Alan’sWorldOrphan’sBlog

One of my often used expressions when things go well is, “I love it when a plan comes together”.  I use that expression, sometimes sarcastically; whenever something works out the way I hoped or wanted. This last trip to Rwanda inspired me to change my expression to, “I love it when God’s plan comes together and I get to participate”! Let me see if I can explain.

Two years ago the World Orphans leadership team visited a small spirit filled church in Cygera, Rwanda where the pastor had the heart and vision to care for orphans. They welcomed us to worship with special decorations in honor of our visit.

Several months later we began the construction on two homes on their church property. There were numerous construction delays due to a variety of reasons but two weeks ago this is what I got to see.

All during the construction we prayed about the orphan children that would be rescued and raised by the church. Two weeks ago I saw God’s answer to our prayer. The children had just moved into the homes the week before this photo. Many of them came with only the clothes on their backs. They are 20 of the over 200 that applied to be in the homes.

We also prayed for a western church partner that would come along side this Rwandan church to help care for the children and provide sustainability for the homes. Pictured with the children is that partner… The HOPE 2.2.1. team from Tennessee.

Like I said, I love it when God’s plan comes together and I get to participate. Here is the ribbon cutting for the dedication of the two new homes.

I wonder if God’s plan is already in motion for the next project site in Rwanda. We know it is and we will rejoice when it all comes together!

Until they all have homes,

Alan Hunt

Vice President of Advocacy

World Orphans

Cell: (214) 636-3887

Fax: (214) 407-8297

Personal Blog: ReligionPure&Faultless

Ministry Website: www.worldorphans.org

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(ec)³ Each Church. Each Child. Each Community.

There are three large slums in Nairobi, Kenya. The living conditions and poverty in these slums are some of the most extreme I have ever seen. There are close to a half million people living in each of these three slums. Many are barely surviving and most all are trapped in a cycle of poverty that is complex and difficult to break. Their dire situation is fueled by HIV-AIDS, drugs, prostitution, violence, malaria, typhoid, dysentery, illiteracy, alcoholism, malnutrition and more.

Now, imagine being a child born into this environment. Your parents, if they are around, always seem to be sick, there never seems to be enough food, and you have been sent home from school because your family cannot pay the required tuition. You share a bed in a one room tin shed that has no running water, may or may not have electricity, and likely has raw open sewage flowing a few feet from your front door. You worry that your parents will die and wonder what will happen to you and your siblings if they do. Your only hope comes from a few people from a small church that visits your home every week.

Pastor Gideon leads the Home Based Care ministry for Fountain Of Life Church in Nairobi, Kenya. Week after week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays he leads a small group of college students and church members into each of these three large Nairobi slums. Each week they visit over 60 families with over 150 children. They make sure the parents are getting their HIV medication with enough food in order to keep the medication down. If the parents are too sick to work they often provide them with food, maybe rent money, and if needed, school tuition fees for their children. In addition they pray, encourage, and develop trusting relationships with these fragile families. Should the day arrive that the parents die, the church stands ready and prepared to soften the trauma for the children left behind as they are lovingly received into their church based group care home. FOL’s work prevents and delays the orphaning event by keeping these fragile families together for as long as possible. It is work that is meaningful and impactful. Fountain of Life’s Home Based Care model has become a model for other World Orphan’s project partners. 

I asked Pastor Gideon how I could pray for him and his family. He said, “Pray that God would enable us to expand this ministry. There are many more families with children that need our help.” And then he asked me if it would be possible for us to furnish his team with elbow length, commercial grade rubber gloves and hand sanitizer. He told me that sometimes he needs them when tending to the severely ill who have been bed ridden for several days and have soiled themselves. I put my arms around this humble Godly man and hugged him as I promised him we would do so. Please join me in prayer for the work God is doing through churches with brothers and sisters like Pastor Gideon.

Until they all have homes,

Alan Hunt

Vice President Advocacy (ec)3

mailto:alanh@worldorphans.org

World Orphans :: ec3 :: each church, each child, each community

ReligionPure&Faultless

Facebook | Alan Hunt

Cell (214) 636-3887

Martin

We squatted together in the shade on a sunny afternoon next to the soccer field at Fountain of Life Church/Home in Nairobi, Kenya. Martin is one of 48 former street boys cared for at FOL.  I asked Martin about school and his favorite subject. Without hesitation he said math and that he wanted to be an engineer and build airplanes. I taught him the word “aeronautical” so he could tell others of his aspiration. I don’t know all of Martin’s story but I do know his life has been changed. As an orphan he lived without hope or a future. Today he has both as he grows in mind, body, and spirit cared for in a loving church family home believing in Christ, the life changer.

Joseph

As we entered the market for souvenir shopping Joseph was introduced to me. He invited me to his shop and as we walked he told me that he was rescued off the street and taken into the Fountain of Life home when he was 12 years old. He is now 20 and owns a small but growing shoe manufacturing business. He has four employees and tithes weekly to FOL from the income the business is producing. He plans to grow his business and told me he is fair and honest in all business dealings. Joseph is living testimony that Jesus has the power to change lives.

Francis

Throughout the morning we accompanied the FOL Home Based Care team as they made their home visits in the Matare slums to fragile families with HIV-AIDS positive parents and at risk children. Jacinda and Francis’s small metal home was to be our last stop. Jacinda greeted us with such joy and happiness that the entire team was immediately encouraged. We learned that her husband, Francis, is an alcoholic and at times abusive to Jacinda and their children. She asked us to pray for him. Our prayers completed we rose to depart and the doorway was suddenly darkened by the presence of a very large inebriated man……Francis was home. Speaking in slurred English and Swahili he wobbled into the small hut and was quickly given a seat. After awkward silence fueled by hesitancy to engage someone in his condition, the Holy Spirit prompted me to be bold. With Pastor Gideon translating Francis cried out in a loud voice that he was in bondage to alcohol and he was angry that God did not help him. I asked him if he wanted to place his trust in the one who had the power to change his life and he said, yes. After leading Francis in prayer to receive Christ as his Savior we said our goodbyes. Francis has a difficult road ahead, probably filled with starts and stops, but now he has hope in the life changing capability of a Lord and Savior.

Please join me in praise and prayer for Martin, Joseph, and Francis that Christ will continue the work he has begun in them……..and in all of us.

Until they all have homes,

Alan Hunt

Vice President Advocacy (ec)3

mailto:alanh@worldorphans.org

World Orphans :: ec3 :: each church, each child, each community

ReligionPure&Faultless

Facebook | Alan Hunt

Cell (214) 636-3887

One of my favorite examples of Jesus teaching his disciples about the depth of his love and servant leadership is when he washed their feet.

John 13

 ¹It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.^[a]

 ²The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

 ⁷Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

 ⁸"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
      Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

 ⁹"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

 ¹⁰Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

 ¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

In East Africa Father’s Devine Love Ministries provides school tuition and supplies for over 60 orphans living in a fishing village of 1000 on Lingira Island which is a 1/1/2 hour boat ride from Jinja, Uganda on Lake Victoria. The island population has close to a 50% positive HIV-AIDs rate and this has resulted in many children becoming single and double orphans. FDLM has helped facilitate care for the children by “Mommas” living in the village who, in addition to caring for their own children, take in as many as 10 or more orphans. The term extreme poverty does not adequately describe the condition of these fragile foster and extended families. FDLM is doing what they can to break the cycle of poverty by providing support for the children’s continued education.

FDLM is a long time church/home partner with World Orphans and they were our host as our short term team accompanied them to the Island two weeks ago. On our small boat we carried gift boxes furnished by Samaritans’ Purse to distribute to the children along with Bibles, pencils, school work books, and socks. As you can see from the photos the children were very excited to receive them.

As much as FDLM would like to provide for more of the at risk island children they can only do so much. In short time we began to run out of the boxes and school supplies and yet more children waited expectantly. As we watched the excitement of the children who received the boxes our hearts broke for the children who did not………but we serve a faithful and loving God who is always working his plan despite our limitations. Much to our surprise a second short term team from Australia arrives on the island on this very same day and, you guessed it……..they brought with them a large quantity of the exact same Samaritans’ Purse gift boxes and many more children were provided for! Coincidence or miracle…..you decide.