Hope for “Dependents”

The life of a pastor in Uganda is an eye opener. We’ve been in Lira, northern Uganda.

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

Hello from Uganda.

Hello from Uganda.

What a great day yesterday. We started our day in Masaka with the first 30 children we brought into care in Uganda 2 years ago. It was the end of their school term. At the end of term, students have a program: singing, praise, thanksgiving. We were so fortunate to be here to see it.

I can hardly believe what 2 years of deep love can do for kids in the most difficult circumstances. I remember Day 1 for these little ones, most of whom lost their parents to AIDS. Grim. Yesterday, they were fully alive. In the program, they beamed with confidence in the love of Christ. There is a security there that they know cannot be moved or removed. That message lived out shook all of us on the team.

These kids have become pillars in their community. They’ve remained integrated in the community by serving others. Orphans serving and giving to others: how about that?

They are all from a nearby area called Mbira. Their pastor, JJ, and his wife, Harriet, have taken the lead in the care and nurturing of the children. JJ has planted a church in Mbira – a little wooden church that now overflows with 150+ members. JJ takes the kids there to serve others in this very poor community.

One person they serve is an 85 year old widow who can no longer tend her land. The kids farm her garden for her, so she has food to eat, and regularly tend to her care. That dear woman repaid this kindness by giving the church a large piece of family land. The kids farm that land and are producing maize. The church now operates a maize mill. Now the kids grow and the church processes their own staple food, from the land given by this widow.

Another person in Mbira sold 15+ acres to the church for $2500. Great land. Fertile. That site will now become a full blown children’s village around the bustling and growing Mbira church. The village will bring a school for 250 kids and homes for 100 orphans who are scuffling to survive. JJ and Hariet will move to the site and lead this effort. More homes will likely be needed. We’ll start with homes for 100. The surrounding villages (the people) will embrace this step to help their own children.

The first 30 kids from Masaka – the kids who came from Mbira – will move to the Mbira village. This is huge for them. The older kids especially are excited, as they view this as an opportunity to serve so many other kids like them in the same area where they once suffered. They now know what the love of Jesus Christ can bring – complete transformation of the heart, soul and mind. They’re not too little to understand. They’re living it.

Sorry to go on and on… It’s just amazing to see God’s work and creativity, and we want to share it with you. This work is about more than orphan care.

Today we are in Kabale in the mountains of SW Uganda. This new village recently welcomed the first 60 children. A women’s group led by Marsha Campbell funded this entire village. (Ladies, we’ll take lots of pics!)

Pure and faultless religion…

Wish you all were here with us.

Joe

Christ’s transformational love

Pastor Diton said that God’s using the church to demonstrate Christ’s transformational love. To explain, he introduces me to Stephen. Here’s a pic of Diton with Stephen.

Stephen lost both parents to AIDS. He made a go at survival on the streets. That ended with him being thrown into a fire. (He has horrible scars on his arm and torso.). He tried squatting in the homes of others, and was chased from home to home. There was no capacity for these families to care for their own children.

Then Diton found Stephen. And Stephen found family. In the name and at the compulsion of Christ, the local church welcomed Stephen into loving care with no strings attached. He is safe. He is healthy. He goes to school. He is loved. His life has been utterly and completely transformed. As he talks about what has happened in his life, he hopes in the present and future. He tells of blessing. Not death. Not fire. Not scars. Not rejection. Not shame. Blessing.

Diton says that people in the community walk by and stare. They see the church caring for the kids once thrown away. And they want to know why.

Now they do more than walk by and stare. They stop and ask. They come to church to hear and see why this is happening. And they are welcomed. And they are told. The explanation they hear is that Jesus loves us without condition, so that’s what the church is doing for the Stephens left behind. This message overwhelms.

For any skeptics of Christ’s power, try telling Stephen it’s not real.

This is how the church should love ALL. How simple, inspiring and humbling.

Joe

On the move in Africa!

Today, I’m in Uganda. I’m here with Adrien and the Long Hollow Church leadership. We arrived late last night, and drove to Masaka this morning. We spent the day at Kyotera Village, one of our children’s villages here.

Wow, what a day. We were all blown away by the great work of the local church at Kyotera.

Kyotera is in Rakai District, the epicenter of the African HIV/AIDS pandemic (the first discovered AIDS case in Africa was in Rakai). 2 years ago, there was a lifeless plot of land along a red dirt road here, with an empty building once intended to be a church plant. Enter Pastor Diton, a Ugandan pastor with a heart to serve the poor. Diton started a church 2 years ago in the empty building.

In the last 2 years, this church has come to life in a huge way under Diton’s leadership. The church now cares for 84 orphans (most of whom were on their own from AIDS impact in the family), and has become a growing community influence. As Diton said today, the Lord is transforming this community from “the bottom up” as the church brings the neediest children into family at the church. As an example, I’ll tell you about Stephen in a minute.

The church’s faithfulness is being rewarded. Long Hollow is going to take on the kids’ care, add several more homes, and fund a school for 250 children here. This work is exploding of life!

Here’s a pic of some of the cute little children’s homes at Kyotera. Thanks so much to the following for giving the 84 a shot: Enegren family, Moyes family, Heiniger family, Seyferth family, Breckon family, Bicknell family, and Church of the Resurrection.

Joe

April Newsletter

Global Update from Joe Knittig

God continues to move here and there to rouse us to action; to move His local church around the world to care for the neediest children. Let us give you a quick rundown of some of the activity you’ve launched through GO Project around the world.

Haiti:

In May, we will send out our next update on our Relief and Redevelopment effort. The hard work continues on that front. Today, we have 2,317 children in care in 85 homes in 26 villages throughout the country. And, we are growing. Our Relief and Redevelopment plan to launch 10 new villages in 2010 is looking like we may have undershot the Lord. 10 villages is beginning to look like 12-14 new villages. The situation and work in Haiti is dynamic; the God stories there coming daily. Please stay tuned to our blog.

Uganda:

This is an exciting time for our work in Uganda. In May, we expect to add 48 new children in Kyotera – the homes are done, outfitted, and ready to go to life. These children will have 48 new mates very soon! Here are some of the kids, the biggest kid being our own Mike Fox.

In Lira and Kabale, the unenviable job of canvassing communities to “select” those children of greatest need has been complete. Our first homes are now done, and the children will be moving in as early as tomorrow!!!

Here are some Lira and Kabale pics from March, as these villages stir to life.

We hammer home that GO Project catalyzes “local-church based care” for orphaned and abandoned children. Truly, that is a term of art. We’d love you to see how our local church partner in Uganda applies this vision, and disciples its leaders and church members into what this means and the unique nature of this model. Click here for the opening section of one of our local church partner’s training manual.

Please pray for the children coming into their new homes. The Lord is transforming their little lives.

Malawi:

One of our key partners on the Pothawira project is Colonial Presbyterian Church. Colonial is sponsoring this village, and recently sent church leadership to visit the site – and, more importantly, to encourage and thank Peter and Emma Maseko for their commitment and sacrifice in leading this project.

We’d like to share some photos from Colonial’s March visit…

This is a photo from inside the nearly complete church/school. The church sanctuary is 10,000 square feet. The school wrapped around the sanctuary is large enough to scale to 1,000 students!

The next photo shows the children’s homes raising from the ground at Pothawira. This is a duplex – 2 homes. Each of these wonderful homes costs just $5,000, and will house 10 children and a momma.

Of course, these works don’t just fall into place and happen. People make them happen; people there on the ground who

fight against the evil of poverty’s perverted tide; people with dreams bigger than themselves, hearts courageous enough to follow them, bodies rough enough to withstand the pain, and vision clear enough to see God’s Hand and smile in His peace. It’s the people who matter most. Them. And you.

All is on schedule for the dedication of the church and children’s village the first week in June. Join us in praying for a glorious new beginning for many in Malawi – from the bottom up.

Our Leaders - Peter Emma and Alpha Maseko

Working Hard in Malawi

Philippines:

We love to see new wine poured into new wineskins. And here we see it in Asia.

Mark and Mimi Comfort own Cruise Holidays in KC (www.cruiseholidayskc.com). They take great personal joy in bringing joy to others through travel and adventure. If you know them, you know they work from love and not the almighty dollar. The Comforts tied this joy and their business to another passion: kids. They’ve used their business to fund our first 3 children’s homes in Malaybalay, Mindinao, Philippines. A family – the Drayer family – joined in to fund #4. God blessed this work in a mighty way.

Thanks for taking a risk for children and establishing a GO Project beachhead in the Philippines. Let’s see where God takes this!

GO Family, God is using you to bring transformation around the world – in the lives of children and in your own lives. Thank you.

Slice of Life

I’ve gone like a rabbit to hole on this blog. Sorry. Great to be back.

I just went to have a physical. First one since high school!

On the drive home from the doc, I’m wondering what else is going on right now? Yeah, there’s a lot of hurt and fear right now in Haiti. But look around.

Rogelin’s hanging out. Another team just arrived. He’s seen a lot of people come and go. He loves it. All the kids there do. But Rogelin’s got a different look on life, so he doesn’t get too high; pretty darn solid. He’s probably thinking about starting school. He’s definitely wondering whether he’ll get to see his sister. That’s dominating his mind. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Rogelin, in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Miami, a team of lawyers with hearts undeserving of all your bad lawyer jokes are working through creative ways to re-unite Rogelin and his sister. God’s going to finish that story and is at work, now, on Rogelin’s case even as Rogelin thinks about whether it’s dinner time.

Renise is holding her baby wondering what’s next. But right this minute, she’s more at peace than she’s ever been. She’s safe. (More on that entire story next week – unbelievable)

Calix is loading his children into a truck, heading for their new home. He’s sweating and his heart’s pounding. What a ride. The earth shook. Walls fell. They starved. They pleaded to the Almighty. God provided. He sustained them. And now He’s starting them anew. Truth be told, Calix has mixed feelings right now. He’s happy and he’s scared. He’s turning that over to Jesus. Truck should be pulling out in about 30 minutes. Here we go!

And 4 hours north in Gonaives, our wonderful partner, El Shaddai, is still working through the basics of caring for 255 new children at 3 different local churches. 255 tooth brushes. 255 sheets. 255 bars of soap. 255 sets of clothes. 255 bowls, plates, forks, spoons. 255 children! Amidst this, the cooks there scramble to feed – 255 meals tonight! (255 more in the morning).

Right now, in the south, there’s a party being planned. C3 Global in Haiti opens a new store; a bizhub. Part Kinkos, part Office Max. Tomorrow’s the grand opening. Rob Boyer’s there smiling huge (way to go, Boyer). Yaniq, one of the employees, plans to sing praises to God at the ceremony tomorrow. She’s going through the song in her head, mouthing the words. Smiling. Today’s a day of a new kind of business.

And scattered throughout Haiti, contractors are working and people are meeting to make 10 new villages in 2010 reality. They’ll work into the night. This is their life. Work. That’s a BEAUTIFUL word – not a pain.

And a world away, in Lira, Uganda, workers have spent the day laying brick after brick after brick. Four homes, a kitchen, latrines. Kids are coming in 2 weeks. The committee finished “selecting” the first 20 children – a miserable lottery, because some kids won’t “win” this round.  We have more to do, and we will…God willing. The same noble work in Kabale, Uganda.

And in Kyotera, Uganda, where more than half the population of women has been desimated by AIDS, workers moved in brand new beds. 48 children who once had nowhere to sleep will curl up in soft beds – soon.

In Malawi, 10,000 villagers in Daniel Village near Pathawira marvel as the landscape changes. What a sight. A church, a school, a place for the children they’ve had to painfully step over. They’ve heard lots of promises. Today, sure enough, they see Peter Maseko’s men busting their butts turning that vast expanse into a place of transformation. No more “maybe one day.” It’s here. All this through that humble little church of Peter’s!

Spring is here.

Thanks for your passion and energy. Stay tuned.

Holiday e-newsletter

A Christmas Message from Joe Knittig:

Lead a Christmas season of TRANSFORMATION.

Romans 12:2 says:  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Conformity is a drag.  It’s isolationist; fearful; suffocating. It stifles sound risk-taking.  Today it tells us governments should take more money and “solve” more problems – not you through the decisions of your hearts.  Conformity today is hand-wringing and regressive.  Conformity is bondage.

What I love about The Global Orphan Project – about you who engage and give – is that you all are a growing Transformational group.  You’re counter-cultural.  Refreshing.  Unselfish.  Generous.  You are willing to take a risk for others – with your money and your hearts – even when the chips seem down.

I’ll prove it…

Let’s look at 3 pieces of information:  2 big picture and 1 tiny picture.

• First:  Philanthropy in America is down.  In 2008, giving in America was down 5.7% (adjusted for inflation) – the biggest drop since giving has been statistically tracked.  The numbers are expected to be worse in 2009.

• Second:  Poverty in the world is up.  An estimated 1.02 Billion people in the world are chronically hungry (i.e., starving to death).  Roughly 100 Million were added to this roll call in the last year.

• Third:  Amidst these global trends, there’s a plastic bag on the side of a road in Malawi.  The bag’s contents?  A baby girl infected with HIV, a rope around her neck used by a hopeless mother to try and choke the coming misery to death.

The pattern of this world says to grab our wallets and hold tight.  Ride out the storm.  Protect investments, just in case.  These problems are not our personal concern – let someone else deal with them until the economy improves.  And that little girl:  shed some tears, talk about what others should do, blame; but do nothing.

Your way, our way, is different.  Here’s what we’ve done:

• First:  While “philanthropy” trends down, you’ve grown The Global Orphan Project.  You doubled the growth in 2008, and are on track to grow the work another 25% – 35% in 2009, depending on December’s year-end giving.

• Second:  By God’s grace, your growth has our organization prepared to take care of many more children going forward – not get swallowed by poverty trends.

• Third:  That little girl survived.  She’s the first child in our GO Project in Malawi.  Her name is Alpha (First) Alanane (God With Us) Maseko.  She’s not trash.  She’s a beautiful child of God.  And we’ll help our partner take care of her and love her for as long as the good Lord allows.  She’s a gift.  These children, like Alpha, unearth a love in our hearts many of us didn’t know we had.

That’s TRANSFORMATIONAL.  You all drive and inspire this ministry.  This Christmas, I want to thank you.

I encourage all of us to kick it to another level.  Right now we have the perfect opportunity to grow this work to new heights, counter to “trends.”  Whether that happens is up to all of us.

Merry Christmas.

Faithfully yours,

Joe Knittig

Field Update

By God’s grace, we’re at the front edge of another growth burst.  Let’s look at 3 countries:  Haiti, Uganda, Malawi.

Haiti

Haiti’s been our training ground, our heart and soul.  We have more than 2,000 children in care in Haiti, alone.  In 2009, in the brutal aftermath of the hurricanes, we’ve focused a great deal on shoring-up and improving orphan care and schools in 16 existing children’s villages.

Our partners have been able to reunite children in care with family members who once could not care for the children, but are now able and willing to do so (with the church’s help).  That effort continues.  We pray that we’ll see MUCH more of this going forward.

We’ve sought out Village Sponsors – primarily churches, businesses, and families – willing to take on an existing village and take it to the next level of care.  That means funding needed infrastructure improvements, and taking on orphan care and school improvement costs for three (3) years.

For example, a family in South Florida is becoming a Village Sponsor of Cambry.  Churches in Kansas City, Lincoln, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Shreveport, and Las Vegas are stepping-up to become Village Sponsors at existing sites that need this relationship and attention.

If you, your church, or your business are interested in becoming a Village Sponsor in Haiti, Africa, or South Asia, contact us.  We’d love to make that happen.

We’re also growing new villages and homes in Haiti.

Long Hollow Church in Nashville is sponsoring an entire Village in Jeremie from the ground up.  Land, church, school, clinic, and a lot of children’s homes.  We’re targeting 300 children over the next year!

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church (right here in Kansas City!!!) is stepping-up in an exciting new project.  We’re at the front end with PV and a field partner in Haiti to develop a new village at Mole St. Nicholas in Northwest Haiti.  Stay tuned for updates about “The Mole.”

The Nebraska Global Orphan Project is official, focused on taking care of the children Fayeton village in the Gonaive region.

A family in Denver is stepping-up to help with a special needs orphan home in Haiti.

Folks from Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, and all over the country are sponsoring homes:  $5k to build the home for 10 children and momma; $400/month/home for 3 years to sustain it.  This is happening in various locations in Haiti.  In Port au Prince; Croix de Bouquet; Northwest Haiti.

We’re at the front edge of another growth explosion. And that means operational expansion.

In January 2010, GO Project Haiti will be in operation in Haiti.  We will have excellent Field Staff to help our partners oversee the work, train local leaders and caretakers, manage projects, and communicate better with you.

So many of you have walked with us through the brutally hard challenges of orphan care in Haiti.  We can’t thank you enough.

Uganda

Uganda is our fastest growing work in Africa.  We are thrilled with where we see the Lord taking the work there.

We have 2 existing villages.  Our first is in Masaka.  This is a small, solid, anchor work in Uganda.  The children in care there are thriving two years after they came in totally alone.  The other village is in Rakai District, Kyotera – the epicenter of the AIDS pandemic in Africa.  That village is quickly expanding from 48 children to 120 children.  Our local church partner at Kyotera is doing a wonderful job.

Here’s a fun clip of the kids with Mike Fox at Kyotera.

For the past year, we’ve been laying the groundwork for an expansive partnership with the Church of Uganda.  That hard work and planning is now bearing fruit.

Our first 2 villages with COU are under way.  One is in Kabale, in southwest Uganda (on the Uganda, Rwanda, Congo border).  This work is being funded by an all women’s group here in KC, led by our own Marsha Campbell.  (Way to go ladies!)  It’s an amazing story.  You’ll hear all about it soon.  The other village is in Lira, in war torn Northern Uganda.

At each location, by God’s grace, we’ll bring 100 orphaned children into 10 new local church based homes.  Our target is to have the first groups of children at each site in care by the time the next school term in Uganda begins – February 1.  We are on track for that reality.

We are now starting to plan the next Uganda village in Gulu, also in the north.  Truly, as we complete our initial villages with COU, the possibility to develop scores of children’s villages throughout Uganda is there – in a huge way.  Please pray that this will happen.

Like in Haiti, all of the Uganda growth means a growing need for a field presence.  In 2010, we will launch GO Project Uganda to help our partners in the field, and communicate better with you.  This will likely serve as a hub for all of our works in East Africa.

Malawi

Pothawira means “safe haven” in Chichewa, Malawi’s native language.  We’re pleased to report that Pothawira Village, at the direction of Peter Maseko, has launched!

The church, school, and first orphan homes are under construction.

This work epitomizes The Global Orphan Project.  Spanish River Church in Boca Raton has funded the church.  Mizzou for Malawi – a grassroots and viral student group at MU – has funded the school.  Multiple families have stepped-up to fund children’s homes.  Colonial Church in Mission, Kansas, has funded 1 well, and Watering Malawi another.  One5 (formerly ILF) and a group of St. Luke’s docs are planning and funding a birthing center and pediatrics clinic.  And Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas City (different than Colonial Church) is stepping in to sponsor the Village and care for the children.

This eclectic outpouring of generosity comes together in one simple village, owned by the local church, with all of us in a background supporting role.  Only God can orchestrate this.

And amidst this whirlwind we see one simple, representative little girl – Alpha.  That’s us.  That’s that stuff of transformation.  That’s The Global Orphan Project.

Pray for the Lord to continue His favor on and multiply this work to show many Alphas the love of the Lord Jesus.

Million Dollar Challenge Update & Unique Opportunity!!!

Donors agreed to match $500,000 dollar for dollar in 2009, as you all contributed funds for these needs and the basic, ongoing care of the kids – up to $500,000.  We ran the Challenge up through The BIG Event ’09, on November 8.  This was a huge challenge amidst the fears of a down economy.  But you all responded and nearly hit the full $500k!

Way to go!  The final tally you gave towards the Million Dollar Challenge was $973,303.10.  We fell just $26,696.90 shy of the target.

And as they say in the infomercials:  “But wait, there’s more!!!”  At year-end, if an individual or group will donate $26,696.9 to hit the full $500k, the matching donors will MATCH this gift.  They will put in a full $500k by year-end.

DONATE NOW

The BIG Event ’09 – The Power of Prayer

Thanks for making The BIG Event ’09, on November 8, such a memorable night.

So many of you who attended have contacted us to ask about our biggest needs, ready to contribute at year end.  Ready to spread the word to others.

We’ve set out our targets for Christmas and year-end, the most important giving time of the year.  We need all of us, all of you, pulling on the oars to meet these needs.  Let’s make our year-end push a huge success!

What We Want for Christmas…

It’s Christmas time.  Year-end time.  This is the most generous time of the year; a season that launches ministries, like ours, into the next year.

We need your help.

Check out our Christmas Catalog.  We have set out our biggest needs; our year-end targets.

Highlighting our push is the most basic need of the kids:  FOOD.  Outside of funding from home and village sponsors, we expect we’ll need to raise another $500,000 to meet the most basic food needs of our children in care, and the children coming in.  We plan to use this funding to produce food, too, via agricultural ventures.

We guaranty that every dime donated at year-end will be used in our orphan care programs.  100%.  None of it will be used to cover our overhead here.

Here are our “asks” of you

1. Please make a generous year-end donation to launch 2010;
2. Push this out to your circles – your family, friends, colleagues, churches.

You can give on-line.  You can give by check to C3 Missions International, Inc.  Just mail us at:

The Global Orphan Project/C3 Missions International

3000 NW 50th Street

Kansas City, MO 64150

You are, indeed, a Transformational group who show your love with your actions first.  You are doing something terrific in the world, and just getting started.  It’s a privilege to be your conduit.

God bless you.

Uganda

By the numbers	Village	Village Components
4 Homes 20 Homes underway 66 Children	Kyotera
	Masaka
	Kabale	10 Homes Currently Under Construction
	Lira	10 Homes Currently Under Construction