Miracle on Voodoo Mountain

I cannot believe I have not posted on here in over a year! I'm not sure if anyone still stumbles across this blog from time to time, but just in case, I am going to keep it "alive". Recently, I was watching Life Today (amazing ministry with an amazing TV show that helps care for people physically, emotionally and spiritually) on Roku. I came across an episode featuring Megan Boudreaux. Her episode obviously caught my attention because it had to do with Haiti. Her short interview on the show does not do the story justice! I am so glad I ordered her book, "Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman's Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti." This young woman had only visited Haiti briefly on two occasions for her job when she kept dreaming about a tree she had seen there. She felt God was calling her to Haiti so she sold everything and went there with no definitive plan. Within a year a school was built, children were being fed, corrupt orphanages were being closed and light was brightly shining on a very dark mountain! I don't want to tell too many details, but if you love God stories, this book is a must read! It is so encouraging to hear of those answering the call and being Jesus in this dark world!

http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Voodoo-Mountain-Remarkable-Darkness/dp/0529110946

Lemonade for the Least of These

A 3rd grader named Ava came up with the idea to have a lemonade stand to raise money for an orphan transition home called Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia. She is asking others to participate and help the cause by having their own lemonade stands on Saturday, May 17, 2014: Lemonade for the Least of These. What a great idea?!? So spread the word to help this precious little girl raise more money for orphans in Ethiopia! Click HERE for more information about the cause.

Watch 'Stuck' on Netflix!

Stuck is now available to watch instantly on Netflix. You can watch the trailer in the post below. Be sure to check it out if you have Netflix and care about the worldwide orphan crisis and international adoption. For more information, click here.

New Documentary About International Adoption

Check out the moving trailer below about the new documentary Stuck. Also, go to Both Ends Burning to learn more about this grassroots movement and the ways those involved will be bringing more attention to the plight of orphans around the world in the next few months.

Kisses from Katie

It is National Adoption Month again which is a good time for me to come on here and write something current in reference to the world's orphan crisis. I am reading the book "Kisses from Katie" by Katie Davis. Wow. Just wow. There are so many unbelievable "God stories" in this book and it is just amazing what the LORD can do through just one person. Truly amazing. Katie made the decision to live in Uganda and pour out her life serving the people there. Part of that has included her adopting 14 girls and starting a ministry called Amazima, which helps hundreds of other children in Uganda. There is so much more so just read the book! It is so inspiring and yet also very sobering. I wanted to share some statistics Katie writes about in the book:

The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians. The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left.

Let that sink in. Let all of us who proclaim Jesus as LORD meditate and pray asking Him what more we can do.

Go On A Short-Term Missions Trip!

In keeping this blog "alive," I'd like to take the opportunity to encourage others to take a short-term missions trip. It is such an amazing, life-changing experience and if you are able, you should go! If finances are an issue, do some fundraising at your church or in your community. Tell your family to forget Christmas/birthday presents and instead make a donation to your trip.

If you are interested in meeting the precious children at Gift of God Orphanage in Haiti featured in my blog, check out upcoming trips with Faith Missions International at http://fmisent.org/ShortTerm

If you are interested in going elsewhere like China or Africa, you can find information on the All God's Children International website at
http://www.allgodschildren.org/embrace-missions

There are several other ministries that also coordinate short-term missions trips to various countries around the world. Just type in "short term missions" on Google and see what you find!

It Is National Adoption Month

As I already mentioned in this blog, the children I was blessed to meet at Gift of God Orphanage (GOG) in Haiti are not up for adoption. The focus at GOG is providing great orphan care as those children are raised up to someday help their country. However, there are plenty of other children in Haiti and around the world who are available for adoption. I think this is a good time for that reminder being that November is National Adoption Month.

The short video below also goes along with adoption. It was made by a young woman who was on the All God's Children International team that ministered at GOG in August. I would like to dedicate this post to Kristin being that [LORD allowing] she will move to Haiti in March to serve as Director of Adoption Services and Missions at Hope Village, the orphanage currently being built by Global Orphan Hope. Kristin will play a part in helping Haitian orphans in being adopted so in supporting her through prayer and/or financially, YOU are playing a part in adoption as well!

Watch below to hear this awesome "God story" and click here to check out Kristin's blog.

November 6th is Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday is a day designated to raise awareness of the global orphan crisis. What can you do?

-PRAY for the estimated 163 million orphans around the world
-GIVE a monthly or one-time donation to orphan care
-GO on a mission trip to serve orphans
-ADOPT a child or become a foster parent

If you would like to make a donation, but do not have the money, there are ways to be creative. One thing we did a couple weeks ago was had a garage/bake sale and the proceeds were donated to Gift of God Orphanage. A friend of mine who brought some of her things to be sold offered to give her profit from Saturday to the orphanage as well. How sweet?!?

Another idea would be looking into couponing. There are a ton of websites that educate on how to save money through couponing. Maybe whatever you save could be donated to orphan care. Every little bit helps!

Here is a picture of a little display we had at our sale:

Needs in Haiti

Our team's mission did not end when we left Haiti. As Dan of Faith Missions International (FMI) told us, we are now responsible for what we know based on what we saw. That being said, part of my job is to let others know what is going on there and pray that God will provide the volunteers and finances to support all that He is doing in Haiti through these ministries.

Many of the children at Gift of God Orphanage (GOG) are still in need of sponsors. If you would like more information on child sponsorships, click here.

FMI is also in need of funds for projects at GOG and at the guesthouse. Those projects are:

1) Cubbies
2) Wall in the Girl’s wing
3) Bathroom repairs
4) Haitian Kitchen
a. Roof
b. Counters
c. Cabinets, Tile, etc
5) Refrigerator for the Guest House

Also, Global Orphan Hope (GOH) needs support in getting the new orphanage, Hope Village, up and running. The greatest need at this point is for volunteers to join the December and January mission teams slated to continue construction on the Hope Village home. As construction progresses with Hope Village, there will be more needs, such as cribs, bedding, etc.

Click here to read an article about GOH that recently appeared in a Lincoln, NE newspaper. Below is a picture of the lot where Hope Village is currently being built.

Any funds raised over the $4,500 needed to cover the five projects listed above will be used to purchase rice and beans for the children at GOG as well as any future needs at Hope Village.

Click here to make a donation online. Designate donation to: Haiti Relief

Or send a Check with “Haiti Relief” in the memo line to:
All God’s Children Intl.
3308 NE Peerless Place,
Portland, OR 97232

Short-term missions trips are also vital in blessing the orphans in Haiti. If you have never taken a trip, I highly recommend you consider doing it at least once in your life. Five-day trips to Haiti are available through FMI and AGCI. AGCI also offers trips to Africa, China and Bulgaria.

If you would like more information on any of these ministries, click on their links to the right under "Help Support Orphans." You can also go to AGCI's website to learn more about adoptions and orphan care around the world.

And don't forget to pray, pray, pray for the orphans in Haiti as well as the estimated 163 million orphans throughout the world!!!