Hi Friends, We thought we would share some experiences from places we serve with from around the world.  Today we would like to focus on an orphanage called, ” Amani Baby Cottage” in Jinja, Uganda.  I am the director of BWO and Amani is one of my favorite places in the world.

Here’s a little view into why:

Amani Baby Cottage was established in 2003 to provide care for orphaned and abandoned children. ABC is located in Jinja, Uganda near the shores of Lake Victoria. The facility can house up to 60 children ages birth to 5 years. Children are referred through local authorities and the Ugandan social welfare system. Many are orphaned when their parents die due to AIDS, birth complications or other factors. Some are abandoned in the hospital after birth. Others are found abandoned at taxi stops, in latrines, or on the street.

The Baby Cottage has as its goal, that each one of them will find a place with a loving family. Amani is the beginning of their journey to such a place.

Below is a except from a blog of one of Amani’s current volunteers.  BWO missionaries will journey this June to Jinja, Uganda and Amani Baby Cottage. Some of the emotions the volunteer shares below, we expect, some of our short term team members may feel as well.

Soak it in, reflect, and enjoy…

(*The names of the children below have been changed to protect their privacy.)

Counting the Cost

Saturday, March 13, 2010

One of the most nauseating things I was told before I came here was you are such a good person to help orphans in Africa and you’re sacrificing so much you poor thing. Those people just don’t get it. You think I’m an amazing person and that I’m sacrificing so much?
You didn’t get to see Tommy today smiling and crawling around on the floor and know that three weeks ago he was lying in my arms lifeless all skin and bones.

You didn’t get to feed baby Gloria her bottle and plant kisses on her head knowing that just a mere 6 hours ago she was lying in a field in the rain abandoned.

You won’t get to see two sets of parents come running through our gates in three short weeks and take their new children into their arms.

I’m not amazing. I’m not sacrificing so much.  I am doing what everyone else is doing in this world. I’m finding what gives me the most joy and pursuing it. Nothing has ever given me as much joy as caring for the orphaned children of Uganda.  So that’s what I’m going to do.

I don’t think God always provides you with a miraculous sign to show you what you should do with your life. Sometimes I think it is as simple as being somewhere doing something and feeling a peace and joy so profound that you know they couldn’t come from anywhere but God. I have found that here. When I think about a future here all the world fades away. When I think about never having a proper shower, air conditioning, krispy kreme, the possibility of never marrying, only seeing my family and friends once a year I grow sad. But then I see one of my babies laugh or say their first word or come running to me to give me a hug and that joy surpasses all.

***Now taking applications for summer 2012.

Hi Friends,

We have been so blessed to see how many people are excited about serving in Haiti. To help people that are in such desperate need of love and support.  We thought we would post some key aspects of the trip that so many of you are interested in.

Answers to questions you may have:
THE VISION-
#1. BWO’s primary goal will be to use physical relief to open doors for ministry in evangelism and discipleship.
#2 To be able to create/facilitate opportunities to get people on the mission field so they can experience a deeper relationship with Christ.
THE SCOPE-
Ministry opportunities will include:

• Medical. We will set up medical clinics to treat earthquake victims and other medical needs. We are looking for trained medical persons in all fields.
• Construction. The clean-up effort will take months, if not years. We will help clear rubble and rebuild homes.
• Orphanage and Children’s Outreach. We will be ministering among these devastated and fatherless children to bring joy of Christ to their lives.
• Village Ministry. We will work with people living in local village areas in and around Jacmel,serving in evangelism, VBS, and food relief. These are communities that are receiving aid  because they are so far from the city. These  are  communities in desperate need.
• Refugee Camp Ministry. We will serve in  evangelism and food relief in the refugee camps located in and around Jacmel.

THE LODGING-
Since the entire nation of Haiti is currently in a state of emergency, and since conditions aren’t likely to change, our accommodations will be the four acre fenced in ministry property that holds an outreach house as well as  200 x 200 tent that will serve as a lodging facility for team as time progresses. you will need a sleeping bag, and whatever you can carry in a small suitcase for your personal items.
THE TRAVEL-
We are planning to fly out of LAX & Fort Lauderdale right now.  We usually stage to different fly out cities on each side of the U.S. so it is easier for folks who may be on the other side of the country.  The two cities are LA & Fort Lauderdale for this trip.

THE ITINERARY-

Trip Dates:
June 8-19, 2010- from Los Angeles
June 8-19, 2010- from Fort Lauderdale

18 years and older

AND

August 7-18, 2010- from Los Angeles
August 7-18, 2010- from Fort Lauderdale

18 years and older

*We will open other dates or if need be customize a specific date/trip for a church that desires their own trip.

Example Schedule:

DAY 1 - We will depart LAX & Fort Lauderdale

Day 2- Travel-  Take a charter flight from Port-Au-Prince to  Jacmel Airport airport. travel to lodging facility. Get situated.

Day 3- Orientation/ ministry training Ministry team visit surrounding villages & site checks for medical & VBS
Day 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 -Ministry teams-Medical, Outreach, Construction teams

Medical Team —    to medical clinic/village/ refugee camp outreach
Orphanage Team- love, care, vbs
Construction- rubble removal and rebuilding
Aid Distribution- helps service in areas most needed (may combine aid & outreach team together)
Outreach Team —

o    Door to door friendship evangelism/ Bible distribution
o    Drama outreach
o    Vbs with village children
o    Soccer outreach & Clinics for youth

Day 11- possible day off & debrief-
Day 12- fly back to LAX & Fort Lauderdale

*Keep in mind, it’s missions. Everything may be subject to change.

What may a typical day look like?

This usually works well. Everything is subject to the environment and country we are in.
• 7:00 am                 Breakfast
• 7:30 am                 Personal Devotions
• 8:00 am                 Team Time
• 9:00 am-5pm       Depart lodging facilities/ to ministry sites

• Medical Team           —   out
• Outreach/Aid Team —  out
• Orphanage team     —  out
• Construction team —-  out

•  6:00 pm                                Dinner
•  7:00 pm                                Evening meeting/Service- worship, speaking, debrief
• 9:00-10pm                            Back to lodging facility -Lights out

THE COST:
The other is lodging.  If we are able to put the teams up in an actual lodging facility rather than tents we would much prefer doing that but we are preparing them for tents.

$1798 departure from Fort Lauderdale;

$1948 departure from Los Angeles

THE TRAINING AND PRE-TRIP PREPARATION -

The missions manual: Once a person fills out the application  for a trip with BWO, they will be sent a missions manual and a payment schedule.  The manual has all the necessary paperwork that need to be filled out , personal info, medical, insurance, notarized forms, pastor (small group leader) recommendations. It also has example fundraising ideas, example support letters, how to prepare your heart, what to pack, and more.

The training DVD & book: We have just finished working with some Calvary Chapel teachers that assisted us in putting together a DVD series on how to minister cross culturally.  There are 9 short 6-10 minute segments that coincides with the book- Ministering Cross-Culturally. Each person will receive this to prepare them for their trip. It is a very helpful tool to help them gain perspective and  different cultural views before they leave this country.

Devotional guide: We have put together a devotional guide to prepare hearts before, during, and after the mission trip.  This devotional guide is offered to each missionary.  It has 8 devotions to be read the 8 weeks prior to departure of the mission trip, 14 daily devotions while on the trip, and 6 devotions to be read the following weeks after the trip.  All the devotions are from various Christian mission type leaders.  There is also a place to journal after each brief devotion.

In the office: We want to walk with the missionaries every step of  the way.  We are here to answer questions, talk, and pray.  This is the part of the garden we feel called by the Lord to till. We desire to do this with excellence unto Him who called us. And… have a fun time doing it too. : )

THE NEXT STEP-

I hope this helps answer some of your questions. When you are ready to sign up you can simply go to www.believersworld.com , hit online application and follow the prompts.  Have more questions? call us at (877)641-5100. Hope you can join us on this trip or one of our other mission trips!

For The Glory of His Name,

BWO Staff

HAITI RELIEF MISSION TRIP FORMING NOW….Believers World Outreach is assembling a team to bring relief aid and help rebuild the already poverty stricken country of Haiti.

You are invited to be a part of this life-giving team. BWO’s primary goal will be to evangelize and to disciple believers, using physical relief as a way to open doors for ministry.

On January 12th a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Devastating aftershocks followed. The current number of dead and missing is estimated to be between 150,000 and 500,000. The entire capital of Port-au-Prince appears damaged or destroyed.

Your help is urgently needed to bring immediate emergency relief to those affected. We are accepting donations now that will used towards these efforts. Please go to the “Give” page if you are not able to go but would like to be a part of the sending and relief aid by donating to this cause.

We are currently targeting the departure dates of June 10-22, 2010.  Details are unfolding daily.  If you are interested in being a part of this relief team. Please contact us as soon as possible at (918)641-5100 or email: debbie@believersworld.com.

Ministry opportunities will include:

• Medical- we will be setting up a medical clinics inside the compound to treat earthquake victims. We are looking for trained medical persons in all fields.
• Construction- clearing rubble and rebuilding homes.
• Orphanage and Children’s outreach
• Village Ministry- working with people living the Grantier Lake area doing evangelism, VBS, and food relief. This is a community an hour away from Port au Prince that has no resources and typically does not receive any aid because they are so far from the city.
• Refugee Camp Ministry- doing evangelism and food relief in the refugee camps located in Port au Prince.