A new life of love at New Life Children's Home

New Life Children's Home International - Guatemala

Continuing to share information about children, 

but expanding from children 

with ideas to serve others.....

 to others with great ideas to serve children.

I have several friends in Lubbock, Texas that are preparing for their annual one week trip to Guatemala to work for New Life Children's Home in Villa Nueva, near Guatemala City.  NLCH falls under the umbrella of an oversight organization based in Houston.  New Life Advance International is a faith based interdenominational international mission organization that equips leaders to work in ministry and to serve children in crisis.  Their tag line is "Advancing the Kingdom of God through New Life in Christ".  For information about all the organizations and missionaries they support, go to:
www.nlai.org

When I was on staff as the mission coordinator at our church I learned a lot about NLCH and other organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults that live in deplorable conditions.  In May of last year I wrote in this blog about Servant's Hearts Ministries which is another favorite ministry of mine that also lives and works in Guatemala.www.servantsheartsministries.com

There are orphanages and children's schools all over Guatemala (an unfortunate need) but I am very proud to know the NLCH directors and some of their missionaries.  They are from the Texas South Plains area.  You will be hard pressed to find a more passionate group of people dedicated to caring for and educating children.  

There is an amazing amount of poverty in Guatemala. Children come to NLCH for a number of reasons, but often it boils down to parents not being able to properly care for their children because of poverty and lack of education.  New Life Children's Home literally offers these children a new life ....always plenty of food, clean clothing, private and Christian education, fun and friends, and most importantly, constant love.
From their site:NEW LIFE CHILDREN'S HOME

Orphaned, abandoned, and abused children have found a refuge and safe haven at New Life Children's Home in Villa Nueva, Guatemala. NLCH is truly a “home” where the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children are addressed.  

Special attention is given to introducing them to Jesus Christ, nurturing and discipling them in a relationship with Him, and providing each child with a sound academic Christian education.

Since 1976, NLCH has been blessed with the opportunity to help turn children in crisis to children in Christ!

God is in his holy Temple. 

He is a father to orphans.
He defends the widows.
God gives the lonely a home.
-Ps. 68:5-6a (Intl Children’s Bible)

The school not only educates the 55 children from the children's home, but because of the excellent quality of instruction 400 children of all ages from the local community attend the school.

Mission teams from around the U.S. visit during the year and help with general maintenance of the facilities and small project construction.  Medical care is provided to the children, and a dentist and assistants from Lubbock provide much-needed dental care for the children and staff.  A highlight of all the trips is interacting with the children at evening meals.

A small part of their Statement of Faith is to work for social justice and relieve human suffering. 

"Our ends:

Children at risk will be rescued,

Leaders will be equipped,

Communities will be transformed...."

Bee a Sweetie

I heard about this little girl in Austin, Tx that fascinates me.  Her name is Mikaela and at the age of four she was encouraged by her family to get involved in Lemonade Day. 

Lemonade Day is an annual event held in many cities that empowers youth to become tomorrow's entrepreneurs by teaching them how to start, own and operate their own businesses using a lemonade stand.  They learn the fundamentals of operating a business as well as lessons in success. 

As the web site says, two major things happened to Mikaela during this process:  She was stung by a bee, twice, and her Great Granny Helen in South Carolina sent the family a 1940's-era cookbook with a special recipe for flaxseed lemonade, sweetened with honey instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

She became fascinated with bees and learned how important they are to our ecosystem. BeeSweet Lemonade was born when she realized a great lemonade recipe could help the bees she has come to love.  It's sweetened with local honey and her mantra is "Buy a Bottle, Save a Bee".
www.beesweetlemonade.com

Every year Mikaela's honey-sweetened lemonade sells out during youth entrepreneurial events where a portion of sales is donated to organizations fighting to save honeybees.  Mikaela is 10 years old now, and besides selling her lemonade she leads workshops on the plight of honeybees and educates others, especially children, of their importance.

Even the business experts on the TV show Shark Tank recognized Mikaela's potential with SweetBee Lemonade. Daymond John invested $60,000 to help her take the business to the next level.

The original flavor BeeSweet Lemonade with Mint is sold at Whole Foods Market, an Austin-based natural and organic foods vendor, as well as at a number of other retail businesses and restaurants, food trailers and other healthy food locations all over Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.  Her product line also includes other varieties: Lemonade with Ginger, Lemonade with Iced Tea, and Lemonade with Prickly Pear.

The BeeSweet site states that this young business person is "Mikaela Ulmer: A social entrepreneur, bee ambassador, educator and student."  There's a video where Mikaela talks about the importance of being passionate about what you believe in.  We could all learn this lesson from 10-year-olds, I think. 

God has given each of us a gift that can be used to serve.  The gifts he gives aren't necessarily a passion to go to the food bank and work; it may be the passion and skills to start a business that repairs tires, provides legal advice, design couture clothing, or save honey bees.  He gives talents for a bigger purpose that all fit into his plan.  

He just asks us to follow him. 

 And be passionate.

Origami is paper but is it also water?

Paper for Water

Bringing water and the Word to the thirsty

 one piece of paper at a time.

I'm continuing my theme of miracle-working children that raise awareness and money for the betterment of the world.

According to their web site Katherine and Isabelle were 5 and 8 when in 2011 they raised their first $10,000 to fund a water well in Ethiopia.  They took donations for hand crafted origami.  Since then over $700,000 has been raised with help from a volunteer force.

Over 90 wells have been funded and are providing clean water in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, India, Mexico, Uganda,  Peru, and Zimbabwe.  They partner with other organizations such as faith-based nonprofit Living Water International www.water.cc and the Presbyterian Church to accomplish their goals.  In the U.S. they have joined the organization Dig Deep in digging wells on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. www.digdeep.org

From their site: www.paperforwater.org

"The mission was born out of the desire that two little girls had to help other girls in 3rd world countries who do not get to go to school because they spend their days hauling water.  Isabelle and Katherine also learned that a child dies every 20 seconds from unclean water and they wanted to make a change."

The parent organization of this 501(c)3 is Keiki International Foundation based in Dallas, Texas.  Other projects include educating others, especially children, about the world water crisis and helps children in developing countries gain access to clean water and sanitation.

From Presbyterians Today's January/February 2016 issue,  Isabelle says: 

"Jesus was right.  If you ask it will be given to you. 

 We just need to ask with a sincere heart."

Brae's Brown Bags

I am honestly blown away by the number of organizations that have formed around people's desire to help others.  Many of them by young people, which is even more interesting.  I've written about others in previous posts. 

There's a thirteen year old boy named Braeden Mannering that lives in Delaware.  His "Brae's Brown Bags" foundation (3B) has given over 4,600 sacks of food to the homeless since 2013.  Braeden is the CEO of this nonprofit, and his mother Christy is the COO.
www.braedenquinn.com

Braeden won the 2013 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge www.letsmove.govand was invited to the White House for the Kid's State Dinner.  First Lady Michelle Obama asked him how he would pay his experience forward to benefit others.  He came up with the idea for Brae's Brown Bags.  As Braeden says on his web site:

"Our mission is to provide healthy snacks to homeless and low-income individuals.  Every bag includes a letter from Braeden, contact information for additional services who can provide further assistance.  Three healthy snacks (each one is below 180 calories) and a bottle of water.  Our belief is that every person regardless of their financial situation deserves to have access to healthy food. This helps to balance the paradox between obesity and food insecurity."

As his work continues, he and his mom have expanded into different directions, with specialty food bags, Brae giving educational talks, especially to youth, about food insecurity and raising money for 3B as well as other hunger relief organizations.

 You may have seen him on TV recently because Michelle Obama was so intrigued with the work he does for the homeless that she invited him to be a guest at President Obama's January 2016 State of the Union address.

If a 13-year-old child can accomplish this much in such a short time, what can us adults do with 

just a little bit of ambition?

Next week watch for a post about Paper for Water, "Bringing water and the Word to the Thirsty one piece of paper at a time."

Inspiration for the New Year

Here's a reason to do more for others this year. 

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needed clothes and clothed you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  

"The King will reply 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:35-40 

Christmas Is Waiting to Be Born

This was drawn by our amazingly multi-talented friend, Jack Bush.  We were blessed to receive a signed copy last year.  I saw him last week and asked if I could use it on my blog and he readily agreed.

Today he posted his Christmas tree art on Facebook for everyone to enjoy, along with these words by Howard Thurman that really touched my heart.

Christmas is Waiting to Be Born

When the song of the Angel is stilled,
When the Star in the sky is gone, 
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, 
To heal the broken, 
To feed the hungry, 
To release the prisoner, 
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers and sisters--
To make music in the heart.
And to radiate the Light of Christ, 
     every day, in every way,
in all that we do and in all that we say.
The work of Christmas lies before us.
                                Howard Thurman

In that spirit, enjoy your Christmas.  May the joy and peace that comes with the celebration of the birth of the Savior resonate in your heart as the new year begins.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 

as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4, 10

         

With a little forethought and basically just paying attention, you'll discover there are many ways to give memorable gifts that also support nonprofits or faith-based organizations.  What a great way to honor someone!  You're actually accomplishing three things: 

1) Shifting some of your hard-earned Christmas funds to support a worth-while organization
2) Helping the recipient feel extra good about your gift because you helped someone else but also remembered them with love
3) You were able to put two "check" marks on your to-do list.....Got that gift for Sally Sue or Joe Blow, and supported that water well campaign through your favorite nonprofit that you've been wanting to send some money to. (or whatever)

Do you have someone on your list 
that doesn't need a thing?  
Many organizations will send an acknowledgement card either directly to the recipient, or directly to you so it can be gift wrapped.  Or you may be able to print it yourself.  This can be really helpful if you're a last minute shopper! Look at Compassion Child, World Vision, Women for Women International, and the Salvation Army, for example.

Some Ideas:

Look back through my blog for ideas from Comfy Cozy and Bridgewater Candles.  Comfy Cozy provides clothing to help make someone's chemo experience more comfortable. Bridgewater's fabulous candles are still burning in our home....they last forever....who doesn't love candles, especially when part of the proceeds go to feed kids in orphanages?

Do you have an animal lover on your list?  Do an online search in the local area of the gift recipient to see if any rescue organizations are selling products to support their efforts.  In my area a photographer donated her time and a beautiful calendar is available with pictures of the cutest pups ever as the models.

If you live in a metropolitan area, chances are there is a Ten Thousand Villages store where you can buy beautiful items made by artisans from all over the world.  They also have a great web site
www.tenthousandvillages.com  where things can be ordered and there's information about the artists and their mission. Ten Thousand Villages is one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations.  Fair Trade means that the company or organization provides artisans and other small businesses that are under- or unemployed the opportunity to earn an income and improve their quality of life.  Artists agree on a fair price for their work and develop a long-term relationship that provides mutual benefits.  The artists are given cash advances and are paid promptly for their wares.  This is a great place to shop responsibly.

And we all love some comfy socks!
In my December Faithbox www.faithbox.com delivery I was delighted to see a pair of colorful, well-made socks from a company named Mitscoots Outfitters. www.mitscoots.com
(What is Faithbox, you ask?  You missed that post!  Scroll down......
it's another GREAT idea for a gift!) 

The Mitscoots Mission: Get....Give....Employ

Mitscoots employs transitioning homeless folks to do their packaging and for every item purchased they give an equal quality item to someone in need.  How cool is that??  They sell things besides socks, but the socks (for example) are manufactured in North Carolina and packaged in Austin, Texas. 

"Our socks last because they are designed for the needs of those that may have to wear them for days on end.  We're modest about most things, but the quality of our socks isn't one of them.  They are bright, bold and comfortable and represent your commitment to helping the homeless."

They also have beenies, scarves, gloves and t-shirts.

It's easy to be socially responsible with a little research.  Please open your heart to the possibility of sharing your treasure with those in need, as well as pleasing others with your gifts.