SOUTH SUDAN: Jon
      
After hearing about the latest outbreak of fighting in South Sudan, I received an email from Augustino and our team there in response to my inquiry about their safety.  Many of you have asked what is going on with Ni�os de la Luz in South Sudan and others might be thinking, "I didn't even know that Ni�os de la Luz was in South Sudan!"  Well, let me take this opportunity to fill in the blanks.
 
Our official name in the country is "Children of Light Ministries".  A few years ago, after hearing of the situation with street kids in this country, I took a trip there and felt God opening the doors to be His hands and feet in a small way to these kids, as our heart for street kids moves beyond the borders of Latin America.  I have since taken several trips and we have been in the development stage of this new effort for some time now.  We now have trained and equipped a team of committed Sudanese men and their families.  We set up our organization and registered with the authorities.  The team is on the streets each day visiting the kids in the markets, hearing their stories and offering them food and whatever help they can give them while they're still on the streets.  I will return in October to finalize the next step; a place to start taking the kids off the street and into a safe situation. 
 
So what is the current situation in this newest county in the world?  Here is an excerpt from the unedited email I just received regarding Juba (the capital city):
" By God grace we all fine we are not yet return to the place where we (are) staying because many death bodies are laying in the roads and in the areas and Red Cross is gathering the death bodies in roads and areas and gun shot was stop in juba (cease fire - for now) peoples are starting return back to their places (homes)"   ** Parenthesis added.
 
Just over three years ago, South Sudan attained it's independence from the Islamic north, Sudan after a very bloody and horrific civil war.  They suffered through the Darfur genocide and the Joseph Kony attacks and taking of child soldiers in the small villages in the South.  The aftermath is a country torn apart by famine, starvation, and orphaned children that fill the market places.  Many children are sent to Juba, the capital, by their parents due to the lack of food in their villages.
 
During my first visit the president removed the vice president from office causing much of what we see today in the inter-tribal fighting.   Currently, this new country is riddled with intense fighting between the tribes for political power.  It seems that fighting can break out anytime and anywhere but nonetheless, our team is committed to these kids and their wellbeing.  Please pray for protection of our team, wisdom in the midst of turmoil, and that the light of Jesus would penetrate the hearts of the children we are helping.


 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
School is out for the Summer! 
Hana
  
Hana and kids with their certificates
What a joy it is to look back on another successful school year! It was such a privilege to work alongside all our teachers who were so dedicated to loving on these kids, sharing our devotional time with them and watching relationships grow throughout the year. I loved seeing new creative ideas in class that involved the kids, making everyone interested and excited for another day together. 
Check out that smile
 
Having small class sizes, about seven students in each of our four classrooms, made it so much easier for each child to be involved and have a voice in that day's lesson. That also made it easy and fun for us as teachers to highlight their individual strengths. Seeing their faces light up when they had mastered something new and could now teach it to another will forever be one of my favorite moments. It's not always easy putting your finger on character growth, but it was beautifully evident when calling attention to something practical in class that they had achieved, allowing them to be leaders, thinkers and encouragers.

Orianna
As one school year ends, the other is already fast approaching which means new books, supplies and replacing thrashed uniforms. If you'd like to be a helping hand in the education for all the kids who join us for school, now is the time to consider donating. The annual cost is $150 for books per student and $75 for school supplies and uniforms.
 
Click here to Contribute  towards the school expenses  
                          
Summer Bible Camp: 
Shannon

Our MC Miguel Angel
We had an incredible two weeks of day camp with our boys and the neighborhood kids! 
"Wanted Reward"
I felt like a proud mother seeing everyone shine in their roles; from Miguel Angel as the camp MC, Orianna with the songs and music, Hana with the fun games, Ysmerly, Duglas, and Ana as teachers, and our older boys as the camp leaders. 

Each one did an incredible job and made the camp a huge success!  We pray that God will use the messages, songs and love that they received while at the camp to draw them to Him and increase their faith! 

Life Navigation School:
Christian
We just finished our fifth Life Skills School!  Every year we feel like we are improving our classes and material.  This year we were very pleased with how everything turned out and with how much our students were
Life Skills Recap - 2016
Life Skills Recap - 2016
able to capture.  We had a very lively and attentive class this year and it was a pleasure to teach them.  We were able to grab two of our star students before they began down their paths of their independence and hear about their experience at the school.  Click on the image to check out their video!

Updates on the Boys:
  
It's hard to believe how fast time flies!  We are starting to see many of the first group of boys we received here in the D.R. growing up and leaving the nest!  It's a time of some sadness to see them moving on, but also of excitement to see them taking their first steps as adults.  And like any family, it's not good-bye, just the next stage of life. 

To update you on a few of them:  Jean Carlos is now living in Santo Domingo with close friends of his while working at a bakery and continuing his studies.  Elias and Johan are currently looking for an apartment in town and working construction while finishing their studies.  Miguel Angel will be sharing the apartment with the other boys and is currently a Tio in the house with our younger boys.  Please continue to pray for each of them as they step out on their own, that they will each seek God first and dedicate their steps to Him on this new life journey.

Jonas

Many of our boys do not know their families.  They have not heard from them in years or have rarely spoken to them throughout their lives, so every time we find a family member it is a great thrill for everyone! After a long period of waiting and searching, in May we found out that Jonas has a father, a sister and grandfather, who were very happy to see us and ready to receive him into their home.

 
Victor
On the other hand, we found out that Victor has uncles, cousins, friends, a grandfather and a father who live nearby, so we decided to visit them a few times. It was nice to see Victor be a little nervous, but happy to meet them although many of them he did not remember all. It was also good to see so many people excited to see him. Our hope is that we can start building a good relationship with them through visits and maybe at some point, like Jonas, Victor could be reintegrated into his family.


You can sponsor one of our boys in The D.R. by clicking: Sponsorship


 Coffee Shop:

If someone were to ask what Jon Haslett's greatest passions are many would say:  Jesus, NDLL, his family, but one thing that would have to be mentioned is good COFFEE!  Many of you have experienced this passion
 of his first hand.  So when our family was considering a business that would help give our boys work experience and an income, the obvious answer was A COFFEE SHOP! 

Rachel
The shop will also provide a supplement
al income for some of our international missionaries and provide a place to hold Bible studies and deep philosophical and spiritual discussions with our friends in the community. 

Our goal is to open the "Vagamundo" coffee shop by the end of October.  We are also very excited that our daughter Rachel will be moving to the DR to help in the running of the shop along with Christian as he is training and guiding our older boys.
 
 
Keep up with The Boys and Staff on our Facebook page by clicking: 
VENEZUELA

 The End of the School Year:
  
 
Luis at Graduation
Our boys are about to finish the school year. Congratulations to Luis Mart�nez who already graduated from a school for children with           
 Luis with his Class
special needs! He will be attending 
various workshops to learn trades. 
 

 Summer Activities: 
  
Some of the boys have been attending percussion classes and soccer practice.


 Godson with his Team
Godson














Godson repairing a computer
This summer the boys will be taking some training courses like com
puter repair,
Windows systems, English language, and baking. 




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Maikel
 

You can sponsor one of our boys in Venezuela by clicking: Sponsorship
 
Church Activities:
 
The boys are also committed to activities at "Seguidores de Jesucristo Church" where they regularly attend, receiving discipleship and participating in youth meetings. Recently, they attended a youth camp that was a blessing to their lives.

Youth Camp

  
  Keep up with the boys and staff on our Facebook page by clicking: Like us on Facebook
  

What's New at The Lighthouse Ranch:

 
Raiza, Angel, Jes�s, Bertha, Anthony, and Jos�

Ni�os de la Luz is celebrating a new beginning! The Ranch is now open
Jos� & boys enjoying the pool
to welcome the little ones of our Lord. We are very happy to have the Ranch open again and for the new children as well. Thank you Lord!

Our new houseparents are Jos� and Bertha Hernandez, our new Tia is Raiza Morales, and our new boys are Angel, Jes�s, and Anthony.


Happy boys and staff

                          
 
Prayer Requests:
 
* For our teenagers, in whom we have seen changes, but know they are in a constant struggle. Please pray that they allow God to help them to stand against all circumstances.

* For the Lord to send workers out into the harvest, as they are necessary to continue providing quality care for our children and youth.

* For the new boys, may God touch their hearts and transform them with His love and those who will come.

* For wisdom and strength for our staff at the Ranch and Casa de Paso.

* For provisions of food, clothing and shoes for our children and youth.

Click here to Contribute  to NDLL
                          
 

Ni�os de la Luz

P.O. Box 7686

Capistrano Beach, CA 92624

949-481-8355

www.ninosdelaluz.org