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Protect a Child

Category: GNI International Partners

Love at Christmas

Did you know that most “orphans” around the world have at least one living parent or another relative that they could live with?  So why are there so many orphanages?  There are various reasons why parents send their children to live at orphanages-vulnerability (poverty, abuse or violence) being the main one.

Did you know that there is a World Without Orphans movement with chapters in at least 40 countries?  Their mandate is to “pursue a world where every child is cared for in a safe and loving family, and where every child reaches their God-given potential.”  Go to https://www.worldwithoutorphans.org/declaration to read more about the declaration and how they are empowering families to keep their children, reintegrate children back in their homes or find foster/adoptive families so every child can live in a loving family instead of orphanages.

Why do I share this under the advent theme of “love”?  Because I’ve seen our Families of Blessing ministry in Thailand move away from the orphanage-style home to several families caring for the children in our care.  Unfortunately, it happened in a stressful way, but I see this as not being a setback but rather a set-up for some future good!

Some of our children can return home to their relatives during school breaks.  I was there when some of the children came back to Daniel and Joy’s, one of our Families of Blessing.  Erica and her dad met us after a day of fun at a waterfall.  Erica got in the van and Joy and I joined the rest of them after quickly picking up supper at the market.  There was Erica at the far end of the seat, head and body turned into the van window and away from all the other children.  When she got out of the van at the house, I pulled her into my arms to hug her, hold her and tell her that I loved her.  Joy then took her and loved her.  Erica was already missing her dad.

Another two girls in our care have mothers who dearly love their children.  Work can be done to reintegrate these girls back into their homes.  World Without Orphans talks about preparing the parents and children alike for being reunited.  Provide counselling for heart wounds.  Empower parents with employment.  Teach the parents about parenting and leading healthy families.  Pray that they accept Christ who brings complete transformation in cultural beliefs and way of life.  This is one aim of Good News International with some of our children in Families of Blessing.  We work alongside of God to change the life of not only one child but a family and community.

Psalm 6:8 says, “God sets the lonely in families.” We are thankful for our parents in Families of Blessing and the way they love the children and work with the families.

This Christmas, hug your loved ones, love those around you, and worship the Lord your God.  “We love because he first loved us,” I John 4:19.

Ride for Refuge #ride19

The morning of Saturday, October 5, was 5*C and rainy.  “What a nice day for a walk!”  While that might not have been your first thought, that is what Traci Johnston and over 500 others chose to do in the Ride for Refuge in Winnipeg.  By the time the bike ride/walk started, it was 15* but most were sporting rain gear or carried umbrellas.  Some were enthusiastic and even biked 50 km, although one such gentleman was chilled to the bone by the end since he was soaking wet.  However, spirits were not dampened as everyone was celebrating the funds raised for the charities they were passionate about.  There was an atmosphere of unity as 28 charities came together for a common goal of cheering each other on in the work they do for protecting others.  Participants were treated to a lunch afterwards and Winnipeg Police Cadets mingled as they had provided traffic detail for the event. 

Another team rode in Golden, BC, where it was chilly but Mom and daughters were enthusiastic to end trafficking and to provide rescue for those who had a dismal future working in the opium fields. It was so good to see them all power through the beautiful trails and come out victors, having accomplished their goal in riding and fundraising for a worthy cause.

Several teams rode in Cloverdale, BC, some walking 5km while others rode their bikes 10-110km! Rob, Judy and Amber Griffioen were all part of the celebration and were impressed with the organization, snacks and rest stops as well as the great lunch afterwards.

Thanks to all who supported Good News International! Without your support, it would have been just another walk or bike ride. Instead, 20 participants making up 6 teams in 3 locations, raised a total of $8,780! This provides complete yearly support for five children in Myanmar. We are encouraged and excited to watch this grow in the coming years. Thanks for being on our team!

A Father to the Fatherless

Separation anxiety is a real thing and every parent can relate stories of the time they left their toddler with a babysitter and the child cried and cried as the parents left. Every parent reassured the child that they would be back soon. But what if the parents didn’t return?

That’s what happened to Noah* and Nathan,* who are now ten and six years old respectively. Three years ago, their dad, who was a drug addict, disappeared and never returned. They don’t know if he is alive or dead. Shortly after this, their mother and their youngest sister went to China and they have not heard back from them or seen them since. Noah and Nathan were living with their grandmother, who is 70 years old. Since she didn’t have her own place to live, she remarried but now their new grandfather does not want the boys to stay with them because he cannot afford to feed them or send them to school.

The grandmother loves her grandchildren and searched for a Christian leader to take her grandchildren. During one of Steve’s* (GNI leader) evangelism trips, he went to investigate the story and, finding it was true, he offered to take the children to live with him. If he could not take them, the grandmother would have found someone else and Steve and April* felt God tell them to rescue these vulnerable boys. Please pray for these boys to know that they are loved by Steve and April and God, their true Father.

*Names changed to protect identity.

God’s Lightning Glory

Have you ever watched a storm approach and gone to take cover? Perhaps you’ve watched a tornado track, seeing whether you needed to head to the basement? Or watched a hurricane and prayed for those in the devastation? Or maybe you are like my (Traci’s) husband, Jason, and are a bit of a storm chaser. When we were first married, he went outside in a thunderstorm to try to photograph that “perfect shot” of lightning. He came back in to get a chair in order to steady the camera. However, when he grabbed a metal folding chair, I suggested a plastic one.

Ann Voskamp once wrote, “Our storms can be canvases for God’s lightning glory.” Let me share how God’s lightning glory shone through during our recent heartbreaking storm of transition from an institutional model (House of Blessing) to many family-style homes (Families of Blessing).

Rob and Amber were driving back from the city to the small town where our original House of Blessing was located. Rob had driven this road many times before but for some reason, he missed the correct exit and had to circle back. While in heavy rush hour traffic, they received an urgent phone call stressing that funds needed to be transferred immediately or a great opportunity would be lost. This wasn’t a hoax as it was from GNIM’s lawyer. It all happened because of a clerical error. Rob and Amber didn’t know how they would get to an actual bank branch in time to do so only to realize just then that God had put us right in front of one. Some would call that coincidence. I would call that God-at-work: “God’s lightning glory.”

Here’s another example: eleven children needed to be placed into three separate homes. These eleven children had become one family so how could we separate them? God had a plan! Six children stayed with J and A, the new houseparents that had come on staff earlier this year. Two children went to live with a pastor couple who were friends of J and A. God had earlier put it on this couple’s hearts to take in a couple children…and the best part?! They live close to J and A so the children can all go to the same school, same church and remain friends! The remaining three children went to another home where the father is a former chef…and the girls LOVE to cook! Again, “God’s lightning glory!”

It is in the darkest storm that “God’s lightning glory” shines the brightest!

*Photo credit: Photo by David Moum on Unsplash