While in Benin I was able to be there for the opening of the new orphanage that we partnered with others to bring to pass. A dear friend from Switzerland made this building a reality by taking this on as his personal project. This was a huge answer to prayer for the many orphans whom do not have a safe place to live. The Country of Benin is known for having the largest child trafficking numbers in all of Africa. Just in the main city of Cotonou alone there are approx. 200,000 child slaves working in homes as stated by the USAids statistics. We have seen that orphans do not have any value in this place and are commonly treated as worthless human beings. It is appalling the conditions we have found these children living in.
It was amazing to be there for the acceptance of the first 15 orphan children into this new home. A week later another 16 accepted. Capacity will be at 80. My friend who was raised in the West, agreed to take on the ownership and management of this home. Which was also a huge answer to prayer. It was very sobering to realize that all these children will now have an amazing future as they are being raised for God in this dark place where 80 % of the population practices voodoo. God has some amazing plans for these kids. We look forward to seeing how Orphan Relief and Rescue can be involved in a larger way with the many more needy orphans in this country.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Up Country in Liberia
We never know what we will find around the corner.
Traveling upcountry in Liberia was supposed to just be a scout out trip into the interior, yet we stumbled upon an orphanage of 88 children who were in a very difficult situation. The government closed down a neighboring orphanage 2 months prior and literally dropped 42 more children on their doorstep with just the rags on their backs. These children were extremely malnourished and sickly. The orphanage director was pleading with us to please pray for them because they had no extra food and had no extra clothing for these children, and did not know where to turn. The government promised to come back for the children in 2 weeks, yet 2 months later there is still no sign of them.
We decided to bring them enough food for the month, as well as put new clothes on these kids in little rags. The orphanage Director was overjoyed to receive these things for the children. She was jumping up for joy when she saw the food. We committed to pray for them as well as to represent them in the Government’s office with our existing relationships there. We are also evaluating what more we can do for them.
Your financial gifts helped us feed and clothe these children. Thank you for continuing to partner with us.
Traveling upcountry in Liberia was supposed to just be a scout out trip into the interior, yet we stumbled upon an orphanage of 88 children who were in a very difficult situation. The government closed down a neighboring orphanage 2 months prior and literally dropped 42 more children on their doorstep with just the rags on their backs. These children were extremely malnourished and sickly. The orphanage director was pleading with us to please pray for them because they had no extra food and had no extra clothing for these children, and did not know where to turn. The government promised to come back for the children in 2 weeks, yet 2 months later there is still no sign of them.
We decided to bring them enough food for the month, as well as put new clothes on these kids in little rags. The orphanage Director was overjoyed to receive these things for the children. She was jumping up for joy when she saw the food. We committed to pray for them as well as to represent them in the Government’s office with our existing relationships there. We are also evaluating what more we can do for them.
Your financial gifts helped us feed and clothe these children. Thank you for continuing to partner with us.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Celebrating great things happening in Benin and Liberia
I am now back in the States and Tim will return tonight.
The trip to Benin and Liberia was very successful.
Benin we accepted our first 31 orphan children into the new orphanage we are helping. My friend who was raised in Canada,lives there full time is the one in charge of this new home. It was so neat to be there for this initial acceptance of children.
I will write more details of this experience in a few days. This was not without great emotion, knowing these kids lives will now have a hope for a future because of being in this home.
Liberia was also a highlight to be able to connect with all the projects currently going on there. We are building a 4400 square foot dormitory for an orphanage that has been in a closing displaced camp. This new dormitory is an answer to their 6 year prayer. I continue to be so impressed with our team on the ground there who is overseeing over 25 local workers daily in all these projects. A well, latrines and showers are also being built at another orphanage whom we plan on also helping in a larger way in this year to come. The screening process is extremely thorough as we pick these orphanages to be involved with in a larger way, so that is where I come in with having to have a lot of wisdom. My job is to pick all the projects that we will take on now, and future. So this is never an easy task. The needs are so great, and the finances to small. Yet, I am always amazed as we continue to move forward in what God asks of us, He gives us the wisdom and discernment we need to see His heart for the next step. Our goal is always to work with the Directors whom have showed great integrity and honesty. We also look for those who are giving out to their community, as well as those who duplicate all that we do for them. This has been proven to be very successful. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we pick our future orphanages and projects to be involved with. We know that God is the one who has to lead and guide us through this process.
The trip to Benin and Liberia was very successful.
Benin we accepted our first 31 orphan children into the new orphanage we are helping. My friend who was raised in Canada,lives there full time is the one in charge of this new home. It was so neat to be there for this initial acceptance of children.
I will write more details of this experience in a few days. This was not without great emotion, knowing these kids lives will now have a hope for a future because of being in this home.
Liberia was also a highlight to be able to connect with all the projects currently going on there. We are building a 4400 square foot dormitory for an orphanage that has been in a closing displaced camp. This new dormitory is an answer to their 6 year prayer. I continue to be so impressed with our team on the ground there who is overseeing over 25 local workers daily in all these projects. A well, latrines and showers are also being built at another orphanage whom we plan on also helping in a larger way in this year to come. The screening process is extremely thorough as we pick these orphanages to be involved with in a larger way, so that is where I come in with having to have a lot of wisdom. My job is to pick all the projects that we will take on now, and future. So this is never an easy task. The needs are so great, and the finances to small. Yet, I am always amazed as we continue to move forward in what God asks of us, He gives us the wisdom and discernment we need to see His heart for the next step. Our goal is always to work with the Directors whom have showed great integrity and honesty. We also look for those who are giving out to their community, as well as those who duplicate all that we do for them. This has been proven to be very successful. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we pick our future orphanages and projects to be involved with. We know that God is the one who has to lead and guide us through this process.
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