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Posts Tagged ‘short term mission’

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Satisfied

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

By Charity Norris-

Coming to Dorie's Promise  as been a very eye opening experience for me. This was my first overseas missions trip and the first time that I have ever been to an orphanage. I was prompted to come here by a friend who had adopted a daughter from Guatemala six years ago. I came here to serve and help love on the children.

Warmness and love is the way that I would describe the families that we visited at the Maria Theresa Ghetto. While speaking with the President at the ghetto she described herself as "satisfied". When visiting the homes we gave food to the families and then prayed with them. Their homes were not anything like I have seen before. One of their homes were about the size of my bathroom. The reality of losing loved ones and a house were not just something seen on the news.

She was content and asked the Lord the bless our families. She didn't realize it but she was teaching me about being satisfied. " But godliness with contentment is a great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

On Monday we visited the government ran orphanage. We were able to spend time with the Special Needs Children during therapy. We played, fed and cuddled with some of the little ones in the different complexes. Lastly we visited the Teen Mothers and had the opportunity to pray for them. As the gates closed behind us as we moved from area to area, and the children marched while moving  throughout the complex, it gave me chills. I learned that at age 7 years old the children are told they no longer need a mother. They are then given a supervisor. I just wanted to scream for Jesus to return.

I was glad we had a full day at Dorie's Promise the following day. The staff that work here are amazing. Love for the Lord is very evident through the way they nurture and play with the children. "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." – Mathew 25:40

I enjoyed playing dress-up, forming a marching band, jumping rope, feeding babies, building blocks, and just cuddling on the couch. Their smiles and hugs gave me hope. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11

Being here in Guatemala has not only challenged me as a mother but as a believer in the one true hope for this world, Jesus. I pray to always keep the smiles and hugs of these children close to my heart. I want to continue to find ways to help others in need. I want to show others that there is hope and they too can be "satisfied".

Charity Norris,
Williamsport, MD

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You are not forgotten

Monday, August 8th, 2011

 By John Keefe-

From the time Bekah Jabin mentioned going to Guatemala I thought it would be something that I would really enjoy. I had always thought about taking a mission trip but never took the initiative. I was nervous when we first arrived because I didn’t know what to expect.

As soon as I saw Joel holding the Forever Changed sign I immediately got excited. Joel was very easy to get along with and he welcomed us with open arms. As our group arrived I realized that it was going to be a great week.

The first night was relaxing and we went to bed early so that we were prepared for the week. Going to the ghetto was an amazing experience. The way that the families within the ghetto help each other out is truly inspiring. They do not have a lot, but what they do have they cherish it. The kids in the ghetto showed us around and challenged us to a game of soccer. Even though they were much younger than we were, they beat us handedly.

Lester and Gerson were my Forever Friends and they were very open to me from the time I saw them. They immediately hugged me when I called their names out. I couldn’t understand everything that they were saying to me but it did not affect the time we spent together.

Getting to spend time with all of the kids after the park was one of the biggest highlights of the trip. It was the first time that we all were together and I started to get to know the kids on a more personal level.

The national orphanage was an eye opening experience for me. To think that there are more than eight hundred kids living there and they are unsure of their future was very sad to see. Playing soccer and painting with the special needs children was very fun. They were very good at soccer and their faces lit up when we told them we wanted to play.

On Tuesday we spent the morning painting the walls outside and doing yard work. It was neat to see how just spending a couple of hours made the backyard look very nice. 

The most eye opening experience was going to the dump. The people who live around the dump spend every day digging through the garbage in order to make a living. The family that we had lunch with was very kind. They were very happy to have us there and it was very nice to be able to spend time with them. It is incredibly how happy they are even though they have so little.

The best part of the trip was the children of Dorie’s Promise. They are the kindest children that I have been around. I became very attached to all of them in just one week. 

Going into the trip I thought that one week would be plenty. Now that the week has come to an end I wish I could stay for many more weeks. It has been an experience that has changed my life. I will never forget the experiences that I had in Guatemala and the children that I shared the week with.  

 

John Keefe

Cincinnati, Ohio

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The Joy of Giving

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

By Desi Stephens-

In addition to mission teams, other volunteers from the States join us for several weeks in the summer, bringing additional enrichment to our work.

This year we are blessed to have three women offering their talents—including one who came from a similar background. Erin Jenkinson, a 19-year-old student from Burton, Michigan, is a student at Grand Valley State University. She plans to become a physician’s assistant.

“I feel a special connection with orphans and the children in foster care, because I was once there myself,” Erin says.

“My passion is being with children and helping them in whatever way I can. So about a year ago when the opportunity presented itself to come on a mission trip to Guatemala to work specifically with orphans, I jumped at the chance.”

Fortunately, the Lord enabled her to return this year for a longer stay. She has enjoyed working alongside the staff, with the kids, and with mission groups. She calls volunteering “fun and fulfilling,” allowing her to experience diverse and new opportunities.

Kaley Kindred of Illinois has one more year left at Saint Francis School of Nursing in Peoria.

She comes from a large family of six children. Three of her sisters are adopted; two come from Guatemala. Through those adoptions God placed a passion in her heart for orphans, especially those from this country.

“I love being able to remind these precious children that they are loved by not only us, but also by Jesus,” says Kaley, 22, who has worked with mission groups, led children’s activities and helped with other tasks.

“I feel so blessed that God has given me the chance to serve in this orphanage. Dorie’s Promise is giving these kids love, food, an education, and the hope of Christ, and I love being able to be a part of it.”

Erin Rosemond of Texas is working as a teacher in Guatemala and wanted to volunteer during her summer break. When Erin, age 30, saw a Forever Changed sticker on our van, she looked us up on the Internet and then became a volunteer.

“Just meeting the kids made me decide this was how I wanted to spend my summer break,” Erin says. “I didn’t just want to be with the kids at Dorie’s Promise. I wanted to work with them and help them grow.”

She oversees boys and girls ages 2 and 3, helping them learn shapes, colors, numbers and letters, as well as leading gym classes and arts and crafts activities.

“We have a lot of fun in the classroom,” Erin says.

And the staff has a lot of fun watching our children blossom thanks to the care and devotion offered by people who volunteer simply for the joy of giving.

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NEW Missions Coordinator

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Joel Juarez Mission Coordinator

By Joel Juarez -

After three weeks as the new mission coordinator for Forever Changed, I know this is where God wants me to be. I am blessed to be working with Desi Stephens and all the children here at Dorie’s Promise. I can feel the love of this place when I park my car in front of Dorie’s Promise.

Since I often pray that God will open the doors of places where He wants me to be, I know He sent me here.

Joel Juarez is the NEW missions coordinator at Dorie's Promise. He is now working closely with Desi Stephens.

Recently, I had been working as a translator. One day, as I was searching for clients, director Alej Diaz called me about coming in for an interview. The day we met, she instilled a desire in my heart to be part of the staff.

A week later, I had an interview with Heather Radu. Her words impressed me, especially her comment that these children were all of our children and that she was working hard to give them the best life she could.

I’m used to people saying nice things like that, but when Alej gave me a tour of the homes, I noticed everything Heather said was true. I fell in love with the place, the people, and the children.

I like the phrase that says, “Find your passion and you will never work again.” I have found mine, which is to be here with kids and people needing help.

Although I didn’t plan to work in an orphanage, God’s plans were different than mine. Part of my story is that I was adopted as an infant. Throughout my life my mother gave me a lot of love. Still, I never imagined that my adoption story would become something that could help others.

Everything I’ve done has prepared me for this position. In high school I chose to study for a teaching career and for many years worked as a teacher—mostly with elementary-age children. I learned a lot, especially that all kids are different, learn in different ways, and have different needs. It is amazing to watch their creativity in action.

In addition, in 2007 I served as a volunteer translator with a medical team from Helps International. They operate on children suffering from cleft palates. I learned a lot about how they work and wound up helping many mission teams serving Guatemala’s schools and in rural areas.

When you come to Dorie’s Promise… be aware that you will receive a lot of love from the children here. Be ready for many hugs and kisses. And, bring an open heart and a big smile for those in needy areas you will also visit. Remember how powerful a smile can be.  Your presence and help lifts spirits!

Remember that you won’t come here by accident. God has a perfect plan for each of us and will guide you to the right place at the right time. Pray for His direction and be prepared to follow it.

FCI Reach Out Missions Web Sidebar Ad d3

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Reminder – Plan Your Trip to Dorie’s Promise Soon…

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Forever Changed International's Mission Trips

What a better way to spend a summer than serving the children of Dorie’s Promise and the outlying communities in Guatemala City.

The need here in Guatemala is tremendous. That need translates into lots of amazing opportunities to serve! Please allow me to share with you what your week might look like if you decide to join us this summer. Our mission trips are all about building relationships with the children we serve. We hope that you will enjoy your experience so much that you’ll want to come back and serve again….  READ MORE

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The Maria Teresa Ghetto Project

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Ghetto in Guatemala City

Guatemala City has plenty of slums and sketchy areas, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more challenging place to live than a neighborhood called Maria Teresa

By Paul Kvinta

Guatemala City has plenty of slums and sketchy areas, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more challenging place to live than a neighborhood called Maria Teresa.

I’m receiving a tour of the community from Juanita Perez, a grandmother of four, who strides up and down the near-vertical walking paths here like a mountain goat. Me, not so much. “The government promised us 80 retaining walls,” she says, graciously stopping to give me a breather. “But they built only 15. As you can see, we need retaining walls.” Above and below us, shacks made of corrugated tin and rotting planks cling precariously to the deforested hillside, each sitting atop crumbling dirt. When the rainy season comes in May, mudslides will almost certainly send some of these homes crashing into the Naranja River below.

Missions Project 2011Juanita doesn’t dwell on such things. She’s the tough and determined president of Maria Teresa, and she’s simply providing me with the unvarnished facts. No time for pity parties. We continue walking, and she explains that many of the 250 families here arrived in 1995, as political refugees from the countryside. Guatemala’s brutal 36-year-old civil war hadn’t yet concluded, and the fighting displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Since their arrival, the residents here have worked together to improve things bit by bit. They now have electricity, and most of the walking paths have been paved. They’ve kept gangs and drugs out of the neighborhood. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished,” says Juanita.

Still, for many people here, life remains decidedly bleak.

Juanita brings me to the home of Juana Najaro. Over time, the earth beneath Juana’s house has crumbled away, and now the far wall is suspended over nothing. Daylight shines where the wall should meet the dirt floor. Juana lives here with her four children, one of which, Jamie, seems unusually small for a seven-year-old. Juana cradles her to her chest. Jamie has a tumor the size of an eggplant protruding from in the middle of her back and thus cannot walk. The family has no money for doctors, especially not since Juana’s husband was murdered a year-and-a-half ago.

Juanita introduces me to other folks. I meet a five-year-old boy who is deaf. I meet a four-year-old girl who suffered severe burns across her back recently when her family’s kitchen stove exploded. Finally, Juanita brings me down to the river, which is black and foamy with who-knows-what kind contaminants. There’s a gurgling spring next to the river that does provide the community with some clean water, but when the river rises during the rainy season, filthy water inundates the spring and renders it inaccessible.

Forever Changed International (FCI) has been helping this neighborhood since January.

We’ve distributed clothing to residents, and we’re providing medicine to the young burn victim, Sandy Lucero. Last week, FCI’s pediatrician, Dr. Francisco Castro, began examining Jamie Najaro and hopes to conduct surgery to remove her tumor soon. In the coming months we plan to build retaining walls and reinforce homes.

We also throw the occasional piñata party. At the end of my tour, as several dozen kids take whacks at a giant, candy-filled Tigger the Tiger, Juanita thanks FCI staffers Able Garcia and Desi Stephens. “God has sent you here,” she says. “We know that for you these are small things. But for us they are huge.”

Juanita Perez, a grandmother of four - living in the Guatemala City Ghetto

Juanita Perez and her family

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A Short Term Mission Trip for YOU…

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Dear Dorie’s Promise Friends and Supporters,

What a better way to spend a summer than serving the children of Dorie’s Promise and the outlying communities in Guatemala City. The need here in Guatemala is tremendous. That need translates into lots of amazing opportunities to serve! Please allow me to share with you what your week might look like if you decide to join us this summer. Our mission trips are all about building relationships with the children we serve. We hope that you will enjoy your experience so much that you’ll want to come back and serve again.

Your Team Leader:  Desi Stephens has done humanitarian work in Sudan, Uganda and Bulgaria. Since May 2010 she has coordinated both missions and

Desi Stephens at Dorie's Promise Guatemala

Desi Stephens working with the children at Dorie's Promise

child sponsorship at Dorie’s Promise. During her week with you, she will lead morning devotionals, accompany you to projects around the city, and facilitate evening “decompression sessions.” She can address all of your questions and provide you with insights about the problems children face in Guatemala.

Dorie’s Promise:  For more than ten years Dorie’s Promise has provided a loving home for Guatemala’s forgotten children. The orphanage consists of four adjacent houses on a quiet, leafy street in the Oakland neighborhood of Zone 10 in Guatemala City. Up to 40 children live here at any given time. Some of our kids have been abandoned, others neglected or abused. Some are awaiting adoption by Guatemalan or American families. Others will spend their entire childhoods here. You will get to meet the amazing “Special Mothers” who care for the children daily. You’ll also spend lots of time chasing kids in the playground, overseeing craft projects, and rocking infants to sleep.

Ghetto:  In one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods you will attend a church service, where some from you group might be asked to share a few words with the congregation (a translator is available!). Since the church doesn’t have funds for regular Sunday school, your group will also lead a Sunday school activity. Later, you’ll visit the homes of five families, provide them with food baskets, and listen to stories of the challenges they face each day. You will also get to organize an activity for the neighborhood kids, such as a pizza or piñata party.

Garbage Dump:  The city’s sprawling dump serves as home to Guatemala’s most marginalized people. Thousands of families survive here by picking through the refuse for items to resell. We have partnered with Safe Passage, an outstanding organization that has worked with children in the dump for more than a decade. Staffers from Safe Passage will give you a tour of the dump, show you the school they operate, and introduce you to the kids.

Guatemala City Garbage

Serve at the Dump in Guatemala City

Outside Orphanages:  You’ll visit a government-run orphanage where 600 children live, all of them placed there by court order. You’ll be providing them with needed supplies – everything from socks to towels to beds – but more importantly you’ll get to play with them and show them attention they rarely receive.

Antigua and Lake Atitlan – After all your stellar work, the team will unwind in two of Guatemala’s most beautiful places. Antigua is a 500-year-old Spanish colonial town and the former capital of Guatemala. You’ll amble about the cobbled streets, tour the monastery ruins, browse the craft market, and have lunch in one of several lovely restaurants. Shimmering Lake Atitlan is surrounded by volcanoes and Mayan villages, and the lakeside town of

Missions Team in Guatemala City

You Can Come to Guatemala City Too!

Panajachel offers more delightful shopping and dining opportunities.  READ MORE HERE!

Food, Lodging, Transportation – The staff of Dorie’s Promise will pick you up at the airport and drive you to all of our various projects. Our comfy guesthouse at the orphanage has four bedrooms and sleeps up to 20 people. There are spacious living and dining rooms, a computer room with two terminals, and wifi throughout the house. We’ll cater your lunch and dinner each day and provide your breakfast food. If that doesn’t satisfy, you’ll have a fully equipped kitchen to cook up whatever you like.

As you can see, we are all ready for your arrival this summer.

Our team is prepared to share with you a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE! Contact me to find out how you can become part of a life-changing team this summer.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Heather Radu

P.S.  If you haven’t been to Dorie’s Promise yet, pray about coming!  When you come and serve, you will see lives changed – but more than that you will see your life changed too!

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