DSHS worker treks gifts, hope to orphans

Adam Wilson
The Olympian

Every year at this time, Phillip Gonzales takes 10 airline cargo boxes to Mexico. Inside the boxes are more boxes, and inside those are Christmas gifts from Department of Social and Health Services workers to orphans.

"The children down there, they would normally not receive Christmas presents. The only support they get is through volunteers, donations," says Gonzales. "When you look at kids and you realize they have nothing, the only thing they have is the clothes on their backs. When the kids look at you with their big brown eyes, they look at you with hope in their eyes. They may not know anything else, but there's hope in their eyes."

Gonzales, 52, lives in Spanaway and works for the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration in Olympia. He's worked for DSHS for 14 years, and began making the trip to Hogar Infantil La Gloria orphanage near Tijuana after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He said he had been donating gifts to the orphans through his church, Trinity Christian in Milton, but new airline rules said someone had to escort the boxes, which were shipped via passenger airlines.

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Zimbabwe: It's Celebration Time!

The Herald (Harare)
24 December 2007
Posted to the web 24 December 2007

Harare

IT'S celebration time once again. Christmas time means reflecting and helping the needy.

Gospel musician John Mutoko will hold a fundraising gig at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma on Saturday to assist more than 30 HIV and Aids orphans housed at Mai Kwati Home in Kuwadzana Extension.

The fundraising show is aimed at raising $2 billion to be channelled towards security.
Proceeds from the concert will be channelled towards helping the children who Mutoko learnt of during one radio programme.

The show, which starts from 12pm till late, features Mutoko and his Overcomers outfit, Diva Mafunga, Chegutu-based Chiedza Chavatendi, Mercy Mutsvene and Ronnie Mudhindo who had a stint with Tongai Moyo as a bassist.

"After hearing the plight of the orphans, I was really touched and resorted to helping them. All the proceeds will go to the orphans -- they need love and we want them to feel equal to the other children as they celebrate this festive season," Mutoko said.

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Silembe | Roof & More Materials

More news from Zambia(edited):

The roof is finished on the kitchen/laundry area. The poles on this end of the building support the overhang until the cooking area bricks are up to take their place. We will enjoy Christmas, services and a feast at Nevis' church on Christmas day. Then, we will haul bricks, rocks, sand, and cement until we have enough for the 2nd house.

Merry Christmas!
(Mike)

Silembe | 2nd Building Update

Additional Updates from Mike in Zambia (edited):

Our workers got paid ahead of Christmas. They were happy! I didn't get to their fields, but they say the crops are beautiful. They should be with all the good rains. Nevis went back to see the councilor about the orphanage permit, but the councilor was out -hopefully checking on it for us. The bricklayers-workers I let go home until we were ready to go fast on the next building have been asking when they can return. We will get the materials on hand over the next 2 or 3 weeks, then it will be full speed ahead.

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Mike, Linda, and Jo Anne have been doing a fantastic job in Silembe on the behalf of World Orphan Relief, and please continue to lift them up in your prayers.

Silembe | Rain

An update from your folks in Zambia (edited):

We've been getting rain everyday. It rained all day yesterday, which is unusual for this area. I had arranged to haul all day today. Richwell wanted me to see the Kalomo District Commissioner, a presidential appointment, yesterday, but he was out yesterday -so Richwell rescheduled for this morning. It was a very good meeting. I hope Silembe Village becomes part of Kalomo District in the future.

After the meeting I bought 4 tin sheets needed to finish the kitchen/laundry roof, then braved the muddy road. I brought a shovel in case I got stuck. Fortunantely, the road is sandier than I thought so Linda and I arrived with no problems. We got a couple of loads of bricks delivered.

So moved: She will ‘retire’ to the slums

Phil Pfuehler River Falls Journal
Published Friday, December 14, 2007

Linda Alvarez is only five years from retiring as multicultural student services coordinator at UW-River Falls, but she’s just now found her life’s calling.

A warm, sunny retirement scenario has been overlaid by slumming — literally.

The 59-year-old Alvarez has become determined to bring dignity, hope and opportunity to a sprawling slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, known as Kiambiu.

She spent a month there at the end of last summer. It was a self-financed trip costing her $10,000 and requiring a bank loan.

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Rocky Mountain Adoption Fund

World Orphan Relief opended the Rocky Mountain Adoption Fund last month in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Adoption Alliance.

Funds will eventually be used to provide grants to adopting families from the Rocky Mountain region.