Hen House Update

Check out the latest pictures from the chicken coop at the Genesis Center. Remember, last summer, Gaithersburg Church of the Nazarene helped to build this coop? Check out this blog post from last year to jog your memory. This hen house is producing approximately 21 eggs per day that have been used to feed the boys at Genesis, the new population at the Orange Dorm, and the Nueva Esperanza kids.

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From Black and White….to Color

Orphan Helpers ministry brought to life through mission and vision trips…
Here are the words spoken by someone who just recently went on a mission trip with Orphan Helpers in February 2013.

“Thoughts that ‘clicked’ while we experienced something that words cannot really describe… everything that we had read or learned was similar to a ‘black & white photo’, just a couple colors… black & white.  As we experienced the recent trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras with Orphan Helpers, our mind’s photo went from black & white… to color as we experienced God’s grace in an overwhelming fullness. Each stop and visit, be it Genesis, Nueva Esperanza or Mujeres… stole our heart.

Signed ‘a blessed visitor’”

To learn more about our trips, click here.

Mujeres Graduation

Angie and Dave Dunlevy led an Orphan Helpers trip for college-aged girls to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Here is story of one of the activities they got to experience at Mujeres Adolescentes protection center.
“On the College Girl Trip in December 2012, we had the privilege of being there for the girls “graduation ceremony”.  This was a time that Olga, Betty, and Jackie had prepared for the girls to celebrate their accomplishments over the prior months. Many of the girls had completed reading 3+ books in a month, mastered certain computer skills and completed their computer instructions for that time period with Jackie, participated and learned sewing skills from Betty, been in bible study with Olga, etc. The girls dressed up for their graduation and were very excited. What a special day it was to be able to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage them to continue pressing on! The love, hope, and instruction that was given by the Orphan Helpers Staff was so clearly evident in the smiles and faces of these precious young ladies. What a gift it was sharing that special day with the girls of Mujeres Adolescentas and the Orphan Helpers staff. My only regret was that Ms. Shirley Daniels was not there to be able to see the joy in the faces of the girls who benefited by reading from the library that Shirley created. Thanks too to The Utter Family & Scholastic Books for their contributions to the library as well!”

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*The faces of the girls featured here have been blurred to protect their identity.

New Trash Receptacle at Mujeres

Check out this new trash receptacle at Mujeres Adolescentes built by North Americans Tim Turton & Dave Dunlevy on their last mission trip with Central Americans Ulises, Oscar, & some of Ulises parishoners. What great teamwork! We are so thankful to our supporters and friends who are willing to make a difference in the daily lives of the at-risk children in Honduras.

C-O-O-K-I-E-S

Baking cookies together is such a fun task for any and all to participate in! Here is a short trip update from Angie Dunlevy and the cookie baking fun she and others had at Mujeres Adolescentes on two of her most recent mission trips to San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
The first time we decided to make cookies at Mujeres Adolescentes, we thought we were going to be making cookies with the girls. God had a different plan, however, for the staff to participate in the cookie baking party. This was in December 2012. The IHNFA staff and Orphan Helper staff joined our mission team as we prepared homemade cookies in the kitchen at Mujeres. Lots of laughing, female bonding, and fun was had that day.

Who is Karina LeBlanc?

Karina LeBlanc is a famous athlete. An American-born Canadian soccer player on the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a member of the Canadian National Team as well. She holds citizenship in both Canada and the US. She was just recently named UNICEF Canada’s newest ambassador. Now what does she have to do with Orphan Helpers?

Well, just last month, Karina and UNICEF Canada made a visit to Honduras to help raise support for UNICEF’s work. While in Honduras, Karina led a number of soccer clinics sharing her skills with hundreds of young participants. She also led candid conversations with children and heard about the challenges they face growing up in poverty and surrounded by deadly violence.

She even made a short stop at none other than our very own Genesis Center to give the 50 boys in the orange dorm some words of inspiration! What a rare and exciting opportunity! The boys got to take pictures with her and talk to her, and envision better lives for themselves in the future.

Growing Partnership: Reunión del Señor

We at Orphan Helpers are SO excited for the church partnerships that are rising up in North and Central America to get involved with our orphan care ministry. Part of Orphan Helpers’ mission is to equip and enable partners to serve the very unique population of orphaned, abused, and incarcerated children that we care for in the government centers. One of those in-country, Central American churches that have joined hands with us in partnership is Iglesia Reunión del Señor. Volunteers from their congregation have been serving at Nueva Esperanza orphanage bringing programs every other week. Here is a short update about one of their visits to Nueva from Sarah Nazar who is on staff at the church.

“On Saturday, March 9th, the youth ministry of our church, Iglesia Reunión del Señor, went to share a fun afternoon with the kids!  The ministry focus was the story of the prodigal son, teaching the kids that it doesn’t matter what has happened, that our Father God is always waiting to receive us with open arms.  We then had a “celebration” with them….hot dogs, popcorn, piñatas, funny pictures, snow cones, etc.  A very special time for us and for them! We are so grateful for this supernatural connection that God has given us!”

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As this partnership continues to grow, Reunión del Señor is looking towards the future with new ways to increase their involvement. They are now making their own plans to help with facility improvements and better provisions for the children. They are developing a sister church relationship with The Lighthouse Church in Pennsylvania, and will be working side by side with them this May when Lighthouse travels to Honduras on their Orphan Helpers mission trip.