Adoption Blog

March 2010 Mission Trip to Costa Rica

Visiting Orphans is leading a mission trip to work with two orphanages in Limon, Costa Rica from March 3rd to March 10th, 2010. 
 
Visiting Orphans, is working in partnership with PANI, the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia. PANI is an organization in Costa Rica which protects the rights of children and adolescents. This includes the rights to health care, education, justice, work, culture and recreation, and the right to a safe and healthy family life.  We will visit two orphanages each day in the port town of Limon on the Caribbean Coast.  Port towns have many issues and one of the greatest problems in Limon is family life due to the instability of the area. 

Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.  Its natural beauty is stunning and its beaches breathtaking.  However, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the port town of Limon there is something that is breathtaking in a different way.  There are kids sleeping in the streets, there are problems with drugs and prostitution, the Afro-Caribbean population there that originally came from the Caribbean islands has been forgotten by the central Costa Rican government.  Social programs are seldom seen and the ones that do exist have a difficult time getting resources. 

Fortunately, there are two orphanages in the port town of Limon that fight hard to take care of the town’s youth.  Run by an energetic woman by the name of Gabriella, these two orphanages offer hope to children from broken families.  Not only hope but education, justice, recreation, access to health care, culture and recreation.  Limon is one of the locations in Costa Rica with the most needs.  This town is still very much 3rd world and these orphanages rarely receive mission teams, if ever.

Your support and action are necessary to the advancement of these young children and teens.  At the moment there are 48 orphans in two orphanages in Limon that will be readily anticipating the arrival of Visiting Orphans in March. 
 
We will be staying in a town called Cahuita.  It is a coastal town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica that borders a National Park.  It has a laid back atmosphere and it utterly stunning in its coastal beauty.  Turquoise tropical waters caress white and black sand beaches right outside the hotel that will soothe your heart allowing time for reflection every morning and afternoon.  

Most of our time will be spent in the port city of Limon where we will participate in activities with the local Orphanages. This is a time to put the love of Christ into action by ministering to orphans. We will be doing all kinds of projects that may include anything from painting murals to gardening to playing sports with the kids, arts & crafts, holding them, playing games, teaching them about Jesus, and music.

The orphanages need school supplies off all kinds, from pen and pencils to books.  They also need diapers and towels, educational toys and infant, kids and teen clothing.  This team will work to collect and deliver these needs to the orphanages.  The ages of the children range from infants to 16 years of age.
  
This team will also connect and work with a ministry to the local indigenous Bri-Bri people of Costa Rica and a ministry to local surfers in the area.

There will also be some time for some sightseeing activities as well - including a guided tour of the National Park in Cahuita one morning and on our final day in Costa Rica - we will go white water rafting on one of the top 5 rivers on the planet for rafting. This river cuts through virgin rainforest so the scenery is stunning. For those of you who choose not to raft, you can choose to visit a museum or a local pineapple plantation.

The cost is only $1800 per person.
 
We would love for you to join us on this life changing mission trip.  To learn more or apply for this trip please click here.

Give Christmas Away

We are so filled with love during the Christmas season as our loved ones pour into us and us into them.  Usually we return to the New Year with that wonderful warm fuzzy full feeling that we are loved, secure and that we have a family to call home.  But not for everyone….  Millions of children around the world don’t even know it’s Christmas or what in the world that could mean to them.  Would you give this love in your heart away in 2010 by traveling to pour it into the orphans of this world? 

If so, Visiting Orphans, a mission sending agency, needs you.  They have designed trips to lead teams into orphanages all over the world with just this purpose in mind.   When you travel with them to  Ethiopia you even get to help work at the America World transitional home.  They are also offering two trips to Southern China’s Hunan Region! You could return to the region where you once adopted or hope to and invest in the children who may never have the opportunity for a family.   You can also visit the wonderful ministry of Amazima on a trip to Uganda.  Or visit the children in the port town of Limon, Costa Rica this March who rarely, if ever receive teams to help.  

Visiting Orphans is also leading trips to Ecuador, Ghana, Rwanda, El Salvador and Honduras. 

To learn more or join a Visiting Orphans trip, please click here.

If you would like to help spread the word of Visiting Orphans on your blogsite, please click here for their widget.

El Salvador Trip Report - November 2009

Surfers and tourists who travel to the beautiful, remote beach town of El Sunzal, El Salvador often pass by the large metal gate of the Remar orphanage.  Unbeknownst to them, hidden behind barbed wire and a foreboding entrance is the evidence of a God who heals;  children who laugh, run, play and care for one another.  These children have been placed in the orphanage because of abuse or abandonment.  Their stories are so disturbing that at times I could not translate them to our team members.  They have suffered broken bones, attacks by family members and abuse that is grueling to recount, yet their smiles are beautiful, their laughter contagious, and their community is indescribable.  These children live in a safe world, protected from the poverty and cruelty they have suffered.  They are the children of the "Ciudad de Los Ninos" orphanage and each one of them has captured my heart.  We were amazed by their countenance - they were kind, loving, affectionate and hard working.   Each child diligently cleaned and did their chores daily.  They never argued, fought or complained.  They taught us how to worship and how to pray.  We listened to toddlers' bedtime prayers (some praying for over 5 minutes) with grateful hearts and passionate prayers to the Lord they love to worship.  It was absolutely precious.

One of the highlights of my trip was being called an "angel" and "answer to prayer."   The orphanage director described how she often cries out to God when the kitchen is bare, the children need new shoes, and she can not afford to pay the electrical bill.  Then God responds and sends "angels" to meet their needs.  Our team arrived with $12,000 in cash, 8 suitcases filled with gifts, and arms ready to hold each child, listen to their stories, tickle, laugh and play.  We felt honored to bring hope and encouragement from their brothers and sisters in America.  We were privileged to purchase a stove, refrigerator and table for the newly built baby house (which will soon house 20 infants).  We purchased more than 2,000 pounds of rice and beans, sugar, kitchen supplies, toiletries, baby food, oil, spices and toys.

One of my favorite stories was the time we spotted an orange truck in the market and began to barter for oranges.  After a long, dramatic experience of negotiating (which involved driving away and being chased down by the orange truck driver), we purchased the ENTIRE truck load (7,620 oranges) for $300.  The truck followed us into the orphanage, and the staff and children were practically dancing as the truck rolled in (they can rarely afford to buy fruit for the kids).  Another night we ordered pizza for 150.  Most of the children had never eaten pizza.  Needless to say, it was the best pizza party ever!  We had tearful good byes, but sense that we will each return one day.

We also had unbelievable meetings with key government officials, including the Attorney General, who oversees adoption in El Salvador.  God opened doors for us through unplanned circumstances and we were treated like dignitaries. We expressed our concerns over the plight of the orphans of their country, our personal adoption experiences, and at the request of the Attorney General herself, laid our hands on her back and prayed over her. I truly felt like Esther in the throne room of the King.   We also met with
the attorney who is handling our adoption cases.  We were encouraged and discouraged, amazed and exhausted, surprised and overwhelmed all at the same time. It was an unforgettable day of "divine appointments" and we know that God orchestrated all of this for our future children, other waiting adoptive families and all those who defend the cause of the orphan.

I can not begin to express the gratitude I feel for your love, support and partnership on this trip.   As I mentioned time and time again at the orphanage, the true "angels" were YOU, my supporters in the United States who gave so generously.   On behalf of Carolina, Juan, Beatriz, Wilson, Antonio, Ana, and the precious children of the Ciudad de Los Ninos orphanage, I want to say thank you. We are already considering what the Lord has in store for future trips.  We know this story is to be continued...

You can visit and help this same orphanage by joining the next Visiting Orphans trip to El Salvador from March 6th to March 13th, 2010.  You can sign up and learn more on their website at www.visitingorphans.org.

Visit Orphans in Distress this Holiday Season

Visiting Orphans is a mission sending agency whose primary goal is to fulfill the biblical mandate given in James 1:27 of "visiting orphans" in their distress. They are seeking bright, passionate Christian men and women with God's heart for the orphan to join them on a mission trip this Fall or Winter. 

Their missions teams go in to serve and to love.  Often times on their trips all you will do for hours on end is hold infants who need the love and attention they deserve. You may find yourself playing hide-n-go-seek with a group of six year old boys or playing soccer for hours with older orphan boys who are desperate for a father figure in their life.  It will truly be a life-changing and unforgettable experience for both you and the children you interact with.

What better way to spend the upcoming Holiday season then sharing the love of Christ with orphans?!

Here are a few of trips they are offering:

Chifeng, China: November 27th to December 6th

El Sunzal, El Salvador: November 14th to November 21st

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: November 11th to November 21st

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia & Jinja, Uganda: December 29th to January 10th, 2010

Limon, Costa Rica: March 3rd - March 10th, 2010

You can find out more about these trips and apply online here.

 

How An Orphan Changed My Life

Warner Brothers new horror movie, "Orphan" proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life...

When I was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2007 on a Visiting Orphans mission trip to minister to the orphans and widows of Africa, I became ill with the typical stomach flu. I was in my motel room throwing up, with fever, etc... Our mission team had to fly out that morning because we were returning back to the city to visit an orphanage that took in newborns and very young orphans. I was so upset because when I finally got the strength to get out of bed and pack up, I found my suitcase engulfed with thousands of ants. They were all over everything and I barely had the strength to shake them off all of my things and get my suitcase down the stairs to get in a van to the airport. What in the world!!! Could I have had a worse start to my day?!? Needless to say, I made it through the flight and soon began to feel a little better.

Later that afternoon we went to the orphanage. I could barely go in because of the stench. I looked in the infant room and there laid 15-20 crying babies. Many of them were hungry, and many were soiled because there was not enough staff to change them, much less hold them.

Two Boys...Two Lives

Our team had a great, full day which is pretty typical of most Visiting Orphans mission trips.  We started at our America World Transitional Home. There were many children and many babies and each one of them were wonderful.  It warmed our hearts so much to know that our Ethiopia program staff is working diligently to place each child in the arms of their forever family.  I wanted to take a moment to highlight one particular child.  This child, a boy about seven years old, has been on our Waiting Child List for a number of months.  He's smart, well behaved and very artistic and LOVES to laugh!  When all the children sang, "This is the Day, this is the day that the Lord has made..." he smiled the most and sang the loudest.  You can see a picture of him with my husband, Simon on America World’s Ethiopia Waiting Children’s website. I honestly fought back big tears as I took this picture. I pray you will be touched by the story of this little boy and that it will bless you and your family immensely.  There is such a great need for homes for children his age.  If you are interested in information about adopting a waiting child, please contact America World Adoption.

It was awesome to visit the home and meet all of our staff. This program has grown so much, and it was wonderful to see and witness.  We have sixty nannies on staff and four nurses! It was beautiful to see that every crying child was tended to by our staff.  Our Orphan's Ticket Home campaign helps fund some of these needs at the transitional home and we appreciate your generous contributions.  This is SUCH a blessing to see!! 

After the transition home, we went to play soccer with the street kids and tell them about the love of Christ.  We saw two young boys fighting over the glue they were sniffing.   Visiting Orphans has chosen to visit the street kids like this on each trip, but this was the first time I met any boys addicted to glue.  So, with my friend, Ephraim, who has this ministry with the street boys we began telling him and all the other boys and strangers there about Jesus and all he did on the cross to set us free. We then led him in prayer to receive Christ.  We are not sure if it was heartfelt or not, but either way he heard the gospel and so did many others.  After we shared with him, we brought him to the Ethiopia Guest house and let him shower, gave him some new clothes, some food and made sure he had plenty to take home with him.  We then prayed with him again making sure he understood that Christ was the one who provided for him. We told him that Jesus and our team loved him. Ephraim promised to keep ministering to him and to continue to meet with him and the other street kids he mentors.  Please say a prayer for him as he has a big addiction to overcome.  Please also pray for both Ephraim and the street boys that God would work mightily in this ministry.

Tomorrow we will visit one of Mother Theresa’s homes and the AHOPE HIV orphanage.  It will be an even harder day for the team emotionally as both homes have sick babies and children.  We want to leave a lasting hope with them though, so please pray for us.

Thank you,

Amanda Lawrence, Director of Development

**To join our next mission trip to Ethiopia where you can visit and work with the orphans and street kids, please visit www.visitingorphans.org.

Visiting Orphans, El Salvador: Family Testimonies

After this week in El Salvador we feel like we've had an Extreme Makeover - Soul Edition.  We feel grateful that God allowed us to witness what He does in the lives of these kids at Cuidad de los Niños.  One of the blessings they have is a huge yellow school bus they all use for rides to church, the beach, the health clinic and many other places. We were reminded of the chant "Move That Bus!" and we know it was God that moved it as many miles as it had to go without a blow-out. It was in great need of tires and many times it was loaded with triple the capacity it was made for. This is just one example they had of relying on God to provide just enough provisions until further notice. GOD IS GOOD and the children of Cuidad de los Niños acknowledge that every day. Each child has been taught by example by the staff and older children that God provides and is to be praised and glorified.  We would like to remodel our home and life to end up looking more like theirs.

Mark & Robin Watson

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This trip was a real eye-opener. I realized how much we really do have it good here. For instance having air conditioning. All of the children there always lived without it in what seems to be 115 degree weather even if they were sick. But it really amazes me how much they live for Christ. Their entire life is based upon faith in Him. They all live as one big family and help each other out. They are a great example of how to live by faith and by going there and seeing them I hope to become a better follower by their example.

Ashleigh Watson, age 15

Visiting Orphans El Salvador Trip

The first Visiting Orphans team to El Salvador will return home on Friday, June 19th after an amazing week at Cuidad de los Ninos in La Libertad, El Salvador.  We were able to spend 6 days living at the orphanage with the 115 children who call this home.  On Wednesday evening, all of the children and staff gave us a surprise going away party in the chapel.  Two America World families adopting from El Salvador were on the team and were able to meet with Alexis Castro to get current information on the adoption process.

 
If you would like more information about going on a Visiting Orphans mission trip to an orphanage to serve the children and staff, go to www.VisitingOrphans.org for details.

Last Chance!

Hurry! It's the last mission trip opportunity of the Summer.

We are having a great spring at Visiting Orphans.  Several of our teams have already traveled to Honduras and Ethiopia and we are gearing for a busy summer with teams going to China, El Salvador, and Ethiopia.

Most of our trips are full and we only have a few spaces left on our last trip of the summer to Ethiopia.  Here are the details

Dates:  July 25 – August 5
Location:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Cost:  $3,400
Cost includes:
            Int’l Airfare
            Accommodation (Ethiopian Guest Home)
            3 meals a day
            All in-country transportation
            Travel Insurance

This team will be spending time serving the children at Kid’s Care and the America World Transition Home.  We would love to have you join us!

Only a few spots left, apply now at our website, www.visitingorphans.org.

If you are unable to travel with us this summer keep an eye out for our Fall mission trips!

Thanks!

David Rathbone
Executive Director, Visiting Orphans

Upcoming El Salvador Mission Trip

Our “Visiting Orphans” trip to El Salvador is just weeks away and the team is planning activities for the children at Cuidad de Los Ninos in La Libertad.  Approximately 100 children from churches across the nation are making gift bags complete with their photo and a biography, to give to a “pen pal” child in the orphanage.  Our team will bring back a photo and biography from each child at Cuidad de Los Ninos to give to their U.S. “pen pal”.  Each child will know that their new friend will be praying for them every day!

We are also planning to do arts and crafts, skits, have soccer and baseball games and many other activities with the children throughout the week.  Please pray for our team and the children we will meet!  We want be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to each of them and offer them Hope.

If you would like to be a part of a “Visiting Orphans” mission trip, visit www.VisitingOrphans.org for more information about upcoming trips to El Salvador, Ethiopia, China, Honduras and Rwanda.  These mission trips are a great way to introduce your church to needs of orphans worldwide, and allows you give hope to orphans.

In Christ,

Mike Stone
AWAA PR Director