Ryan looks like a happy young toddler. But sadly, his father is not known to him, and his mother is unable or unwilling to care for him. He was simply left at the delivery hospital.
All children need love and nurturing in their formative years. Even if they do get adequate food and shelter, if they do not receive love and affection, it leaves detrimental emotional scars they will carry into their developing lives.
Jamaica has far too many Ryans, and there is a great need for good children's homes to take care of these at-risk children.
En Gedi House
Our Jamaican missionaries and HarvestCall's Caribbean Committee have felt God leading them to develop a transitional children's home for abandoned or neglected children like Ryan. This home will be called "En Gedi House," a name based upon the large oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea where David found refuge when he was persecuted by King Saul. Just as David found safety at En Gedi, the En Gedi House seeks to be a safe place for the children of Jamaica as they wait for their "forever homes."
While Jamaica does already have some facilities for at-risk children, there are not enough to meet the need. And En Gedi will have an explicitly Christian focus. Sis. Erin Davis plans on residing in this transitional home and caring for the children.
The first steps of faith have been taken. An existing home and property in Mandeville have been purchased. It is in disrepair and extensive renovation and remodeling will be needed to make the building suitable to care for young children. The total cost of the project is expected to be $350,000, of which $150,000 still has to be raised to complete En Gedi House.
How you can participate
Pray
Please pray for Sis. Erin and HarvestCall's Jamaica Team as the vision for En Gedi comes to fruition.
Contribute
Individually, if you feel the Lord prompting you to help fund the renovation of our
children's home property, give online by selecting "En Gedi House" from the drop down menu, or send a check with "En Gedi House" in the memo to:
AC HarvestCall
PO Box 3797 West Lafayette, IN 47996
Collectively, perhaps your congregation or Sunday School would be interested in ongoing sponsorship of the home as it develops. This would build a relationship between your church and the missionaries and children, blessing all involved. For additional information, contact Bro. Loren Dettwyler.
Labor Together
We plan to hire local Jamaican skilled labor, mostly from within the Deaf community, to complete the renovation. However, small teams of skilled construction trades brethren will also be needed to serve alongside of our missionaries and the local laborers. Details still need to be worked out, but if interested, please contact Bro. Loren Dettwyler to learn more.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" James 1:27. This is a foundational verse at the root of why we've been moved to begin this new outreach in Jamaica.
It takes a brotherhood to carry out the various HarvestCall ministries. Thanks so much for your necessary and much appreciated prayers, support, and contributions.
