Be encouraged

Click here and be encouraged by the enormity of our God.  Your fortune cookie says, “Be inspired to take a big leap of faith in a new area of your life.”

Routine

Here is a typical day at the orphanage for Naomi.  I don’t think a child could dream up a better day….unless maybe this exact schedule was performed at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

Schedule:

6:00AM                Wake-up
6:00 – 6:30          Bathe & Get Dressed
6:30 – 7:00          Breakfast
7:00 – 8:00          Brush Teeth, Massage, Indoor Play
8:00 – 9:00          Playdough, Swings, Monkey Bars, Trampoline
9:00 – 9:15           Snack
9:15 – 11:00         Books, Blocks & Puzzles, Balls, Chalk, & Bicycles
11-11:30                Lunch
11:30 – 2:00        Nap Time
2:00 – 2:15           Snack
2:15 – 3:00           Video
3:00 – 4:00          Outdoor Play: Swings, Trampoline, Bicycles
4:00 – 4:30          Baths
4:30 – 5:00          Indoor Play: Reading & Free Play
5:00 – 5:30          Dinner
5:30 – 6:45           Inside Play
6:45 – 7:45           Bedtime: Praise Video, Singing, Bible Story, Prayer
7:45 – 8:00          Brush Teeth
8:00PM                 Bed

Our Daughter’s Home

Written by Beth McHoul in the October monthly Heartline Haiti News update (go sign up).  John and Beth have been missionaries in Haiti for over 20 years and they run Heartline Ministries, of which Naomi’s orphanage, Maranatha Children’s Home, is a part of.   We just wanted to share with you a little about our daughter’s home and family in Haiti.

“I must tell you that we have the greatest kids and nannies at the children’s homes.  Although we have two houses and we could easily double the amount of children we have in the homes, we will not exceed twenty kids.  The reason for this is we want to keep a family style atmosphere and for each child to have a mother figure.  A family network is created where each child has siblings, aunties and a mom.  This sets a foundation for bonding with their new family and a life where they can attach and trust.  There is no substitute for this relationship.  Big orphanages can’t maintain these close types of relationships.  Babies and toddlers need a mom.  Children need someone watching them, caring for them and instructing them at all times.  For this reason, we choose quality over quantity.  Haiti has thousands of orphans.  We choose to help a few who will be able to live in a family, love a family and attach to their family.  We try to do it right and the results are eternal.  Children can love.  Children can function as family members.  Our kids are really close to each other and because adoptions take so long adoptive families are now friends.  Many of them have committed to keeping the kids in contact so they will grow up knowing their “Haiti Maranatha Family”.  We intentionally stay small , we provide many nannies on purpose and we purpose for happy, healthy kids going to a home they can be a family member in.

We with twenty children are better able to give close and personal care and love during the two plus years that they are in Maranatha Children’s Home.  Adoptive parents can be assured that their waiting children are not left unattended, but rather as you can see in the schedule listed below the children’s days are quite full.”

Insanity?

Viewing Pleasure

YOU. ARE. CALLED. TO. GO.

YOUR. VIEW. OF. THIS. WORLD. WILL. CHANGE.

YOUR. UNDERSTANDING. OF. YOUR. CALLING. WILL. CHANGE.

YOUR. NEED. FOR. THINGS. WILL. CHANGE.

YOUR. LOVE. (or lack thereof) FOR. PEOPLE. WILL. CHANGE.

YOUR. DESIRE. TO. SERVE. WILL. CHANGE.

GO. SOMEWHERE. OUTSIDE. YOUR. COMFORT. ZONE.

AND.

LET. CHRIST. REVEAL. TO. YOU.

WHAT. HE. CAME. AND. GAVE. HIMSELF. UP. FOR.

watch this storyframes: hope in haiti, and be inspired

and when I say YOU and YOUR, I mean ME and WE.

Connected