Why do we GO & visit orphans?

Why do we GO and visit orphans?

Pastor Isaac from Canaan Children's Home in Jinja, Uganda shares why it's important for teams to come and visit orphans: "These children have been through trauma's you cannot even imagine. Many have been abused and many have lost parents to disease and sickness. When they come to us, you can see the despair in their eyes. They do not smile. They do not want to talk. They have no hope. We do all that we can to care for them and help to give them hope again. But when teams come, they play with the children and the children laugh again. Playing helps the children to heal. It is so important for people to come and to keep coming to bring joy and to always be reminding the children that they matter to people and to God." 

We GO because we are called in James 1:27 and throughout scripture. Orphans and widows are at the very heart of the Father. It's not a suggestion to visit them and care for them - it is a biblical mandate.

We GO because we have seen. Because we have heard. Because we’ve witnessed the lives that have been changed as a result of our obedience to go. Children’s lives are impacted forever with a message that they are not forgotten, they have a hope, and they have a future. But most importantly they have a God that has a beautiful plan for their lives.

This is why we are going to GO. This is why your donations to for our Visiting Orphans mission trip matter so much. Every donation, no matter how large or how small, will help us to spread a message of hope and bring healing to precious children around the world in Ethiopia and Uganda.

So where are we now?

Cassie, Jordan and I have been busy figuring out how to raise funds for our mission trip. The girls have been selling candy bars at school. Brad sold a bow on Craigslist. Jordan and I stacked wood at Grandma’s house. The girls sold two of their horse “show” shirts at a consignment store. We are selling beautiful Acacia bead necklaces from Uganda. We have just recently started taking orders for our Simply Love t-shirts. Instead of the ususal Christmas gifts, we asked for money towards our mission trip. 

What are our future plans?

Continue selling necklaces and t-shirts. PRAY! Add more items on Craigslist. PRAY! Sell homemade greeting cards. PRAY! Start collecting donations for the children and the orphanages. PRAY! Get the girl’s passports. PRAY! Go to the travel clinic for immunizations. PRAY! Complete mission trip forms. PRAY!

Nothing about this journey seems easy…everything is a lot of work…the financial piece is scary and sometimes people look at you funny. But we PRESS on…we press on knowing God completes the work he starts. I have days I doubt everything…I doubt myself…I doubt our bank account and everything in between. But I’m always reminded how big GOD IS and how FAITHFUL He continues to be.

I have a hard time putting this into words I guess. It’s just something I know God is working on in my heart right now…what this will look like and I know He is going to lead us and show us what He wants from us. What an opportunity this journey is: to be faithful and open to whatever God has for us!

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How can you help?

Please PRAY for us!

If you can, buy a t-shirt or necklace.

Buy a candy bar or greeting card.

Or, if you can, donate to our mission fund. It’s easy to do. Go to visitingorphans.org and click the DONATE button on the top right corner. You can put our names on it (Cassie, Jordan or Susan Rucks) with our trip information (Ethiopia & Uganda - June 2012 WAITING LIST). That’s it. So easy to do, but oh, SO WORTH IT to us and all those children!

Again, if you do not have the funds, that’s alright. PLEASE PRAY for us! 

THANK YOU for reading this post! It means so much to us; words can just not do it justice.

GOD BLESS YOU!