Naomi Nkinyi preparing dinner for the orphans at Lynsi Love Orphanage

I’ve got a great story to tell you about how your gifts to the Education Fund are making it possible for one of many grateful orphans to receive an education and life skills that will help her to become self-sufficient.

Many African orphans cannot attend school, as paying school fees becomes impossible. They consequently lack the neccesary education needed to get jobs or start their own businesses. To give older orphans a chance, our good friend, pastor Peter Kingoro, has opened an entrepreneurship program just for them. They are trained in business skills or tailoring, depending on their preference.

The letter below was a scholarship request that we received from a young Christian woman in Nairobi, Kenya, who, because of your compassion, is now benefiting from the training and education she is receiving in Peter’s entrepreneurship program:

Dear Heaven’s Family,

I am Naomi Nkinyi born 21 years dropped out of school at primary school level. My parents died in the tribal clashes in the famous Mt. Elgon. I was only 11 year. I was taken in by my auntie who made me a slave as I could only wake up at 4:00am to cook for everybody before going to school. This abuse affected me mentally and performed poorly in class. I found no love from my auntie and her husband.

After my primary school, they made me house maid and did not even gave me anything to meet my needs. This prompted to seek for love in a wrong way. I was involved in fornication got pregnancy and was thrown out of that home. I married the young guy who also did not have parents. I am currently cook for orphans at the orphanage, but need sponsorship to pursue entrepreneurship course. This will help start catering to do hotel business and have a bright future for myself and my family.

Naomi Nkinyi

The entrepreneurship course Naomi refers to in her letter is a six-month course that only costs $90. After receiving six similar letters from older Christian orphans, we granted them all scholarships to pay for their entrepreneurial training. We hope to report on these orphans’ success stories once they graduate and start their own businesses. Your compassion is truly a dream come true for Naomi and the other five students!

You’re Helping to Provide an Education for Orphans and Young Adults Around the World

100% of all contributions to the Education Fund are used to provide schooling and education for poor children and young adults around the world.

Thanks so much.

Director, Education Fund

Rebecca, Joseph and Hellen are all students who have received HF scholarships for the entrepreneurship course

Haiti’s beauty lies in the faces of her children, who seem to smile so easily despite the very difficult living conditions there

Tuesday morning finally arrived, and I rolled out of bed excited about the day ahead. This was the last full day of my five-day trip to Haiti to check on the progress of our relief efforts there. Today our ministry friend, Pastor Preval, and I were looking forward to delivering food to several groups of needy believers in Port-au-Prince, including a stop at Mt. Zion Orphanage. (Click here to read a report in our March newsletter about Mt. Zion.)

I wish you could have been with me that entire day to enjoy the many expressions of thanks I received on behalf of you who have given—smiling faces, warm handshakes, sweaty hugs (it’s always hot there this time of year), and even a kiss! Well, I hope I can at least bring you along through words and pictures.

Our first stop was at a bulk-food warehouse to purchase $1,000 worth of rice, beans, and cooking oil. This warehouse wasn’t Costco or Sam’s Club, however, and the shotgun-carrying guard confirmed that. Port-au-Prince has made some significant progress since my last visit there a week after the January 12th earthquake, but it remains a dangerous and desperate place. After loading our beat-up old Land Rover to its capacity, and covering everything with a tarp to avoid attracting unwanted attention, we were on our way.

“Premium” American rice, beans, and cooking oil is stacked, left, and then loaded into our Land Rover

We planned that our first food delivery would be to a small camp where a few dozen people from one church were taking refuge. Preval informed me on the way, however, that their location was too dangerous for us to take the food to directly. He feared that we would be mobbed by other people in the area. Naively, I did not realize that all this food made us a target. In much of Port-au-Prince, people are everywhere and never seem to sleep, desperately trying to make enough money to survive another day—and secrets are hard to keep. Instead of going to the camp, therefore, we made a low-profile delivery at the house of the pastor who serves the people there, leaving about six large sacks of food that he would deliver to them in smaller portions.

Next, our Land Rover groaned and rattled its way to Preval’s own church, up eroded rocky “roads” that wound through the tightly packed houses, shacks, abandoned vehicles, and other various discarded materials that seem to fill every nook and cranny. When we finally arrived, I saw about eight tents erected in a small church yard surrounded by walls. Also in this yard were four or five outdoor classrooms filled with children in school uniforms. Several tarps stretched across the area to shield them from sun and rain. After unloading some of our valuable cargo and taking many photos (I can’t resist when I see precious children whom Jesus loves!), we moved on to Mt. Zion Orphanage, just a few minutes away.

Unloading food at the camp near the church

School was in session when we arrived; the food we delivered was for the people who lived in the tents in the background of the left photo

A curious neighborhood boy and a shy school-girl

I enjoyed seeing the children of Mt. Zion Orphanage again, and they seemed to enjoy seeing me! Many children were just returning from school when we arrived, and one little girl greeted us with a kiss on the cheek. They quickly gathered around, and many hammed it up for my camera.

The orphanage compound, small as it is, looked much more organized and back to normal than when I visited in January. They’ve moved back into their home during the day, but continue to sleep in one large tent at night, still fearing the aftershocks that occasionally return to remind them of that awful day in January. We unloaded some more of our life-giving cargo, and also left some clothes, toys, and a little candy that I brought.

Mt. Zion gets some food, left; director Widelson standing, with sleeping tent behind him

Some of the beautiful girls that live at Mt. Zion Orphanage

By now our load was getting lighter, and our joy at being able to serve our needy brothers and sisters was growing. We drove southwest, towards the outskirts of the city, then made one more arduous climb in our Land Rover up a yet steeper and more deeply rutted path/street (Land Rover’s reputation for building vehicles that go anywhere is well-deserved). We passed one of the larger tent cities on the way.

When our path came to an end, we found ourselves at a very small church in the midst of various small, dilapidated cement-block houses of the type that characterize Haiti. I was told that there was an eighty-year-old pastor who served a congregation there numbering fifty-five or sixty people. His name was Pastor Clermonier, and we met his son, Daniel, and his family, as well as his brother-in-law Cressant and his oldest son, Jeff. We also brought them a tent.

Almost the entire right wall of Pastor Clermonier’s church had collapsed, but thankfully two columns prevented the roof from caving in. The small home that Clermonier, his wife, and his son’s family lived in didn’t fare so well (half of it collapsed), but no one was seriously injured. Preval told me of his heart for Clermonier’s ministry, and of his desire to rebuild his home for him.

Pastor Clarmoniet’s church (with missing wall at left), and with Pastor Preval

Pastor Clarmoniet’s son Daniel, his wife Tina, and daughters Sephora (2) and Salina (7) stand in what remains of their home

Little Sephora as cute as she can be with her hairdo-in-progress!

With only a couple bags of food remaining, we headed back towards Preval’s home. On the way, a woman from his congregation met us on the street. We gave her the remaining food for her family, completing our mission for the day. It was so awesome to be able to deliver the much-needed food—God’s love for them provided through spiritual family members like you! My heart was full of joy.

Although the need is so great, it is wonderful to be able to serve Jesus through these people who are still so much in need. And by purchasing the food locally, we are also helping the economy to recover. As the economy gets back on its feet and more Haitians are able to find jobs again, we’ll be able to help other hurting brothers and sisters in another part of the world. Thanks so much again to our friends who have given in the past few months to help disaster relief victims in Haiti and elsewhere. If you would like to contribute to the Disaster Relief Fund, please click here.

Because of Jesus,

Jeff Trotter

Director, Disaster Relief Fund

Some of the Indian families who lost their homes because of the persecution in Orissa. They were driven from their villages when they were attacked by Hindu fanatics. Heaven’s Family is helping them build new homes on new land.

“There is no limit to the joy these poor persecuted believers had at the ground breaking of each of their houses,” Pastor John Vincely wrote. He was reporting about Christians who were affected by the recent persecution in Orissa, India. Their homes were destroyed by radical Hindu mobs in August 2008.

Because of your gifts to the Persecuted Christians Fund, believers are rejoicing who lost everything in violent rampages aimed at eradicating Christianity from the Indian state of Orissa. The Hindus were so bold that they burned down houses and took over the Christians’ land. For nearly two years, these Christian families—displaced by the persecution in Orissa—have been living in tents at refugee camps.

Extended families have been living in tents at refugee camps for nearly two years while praying for a break-through

Although the Indian government has not afforded them justice, it has recently provided help for refugees to obtain property near a neighboring village. Twenty-four families have been able to purchase their own tiny plot of land (50 x 15 feet) and begin construction of their new homes, helped, in part, by Heaven’s Family. Twenty-five other families from the same village are working to save enough money to complete the purchase of their land. We hope to help them with their new homes as well, which are quite inexpensive by Western standards.

Construction of new homes for twenty-four Christian families who lost everything in the August 2008 attacks

At a groundbreaking ceremony, the families rejoiced at what our Lord has done to provide for their needs. Materials have been purchased in bulk, and labor on all twenty-four houses is being done at the same time. Soon, families will be living in their new homes.

Raj Kumar (2nd from right), his wife, and five daughters had their home burned to the ground and lost their farm land when Hindu fanatics attacked. The morning after, the mob returned while Raj was at the police station pleading for help. His wife and daughters survived by locking themselves in a concrete building with iron gates, which the attackers could not penetrate. Here they pose with Pastor John (far right) at the groundbreaking ceremony of their new home.

Thank You for Standing with Our Spiritual Family During the Persecution in Orissa

Thank you for sharing in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Your contributions to the Persecuted Christians Fund have expressed the love of Jesus, and have touched the hearts of those who have endured hardship for their faith in Him.

Together in the Master’s Plan,

David Warnock
Director, Persecuted Christians Fund

A quake survivor who lost ten members of her family gestures in prayer while holding onto her nephew in Gyegu, Yushu County, following the April 14th earthquake. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Dear Friends,

I’m sure you’ve heard about the 6.9 earthquake that struck a remote area of Qinghai Province, northwest China, last week. The damage centered on the Tibetan town of Yushu, home to 85,000 people. More than 80% of the buildings there have collapsed. The death toll is over 2,000, with many people still missing. Thousands of people are without shelter.

I’m glad that I Was Hungry is connected with those in China who rushed to the Yushu region to offer emergency supplies and a Christian witness. Within hours of the earthquake, a team travelled to the disaster zone to help. Most of the team members were involved with the earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan Province in 2008, in which we were also involved. The combination of their loving help and bold witness for Jesus Christ saw thousands of people in Sichuan come to faith in Jesus.

At left: Rescuers carry a 13-year-old Tibetan girl, who had been buried in the ruins of a collapsed hotel for more than 50 hours. (REUTERS/Donald Chan) At right: Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Night-time temperatures in Yushu are below freezing, and so the Chinese team initially provided blankets and warm coats to afflicted people. Now they have put together five-hundred emergency aid kits to help the worst-affected families. Those kits include a solar panel and battery lighting system and USB charger, a USB-heated blanket, ten pounds of rice, a liter of cooking oil, a first-aid kit and a cooking pan.

Each kit costs $100 for the items and delivery into the hands of the most needy families in Yushu. I Was Hungry has paid for emergency kits for thirty families so far. We’d like to help more families.

If you would like to help us with relief efforts in Tibet by contributing to our Disaster Relief Fund, you can give securely by credit card through our website by clicking here, or by calling our office during regular business hours (8:30AM – 5PM EST) at (412) 833-5826.

If you are familiar with our policy, you know that 100% of all gifts to the Disaster Relief Fund are sent overseas to provide relief for disaster victims in the name of Christ. All administrative costs are paid by the general fund of Heaven’s Family. (We are, of course, continuing our earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, as Jeff Trotter, director of our Disaster Relief Fund, is there right now.)

I also ask that you pass this on to your compassionate friends along with your recommendation of Heaven’s Family, as that might also be a means to meet urgent needs and answer prayers in Tibet.

Sincerely in Christ,

David

David Servant
Director, Heaven’s Family

Bishop Jean de Dieu Nsabimana of Burundi, East Africa with a copy of his Kirundi translation of The Disciple-Making Minister

As Jean de Dieu Nsabimana was growing up in Burundi, East Africa, he saw the churchgoers in his neighborhood as being no different from anyone else. They demonstrated the same selfishness, hatred and divisions as everyone else. He saw no reason to join them.

While reading the Bible on his own, however, Jean realized that all sinners will go to hell unless they repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was quick to turn from his sin and become a genuine follower of Christ. Soon afterwards, the Lord gave him “marching orders.” He knew the Lord wanted him to be baptized and bring holiness and love back to his neighborhood church.

After being baptized and attending worship regularly, church elders recognized Jean’s love for God and his knowledge of the Bible. They asked him to lead a prayer team, and within a few years he was appointed to be an elder, and then a pastor.

Over the next ten years, Jean fervently prayed for revival, ministered to the lost, and planted new churches. His zeal caught the eye of his denomination’s bishops. They asked him to study theology in Kenya for two years, and when he returned, they appointed him as "senior bishop."

Along with all the promotions the Lord has given him, Jean will tell you about one other very significant turning point in his ministry. It came about at a pastors’ conference in his hometown. There he received a copy of David Servant’s book, The Disciple-Making Minister. He found it so helpful that he began to study it chapter by chapter with the pastors under his leadership. As a result, together they refocused their ministry on Christ’s Great Commission. They started making disciples, following the biblical pattern.

As expected, not everyone was overjoyed about the change of direction. A number of people, and some of the pastors left their churches, but after ten months of teaching by precept and example, the number of committed disciples has nearly tripled. The world around them knows they are Christ’s disciples by their love for each other. After so many years, Jean’s dream of bringing holiness and love back into the local church has been realized.

Through your contributions to the Books for Pastors Fund, our Lord’s work around the world is being strengthened and encouraged. Thanks so much.

Together in the Master’s Plan,

David Warnock
Director, Books for Pastors Fund

Tawng Kye, a widow in Myanmar, smiles because of the help she received from caring family members like you

Dear Friends,

Because of your gifts to the Christian Widows Fund over the past twelve months, I want to update you on what your compassion is accomplishing. Because of you, many widows are thanking God!

Over the past few months, I’ve been working with about fifteen pastors in four different nations helping very needy Christian widows with one-time grants to start small businesses. There are so many who have been praying and asking the Lord to help them, suffering in situations that are hopeless without God’s intervention. I’m so thankful for how many we’ve been able to help so far.

One of those widows is Tawng Kye, age 58. She lost her entire family and every earthly possession during Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Daw Tawng Kye was a Buddhist before the cyclone. One of our national missionaries brought life-saving food for the starving people of her village and also preached the gospel to them. Tawng Kye quickly believed as she witnessed the love of God demonstrated before her.

The makeshift shelter Tawng Kye built for herself with what she could gather after the cyclone

The small house we were able to build for her through gifts to the Disaster Relief Fund

And now through the Widows Fund, we’ve helped Tawng Kye with a small duck business that will provide her a sustainable income. To God be the glory!

Tawng Kye is just one of many widows who are rejoicing lately because of Heaven’s Family’s Widows Fund. I’ll be telling you about other thankful widows in the months ahead.

Serving together,

Becky Servant

A new dorm takes shape for the children of Nazareth Orphanage in Taunggyi

Because you have contributed to the Dorms for Orphanages Fund in recent months, I wanted to send you a few photos to show how your gifts are being used. We are currently funding two orphanage building projects in Myanmar (Burma)—for Nazareth Orphanage in Taunggyi (above) and Bethel Children’s Home in Kalaymyo (below).

Bethel Children’s Home, like other orphanage dorms HF builds, uses strong mahogany lumber for framing, brick and mortar for the exterior walls, and metal sheets for roofing—far better than their former building

These new homes for orphans and unwanted children will be far better than those in which the children currently live. When the dorms are completed, I will send you photos of some very happy children, thankful to God—and to loving people like you—for making their dreams come true!

We always have more orphanage buildings, like Beulah Orphanage (of which I have added a photo below of the children and directors), waiting to be built. To view a two-minute video about Beulah Orphanage and the Dorms for Orphanages Fund, click here . And thanks again for your help!

Because of Jesus,

Jeff Trotter

Director, Dorms for Orphanages Fund

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