Hope For The Nations

In Memory of Jason Longeuay

I had recently gotten back in touch with an old childhood friend, named Jason Longeuay(far left in photo).  We went to school together all the way up to graduation, and kept in touch off and on since then. We began chatting on facebook, and he soon heard about what Hope for the Nations was doing in Kenya. I was planning on a visit in March 2013, and Jason was eager to help in some way. 

Anyone who knew him, knows he was a caring, playful guy, who loved action figures. He wanted to help the children recieve toys, but agreed it should be what ever they needed most, so he was willing to give, just to help. 

Upon my return to Canada, after just a few short days of being home, I got a call from his brother, that he had passed away suddenly. I was struck with such grief, so much ahead of him, so much he looked forward to....so much love to give, and life yet to experience. 

To honour his memory, I looked at what he loved most....toys and kids, and it seemed so right to make a donation in his name for some toys for the beautiful Kenyan children.

With any donations recieved in Jason's Memory, we will buy games and lego, balls, and what ever else we can for 22 precious children at Kiungani Children's Home in Kitale Kenya.

City girl goes rural!

Winnie's first time milking "Valerie"!

Please meet Winnie, she recently joined the Kiungani Home in Kitale, Kenya. She loves children, has a background in helping various aide organizations with a medical background, and through being married to Dalton, has landed herself now in the beautiful home of Kiungani Children's Home! 

I had the pleasure of getting to know this amazing lady. Intelligent, loving, and eager to be part of the team....she undertook a big step while I was there. She decided it's time for her to learn to milk a cow. One cow has been affectionately called "Valerie". Here is a photo of Winnie's first experience milking a cow! 

Where do I fit in?

As an Ambassador of Hope, for Hope for the Nations, I'm a connector. I help people understand how they can help, because what I have found is that people care and are not sure what to do. 

On my recent trip to Kenya I was laying some ground work for an entrepreneurship program I've been helping to put together. The only thing is....I'm not a business owner or a business advisor. I'm a mom and I wondered how it would all come together! I knew God would guide me as I walked out this adventure. 

I was so amazed. God needed ME, that's why He sent me. He needed a mom, to come gently love on the children that so desired that. He needed an artist, to paint murals on every bedroom she came in touch with so the children could imagine what the sea is like. He needed a homemaker to carefully observe the goings on of the homes to see if there was anything we could help improve, he also needed a seamstress to mend some clothes, but he also needed someone to gather information and begin to lay ground work for Project Entrepreneur.  

I did work on budgets, and observe the lay of the land and needs of the people, but I am so glad I have people around me that want to help. I see we all have something we can do to help. From kicking a soccer ball around, knitting, handy men, farmers, dentist, doctors, to business men. WE are what is needed. People to come along side and say, "I'm here, I care, and I want to help." You can't imagine what a blessing it was to be there, and to see how much they appreciated the love and support they are given. 

They wanted me to say a big huge THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!

Finding My Heart In Kenya

Here we are painting murals of the ocean!

I want to thank everyone that donated to this amazing trip. I was not sure what to expect as I have never been to Kenya before, but what I found was a surprise to me. You see, I found my heart in Kenya. What I mean by that, is that it took me about million miles and fresh eyes to remember what it is that's IN my heart.

I wondered how different it was there, but what I found is so many similarities. I divided my time between two homes, Bethlehem Children's Home and Kiungani Children's Home. At both of the homes, and almost everyone I spoke to, I found that we were all parents. We are all looking to provide a future and a hope, we are parents looking to nourish our children with healthy food, we are parents looking to provide a good education for our kids, and ways to help them achieve goals in life. We want to work hard to ensur we can provide these things for our kids.

I spent time with the children painting murals on their bedroom walls, we played games, read stories, we chatted and made some improvements and I loved every moment of it. I did some budgeting with the parents. That's when I realized, I'd been so busy trying to provide so many things for my own kids, that I'd been forgetting to play with and enjoy my own kids. I had remembered what was IN my heart. I love kids.

It was such an honour to spend time together, enjoying one another and learning about eachothers lives, hopes and dreams. I am already thinking of my next trip! 

Preparing for Kenya!

From snowy Ontario to warm Kenya

The children I am going to visit have never seen the ocean in person, and their walls are in need of some decorations, so I am going to paint some ocean creatures on their walls! I plan on having them help me and I hope they will be as thrilled as I will.

I will be doing the ground work for project entrepreneur, as well as some budgeting with our friends, but what I look forward to most is playing with the kids and getting to know Dalton, Linet and Joseph more. I have many plans for stories, crafts, and games.

I have been amazed as I've watched this whole adventure play out. In the beginning I had a husband in school and with homeschooling and caring for our 6 kids, it seemed almost a bit crazy to think I'd be able to go!

I told God if He wanted me to go I would, and He'd need to make a way, and has He ever! I was  invited to speak at a ladies coffee time at a church, had an interview with the local paper, shared with my home church and just have had so many people support, encourage and pray for me. I am so thankful, and reassured, that when He gives the vision, He gives the provision! 

This is my first time to Kenya, and I am hoping to help and to bless in every way possible, but I know mostly I will learn and just be so blessed to glean from and hear the stories of our Hope family.

I have most things I need for this trip although there is one more thing on the "wish list" that is yet to be secured....mosquito nets.

$9 for one mosquito net and we need 40 of them. I would so love to be sure that all of our Hope family has a mosquito net. It's so important to protect thier health. Please feel free to contact me if you'd be able to donate towards that gift of mosquito nets, or wish to run a fundraiser for it! 

Thank you so much for all that have supported this mission! It truly would not be happening without your willingness to help.

Stay tuned for more on this wild adventure! 

Project Entrepreneur

There are so many amazing kids and young adults being loved, cared for and mentored in Kitale Kenya.

When I have spoken to the kids they have such hope for their future. They all have dreams, to become doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, and many other careers.

We want to help put tools for success in their hands. Tools to help parents of the home to successfully provide a sustainable income, and tools for the young people to be able to recieve the education they need to attain their dream career.

Project Entrepreneur will train and equip people to learn how to decide if a business is viable, to create business plans, and learn accounting. To provide a format they can use to go from idea, to a successfully running business that helps to sustain their home and funds they could put away for school. Not only impacting their home, but their future, and their communities.

Please consider donating towards this project.......help us put keys to success in their hands!

Project Entrepreneur!

Tomorrow's Leaders!

There are so many amazing kids and young adults being loved, cared for and mentored in Kitale Kenya. 

When I have spoken to the kids they have such hope for their future. They all have dreams, to become doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, and many other careers. 

We want to help put tools for success in their hands. Tools to help parents of the home to successfully provide a sustainable income, and tools for the young people to be able to recieve the education they need to attain their dream career.

Project Entrepreneur will train and equip people to learn how to decide if a business is viable, to create business plans, and learn accounting. To provide a format they can use to go from idea, to a successfully running business that helps to sustain their home and funds they could put away for school. Not only impacting their home, but their future, and their communities.

Please consider donating towards this project.......help us put keys to success in their hands!

A lady with a heart!

Brenda Neufeld and I

I had the most amazing visit with Brenda Neufeld yesterday. She took over the Macpherson Arts and Crafts Store in St. Mary's, Ontario after her parents retired several years ago.

Brenda and I have much in common, we love art and kids. I was blessed to hear her heart and desire to help children in need. She agreed to have a jar at her till with some of the Toonies for Tuition brochures to collect toonies! I was so thrilled by her offer to participate. Just like the name of the program says...the money raised goes to help kids pay for tuition, uniforms, texts, books, a back pack, supplies and an exam fee! 

Please feel free to check out the Toonies for Tuition page to see how you can help get these kids into school! 

It didn't take long before we both felt there was a special relationship brewing. I am looking forward to seeing where her heart for helping kids takes her. I know she has some amazing ideas brewing....but that's a different post.

Adventures of an Ambassador

When Ralph Bromley, the president of Hope for the Nations spoke to me about a position called Ambassador of Hope, I was beyond thrilled. I have a heart for children at risk and hadn't found a way to help yet. This position just suits me because I love to talk about what exciting ways people can help, and love to hear of the projects going on to help the kids all over the world.

What I am finding is that people want to help. People like myself. A heart of compassion and not sure what to do with it.

I spoke to a retired teacher the other night at a Christmas banquet, and he was telling me about how he had a desire to help kids abroad and was so discouraged because he hadn't found a program yet that wanted his hands on help. I said really? Guess what I do? Help people get connected in a way they are passionate about! I am excited to see what happens with this man and his hopes of helping educate children abroad.

I have been invited by a local church to share breifly about Hope for the Nations and the Dynamic Transformation Home in Kitale, Kenya. I am so blessed to have an opportunity to share about such wonderful work being done to help children.

What an honor. I am so thrilled to be on this exciting journey, helping todays ophans become tomorrows leaders!

Why do I do it?

How lovely are the feet of those who bring the good news...

A lot of people wonder how I am able to be a mom of 6, homeschool, look after the home, be on a board for the local foodbank and find time to be involved with Hope For The Nations.

I would go so far as to say some even may be disapproving. What business do I have pursuing something other than looking after my kids?

Well, the truth is, I just read stories like the ones below. A mere child with no parents, Saping was unwanted, beaten, starved, cold, who once was in darkness but now knows what it is like to be loved and wanted.

I have a hard time turning a blind eye to injustice. Once you find out something, you can't un-know it. Oh, it can get quieter as life carries on, but we must be diligent in listening to that still small voice that calls us to help.

My children are so proud of me, they say. "Mom! You are telling the whole world about Cambodia kids!" Not exactly, but what they see is that there are kids at risk, and we need to help them. They see that their mom is doing something, and it encourages them too. I can't carry on sleeping in my cosy warm house with love abounding everywhere, knowing full well, there's a child somewhere with no idea what life can be like. I am compelled to DO something. Put action with my faith.

I can't do it all, but together, we can turn today's orphans into tomorrow's leaders. 

http://www.hopeforthenations.com/posts/post.aspx?post=376

Nadine Willis,

Ambassador of Hope