by Tony Gibson, HOB Ministry Director

I typically spend my summers in Africa, and this year was no exception. While I was away, God was moving and great things were happening here at home and in all of the places that we are privileged to minister. Hard work was taking place on every front too, not the least of which, was the hard work that my wife was doing here in preparation for my daughter's wedding which took place five days after my return. (I just thought I should declare my appreciation for that before anything else.)

As for the rest, God has been doing great things over the last couple of months through advocates, missionaries, short term teams, partnerships, and through Back to Africa. He has also been at work through healing. It was so thrilling to be in Zambia with Hannah Walker and see her doing so well after coming so close to death. Although Karen van de Voorde is not ready to go back to Africa yet, she is much stronger and well on her way; we are not complaining that we get to have her in the office for a couple of months.

Through experiencing God at work in so many ways over the recent months, we have simultaneously received challenge, understanding, and passion about some of the ways that He wants us to move forward in the near future. Here are a few of the highlights and the insights from a summer on mission:

Short Term Missions Gone Wild:

We sent out the most summer teams in our history, and the teams were awesome! Seven mission teams ministered in Haiti, Zambia, and Kenya this summer. They brought encouragement to our partners, loved and played with the kids in our homes, led a weeklong camp for over 150 kids, conducted discipleship sessions in our schools, painted, built furniture, led construction projects, led multiple evangelistic outreaches, conducted a church revival, distributed food to starving people, tended to the sick, led health clinics, and held VBS for kids.

Long Term Impact of Short Term Missions: First of all, I was reminded this summer of the significant value of short term teams. Their ministry truly impacted countless people with the love of Christ in so many significant ways.

In Kenya, we experienced pure joy throughout the camp that we led. Many people came to Christ, and we all experienced the joy and love of Christ in a tremendous way.

The impact of the African kid's camp on me actually relates to our ministry in Ukraine: As we deepen our work in Ukraine over coming years, God really stirred in my heart a deep burden to prepare an orphan camp there next year. Countless children are withering away in dismal conditions in the government orphanages. We are working to bring some out, but it is slow, and we cannot reach all of them. I am asking Him to allow us to give that African camp experience to orphans in Ukraine next year who have never experienced the love of Christ. We will need many loving, enthusiastic team members who will go with us to penetrate those dark places with the light of Christ. Once we take this step with our Ukrainian partners, God will certainly show us the next step. Anyone ready to commit?  Get started.

The impact of Short term trips on other participants was powerful too: Several team members are now pursuing internships for next year with HOB and one family is now in process for long term service with us. Praise God!

The Impact of Sponsorship

While I was away, I experienced a deeper understanding of the impact of sponsorship on the kids: Can I just say, it is about relationship, and they REALLY get it. Many of the kids think that I know all of the sponsors personally, so they want me to bring back personal messages. One of our girls at House of Hope in Kenya wanted me to assure her that I would let her sponsor family know how much she "loves them and prays for them every day." It is amazing to see relationships growing over the years, and it's really cool when sponsor families get to meet their kids in person like the West family experienced in Haiti this summer with Woosley who is a student leader in our orphan school there.

The West's with Woosley August 2011

We were blessed to pick up almost 30 new sponsors while I was away mostly through the efforts of volunteer advocates! Right now, we only need about 10 more sponsors at Sara Rose home in Zambia where my family sponsors a child. I LOVE those kids; they are amazing, and I could not think of a better investment. Knowing how much the children receive from sponsorship, I don't want to see one child miss out. We are so close.... come join the family.

Next month, we will be able to offer at least 20 new sponsorships in Uganda. I can't wait! These are amazing children that I have already come to love. It will be thrilling to watch them experience what they have been missing.

I will have the privilege of being in all of our ministry locations again over the next few months, but in the meantime, I am refueled for the work that is before me here at home because of all that I witnessed and heard about while I was away. 

Blessings, 

   

by Tony Gibson, HOB Ministry Director    

The house and land are both large and wonderful. Construction of this home for vulnerable expecting mothers and newborns was funded through the NOW campaign. We still need a few thousand dollars for the finishing touches, but the basics are done, and the first wave of girls moved in at the beginning of August. Our partners the Mwansas have great and exciting plans for ministry in this home, HOB missionary, Stephanie Barron, will begin her first term in December as part of the ministry staff.

Summer teams contributed to expansion and improvements at our growing secondary school for orphans in Northwest Haiti. Partnering church, First Baptist Midland, Texas did the exterior painting and logo design. A team based from Crestview, Fl. constructed the new cookhouse and did the interior painting. Now the appearance reflects the reputation for quality that the school has already established.

This fall, continued expansion and property development is planned for the Haiti School. The permanent roof for the second floor will be installed; campus showers, a pump house, and water tower will also be constructed for the pending well. The second floor will temporarily be open air, and it will house new classes for the school that will expand to reach 100 boys (7th-11th grades) this fall. If you would like to participate in an early November construction trip to help with these projects, contact Clint@heartofhebride.org ASAP. We could use more help.

In Kenya, additional classrooms have been built at the school for House of Hope orphanage, and in Zambia, construction of missionary housing is underway.

If you, your church, or your business are interested in funding new construction projects at a specific location in the coming year, watch for details about the GROW campaign highlighted in the next HOB newsletter.

   

Thank you to everyone who has prayed and given to support our Zambia Missionaries during this difficult medical emergency.  

by Clint Sibbitt, Director of Development    

In the last HOB newsletter Tony introduced The CORE Fund and the specific purpose behind this important fundraising effort.  In case you missed it... 

THE CORE FUND IS CRITICAL TO CARING FOR HOB KIDS

CORE Funds will help us meet the ongoing needs of HOB Kids that aren't covered by monthly financial commitments to HOB. Normally these unmet needs are met through gifts to HOB's General Fund that are given without our foreknowledge. We are thankful that HOB Child Sponsorship is growing and covering a significant portion of these needs but our general funds have not kept pace with our growing financial commitment to care for HOB Kids.   

If you would like to learn more about The CORE Fund and the impact it will have on HOB Kids visit our website at www.heartofthebride.org/core  

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MEET THIS NEED   

What I love about this ministry is that it is supported by people who are personally invested and who give sacrificially so that these kids that we know will have a chance at life and an opportunity to know Christ. I say this not to sound cliche but to remind you that God is using our time, talents, and resources to make a life-changing impact! As a husband and father of two young sons it is easy for me to get busy with life and lose focus of that important fact. 

God put a burden on my heart for these orphans six years ago and it has been worth every sacrifice of my time, talents, and resources to be reminded that I am serving Christ and making a difference in their lives.    

SIMPLE WAYS YOU CAN HELP MEET THIS NEED RIGHT NOW

AT HOME - it's easy to incorporate HOB into what you're already doing 

• Host a dinner party or dessert night at your home and encourage guests to give a donation. Some HOB advocates did this recently and raised over $14,000 in less than a month! Read How
• Have a "Backyard Movie Night" and charge guests to enter and buy popcorn and drinks. 
• Host a Rice Dinner: Serve rice and water (which is the meal most people in these countries eat) and have people give what they would have spent going out to dinner.

FOR GUYS - are you ready for some football? 

• It's football season! Turn your game day parties into a time for watching football AND helping HOB Kids. Get the guys together to watch the game and charge a cover, sell concessions, and/or consider taking a collection.     

FOR GIRLS (SEPTEMBER ONLY) - host a Back to Africa party

• During the month of September Back to Africa will donate 90% of all show sales to The CORE Fund. Consider having a party at your home or at your church for a Women's Event. Only four slots remain so book your party today by giving us a call at 850-678-9008 or emailing Faith faith@heartofthebride.org or Caryn  caryn@heartofthebride.org.  

AROUND TOWN - An easy way to raise funds   

• Work with a local restaurant to promote a Great Food. Great Cause. fundraising lunch/dinner. It is great PR for their business and it won't require lots of your time and effort. NOTE: It is completely reasonable to ask for 20% of all sales.  
• Coordinate a Fundraising Dinner and invite local business, church, and community leaders to attend. With a few sponsors to cover costs you can create a great event. 

 FOR KIDS -  You can make a real impact in the lives of HOB Kids 

• Pet Sitting - Lots of people travel during the fall and holidays and need someone to watch their pets. Use the money earned to help an orphan.
• Set up a "Donation" Lemonade/Baked Goods Stand - Put photos and information about Heart of the Bride on display and share what the money raised will go for. HOB can send you photos and info.
• Extra Chores - You can offer to do extra chores around your house to raise funds for children less fortunate than yourself.

Visit our ideas page for more ways to get involved. If you have a fundraising idea or need help getting started I am here to help you! Contact Clint at 850.678.9008 or clint@heartofthebride.org 

  by Susie Howell, HOB Board Member

Our family is just back from 2 exhilarating weeks in KENYA!

As a board member over this past year I have heard testimonies and seen powerful evidence of God working in the many places Heart of the Bride is ministering. Being on the ground pitching in with my own two hands gave me a front row seat to see the incredible job HOB is doing to share the life giving message of the gospel and to help meet dire physical needs of those who cannot help themselves.

Our first week in Naivasha allowed us several visits to House of Hope that cares for 24 orphans. My pre-conceived ideas of "orphanage" were blown away. I discovered this special place is not an orphanage but a HOME. These kids are not looking for parents and a forever home, they are living as a committed family with "Papa and Mama" Joel and Susan Karanja at the helm. Our time together playing games, singing, and praying revealed that these kids are truly HAPPY and know they are dearly loved, precious sons and daughters. It is hard to believe so many of them were rescued from horrifying situations of abuse and abandonment...that is what redeeming love is all about! . The children's exuberant love towards us and to each other is testimony to God's power to heal all wounds. This family has ongoing, real needs. As they face their many challenges together, they are being taught to trust the One who never abandons them and is ever faithful. The ministry here is long term...these children are being equipped to grow into adulthood with skills that will allow them to sustain their own families and raise the next generation of passionate disciples for Christ!

Our second week took us to Machakos where we put on a youth camp for 150 middle and high school students. A Machakos native, Monica, has single-handedly organized and nurtured this group and is a beautiful picture of what a disciple-maker is all about. Monica, through Bible study and building meaningful relationships, has been able to model what it looks like to follow Christ. She has been diligent to teach biblical principles for godly relationships, loving others well, diligence to know God, integrity, and faith. Our team had a blast bringing crazy games, passionate worship times, and focused bible study to this group. Many kids accepted Christ during the week. My joy is knowing that Monica and the student leaders she has cultivated are firmly in place to disciple our new brothers and sisters in Christ. Slowly, Machakos and its culture are being influenced as these Christ followers are growing in their faith.

Time in Kenya made the issues of poverty, orphans, and the need for the gospel even more personal to us. Now that we are home people are asking us what we learned from our experience.

Here's what I learned:

1. Everywhere, the greatest need is for the gospel to be made known.

 

2. Everyone needs to get involved. If you can go on the mission field and participate with the hands on work, then GO! If you can send money, send it! (Don't believe the lie that the little bit you have won't help!)  My 6 year old daughter sent in money she collected at her birthday party in lieu of gifts. It was thrilling to be able to tell her that I had been to the very orphan's home where she sent her money and that the money she sent was enough to feed the children for several days.   She prays every night for those children and has been asking God to allow her to help them more.

 

3. Lastly, PRAY! Pray God will show you how to be involved. Come to Him with open hands and let Him show you how you might sacrificially give...like David Platt says, "why not begin operating under the idea that God has given us excess, not so we could have more, but so we could give more."

  by Clint Sibbitt, Director of Development

This summer I was fortunate enough to lead three mission teams to Haiti where we ministered to the people of Mare Rouge alongside our Haitian partners Edner and Rosena Veus.

Leading the trips was a great joy for me because every one of the teams gave everything they had - physically, spiritually, and emotionally - to share the good news with Haitians that Jesus loves them and is the example of how we should live our lives. We were able to do this through discipleship, physical labor, supplying food to the hungry, evangelism, and showing Christ-like love to the least of these.  

I can't possibly give you all the highlights in this space but here are a few that I hope will encourage you to join us (or continue) in ministering to orphans in Mare Rouge, Haiti:

• That no one had physical problems or illnesses; and that everyone enjoyed the food, survived the heat, joyfully endured the outhouses  and "refreshingly cold" showers, and everyone (especially the teenagers) returned home safely. Praise God! I hope this will encourage more of you to join us on a future trip because the fields are plenty but the workers are few.

• Watching a team build a much-needed cookhouse for the school lunch program from the ground up in only a week.

• Seeing middle and high-school students make incredibly strong connections with the students at Human Care School despite a significant language barrier and vastly different lifestyles.

• Incredibly talented people - artists, athletes, builders, comedians, craftsmen, engineers, painters, photographers, preachers, seamstresses, singers, students, and teachers - using their talents for God's glory.

• Watching kids joyfully join in the various work projects and seeing goal-oriented Americans let go and just enjoy their learning process and the time spent together.

• Witnessing a true miracle when we fed over 100 hungry kids on Friday with the same amount of food that only fed 60 kids on Monday.

• Seeing a team shower incredibly needy orphans from our Benevolent Orphan Ministry with discipleship, handmade bunk beds, clothes, sheets, shoes, toiletries, and most importantly LOVE!

• Watching these same kids jump, and clap and smile, and sing about Jesus - in English no less.

• Seeing the encouragement that our partners Edner and Rosena received from the teams this summer -- and seeing the fun their 2 year old son Sael had playing with them too. It was also exciting to hear that Edner and Rosena are expecting a child after losing a baby girl right after birth last November. Please join us in praying for a safe pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby later this year.   

• Seeing five people successfully run a weeklong VBS for over 100 kids from the community around Human Care School. I'm guessing there aren't many US churches that want to try that one!

• Personally presenting (and praying with) every student at Human Care School with a Bible in Haitian Creole. For most of them it was their first Bible and having it in their native language is a huge blessing.

• Knowing that over 20 people made professions of Faith in Jesus and almost 500 more were presented with the Gospel through The Jesus Film in Haitian Creole.

• Watching teenagers from Texas who fund the Human Care School lunch program humbly serve food to the very boys they are helping.

• Having the opportunity to provide potentially life-saving medical care to a very sick little girl at our Good Samaritan ministry. One month later the difference was truly amazing!

God allowed us to be His hands and feet to save Geralnise

• Seeing the school on my last day in Haiti with newly painted classrooms and a freshly painted exterior displaying the school crest and name. What a difference in just a few months time! See photos in the Under Construction article above. 

• Watching so many people on their first mission trip realize how big God is, the Faith that connects us all, and the joy that comes from going and serving those in greatest need. And also recognizing the realities of extreme poverty, our abundance, and the hope that can only come from having a relationship with Christ.  

• Washing the feet of the student leaders at Human Care School and singing the lyrics to God of this City to them:

"Greater things have yet to come. And greater things are still to be done in this city."

Powerful words that perfectly sum up everything we experienced in Haiti this summer.

by Clint Sibbitt, Director of Development    

Tell your friends and colleagues they can now designate their CFC donations to help Heart of the Bride care for orphans.

If you have friends or family who are federal employees anywhere in the world let them know they can give to Heart of the Bride in the 2011 CFC Campaign. HOB is #73832.  

If your workplace is part of the CFC and you'd like to share more about Heart of the Bride, we've put together some basic information on our ministry and promotional resources to help you. Visit http://www.heartofthebride.org/cfc and share this link with others who would consider HOB for their CFC donation. 

A SIMPLE WAY YOU CAN HELP: Ask your church to promote our CFC info in their bulletin or newsletter leading up to the campaign.  We will take care of the details if you make the connection. 

If you want to join our CFC promotion team contact Clint at 850.678.9008 or clint@heartofthebride.org.