Looking forward to it

We never presume upon God, but do you ever have the feeling that He is going to move in a big way? Not because He has to, but just because He does. That’s who He is: alive, one the move, and at work all around us.

I’m heading to Haiti today with fourteen others from six states and all four time zones. The youngest on the team is 17; the oldest in their 70’s. In fact, one us was born in every decade between the 1930s and the 1990s. Most have not been to Haiti. Most have not loved on orphans for a weekend or experienced the riches of God amidst great poverty. That’s about to change. God is on the move!

I have the same feeling around this year’s BIG Event on September 25th. God is on the move! He’s bringing the heart of Third World orphan care to hundreds at the Uptown Theater in KC. (Click here for more BIG Event info). Whether in Haiti, Uganda, or KC, you’re invited to do God’s work by caring for His kids. It’s a privilege, and we’re looking forward to it!

Hope in Haiti

Trace Thurlby, Live from Haiti

Can life change in six weeks? We know it can. Decisions become moments. Moments build into momentum, and life turns. We experience it personally. Haiti is experiencing it now.

It’s been six weeks since I’ve been back. When I stepped off the plane today, things were obviously better. From baggage claim to air quality, life is improving, but some things were still the same.

Rain still makes mud, and many people still endure in makeshift tents. With all the aid, this is especially mind-numbing and maddening. Yet, our team of 14 came with eyes wide open.

We’re from all four time zones and our ages span four decades. Despite our diversity, we all came to give and receive the love of a child. The joy of watching Hannah, my nine-year-old, play with her Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ far transcends my ability to describe it.

Yes, the battle still rages – hope and heartache in Haiti – but in the hearts of children we see that God can make all things new…and we are more than grateful. Nos Remen Ou! (We love you!)

Renise Matters

Hello, GO Family. Many of you have been faithfully reading this blog since Jan. 12. You’ve become attached to these children, like Renise.

On Saturday, March 20, Renise gave birth to her little daughter, Kimberly. We’ve been mum about the events surrounding that day, and the amazing God story that continues to unfold. During a dicey time of uncertainty for us (not for God), we needed to just be quiet.

Now we’re sending a full Renise update that Trace penned.

In the year before the earthquake, this little girl was sold into slavery by her parents; was sent back to her parents only to have her mother die in her arms; lived with her mother’s corpse; went back to her owners where she was sexually assaulted by 2 men at gunpoint; got fired from her slave work unworthy of even that; and was turned to the streets with a troubled pregnancy that would have taken her life. The earthquake freed Renise. Since January 12, she’s found a new hope in a most miraculous chain of events and the deep, daring love of others.

Guess where she’s at today? School. Her first day.

Hope. Love. Redemption. If you sometimes think these are words of mere bloated inspiration tossed about by preachers and politicians, consider Renise. The same God in her life is at work in yours. He can be trusted, even when the chips are down and we can’t understand.

Enjoy… CLICK HERE>> to read Renise’s story.

GO Updates

GO Update from Joe Knittig

GO Family,

God knows what He’s doing.

There’s a reason beyond theology as to why we partner with local churches in the field.  God is simply brilliant.  The Local Church is a dynamic network, unlike any other on the planet.  The combination of orphan care and the local church brings forth what C.S. Lewis called “the Deeper Magic,” that is and was before time began.  We see that every day here.

We shared it with you at The Big Event.  So many of you streamed forward at The Midland with prayer cards in hand:  your prayer requests for your lives.  We distributed those requests through a network of local churches, caring for orphans, in Africa, Asia, and, yes, Haiti.  Orphaned children and their church families pray for you and your needs – even today – without you or them having to go anywhere.  Dynamic.

The earthquake hit Haiti.  Our network of local church partners and their children all over the world are praying for their brothers and sisters in Haiti.  They feel a special kinship through GO to little ones in Haiti.  Dynamic.

But even as they ache, hope, and pray for Haiti – even as Haiti dominates our GO Project headlines – the work elsewhere hasn’t missed a beat.  That’s the power of the Local Church.  Organizational experts would say there’s a “terrific blend of centralization and decentralization” that allows this.  We know the reason is not a concept, but a Person:  Jesus knows what He’s doing.  Dynamic.

As buildings fell in Haiti, orphan homes and hope for children rose in Malawi and Uganda, as did prayers for children hurting a world away.  Hope will rise again in Haiti – to new heights, we believe.  Holding it all together is a divine, dynamic, incomprehensible flow that never stops at yesterday’s bad news, nor yields to geography or human limitations.

We have much continued work and dialogue with you concerning Haiti.  In the coming days, you’ll hear the next chapter of our Action Plan there.  On March 12, we’ll hold a Summit concerning Haiti in Kansas City.  For now, let’s take a minute to celebrate our dynamic God.  Let’s look at the work that continues on elsewhere in the world, and some exciting new faces here to work with you.

Thanks for venturing with us into this exciting journey for children.

Gratefully yours,

Joe Knittig

From the Field…

Malawi Update

Notwithstanding Rainy Season, Peter, Emma, and the Salima church keep plowing forward!

From groundbreaking to walls,  we expect it will be entirely finished at the end of this month.  The church will be large enough for 1,000 plus, and the school large enough to give 750 plus kids an education.

The first children’s homes are nearly done.  Like the church and school, the first homes should be done at the end of this month.  Each will house 10 children and a momma.

Pothawira is springing to life!  A raw piece of land – nothing on it but scrub – is teeming with activity and excitement.  And now we’re about to go to children.

As you know, we launched this orphan care work with a very special child:  Alpha Alanane Maseko.  Click here for a bit more on that story and its significance.

We thought you’d like to see that Alpha’s VERY surprised at her mom and dad’s amazing work at Pothawira.  Stunned even!

We have a team going in March to visit and encourage our partners in Malawi.  We’ll have a lot more pictures and video to give to you in a month.

Uganda Update

As with Malawi, so many of you have invested with your hearts and pocketbooks in our budding work in Uganda.  We’re pleased to report that work is cruising right along.

By way of background, we have two current villages in Uganda.  We’ve also forged a great partnership with the Church of Uganda (COU).  We have the first two villages with COU under way.  One is in SW Uganda, in Kabale.  The other is in Northern Uganda, in Lira.  Each will be home to 100 children.

Our partnership with COU commenced with a business.  A construction business.  Building orphan homes.  What else?

We purchased brick presses from Kenya – manual presses.  These machines churn interlocking bricks without having to cut down trees to burn and fire the bricks.  This is a strong and ecologically sound way to build.  In addition, by using manual presses, the construction of orphan homes is creating many jobs.  The transport of the machines and training of staff took a little longer than expected.  We anticipated having the first homes in each location complete and children off to school in January.  Now, it appears that it will be late March to early April when we hit this milestone.  This brief delay allowing us to do the construction right and create new jobs is well worth it.

When the bricks are complete, the building of the homes goes rather quickly.  The bricks lock together like a Lego set and require little mortar.

We were looking at sending a team to Uganda in April.  With all that’s happening in Haiti, and the slight delay in construction, that trip will likely get pushed back a bit.

We’re really looking forward to sharing the stories of the first children the Lord brings to us in Kabale and Lira.  I know so many of you are waiting with excitement to meet them.

We’re as confident as ever in our future with the children of Uganda.  The Lord has brought us just the right partnerships to do great things in His Name for orphans we’ve not yet met.

New Faces, New Adventures…

God continues to move on The GO Project.  As the needs to care for God’s kids increase, He faithfully brings partners and people to answer His call.

Our GO Project staff added three new faces this quarter.  Adrien Lewis, as our Community Director, will develop and deepen our partner relationships.

Trace Thurlby, as our President, will help anchor operations.

Additionally as Mike Farag, moves on to take the next steps with Fervor Marketing Concepts, his own Marketing Company, Sonya Wedel has come on board to serve as our new Marketing Manager.  We look forward to continuing to work with Mike and Fervor on key GO Projects in the future.  We greatly appreciate all of what Mike’s efforts has done for us and for God’s kids.  Thank you, Mike!  You are, and always will be, an important part of our GO Project family.

Haiti Summit-March 12-Save The Date!

Last week, you received a “Save the Date” notice.  On March 12, 6:30 p.m., at Westside Family Church, we will hold a GO Project Haiti Summit.  We’d love to see you there; to encourage you; to celebrate what we’ve been able to do together; to envision what’s next.

Please help us spread the word!  See you there!

Trace Thurlby Joins Global Orphan Project

For more information, contact: Mike Farag, director of communications

//FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE//

The Global Orphan Project Expands Leadership Team to Meet Increasing Needs in Haiti and Around the World

KANSAS CITY, MO (Jan. 21st 2010) Communicating from Port Au Prince, Haiti, Mike and Beth Fox, Founders, and Joe Knittig, CEO announced the addition of Trace Thurlby to the KC-based Global Orphan Project as their new President.

Trace recently served as COO for Bott Radio Network.  During his tenure, BRN grew from 25 broadcast outlets to more than 80. In addition to BRN, Trace brings financial experience from the investment industry and leadership skills developed in the military.

“Trace’s operational expertise and heart for our ministry will help us meet the growing need to care for orphans in Haiti and around the world.”  Joe Knittig.

“God pierced my heart for this ministry in 2006 during a GO Vision trip in Haiti. Ever since I’ve considered it a great privilege and joy to serve with Mike, Beth, Joe, and the incredible team at GO. The opportunity to care for God’s kids full time is an honor. I’m all in.” Trace Thurlby

The Global Orphan Project cares for the world’s neediest kids in the world’s neediest countries. Currently, Mike, Beth, Joe, Trace, and team are in Haiti to care for the newly orphaned following last week’s devestation. Thousands from across the nation have reached out to help through The Global Orphan Project. 100 percent of the donations made to the GO Project’s Haiti Relief Fund will be used to bring healing.

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About The Global Orphan Project

The Global Orphan Project is powered by Kansas City, MO.-based C3 Missions International, Inc. The Global Orphan Project provides practical outlets to care for orphaned and abandoned children living in extreme poverty. As a 501 (c)(3), donations to The Global Orphan Project are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.theglobalorphanproject.org.

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