Saturday for the States. The next several months will be a time of building up their ministry support in the U.S., visiting with friends and family, sharing their experience of Africa with the people of the U.S., and visiting their newest grand-baby.
Let's be prayerful that their time here will be productive, and restful as they encourage others. Lord, allow their time here to be a season of regeneration for their return to Zambia in September.
Amen!
Rwanda: Government Study Reveals More Than 800.000 Orphans
Rwanda News Agency/Agence
Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
10 June 2008
Posted to the web 10 June 2008
Kigali
Rwanda has some 825.000 orphans with 22 percent experiencing grave challenges that it will need coordinated and streamlined intervention to support them, a Ministry of Gender and Family Affairs study says.
From a total population in the country of more than 9 million, children make up some 3.4 million, the study - the first of its kind on the issue indicates.
Read More........
Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
10 June 2008
Posted to the web 10 June 2008
Kigali
Rwanda has some 825.000 orphans with 22 percent experiencing grave challenges that it will need coordinated and streamlined intervention to support them, a Ministry of Gender and Family Affairs study says.
From a total population in the country of more than 9 million, children make up some 3.4 million, the study - the first of its kind on the issue indicates.
Read More........
New schools for orphans
Bongani Mthembu
June 09 2008 at 11:14AM
The provincial department of education plans to build new boarding schools and to reopen those closed down since 1994 to accommodate thousands of KwaZulu-Natal's orphaned learners who are now in charge of their homes.
The department is concerned about the growing number of child-headed households in this province, which is about to reach 20 000.
Read More..........
June 09 2008 at 11:14AM
The provincial department of education plans to build new boarding schools and to reopen those closed down since 1994 to accommodate thousands of KwaZulu-Natal's orphaned learners who are now in charge of their homes.
The department is concerned about the growing number of child-headed households in this province, which is about to reach 20 000.
Read More..........
Croc donations will help Congo orphans
Published Wednesday June 11th, 2008
Rubber shoes protect kids from parasites
You could say the students of Tobique Valley Middle High School have been saving soles. They collected 411 pairs of brightly-coloured rubber shoes so that children that usually go barefoot in Africa won’t be plagued by worms, sand fleas and other parasites that enter through their feet.
The “Crocs for Tots” campaign was held in support of PROLASA, a non-profit organization that provides homes, medical care and education for orphaned children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Dr.
Read More........
Rubber shoes protect kids from parasites
You could say the students of Tobique Valley Middle High School have been saving soles. They collected 411 pairs of brightly-coloured rubber shoes so that children that usually go barefoot in Africa won’t be plagued by worms, sand fleas and other parasites that enter through their feet.
The “Crocs for Tots” campaign was held in support of PROLASA, a non-profit organization that provides homes, medical care and education for orphaned children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Dr.
Read More........
Monday, June 9, 2008
Silembe, Zambia | HOFO Update 6 June 08
We heard from you team in Zambia last last week with this update:
Roof should be on the 3rd house today, and we will be picking up 2 more bunk beds tomorrow in Livingstone.
Concrete floor for the 3rd house is scheduled to be poured Monday.
Jo Anne will be moving (renting) into her own place in Kalomo (when not in Silembe).
While we are in the States we will be raising support for many things. I'm sure I'll find myself telling some of your story many times. It is powerful! I've spent over 14 years straightening used tin and bent nails, always finding a way to do what God had shown me, while scraping for money. God has given you a gift. Your gift has enabled me to see literally thousands more saved, thousands more healed, thousands more delivered, this year than would have been possible had I been forced to work harder (and taking much longer) to overcome the lack of money. I pray the Lord increase your gift, and give you the things money can not buy.
Our daughter, Jamie, just informed us through web cam, grandchild number 8 is on the way!
God Bless, Mike and Team
Concrete floor for the 3rd house is scheduled to be poured Monday.
Jo Anne will be moving (renting) into her own place in Kalomo (when not in Silembe).
While we are in the States we will be raising support for many things. I'm sure I'll find myself telling some of your story many times. It is powerful! I've spent over 14 years straightening used tin and bent nails, always finding a way to do what God had shown me, while scraping for money. God has given you a gift. Your gift has enabled me to see literally thousands more saved, thousands more healed, thousands more delivered, this year than would have been possible had I been forced to work harder (and taking much longer) to overcome the lack of money. I pray the Lord increase your gift, and give you the things money can not buy.
Our daughter, Jamie, just informed us through web cam, grandchild number 8 is on the way!
God Bless, Mike and Team
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Anchorage nurse runs orphanage in Ethiopia
By SARAH HENNING
(Published June 04, 2008)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — When Chaltu Degefa's parents died, she and her siblings became seven of Ethiopia's estimated 4.6 million orphans. It's likely her parents died of AIDS, although she doesn't know for sure.
"We had to go and sleep on the streets," the girl wrote in a letter. "I don't know how long we lived on the street but we were still hunger and I was scared a lot."
Read More.........
(Published June 04, 2008)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — When Chaltu Degefa's parents died, she and her siblings became seven of Ethiopia's estimated 4.6 million orphans. It's likely her parents died of AIDS, although she doesn't know for sure.
"We had to go and sleep on the streets," the girl wrote in a letter. "I don't know how long we lived on the street but we were still hunger and I was scared a lot."
Read More.........
Hunger worries orphans and caretakers
Wednesday, 4th June, 2008
HUNGER is the biggest worry among children who have lost parents to HIV as well as their guardians, according to an adviser, reports Anthony Bugembe.
Penninah Kyoyagala, the national HIV/AIDS advisor of the Christian Children’s Fund-Uganda, was yesterday presenting a study on the situation of orphans and vulnerable children during the HIV/AIDS implementers meeting in Kampala.
The study conducted in Lira, Kamuli, Kitgum and Soroti districts showed that 41% of respondents did not have a meal for a day in the last 12 months.
Read More.......
HUNGER is the biggest worry among children who have lost parents to HIV as well as their guardians, according to an adviser, reports Anthony Bugembe.
Penninah Kyoyagala, the national HIV/AIDS advisor of the Christian Children’s Fund-Uganda, was yesterday presenting a study on the situation of orphans and vulnerable children during the HIV/AIDS implementers meeting in Kampala.
The study conducted in Lira, Kamuli, Kitgum and Soroti districts showed that 41% of respondents did not have a meal for a day in the last 12 months.
Read More.......
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Silembe, Zambia | Update 30 May 08
We are very busy with things at WOR. Please keep the ministry in your prayers as we are going through a name change in the very near future. We are looking for God's guidance. A recent update from our team in Zambia:
Hey Scott, we are very busy here in Silembe with the roof going on the 3rd home at House of Faith Orphanage.
Roof will probably be done on Monday. Golden is confident the house will be secured with slab poured before we leave.
Got 2 more loads of rocks today. We have some ladies sorting and grading the rock.
Jo Anne will pickup 4 children when we open this house (the second home is pictured below). She has been waiting for a bed for the house mother. Golden's 1st bed is ready except for some sanding.
I learned from the council members, Chief Nyawa says we are the only people in his area seriously working. He has asked for a grand opening and is ready to attend. I don't think we can do it until I return. (We did a dedication during our team's visit in March 2008)
I will haul more rocks tomorrow and work on a number of things, after going to the bank and picking up the "fire doors" for the kitchen. Between Silembe and sorting out some security issues in Kalomo, we have a tight schedule. I'll work on the ledger tonight, and get things tidied up for your departure later this month. Hopefully, the lights will come back on soon...........
God Bless, from Mike & WOR Zambia Team
Roof will probably be done on Monday. Golden is confident the house will be secured with slab poured before we leave.
Got 2 more loads of rocks today. We have some ladies sorting and grading the rock.
Jo Anne will pickup 4 children when we open this house (the second home is pictured below). She has been waiting for a bed for the house mother. Golden's 1st bed is ready except for some sanding.
I learned from the council members, Chief Nyawa says we are the only people in his area seriously working. He has asked for a grand opening and is ready to attend. I don't think we can do it until I return. (We did a dedication during our team's visit in March 2008)
I will haul more rocks tomorrow and work on a number of things, after going to the bank and picking up the "fire doors" for the kitchen. Between Silembe and sorting out some security issues in Kalomo, we have a tight schedule. I'll work on the ledger tonight, and get things tidied up for your departure later this month. Hopefully, the lights will come back on soon...........
God Bless, from Mike & WOR Zambia Team
-----------------------
Mike and Linda Jones will be leaving for the States later this month, and will return to Zambia in early September -when we plan on starting our 2nd project in Kasama, Zambia.
We currently have 11 children living at the House of Faith Orphanage, of which, 2 are currently sponsored. Please contact our office if you'd like to sponsor one of these children.
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