Global Orphan Relief

BBC News - Zambia's growing population

2011-10-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Living with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia | Joachim Cuthbert Mumba | Global development | guardian.co.uk

2011-06-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Living with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia | Joachim Cuthbert Mumba | Global development | guardian.co.uk: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

10 of the 48 Children at House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia, are HIV positive.

allAfrica.com: Zambia: 'Marrying Off Young Girls is a Tradition Here'

2011-05-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

allAfrica.com: Zambia: 'Marrying Off Young Girls is a Tradition Here': "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

This is a problem in much of rural Zambia. 'Bola' (brides price) is a common means of raising funds for the family, and marriages are not considered legal if no Bola has been paid according to the tradition.

Kampala Death Ebola reportedly strikes again in Uganda - eTurboNews.com

2011-05-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Kampala Death Ebola reportedly strikes again in Uganda - eTurboNews.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

How A Broke Chinese Province Sold Kidnapped Babies To America For Adoption

2011-05-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

How A Broke Chinese Province Sold Kidnapped Babies To America For Adoption: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

AIDS orphans helped by Fort Myers run | The News-Press | news-press.com

2011-04-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

AIDS orphans helped by Fort Myers run | The News-Press | news-press.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Why a double standard in U.S. foreign policy? - USATODAY.com

2011-03-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

Why a double standard in U.S. foreign policy? - USATODAY.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

The Post Newspapers Zambia - Latest News, Politics, Business, Sports, Photos, Videos » Home News » Zambia has over 1m ovcs

2011-03-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Post Newspapers Zambia - Latest News, Politics, Business, Sports, Photos, Videos » Home News » Zambia has over 1m ovcs: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Closing the tap on HIV and AIDS in Zambia

2010-12-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Closing the tap on HIV and AIDS in Zambia: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Zambia makes progress on development goals | The Post

2010-10-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Zambia makes progress on development goals | The Post: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

6 of our 40 children at House of Faith Orphanage are HIV positive, but have been blessed to receive ARVs since coming to the Orphanage, whereas they were not receiving previously.

Zambia among 25 countries with alarming hunger levels

2010-10-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Zambia among 25 countries with alarming hunger levels: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Adoption dream unlikely at Russian orphanage - CNN.com

2010-04-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Adoption dream unlikely at Russian orphanage - CNN.com

BBC News - Nigeria village in machete attack

2010-03-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

BBC News - Nigeria village in machete attack

Nigeria is home to the third largest population of Orphaned Children.

Ex-con millionaire vows to sell businesses to move to mud-hut, help impoverished Ugandan orphans

2010-03-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Ex-con millionaire vows to sell businesses to move to mud-hut, help impoverished Ugandan orphans

Al Jazeera English - Africa - Civilians suffer in DRC conflict

2010-01-08T06:20:00.000-08:00

Al Jazeera English - Africa - Civilians suffer in DRC conflict

Al Jazeera English - Africa - Uganda army 'kills rebel leader'

2010-01-05T07:01:00.000-08:00

Al Jazeera English - Africa - Uganda army 'kills rebel leader'

allAfrica.com: Zambia: FNDP - What Has Been Achieved So Far?

2009-12-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

allAfrica.com: Zambia: FNDP - What Has Been Achieved So Far?: "Poverty levels in rural Zambia rose from 78 per cent in 2004 to 80 per cent in 2006, while urban poverty has continued to record significant reductions from 56 per cent in 1998 to 34 per cent in 2006."

Refugees protest food disruption in Uganda - CNN.com

2009-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Refugees protest food disruption in Uganda - CNN.com

People Making a Difference: Nadia Bitar helps Liberian orphans | csmonitor.com

2009-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

People Making a Difference: Nadia Bitar helps Liberian orphans csmonitor.com

Journalist embarks on African trip to aid orphans - Kalamazoo News - The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com

2009-07-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

Journalist embarks on African trip to aid orphans - Kalamazoo News - The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com

Gridley native has changed lives of thousands of children worldwide

2009-07-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Gridley native has changed lives of thousands of children worldwide

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: SOS, Orphans Clash Over Land (Page 1 of 1)

2009-07-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: SOS, Orphans Clash Over Land (Page 1 of 1)

NASCAR.COM - Fostering Faithful Families helping Missouri's orphans - Jul 17, 2009

2009-07-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

NASCAR.COM - Fostering Faithful Families helping Missouri's orphans - Jul 17, 2009

AIDSmeds.com - Top Stories : GSK Announces $80 Million to Prevent and Treat Pediatric HIV

2009-07-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

AIDSmeds.com - Top Stories : GSK Announces $80 Million to Prevent and Treat Pediatric HIV

House of Faith Orphanage Update | 11 July 2009

2009-07-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

www.globalorphanrelief.org

11 July 2009

Silembe, Zambia

by Scott Nordstrom, as reported by Mike Jones

The Apartment slab has been poured. The concrete work should be finished by the 15th.

The main hall being prepared for the pour.

We may even have some trusses up, if all goes well between now and the 15th.

Unless I see some finished window frames before Wednesday I'll go ahead and buy the rest of the roofing.

These rooms could provide for the Lord's work in more ways than we have imagined.

The top lintel has been poured. The top bricks are the ceiling height of the main hall.

Four of the five scaffolds I made for putting up the ceilings in our house. They have served us well.

Knocking off time. The main hall slab is poured.

Everything looks good!

This Community center will serve many purposes to the Orphanage, and to the community as a whole. Please see more info at www.globalorphanrelief.org.

House of Faith Orphanage Update | 17 July 2009

2009-07-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

www.globalorphanrelief.org
17 July 2009

Silembe, Zambia
by Linda Jones

Constance was discharged this morning and Michael took them out to the Orphanage. He said she smiled the whole way! The Doctor is still amazed at how fast her recovery was. Thank you Jesus! She will be building back strength and she was also put on the ART's for HIV. Her counts are still to high by the WHO standards but Dr. Christa reminded them that with such a severe illness like she had there was an exception to the rule with WHO and so Thursday she started the meds! God is so Good.

Also a couple of friends on Face book where interested in Anna. I gave them Rob and Christa's e-mail as they are the ones who adopted here. If you have questions about Adoption in Zambia they have done it and are hoping to help in some way through their Ministry Africa's Child. Have a great Day! Thanks for you prayers for Constance and all the children.

Anna is doing better as well; she has a yeast infection on her neck and thrust, which is the
yeast infection in her month. We are not sure how they where feeding her for four days before we got her. Any way I started meds this afternoon and Christa said in a few days all would be well. I will be taking Anna out to the Orphanage this coming week. (Anna is the infant we received earlier this month, after her mother died shortly after child-birth. Anna was 4-days old when we received.)

Sheri arrives on the 25th and a team of four arrive on the 28th. Busy days and weeks ahead.

This was Constance in the hospital. The doctor said her recovery from meningitis was miraculous. I took her and Elizabeth (Elizabeth stayed with her the whole time) home to Mapampi yesterday. Constance doesn't warm up to people easily, but she smiled when we crossed the Ngwezi River.

House of Faith Orphanage Update | 18 July 2009

2009-07-18T09:04:00.001-07:00

www.globalorphanrelief.org

18 July 2009

Silembe, Zambia

We now have 4 homes completed at House of Faith Orphanage (HOFO), with the capacity to host 48 children. There is some work that remains on the second bathhouse and this will be completed as the addtional homes fill-up. We did and started work on our community center several months ago. HOFO is currently hosting 28 children.

Our community center will be a multi-function facility. Our primary objective to provide an activity center for the children while they are not in school. In addition, the facility will include several apartments for staff, and short term missionaries. An update from Mike Jones, GO! Director for African Missions, in Silembe, Zambia follows:

We have been in a bit of a rush the past few days with Constance in the hospital, visits to Social Welfare in Livingstone, vehicle repairs, preparations for the Carolina Team coming, construction activity, and my resting after taking Constance home with building supplies as I was not feeling very well (I feel fine today).

The community center is coming along. These men have never worked at these heights before. The ceiling will be 15 feet in this room. The floor has sand and water, sand to hold the water as the slab cures.

There will be one large meeting room, storage, two large bunk rooms for work teams, and one apartment for the Orphanage Director.

Since beginning this structure we have had one of our work crew fall from the scaffolding. Please pray for safety for the work crew, the children, and the staff at HOFO.

Man power is the only power found on this building site except our truck delivering materials.

The re-enforced concrete bean over the upper windows has been poured. We will build up the peaks to give us something to help hold the trusses as they will be raised by hand.

This side of the wall is at ceiling level, where trusses can be set.

Moving scaffolding takes time. Hope to have the trusses up next week after this side bricks are laid and the peaks at least half way up.

The stage will be poured after a couple of courses of bricks are laid on the curing slab, filled in with dirt, and tamped down. About half of the workers were paid on the 15th and went home. We have enough money to finish paying the workers for this month, leaving nothing for cement needed in week 1 of August, or furniture like beds. In addition, we will need another $2,350 to complete the roof.

The team from NC will help install more toilets and sinks in the bath house, and install some shelving in the kitchen pantries.

After the end of this month the building crew will be cut in half again, as no large jobs requiring many people will remain.

Baby Anna will stay with us in Kalomo a few more days. We think she is fine but need to watch a couple of things a few more days. Social Welfare told us we will pick up 6 children either Wednesday or Thursday. Another 4 children will be coming soon after.

Baby Anna came to us earlier this month at 4-days old. Anna's mother died shortly after give birth to Anna.

The addition of 10 more children will bring our growing family to 38 children. There are many children that we currently host that are not yet sponsored. All funds that are generated through these sponsorships go directly to support the children in Zambia. For more information on this program visit us at:

Girl, 7, Opens Orphanage In Haiti | digtriad.com | Triad, NC | The BUZZ

2009-07-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Girl, 7, Opens Orphanage In Haiti digtriad.com Triad, NC The BUZZ

Wow!

Giving orphans a home in Uganda - Local News - News - Business - The Courier

2009-07-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Giving orphans a home in Uganda - Local News - News - Business - The Courier

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Global Orphan Relief currently serves children at the Salem Children Centre in Naama, Uganda. For mor information: http://www.globalorphanrelief.com/ChildrenofNaama.html

Orphans Deserve Better

2009-07-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Orphans Deserve Better

Letter - The Survival of Mothers - NYTimes.com

2009-07-02T06:21:00.000-07:00

Letter - The Survival of Mothers - NYTimes.com

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Royal at House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia, was received when he was just 6-days old due to his mother dieing in child birth.

Recession must not derail AIDS fight-UN official | Reuters

2009-07-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Recession must not derail AIDS fight-UN official Reuters

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At House of Faith Orphanage, we already have 4 HIV/AIDS positive children -that's one of six, and not all have been tested thus far.

Orphans Deserve Better Campaign Takes On Warner Bros Film Orphan

2009-07-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Orphans Deserve Better Campaign Takes On Warner Bros Film Orphan

Tanzania orphan program may set example for continent - Related Stories - UN Wire

2009-07-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

Tanzania orphan program may set example for continent - Related Stories - UN Wire

Nigeria: Saving the Orphan

2009-06-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Daily Trust
19 June 2009
Editorial

A recent research conducted by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said that there are an estimated 17.5 million Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the country.

This represents about 25 percent of the nation's population figure of 140 million citizens. The research which covered 2006 to 2008, also took note of abandoned children, street urchins and children orphaned by the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease, among others.

Read More...............

Uganda: Vision Voice Reaches Out to Orphans in Nakifuma

2009-06-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Godfrey Kimono
21 June 2009

Kampala — When Esther Nassali stayed home for a term after losing her parents to HIV/AIDS in 2006, she thought her dream of getting an education was shattered. The first born in a family of seven is thankful to be back in school.

"I am going to sit for my Primary Leaving Examinations at Nakifuma Voluntary Children Primary School this year," Nassali says. She is among the children whom the Vision Group visited on the day of the African child.

Read More.........

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Global Orphan Relief is now supporting children in Uganda at Salem Children Centre in Naama, Uganda. For more information go to:

www.globalorphanrelief.org/ChildrenofNaama.html or click on:

Head to head: Madonna adoption

2009-04-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

BBC - Page last updated at 02:59 GMT, Wednesday, 1 April 2009 03:59 UK

Pop star Madonna is in Malawi awaiting the result of a court bid to adopt an orphan, four-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James. Her case has sparked a wider debate over inter-country adoption.
Should parents in affluent countries be encouraged to adopt children from different cultures in the developing world?

Read More...........

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Global Orphan Relief was founded initially to assist families to adopt Orphaned children. Upon further deliberation we realized that these children could not all be served through the process of adoption, but needed care provided in their current location. While we advocate and encourage adoption for families who are prepared for the additional responsibilities, we also believe that more can be done for more of these children by serving them in their local geography.

Madonna Malawi Adoption Puts Spotlight on AIDS, Poverty, Orphans, and Pop Stars

2009-04-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Delaney
Posted April 7, 2009

I am so grateful to Madonna for her second highly-publicized and controversial adoption from Malawi. Why? It reminds us that there are millions of children living in extreme poverty, in need of help, and opens the debate as to the best way to care for them. As a woman who hopes to be a mom someday, I can truly sympathize with Madonna's desire to build a family. However, as a child advocate, I struggle with her decision. I wonder who she is doing this for, little Mercy James or Madonna?

Read More........

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We do support community-focused solutions to care for these children, but many of these communities need assistance for this endeavor because resources are not available. At House of Faith Orphanage, there are many locals involved in varioius capacities. In addition, there is a local volunteer effort to assist these children -their children.

Peace, Global Orphan Relief
www.globalorphanrelief.org

Keeping Africa's Turnaround on Track

2009-04-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

Washington Post
By Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Thursday, April 9, 2009; Page A17

For more than a decade, much of Africa has been moving forward. Economic growth is rising, poverty is falling and democratic governance is spreading. But the global financial crisis threatens to undo this progress by reducing investment, exports and aid just as they should be expanding to build on these successes.

Read More............

The Forgotten People in Africa

2009-04-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

April 07, 2009

By Nat Hentoff

After Sudan's Adolf Hitler, Gen. Omar Hassan al-Bashir, expelled 13 international humanitarian organizations from Darfur, with the rest to follow within the year, four black African Muslim children - mourned by what is left of their families at the Shangil Tobaya refugee camp - died of malnutrition in late March. Their official death notices will not appear in American newspapers.

As a memorial, I give you the names and ages of the dead children, as provided by the rebel Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (Sudan Tribune, March 24): Abdel-Latif Hassan Gar El-Nabi, 7 months old; Ahmed Musa, 7 months old; Munir Mohamed Ibrahim, 9 months old; Esam Babiker Yacoub, 3 years old.

Read More.............

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I can't help by being burdened by what has happened in Sudan, specifically Darfur.

I called my Senators offices late last year to discuss my concerns. In talking with a then Senator Salazar's staffer, he explained that he had some talking points that he could recite to me, but that these points would not satisfy me.

I have always been perplexed as to why we could intervene in southeastern Europe to stop the slaughter of European Muslims, but we could not muster the courage to stop the slaughter of Christian blacks in Sudan. Do these people not matter as much? Is it a matter of religion, location, or race? Why has our only response from the highest levels of our government either been talking points or silence when it comes to Sudan.

As per the aforementioned article, the death is not limited to Christians. Death in Darfur has become something that is acceptable to us by now. I suppose the entire continent of Africa is something so remote and distant for most of us that these concerns don't win or lose elections here in the States.

I think if we follow the money we may begin to understand the inaction by our government, and so many others. Death and destruction are consuming the people of Darfur, and the best thing the governments of this world can come up with is an arrest warrant for the leader of the genocide. The value of life in Darfur(some reports indicate as many as 7 million people live in this area) must be less than the value of life in Kosovo(1.8 million population)...................... Gen. Omar Hassan al-Bashir has traveled outside his country several times with no attempted arrest. If this International warrant had any teeth or resolve we would send a team to his country and remove him to stand court in Europe for his crimes. Meanwhile, as we stand by, people continue to die, and the silence is truly deafening for some.............

Madonna, Malawi and adoption madness

2009-04-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Her adoption controversy highlights the problems when politics trumps the welfare of the child.

By Beth Nonte Russell April 6, 2009

The controversy surrounding the attempt by Madonna to adopt a second child from an orphanage in Malawi brings to light the confusing situation in international adoption. On Friday, a judge in that nation rejected the singer's adoption request on the grounds that waiving an 18-month residency requirement would set a dangerous precedent. Madonna was granted such an exemption when she adopted a Malawian boy in 2006.

This is just another example of how the intricacies of each country's legal system, cultural mores and poverty level intersect with the guidelines of The Hague treaty on inter country adoptions.

The result has been a decline in the number of orphans from developing countries being adopted by Americans. While adoptions become harder, the number of orphans grows, especially in Africa because of the tragedy of the AIDS crisis. Malawi has an estimated 1 million orphans, and untold numbers of orphans languish in other African countries as well as in Romania, Russia, China and Latin America.

Read More...........

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While I don't agree with every aspect of her synopsis, the opinion of Beth Nonte Russell certainly gives us something to think about.

I am personally torn. I have had the benefit of visiting some of these children in their environment. I draw most of my conclusions from our experience in developing House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia. This is a special, and beautiful place. Though the opportunities are limited, there is something you miss when you leave this place. What if you were born and raised there? What if your extended family lived in the area? What would it then be like for a young child to be up-rooted and joined to a new family in a far away place?

We are not attempting to develop an institutional environment in Silembe. Based on some of the research the author provides in her opinion, I think we may need to reduce the number of children in each home to provide a more cohesive family environment for the child; however, this transition will dramatically increase our capital costs per child. There are always trade-offs.

In addition, we purposely maintain contacts with extended family for each child in the community when possible. When this child is adopted into families located in foreign countries, this family connection is much more distant, infrequent, and complicated. I personally believe that international adoption is part of the solution for these children, besides all of the arguments against it.

Please consider this example as you consider your opinion.

In Zambia, there are approximately 1.2 million Orphans. If you removed this portion of the population, you are left with 10,800,000 people. Per additional research I was able to pull, the average household size in poor countries is between 5 and 6 people versus 2.6 in the US.

For our purposes, we'll use 5 people per household in Zambia to account for many of the Orphan children that are already living in these households, which would finally give us 2.16 million households. This analysis would indicate that over 1/2 of all households would have to adopt one Orphan to adsorb this vulnerable group into family units. Not only will this not happen, but many of these children will receive less than ideal care due to economic pressures. In addition, the family has to be willing and capable of caring for additional children.

For care of Orphans, there has to be an approach that involves many solutions. Originally we founded Global Orphan Relief with the intent of helping families adopt children, but upon realizing the magnitude of this group of children we realized that we would also have to reach out and provide care and that is where we began this work.

Whatever your opinion, please pray for these children, and support them in some way.

Peace,
Scott A. Nordstrom
Founder, President
Global Orphan Relief

Buy a Brick Build a House

2009-04-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

From one of the Board Members of Global Orphan Relief:

We have finally gotten the ebay auction up and running for the Buy A Brick, Build A House campaign. Please see the link below.

I would like to ask each of you to consider sharing this auction site via email with anyone and everyone you know. The more exposure we get for this auction the better. It is pretty easy to ask people to only donate a dollar. We have already started to receive some donations today, and they have been ranging from $2 to $20. Everything adds up!

I have contacted a bunch of people I know, and I am asking them to share the auction with people they know. So, hopefully, we can have a very successful event!!

Thanks for your help, and if you have any questions, please let me know!auction site: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270367406242

Blessings,Jen

Royal Mandebala - 6 Days Old

2009-03-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

God sent us another child on February 21st. He is 6 days old, and here is his details:

Name: Royal Mandebala
DOB: 16-02-09 Weight: 3.2kgs.
Mother: Deceased
Father: Kenny Mandebala
Brothers:3
Sisters: 3
Village: Mbwtsai, Chief Mukuni

His Mother died during child birth. Kenny brothers knows our Director at HOFO, Jo Anne Byrum, and so Gibson called and ask if we could take and care for the baby. The father has 6 other children and can not afford to buy the formula, he knew Royal would suffer if we was to attempt to care for him with all of his other responsibilities, and now without his wife. He decided to contact the Orphanage and ask if we could take the child. So God has blessed us with a new baby boy -message from :o) JO Anne <><

Good report for Royal on March 21st:

William is now at 8 kgs. We have had him a over 2 months and he has gone from 8.8lbs to 17.6. God is blessing our children.

Royal is the 23rd child, and we will begin to fill up the 3rd home very soon. Many of these children still need sponsors at $50 per month. This support provide so much hope for these very vulnerable children, we thank many of you as you have already done so much.

Peace, GO!
http://www.globalorphanrelief.org/

Silembe Update | 16 March 2009

2009-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

GLOBAL ORPHAN RELIEF

House of Faith Orphanage

Silembe, Zambia

We recently received an update from our team in Zambia:

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We are deciding on the place to start the next buildings, -short-term missionary accommodations.

One place that we are considering is behind the bath house and near the trees.

Another option is toward the Store and school from this angle of the Kitchen/laundry.

Bought paint today for the primer. Should be going on the ceilings and walls in a day or two.

I'll be getting the furnishings, etc. to finish the bath house as well as the 4th house.

We could put the accommodations behind the first houses near where bricks were made and the entrance. We can begin as soon as The desired location is confirmed and some guide lines on what the building should look like. I'll need to stop work soon if we can not start the next building.

We have heard that there are some children needing homes and will be filling the 3rd home soon.
Pray for Wednesday, as Social Welfare is suppose to inspect our operations. One never knows how these things will go. Sometimes gold plated everything is not good enough.

God Bless,
Mike

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2009 plans include finishing the 4th home, the 2nd bath house, and will build an activity center for the children. In addition, we plan to start developing housing for short-term missionaries that will serve at HOFO.

Please keep these children in your prayers.

-Blessings, GO!

www.globalorphanrelief.org.

AIDS Orphans in South Africa Face Uncertain Future

2009-03-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Originally Aired: March 25, 2009

With so many South Africans struck down by AIDS, a generation of children is watching their parents die and being forced to form new family units. In his third report from South Africa, Ray Suarez explores the plight of AIDS orphans.

JIM LEHRER: Next, Ray Suarez has the last of our three global health reports from South Africa this week, the devastating impact of AIDS on children.

RAY SUAREZ: It's early on a Sunday morning. A young girl checks her pot of corn while her sister looks on. The girls do a few quick chores, get dressed for church, wash up, and buff up their shoes.

Nothing unusual about any of that. The scene is repeated throughout the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and around the world, with one difference: The 12-year old twins, Batkithi and Bonisani Masoko, and their 10-year-old sister, Xolisile, are on their own. Their parents both died of AIDS.

Read More or Watch Video..............

Summit announced for mobilizing believers on behalf of the orphans

2009-02-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

Posted: 27 February, 2009

USA (MNN) ― An orphan grows up with lingering feelings of not belonging to anyone or to anything. Multiply that one orphan by 132.7 million, and what you're left with are multiple generations of disconnect.

That's why several ministries who work exclusively with the problem banded together. The result was the formation of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Read More......

Reporter's Notebook: Children Orphaned by AIDS Cobble Lives from the Ruins

2009-02-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Posted: February 17, 2009, 12:00 PM ET

Ray Suarez is in rural KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, tracing the daily lives of children orphaned by AIDS. In this report he looks at their struggle for survival and the unique family units that form in the absence of parents.

During our reporting trip to Africa, we looked at several main areas: the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa; the rise in tuberculosis-HIV co-infection; and the rapidly rising number of young South Africans who've lost one or both parents to AIDS and must cope as best they can.

To look at efforts to deal with AIDS orphans, we traveled to KwaZulu-Natal province, home to some of the highest rates of adult HIV infection in the country.

Our first stop was a tiny hamlet in the mountains north of Durban, where we visited the tiny home of three girls left orphaned by AIDS three years ago. Their mother died in 2002, their father in 2006. The graves sit just feet from the front door of their home. Try to imagine being left without parents, with little extended family, and being able to look on your parents' graves when you walk out your front door every morning.

Read More...........

Art exhibit helps orphans -Children in Uganda get profits from show

2009-02-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

Brenton Hudson

Published: Monday, February 16, 2009
Updated: Monday, February 16, 2009

“There are about two million orphans in Uganda and 50 percent of the population of Uganda is under 15 years old,” Rossin said. “Uganda is not financially equipped to overcome certain things.”

Read More........

Church launching effort to help boys in Ethiopian orphanage

2009-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Published February 22 2009
By: Mila Koumpilova , INFORUM

Theresa and David Held returned from Ethiopia with a beautiful baby girl, an admiration for her countrymen’s scrappy spirit and awareness that Western adoptions help only a tiny fraction of the country’s 6 million orphans.

It was summer 2007, and the Fargo couple resolved to do more.

Read More............

SILEMBE UPDATE | 16 FEB 2009

2009-02-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

Though I haven't been posting updates lately, much is continuing to develop in Silembe at our House of Faith Orphanage. We just received our 22nd child on Valentines day -Livity. She will be 7 years old in May, and her mother recently died.

We are nearing completion of the 4th home at the project that will give us the capacity to serve 48 children if need be. We are considering reducing the number of children in each home to 8 versus the 12 we have planned for. This will require additional homes should we make this change, and still build out to host 72 children. We will consider the demand over the next 12 months and then adjust accordingly in 2010.

More to come later on our plans for 2009. An update from Mike Jones in Zambia follows:

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Hey Scott,

Another group coming this year would be great. We are thinking of being in the States this November and December.

The children love to get into whatever I'm doing.

View of 4th house from outside of the kitchen fire place.

Plastering inside of 4th house.

I'll make a few trips this week hauling the ceiling and cement.

Inside partition walls in bath house.

I'm trying to get a clutch for my lorry. Should have it working soon.

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

Sheri thinks a 4th quarter group to Congo would be great.

Zambia has a shortage of mealimeal. I got 5 of these bags in Lusaka, 2 at a time.

Sheri is playing blocks while teaching. She will be in the States in a few weeks, spending a couple of weeks in Zambia before departing Africa.

Sheri will help with Samantha and the chemo treatments, and sharing about the ministry for several months while in the states.

God Bless, Mike

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Thanks, and be blessed!

10 Ideas: Ministering to Orphans

2009-02-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

FamilyLife’s Hope for Orphans

Today there are an estimated 143 million children who are orphans or are in a foster care system. Yes, it’s a big number. And it can be difficult to know how one person can make a dent in a reality so daunting. However, one Christian—every Christian—can make a difference. There are many things you can do on behalf of the orphan. Here are ten to consider:

1. Plead with the Father for them.

2. Speak up for them.

3. Give them what they need.

4. Support those who support them............................

Read More.........

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Often times we get asked about what people can do for these children. The above resource give anyone great ideas as to what they can do to help. If you'd like to somehow assist our efforts please contact our office at Global Orphan Relief at 303.840.1123.

5K run to raise funds for orphans in developing countries

2009-02-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

By Mike Moore
Journal Times
Monday, February 16, 2009 12:24 AM CST

MOUNT PLEASANT — The course for the new 5-kilometer race will be clearly marked. The young men and women it will benefit have a murkier path ahead.

The nonprofit group A Full Life Inc. plans a 5-kilometer run and walk April 18. The Run to Spring fundraiser is designed to help orphans in developing countries who have “graduated” from the institutions where they were raised.

Kevin Cookman of Wind Point is president of the U.S. arm of the charity. He got involved after he and his wife adopted two orphans from Ukraine several years ago.

A Full Life provides shelter, medical care and job skills for orphans making the transition to life on their own. Because they often cannot attend mainstream schools, Cookman said the teenagers don’t otherwise receive that training.

Read More............

Oasis for Orphans plans mission to Kenya

2009-02-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

Round Lake nurse leads team of 13

February 16, 2009
By Beth Kramer ekramer@scn1.com

Noah Leboo, an 11-year-old orphan in Kenya, was born with a birth defect that severely twisted his right foot. Despite this, Noah manages to play soccer with the other children at Trans Mara Children's Home run by Oasis for Orphans, an organization committed to Kenyan orphans.

His foot can be corrected with surgery and physical therapy, which inspired Ann Smith of Round Lake to organize a trip to Africa.

When Smith, 37, learned that a Grayslake family had decided to forgo buying Christmas gifts so they could fund Noah's surgery, she planned a two-week health trip to Kenya that will begin Friday.

Read More............

Global Orphan Relief Announces –ANGELS IN THE DUST showing January 31, 2009, at 7:00 PM.

2009-01-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Parker, CO – Global Orphan Relief (GO!) today announced the scheduled showing of ANGELS IN THE DUST to be held in the Hellenic Community Center on the campus of the Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Metropolis Cathedral of Denver (Assumption Cathedral), 4610 E. Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO 80246, Phone: (303) 388-9314, on January 31, 2009 at 7PM.

ANGELS IN THE DUST is the inspiring story of Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who—with her husband and two daughters—fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to establish Boikarabelo (formerly Botshabelo), an extraordinary village and school that provide shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children.

The tale of Marion and the orphans she cares for is echoed in a dramatic parallel saga of the orphaned elephants of Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. The longtime government practice of culling— killing adult elephants to control herd sizes—tore apart the complex social fabric of elephant culture, a fabric that is not unlike that of the traditionally close-knit African village. As a result, orphaned elephants grew up exhibiting unusually violent behavior, such as attacking and goring rhinos. But elder elephants were recently introduced into the Pilanesberg population to resocialize the young. The experiment is working—and it offers a resonant reflection of the healing taking place for the human children being “reparented” by Marion at Boikarabelo (formerly Botshabelo).

ANGELS IN THE DUST is the story of a courageous, self-sacrificing, fiercely loving woman who chooses a spiritual path over a material one; it tells of the life-changing power of one compassionate heart. For a nation overwhelmed by an epidemic of HIV/AIDS, orphans, rape, violence, and Apartheid’s legacy of social and political unrest, the film offers a clear pathway of hope and a replicable paradigm for the future.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called HIV/AIDS “the new Apartheid.” By the year 2010, 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be infected with HIV/AIDS, and 26 million children will be orphaned as a result of the virus. In South Africa alone, six million adults and children are infected, but the government has turned a blind eye to the mounting pandemic.

"...Nothing short of wondrous" -- NY MagazineANGELS IN THE DUST won the 2007 Emerging Pictures/Full Frame Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the 2007 Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival.

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Doors will open at 6PM, and showing will include opportunities to purchase products from Africa in our International Bizarre before and after the film. There is no admission to the event, but a donation of $3 is suggested. This event will be held to build awareness for the plight of Orphans around the world, and to fund various GO! projects in Congo (DRC), Mexico, Uganda, Zambia, and the US.

Global Orphan Relief is a relief agency established in 2005 to serve Orphans specifically. Their work has included projects, funding, and speaking engagements in Myanmar, Mexico, Zambia, and the U.S. GO!’s largest project to date is House of Faith Orphanage, located in Silembe, Zambia, where they currently host 22 Orphans and plan to grow the project to host 72 of these very vulnerable children. Currently, all activity is handled by volunteers and GO! has no paid staff. This allows all but of a small fraction of funds to be used in the field. GO!’s mission is to provide loving support for Orphans fostering a greater capacity for physical, spiritual, and emotional healing and growth.

--GO!--

GO! Contact: Scott A. Nordstrom (303) 840-1123
www.globalorphanrelief.org

Assumption Cathedral: Main Office (303) 388-9314
www.assumptioncathedral.org

Sponsoring UAE orphans

2009-01-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

gulfnews.com
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Published: January 16, 2009, 23:34

Dubai: Taking care of an orphan in the UAE is not as complex as one maybe led to believe. A number of charity centres are responsible for orphans and their well-being and it is their task to manage all funds donated by good samaritans.

According to United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), children around the globe have the right to an adequate standard of living, health care, education, the right to play and good quality healthcare.

One charity organisation that offers sponsorship services is the Al Ihsan Charity Centre, located in Ajman. The Centre started its operation in 1990 through the efforts of individuals until a residence was officially established in 1998 under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.

Read More..........

ADOPTION: The heart of the Gospel

2009-01-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Baptist Press
Posted on Jan 16, 2009 by Thomas White

Adopting Rachel taught Thomas much about spiritual adoption, Thomas says.

In the New Testament, four passages address the theological importance of adoption, two using the term "orphan," and one special example of adoption.

Read More........

GO! | Upcoming trip

2008-10-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

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!

SA will have 2,5m orphans by 2010

2008-10-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

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..........

Weeping orphan tells of her lonely life

2008-10-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

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.......

Orphans need homes - state appeals

2008-10-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

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........

Journalists schooled on child rights protection

2008-10-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

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.........

Finding a Home

2008-10-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

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...........

Creating possibilities

2008-10-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

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.......

GO! Silembe Update | House of Faith Orphanage

2008-10-23T06:39:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

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.......

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Project to Help 163,000,000 Orphans

2008-10-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

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.........

Fighting in Kashmir gives rise to orphanages

2008-10-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

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..........

GO! Update | Zambia, Africa

2008-10-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

I had received this update earlier this month from our team in Zambia, and thought you might enjoy.

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.

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

2008-10-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

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...........

African orphans visit Blackminster school

2008-10-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

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........

Need to cut down number of orphans stressed

2008-10-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

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.........

Works of faith: Liberty United Methodist goes on mission to Guatemala

2008-10-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

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......

Parishioners to embark on mission to help Guatemalan orphans

2008-10-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

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..........

Children affected by HIV/AIDS need community care

2008-10-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

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

GO! Musings | "Hope for the City II"

2008-10-03T21:30:00.001-07:00

GO! Musings | "Hope for the City I"

2008-10-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

GO! Cornerstones | "Righteousness & Love"

2008-10-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

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!

An experiment in orphan care in Russia

2008-10-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

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.........

GO! Stories | "Justine"

2008-09-30T09:46:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

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............

GO! Stories | "Brothers"

2008-09-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

A Place, A Story, A Journey
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

2008-09-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

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.

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Christian volunteer to address local audiences on plight of orphans in Sudan

2008-09-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

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?”

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‘Kids I could love’

2008-09-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

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.

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Princes revved up for great trek of Africa

2008-09-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

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.

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Coca-Cola supports orphan children

2008-09-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

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).

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This NY model adopts cause of orphans

2008-09-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

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."

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GO! CORNERSTONES | "The Rescue"

2008-09-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

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!

Children Silent Victims Of Political Impasse

2008-09-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

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.

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BA, UNICEF out to curb mother-to-child HIV infection

2008-09-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

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.

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Liberian-American Couple Assist Orphans

2008-09-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

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.

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GO! STORIES | "Sibajane"

2008-09-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

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.

Zambian President Mwanawasa buried

2008-09-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

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.

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Chiropractor helps ‘orphans and widows’

2008-09-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

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.

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Orphans Walk 60km to Beg for Food

2008-09-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

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.

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GO! STORIES | "Willie"

2008-09-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

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.

Depression common among Rwandan youth who head households

2008-09-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Contact: Keith Brannon

504-862-8789

JAMA and Archives Journals

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."

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Lost and not found: Orissa’s orphans

2008-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

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”.

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From Russia with love

2008-09-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

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.

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Feature: The orphans of war

2008-09-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

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.

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