The event kicks off 15 miles east of Port-au-Prince on January 8, 2011. The group then rides west to Léogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. The following three days will be spent riding throughout the Les Cayes area of southern Haiti.  Stops will be made to spend time with orphaned and abandoned children, providing dozens of bicycle for each community.   The Tour d’Haiti will conclude with a scenic ride featuring coastal views on January 12.

The Tour is open to any person age 18 or older who is physically able to ride across the challenging terrain of Haiti. Space is limited to 25 riders. Participation requires a donation of $10,000 to advance the ministry to orphaned and abandoned children; a large portion of which will be tax deductible. Participants will be provided with food, lodging, air and ground  transportation to, from, and in Haiti. Participants will also be provided with a cyclocross bicycle, team clothing, helmet, sunglasses, casual wear and a Garmin Edge 305 gps-enabled computer.  For more information, please visit www.tourdehaiti.org or contact iv@tourdehaiti.org.

As for us, it’s fun to be a part of it!  It’s fun to watch Mike’s excitement and help another good idea take shape…honestly, we haven’t seen Mike move around this fast since people were trying to run him down in the 5K Fox Hunt earlier this year.  Most importantly, children will benefit, and that gets all of us excited!

Despite this head knowledge, approximately 26,000 to 30,000 children under the age of five living in extreme poverty die each day.  At The GO Project, we don’t view this truth as a guilt trip, but rather as an opportunity.  We get to take part in God’s plan for His children.  He invites us into His work.  We get to share!  Thank you for caring for God’s kids! 

* Studies show the earth can produce enough food for every man, woman, and child to have 2,720 calories per day – more than any of us need.  — United Nations food and Agricultural Organization

Today we learned that the building committee for Source De La Grace, a local church in one of the poorer areas of Port Au Prince, is taking the lead!  They organized a rotation of five volunteers per day from their church to donate work for the construction of the community’s school. They have taken over full direction for the church construction.  This will be a school, church, and orphanage built entirely by the congregation, whether employed or volunteer.   Their ownership of this project will likely save money, improve construction quality and on-going operations.  What’s more, it’s a great example of the Body of Christ working together!  Incredibly exciting!

The local church building the school at Source de la Grace

 “I’m so relieved to hear you say that,” she started.  “Ever since I learned of these problems, I wondered if you were going to pull away, and if you did, what would happen to our kids.”

 Joe and I were stunned.  This group had done nothing wrong.  The kids certainly had done nothing wrong.  Yet, this Champion’s concern was for the kids if we quit. 

We will not quit.  In fact, we are deeply committed to getting better – for the kids and for you, our partners.  What a privilege to serve with you!  Thank you for never quitting on God’s kids!

Salima, Malawi: our last stop in Africa. There we received a clear picture of the essence of The Global Orphan Project.

Here are some pictures of the Malawi project:

Church and School at Malawi.

Children's homes in the Malawi village.

Kitchen and dining area being built in Malawi.

And here is the picture of the essence:

Emma and Alpha

So many of you reading this have engaged deeply with GO Project. Whether in Haiti, Africa, or elsewhere, you’re in deep. When you first engaged, you saw children and the miraculous transformation that occurs in their lives with a little investment of money, and consistent, enduring investment of heart. Simple. Pure. Right. That’s what drew you in.

As you get deeper into the journey, some complexity may blur the vision. You see challenges, and feel disappointed at times. The well you funded went dry. New showers and latrines are needed. School’s not open this month for a myriad of reasons that don’t compute in our way of thinking. No one can neatly explain the full life game plan for each child. Etc… When we get deeper into the work, we see the myriad of challenges of caring for kids who’ve been hurt, abandoned, and abused. Caring for them isn’t really a quick turnaround and done situation. It’s a day-by-day-by-day battle of love amidst brutal earthly conditions, where complete dependence upon the Almighty is not a luxury, but a daily bread necessity. It’s real easy to get so deep inside the earthly challenges, that we lose sight of the simple clarity at the heart of the ministry.

And then the Lord refocuses our vision, and reminds us: He is in control. The battles and challenges of orphan care do NOT alter the essence, which remains simple, pure, right. We must choose: what do we see?

When Adrien and I got off the plane in Malawi, we were greeted by our local partners, Peter and Emma Maseko. God’s reminder to us rested upon Emma’s back. Alpha Alanane Maseko.

Last year, Peter learned of a newborn baby tied in a plastic bag, dumped on the roadside. Miraculously, the baby survived. The authorities knew Peter and his wife, Emma, and knew the work the Lord called them to in Pothawira Village for orphans (Pothawira means “Safe Haven” in Chichewa language). But the work was just starting. No homes were done. No school. No clinic. The village was just a future vision and a plot of land. The child in the bag was NOW.

God put this child before them. The mandate of orphan care does not commence at our right time, or when the complexities of construction projects are through. The purity of orphan care is not found in the challenges of its trappings. Nor does it depend upon our notions of comfort, stewardship, disappointment, or challenge. So what did Peter and Emma do? They adopted the baby girl as their own child, committed to love her all the way, and named her Alpha (first): the first blessing God brought to them in this orphan care work.

The Masekos later learned for sure what they suspected – Alpha’s HIV positive. She was a discarded “AIDS baby” likely from a mom who didn’t expect to live long. Can you imagine the risk and courage it takes for a husband and wife who’ve raised 8 of their own children to fully expose their hearts to love this child?

Alpha’s not made a single decision about her life. She made no decision to be born. She made no decision to become HIV positive. She made no decision to be tied in a bag and dumped on a roadside minutes after birth. She made no decision to survive. Yet, she is no mistake.

Here is this mommy and daddy, Peter and Emma, who love Alpha all the way – without a single condition being placed upon Alpha. Here is Emma carrying Alpha on her back. What do we see in these pictures? Challenges of building. Disappointments, heartache, and frustrated expectations that are sure to come in the future? A project to be managed? Funds to be raised?

Or do we see a love so simple, risky, and abandoned that it threatens the integrity of our sins of self-protection?

This ministry isn’t about clinical models of “orphan care.” It’s not about cause. It’s about love and freedom of the heart. When I think of the love of Jesus Christ, I think about Peter, Emma, and Alpha. It’s as practical as it is mysterious. The givers receive.

I am grateful to be part of this with all of you. Thanks.

Joe

Woodman Valley Chapel 8/5/2010 by The Global Orphan Project

Or you can watch the sermon in its entirety, here:

Awaken – Part 2 from Woodmen Valley Chapel on Vimeo.

We arrived to find the pastor hosting us in mourning. He just learned his 6 year old “daughter” died. She drowned. Digging deeper, we learned it was actually his brother’s daughter. Culturally, he considers his niece his own child. That’s important because his brother and his wife are both “sick” (meaning they have AIDS). The pastor embraces that their children will one day be with him in his home – his children.

We had only a short time with the pastor before he left to prepare for the burial ceremony. In that short time at his home, we found he now has 22 children he’s caring for. 7 are his biological children. The rest are “dependants.” These are orphans from relatives or nearby friends. The burden of care has fallen to the pastor, and they are family. He does all he can for them. This is the way – reality.

Hearing this, we surveyed other church leaders in the room. Each one cares for dependants in their homes. One man has no biological children with his wife. They have 5 dependants.

Here’s the problem…

There are too many dependants who have no one like the pastor or other leaders in the room. This extended family system is beyond saturated. Consequently, children suffer and die.

This is where you all come into play, GO family. We work with churches to expand their capacity to care for the children at the bottom – the ones with no support network. We don’t take the dependents from the pastor’s house. In this cultural fabric, they should be with him. Rather, we help the local church reach those who have no one to be dependent upon.

In Lira, the church has started its ministry to these hurting children. The first 20 girls arrived in care in June. Malnourished, sickly, scared, they arrived alive. Praise God. The local church body has poured love into these girls in a simple and safe environment. The children go to school, many for the first time. That’s not easy. For example, a 9 year old girl is enrolled in what we’d call kindergarten. It’s not easy. But it’s good.

Local church leaders are spending time with the children, each day. It’s not just the children and the mommas, alone. That’s the beauty of the local church. This is an extended family that has grown.

One church leader, Tomali Okao, is in her 60s. Her husband was murdered by the Amin regime, and she raised 7 of her own children and the dependents God placed in her care. Tomali now embraces these children as her own. She bought 20 small pine tree saplings and planted them with the children behind their homes to grow with them. Tomali has hope for the kids, offers great wisdom to them, and shows her love in practical ways. Tomali and many others now have more dependents, more family members. They just need a little help to carry this burden. GO family, you’re providing that modest help.

And look what can happen… Here are a couple of clips of the girls at Lira, just 2+ months since they arrived filthy, hurting, and malnourished.

Don’t get me wrong. There are and will be many challenges with these girls. But Jesus is much bigger than our circumstances, and He provides many, like Tomali, to stand lovingly in the gap.

Just take a minute to celebrate this scene. The girls just got home from school. They’re playing. They’re laughing.

God is good.

Faithfully yours,

Joe

On the bus heading to Phaeton to love on more than 100 kids with an incredible team of 17 Bloncs from four time zones.

Randy and Tiffany Wild from O’Fallon had their heart pierced for orphans in their first trip to Haiti in 2009. They decided to build a home and have been full speed ahead ever since….literally. Randy helps organize boat “poker runs.” Whatever a poker run might be, I was told this is NOT a boat race. Take a look at Randy’s boat with The GO Project logo he put on it and tell yourself….it’s not a race . Tiffany has organized a Shop-a-Thon in a few weeks…that’s right more than 50 ladies “Shopping for Orphans”. 20 percent of what is spent will go to orphans.

Damon Arrendondo is a 20-year-old going to school at Mesa State who came with his buddy, Frank, to play soccer with orphaned kids. This morning he made a Haitian breakfast sandwich with an egg, alvacado, and mango. He may be on to something…after all, this is a different kind of ministry.

I wish I could tell you all the stories. You’ll just have to come with us. We’re at Phaeton now. The kids are singing, “Worthy is the Lamb!” Amen!