The Most Wonder-Filled Time of Year!

“The Most Wonder-Filled Time of the Year”

Dear Friends:

Tonight the minds of many Orphans are filled with “Wonder”.  They…

“Wonder” if they will eat tomorrow

“Wonder” if they will be safe…

“Wonder” how to get necessary medical surgery…

“Wonder” if anyone really cares…

This past year you have answered many of the children’s questions with a resounding “yes” as you have been amazingly generous.

Together in 2013 we…

   Provided over 96,000 meals

   Gave 4 children with hydrocephalus the surgeries they needed.

   Built and furnished a dorm & a counseling center for street boys.

   Sent 4 teams to physically love on the orphans.

   Trained over 1000 pastors and leaders.

In 2014 we have the answer to many of their hopes and dreams:

   Front Lines: 120,000 meals =  $40,000 (.33/meal)

   Ruby’s Friends: 12 surgeries/medical care = $18,000

   Orphanages:  Equip 3 orphanages with the necessary supplies, dorms, kitchens, and staff to properly care for the children.

   Train over 2000 leaders at Legacy Leadership Conferences

Will you help us fill the orphans “Wonder” with Hope?      

                                          

To donate click here: http://internationalvoiceoftheorphan.com  

Or mail to:

International Voice of the Orphan,

3820 W. Happy Valley Rd., Suite 141 #510,

Glendale, AZ 85310

We never take your generosity for granted.  Each dollar is stewarded to obtain the greatest Kingdom impact possible.

May the Lord richly bless you and your family in the New Year! 

Dwight & Linny

When Street Boys Go Home!

This is a report from our partners at API - David and Abby Kakeeto.  What many people do not  know is that your donations to IVO for the Feed+ program includes not only feeding the children but helping fund our partners efforts to resettle the children as well.   Below is a great report from API!  Enjoy!

Boys come to the streets of Kampala for many reasons.  For some their parents have died or are no longer willing to care for them.  They have nowhere to turn so they run.  For others, their home is so bad that they think life on the streets with all its hardships would be better than staying in that environment.   Many of the boys come to the streets for less extreme reasons. Sometimes they have done something wrong and instead of facing punishment they run. Sometimes they come from very poor families and although these families love them the boys feel like by coming to the streets they can make a way for themselves that is somehow better than what they could otherwise. Many poor families cannot put their children in school and so the boys grow board and come to the streets for something to do. Some boys are just downright stubborn, the draw of the streets and the “freedom” and “adventure” it entails are too strong.  They don’t like school, they don’t want to dig, or fetch water, or listen to those in authority over them and so they run. Each boy has his own reason for running. Each story is a little different and the issues are complicated.  But, in the midst of it all, you can clearly hear God’s heart – He desires to restore what has been lost.

                There are many boys on the streets who given the opportunity and support are willing to return home to their families.  This is a challenging endeavor and one which needs a lot of wisdom.  It is also incredibly rewarding.  It is a beautiful thing to witness the joy that families often express when their lost son comes home.

                In the past few months API has been part of a number of resettlements. Each boy that went made the initiative to go home on his own.  Each boy was excited in his own way. And when he arrived home each family was happy to see their child returned to them. They were all so very thankful saying “ Webela! Webaly nyo nyo nyo! (Thank you! Thank you so so so much!).” They showed that they were willing to take over reasonability of their child again. Here are two of the boy’s stories.

 

                Felix is 12 year old. He has come non-committedly to program for a number of months now and just lately voiced an interest to go back home to his family.  His home village was a far ways from Kampala. We boarded a night bus headed for the hills of western Uganda and arrived at the bus stop around seven-thirty in the morning. But this was not the end of our journey. We traveled farther into the hills on in the back of a small pick-up truck (Ugandan’s can sure fit a lot of people in the back of a pick-up truck!). The roads were a bit rough so it took us over an hour to reach Felix’s small village. We followed the narrow dirt path that wound its way through banana trees until we came to his home. It was a small (but not that small by some standards here) mud house.  His mother came out of the house when she heard us arrive. When she saw Felix she expressed happiness in seeing him home safe.  He grandmother came to us too and with tears in her eyes thanked us. 

                As we talked with the family is became clear that Felix had a habit of repeatedly running away. This was not the first time he had come to Kampala. They were afraid that is would not be the last. The chairman for the town was a neighbour and came by to visit as well. He confirmed that the mother really loved her son.  He said they had enough food and Felix had been in school.  He asked that we would pray for Felix to stay home. He said he was willing to support him and the family in any way he could.

                We talked with Felix some more about the danger of the streets (something he knows well first-hand) and how home is a much better place for him. When we left Felix was playing with his small cousins.  For now he was happy to be home and be with his family. We are praying that Felix makes good choices and does not heed the call of the streets.  We will be calling his family soon as a follow-up to see how he is doing.

 

                Ivan is 12 years old. He showed up at street program a little over two months ago and was very new to the streets at that time.  At the street program he was friendly and engaging.  He constantly attached himself to the Uncles and Aunties and it became evident that he has run away to the streets looking for a better life. His story remained elusive until one day he opened up. He told us he had a mother who he loved and some younger siblings. He did not have a father. His mother was very poor and could not afford to put him in school he had become tired of having nothing to do in the day and had come to the streets to see if he could find someone to take him into their children’s home.  He was not enjoying life on the streets at all and when he was asked if he would like to go back home to his family he said yes. We took Ivan home last week. We traveled by bus a ways outside of Kampala to a village. There we unloaded and weaved our way between homes until we found the one that was Ivan’s. His mother was there cleaning rice in her one-room house.   She was happy to see us and invited us in to sit on her floor. As we chatted it became clear that Ivan’s story had been more or less true. His mother really loved him but had been struggling to provide her children with adequate food and money to cover school fees. She said Ivan had begun to hang out with the wrong crowd of boys in the village.  She speculated that they had encouraged him to run to the streets.  She desired to take care of him now that he was back, but it was evident that she could use some help.

                By the time we left Ivan and his family, he was laughing and joking with his mother and playing with his younger siblings.  He seemed contented to be home and excited at the prospect of starting school immediately where we are going to sponsor him so that he can be able to stay at home and be educated.   We left him then but will be visiting him again in the next few weeks. We plan to begin a chicken project with his family as they would benefit from an additional source of income.  We hope to get this started next time we visit him.

                Being part of restoring families is a beautiful thing.  Boys make choices to run to the streets, but if they desire to go home we want to encourage and support them in that. Maybe by getting to know the specific stories and needs of each family we can decrease the number of boys living on the streets of Kampala one at a time! 

 David & Abby

(A great big shout out to all of you who give to our Feed+ program.  These kids went home because of your help!  If you'd like to help in future resettlements you may donate to the Feed+ ministry of IVO.)

 

Front Lines+ Delivers!!!

Emma updates us on our Front Line+ Feeding Ministry in Uganda! 

Click here to read all about it.  

Thank you to all who make Front Line+ Feeding Ministry possible.

You guys are amazing!  

We Need Your Help! This Mountain is Ready to MOVE!

Friends we need your help!!  

 If you need to catch up with our GO Team projects simply look back at the last post! 
After publishing the last post a very unexpected thing happened which was incredible!

What seemed like a mountain of needs, seemingly impossible in the physical world,
 is suddenly 

- and might I add really close to starting time..... 

READY TO BE MOVED!

Those eyes pierce my soul - yes, honey you're home is coming!

WE will build the home for you precious one!

A friend of aplacecalledsimplicity and IVO sent me us a fb message 

asking if I could talk with her husband.  They had been praying about 

what ministry they should bless with a gift. 

They kept coming back to IVO.   

I had no expectation of what came next!   

The husband shared with me that as they prayed they felt the Lord was leading them 

to make a matching gift donation to IVO.  

A very, very generous gift I might add! 

This has never happened before -
(I thought it only happened on the radio pledge drives)!  

Their generosity has blown me away. 
They've offered a total  gift of $12,500 as a matching gift.  

It breaks down as follows:

The Home for the orphans at "The Home of Praise":   $9000

The Rabbit House: $1,000

Amos is always a hard worker and you can bet he'll be working next to me again!

The Special Project: $1,000 

The Legacy Conference:  $1,000

Isn't that amazing?  

This isn't a scheme - it's a gift by someone who has been blessed to be a blessing.  

If you've been thinking about donating to any of the above projects, 

then now is the time! 

Everyone In!  

Everyone doing something and this mountain is history!

Together, this summer, let's do the IVO version of an Extreme Home Makeover!   

No amount is too small!

Just think, each donation will be matched.

So if you donate $5.00 to the Projects,
actually $10.00 will be donated.

How cool is that??  

Let's do this together!

You can donate at our website:

  

International Voice of the Orphan.com 

or 

there is even a donation button on our Facebook page here! 

As always, 100% of each donation go directly 

to serve the orphans.

  

God Bless you,  Together this Mountain can be removed! 

 Dwight & Linny

IT"S TIME - We Need Your Help!

She's been waiting!

Several years ago we met this wonderful young lady whose name is Praise.  She loves the Lord, loves to sing, and her smile is contagious  She calls me dad and her children call me BIG JAJA.  Now I'm not that big, but I love it anyway.  She loves the Lord and loves the orphans that God has placed in her care.

She cares for and loves 26 children as her own on a little plot of land in the bush of Uganda.  When we built a rain harvesting system we realized the home the children lived in was not safe as it almost gave way with a simple ladder propped against it.  Something had to be done.

At that moment I realized IVO must build a dorm for these precious children.

 

Like these that Emma is hugging.

The children have been sick so many times that it is difficult to keep track.  We have paid for having jiggers removed from their feet.  And many of the children have had rats bite their feet with one child actually losing a finger. (this is not an exaggeration but a reality that they have had to live with).

 They desperately need a safe  home.   But we need your help! 

International Voice of the Orphan is taking the challenge to build a family home for the children of Praise.  We are taking it on because we believe in Praise and love the children.

However we can't do it without your partnership.  We have donations in hand of around $4000 but we need an additional $20,000 to $25,000 to complete the project.

We will build only as the money comes in and realize it may take over a year to build, but it will get built!

I love holding and hugging and they know it!

Isn't he precious, he was given medical attention by a generous donor and is one of Praise's children!

 AND THAT'S NOT ALL!!

We will be holding another basketball camp for the boys at A Perfect Injustice but this time inviting others to join as an outreach to the community!  Pray that children receive Christ!

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!!!

David and Abby have let Emma know they would like to build a rabbit house to begin a business for the older boys.  Cost - roughly $2500 - yes they are big houses, but will provide food and revenue for the boys and the home.  This is an investment that will keep on giving.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!!!

We will be holding a Legacy Leadership Conference in Kampala with my denomination.   The denomination has awarded us a $20,000 grant but only as matching funds to raise up and train leaders in Eastern Africa.  If you have a heart for multiplication both in training and in souls, this is the place to invest.  You won't know the exponential return but I guarantee you will see it in heaven!

AND THAT'S NOT ALL: 

We will be working on a special project, not quite ready to be announced, but you will love it.  If you'd like to give to the "Special Project" just note it in your contribution.  Needs are about $5000.

God Bless you!

As you can see the needs are enormous.  Please do not ever think your contribution is insignificant!

Everyone doing something and we can take this mountain!

One Little Street Boy

Lynne, a short term missionary, who is living 

with Emma at Emma's new home,

was at street feeding program last week. 

She noticed one little street boy who just could not stay awake.

He didn't eat.

He only slept.

She felt his head and guessed he had a fever.

Lynne knew she could not send him on his way when the program ended.

She kept watching him.

He just kept sleeping, unable to wake.

As the program ended, she talked to another volunteer.

They would have to do something.

They guessed he might have malaria, or even typhoid.

Lynne brought him to Emma's new home, 

where she knew Emma would be willing

to open her home to him. 

{FYI, as hard as it is to understand, not all missionaries welcome

street boys to their home, even for a bath, meal and fresh set of clothes. 

 I was so proud of our Emmy.}

 Lynne and her friend arrived with him and gave him a bath.

They needed clean clothes for him.

I suddenly remembered that the Lord had told me to pack some

boys underwear size 10-12.  

I giggled.

Who knew?

Only God.

I ran to get the undies.

I went and told Liberty.

She went to her suitcase and found her prized and 

most favorite basketball shorts.

{Our chica Liberty loves playing basketball 

and her red shorts are her very favorite.}

She willingly brought them to me.

"See if he would like these mom."

This precious boy's story tumbled out.

He was from a distant city.

His mom had sent him to the market 

to get some vegetables.

He had met up with a friend at the market

who told this little guy of the tall buildings and King's 

palace in distant Kampala.

Together they decided to hop a bus and find this

'fairy-tale' city of Kampala.

Only thing is: Fairy-tales are just that.

Fairy-tales.

Living on the streets had been painful 

and all he wanted was to head home.

Lynne found a shirt of hers...

{appropriately it has James 1:27 on the back}.

We gave him food. 

We prayed healing over him.

He ate.

He guzzled the water bottles we brought him.

Our team gave him a baggie of fun things and snacks.

Lynne and her friend met up with our son LuTaaya

and he helped them to know what to do next.

Over the next few days he was taken for medical

care and found not to have malaria or typhoid.

{After food, water and prayer, he had perked right up.}

At this moment Lynne's friend is in the distant 

city to see if he can find his family.

In the meantime, he is being fed, cared for, is off the streets

 protected and cared for by a trusted friend....and should the family not be 

found, he has a spot in the Ssenge village boy's home waiting for him.

 I marvel at the network of caring people that encountered this little boy 

and ministered to him....

all believing that God has an amazing plan for him and

 each willing to minister in the best

way they knew how.

As I step back from writing this I wonder:

Who can even begin to imagine this little boy's life?

Who can stand to think what he has been through?

Who can know what it would be like to be alone on the

 streets of a big city at the age of ten?

If you think of him, pray that his family can be found.

Pray that God will open his heart to God's love.

Pray for the missionaries who are His hands and feet around the world.

"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 25:40 niv

God, Break Our Hearts...

We encourage each team we lead to

 pray as we are preparing to head to Uganda to minister 

and throughout the trip 

that God would break our hearts with the things that 

break His...

Not one person on the team will ever be the same

again after walking the streets 

feeding the street children

These two little treasures couldn't get the food into 

their mouths fast enough... 

We gave some a little package with food and a few trinkets...

No doubt, the ladies lovingly ministered....

and the smiles on both sides were priceless.....

Many years ago God stirred Emma's heart for a tribe 

from the north that has had many members migrate south due to famine...

We were able to feed some of the mamas

and their babies as they sat on the side of the busy Kampala street...

Each so grateful for the food...

Who can imagine wondering where the next morsel of food will come from?

And when one has a baby to feed?

Impossible for us to comprehend without a glimpse of 

this up close.

We, truly, are never the same after days like this.

Please Lord, continue to break our hearts

 {every day, no matter where we are}

with the things that break yours

and allow us to be your hands and feet

and voice at all times.

"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..."

Matthew 25:35

Front Lines Update

This report is from IVO missionaries, Shawn and Sarah Ferrell.  

Shawn & Sarah are responsible for Front Line Feeding programs at two of our partner orphanages.   They also work with a third partner, API, in the street feeding program.  

Shawn and Sarah purchased a truck to make it easier 

to deliver food to various needy orphanages. 

 

They recently reported the truck broke down needing major repairs,  so if you'd like to help get the truck back up and running and delivering,  simply mark your donation truck repairs.  

Any amounts over and above the repair costs will be used on other projects!   

__________________________________________________________________________

Report from the field:  

Building a school.

Raising up a child for Christ in a community of Muslims

.

IVO has built the latest and newest addition to this elementary school. 

This village is full of Muslim households and we are reaching them for Christ through there kids. Many of these kids never had hope of going to school but now there is a place where they can come, learn, grow, be safe and hear about the love of Jesus Christ. 

The newest addition will house the new 4th grade class. 

Seeing all of these kids in their uniforms with smiling faces says it all!

A bag of Posho.

What is that?

Good question, it is what Ugandans call food. It is corn ground up into a powder, then cooked in boiling water to make it eatable. If we ate this 5-7 days a week we would not be excited to see a truck with 50klg bags of this show up at our house. But these kids most defiantly are. They also get beans with each meal. If the money is there then vegetables are added to the beans. Not much for variety but it is healthy and they are getting food. If these orphans where on the streets it would not be so. We are very thankful that these kids are taken care of.

To date this year --- over 7000 meals!  Thank you to all who give!  The need continues so please continue to give and we are finding more opportunities to feed the children.  As always we promise to steward your gifts wisely!! 

Remember to help us get Shawn and Sarah's truck back on the road! 

May the Lord bless you!  We are delighted to serve alongside you all! Dwight & Linny

It's Been Way Too Long

 

WOW, it's been way to long since we wrote!   I cannot believe two months have passed since last  writing  while leaving Uganda.  But there it is in black and white on the calendar.  Two months?  Really?  Where has the time gone??


To begin with, upon arriving home we had to send out year end donation receipts to our generous donors.   We had contracted with a company to help us, "Donor Snap", but they took much longer than we anticipated and it still required a lot of our time. 

Next, was the new concept that I had to be ready for the CPA and the tax man on two levels.  The first of course is our personal return.  That was pretty simple given our past year's income.  What I did not count on was the time consuming posting of each donation and other items over the last year for IVO.  It is now complete & finished and we are on our way.

Please do not think for a moment that the ministry has slowed or stopped in the past two months.  To the contrary!  It is increasing at an ever expanding rate.  We have three team members on the ground in Uganda; Shawn & Sarah Ferrell and Emma Saunders, who are accomplishing many things for the orphans. 

Shawn and Sarah have been busy working with our feeding programs - keeping the children with food supplies and also developing strategies for the future.      (I will share on one of these stories in the next few days.)

Emma, is in charge of the medical, "Ruby's Friends" for IVO.  We now have completed three operations for children with great needs and will fill you in with more details in the next few days.    She is also busy establishing the vision the Lord has called her to.

So there is a quick update with stories to follow in the weeks ahead. 

To our generous donors we again thank you!   Your gifts make everything we are doing possible!

May God Bless You,  Dwight    

Emma & Daddy - I Remember

We are missionary buddies for sure. 

Joined together in our hearts mission to make a difference in the orphans we meet.

Since 2008 we were always together on our mission trips 

to our beloved country of Uganda and their precious children.  

We love the times we've spent together watching God do miracles.

We are mission junkies!

We love the adventure!

We love the the highs and the lows of being with the children of Uganda.

We love the brokenness that always comes in our hearts 

when we see, touch, hold, and simply love the children.

It's been a long time coming but "that day" if finally here.  

"That day" that I board a plane to leave Africa without Emma.  

That day that she stays behind to begin her life-long calling to the children of Africa. 

I've always known the day would come.  

Since she was little she has prayed to come to Africa to care for orphans.

In 2008 her calling and pleas could no longer be ignored.

Almost every day I would open my roll-top desk and find a note with a picture of children
from Africa quoting Isaiah, "Who will go, send me!" 

or 

"If we don't go and care for the children Daddy, who will?"   

So in 2008 we began our journey and now 5 years later & 10 mission trips

"That day is here!"

We took our first mission trip in 2008 to Uganda.  

We did not know what to expect and there was not just a little bit of
caution and concern 

in this Daddy's heart.  

I was not letting my precious girl go to Africa without me.

I remember the objections.

I also remember the set up by Linny and Emma with Steve and Celesta Tracey
and their missionary daughter, Abby
 serving in Uganda, coming over for pizza.  

I lost every argument that day of "why not"!

A total set-up!

I was adamant..."if she goes - I go"!   

The next Sunday Steve Tracey, a professor at Phoenix Seminary
 approaches me to
teach a Pastor's Conference.

The rest is history!

So off we went to explore, to investigate and to understand
 the culture and country of "Uganda"!

Ten mission trips later and our love for Uganda is a tight bond.  

Together we have grown to love the people, the place & the culture.  

 I remember discovering Elijah and Elizabeth at Sanyu babies home.... together!

I remember celebrating our African sons/brothers wedding... together!

I remember falling in love with child after child.... together!

I remember watching her grow each time from a young girl to the beautiful young lady she is today!

I remember building dorms, kitchens, and bricks at African Hearts... together!

I remember leading songs, laughing, playing &  hugging children.... together!

I remember painting Ssenge, API and Sanyu.... together!

I remember working with teams..... together!

I remember throwing birthday parties together!

I remember discovering crazy people like Shawn and Sarah....
now missionaries with Emma together!

 I remember leading teams again and again.... together.

I remember her posing for pictures with that gorgeous smile.... together!

I remember discovering Ruby... together!

I remember this current trip so well as every time I would look at her,

 I would take a snap shot of her in my mind!

Believe me when I say I have thousands of snapshots in my mind!

I remember her laughing and giggling as I chased boys with water after BB camp!

I remember her love for our SJ and every child she see's ---
(ok, now the snot is dripping down my face...
I will remember that too Emma - it's your fault!)

I remember all the wonderful times as Daddy & Daughter!

I will remember your tender heart for all the children with special needs!

I remember first meeting each one of your
African brothers and sisters and the laughs... together!

I will remember your love for Watson and Joanna...
 your babies and your reunion with them just days ago!

I remember our last team we led together!

I will remember our last day together as a fun day on lake Victoria!

Even now....

I'm not ready to leave her alone...

as tears fill my eyes and run down my cheek as I write --

the concern returns.  

How will she be? 

 Will she be safe?

Who will protect her if she needs her Daddy?

To paraphrase a psalm:  "Except the Lord watch the house {my daughter}
this Daddy watches her in vain!"

I know that she is the Lord's and that I can't really protect her,
but the 'want to' still remains!

She's been the Lord's since the day Linny rescued her from a SIDS incident!

And tonight as I leave for home...

This time I will remember that we did not go home together.

I left and my Emma remained to follow the call of Jesus Christ on her life to the
orphans and vulnerable children of Uganda.

I am so proud - so happy - so filled with joy for you my precious daughter!

 You are a gift to everyone who knows you.

Now the gift is for the children of Uganda!

Never Forget your Daddy Loves You,

 Daddy 

PS:  We often hear or read stories of the missionaries... as well we should, but what do I do to cope with being the parent of a missionary?  Proud - more than I can say... scared for my little girl --- very much!