I met Reed and Kim Skinner for the first time in January of this year at Orphanage Emmanuel. They along with their three children are missionairies in Honduras. Both served at Orphanage Emmanuel before they were called to work in other areas of Honduras and, as with so many people of faith, you can almost physically see the Holy Spirit working in them. It's really quite amazing.
Reed and Kim Skinner with children Cassady, Hannah and Corbin in 2009
I recently learned that they are working to secure a food container from Feeding the Nations for Honduras. I was curious whether any of the food would be used to help orphans.
Reed told me the word "orphan" is difficult to define in Honduras, as many of the children still have a parent but are financially unable to take care of or feed them. They are working to supply to those would otherwise be "turned out" of the house. In other words, they are trying to prevent them from becoming orphans in the first place. In many cases, this is the only meal that they will get in a day.
The rice will also help the Tolupan, the indigenous people of Honduras, who are in worse shape than the orphans and would-be orphans. The food that goes to the Tolupan will, in some cases, prevent starvation, not just malnutrition.
Feeding the Nations containers are loaded with rice packets with flavoring, vitamins and minerals and are made specifically for malnourished and starving peoples. The whole container will have over 271,000 meals in it and should last about 6 - 8 months depending on how quickly they can distribute the food.
They have about $5,700 of the $8,200 they need to pay for the container. If you would like to help them meet their goal, shoot Reed an email at reedskinner@msn.com .
In their wildest dreams, the girls at Home of Hope Orphanage in Kochi, India probably never thought about learning to surf, to say nothing of the nuns who care for them. But a story in the Star News tells how 27 girls and 3 Nuns got the experence of a lifetime.
Catching a wave, April 19 2011
The safari was the brain child of Jack Viorel, of Jax Surf Charities and Paul Wilkes, executive director of Homes for Hope India-U.S. Homes for Hope is a great organization.
Thanks to volunteers from the University of North Carolina and others from the Willmington area, the second annual Surfing Safari successfully took place in the Arabian Sea.
Lessons at the Arabian Sea
The idea of teaching orphans to surf is inspired. The fact that they were able to convince the nuns at the ophanage to allow it was a miracle. Not only did they allow it, they particpated in full habit.
I was floored when I read this article from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Six year old Akaliza Alia was traveling from Kenya to Baltimore for heart surgery when a snafu resulted in an additional fee of $1,392. By the grace of God, the nurse traveling with Akaliza had enough room on his credit card to pay it.
Akaliza Alia
The World Orphan Fund plans to set up a system to utilize surplus capacity on planes and other forms of transportation. Specifically we hope to help in transporting orphans who need medical care as well as shipping supplies to orphanages. Our goal is to work with U.S. based companies to achieve discounts or outright donations of space. It seems we can't get that project underway soon enough.
I read a story online this week that intrigued me. The title of the article is West Michigan Attorney Decides Not To Build An Orphanage. It tells of a man listening to a sermon and it went like this:
Kevin Rigg’s sermon told of a wealthy man who wanted to find a way to give back for the blessings God had given him. This man was going to leave his lucrative business and go build orphanages in a poverty stricken part of the world. Kevin Rigg assured the man that the people would be better served with a donation instead of the donated time of a laborer with no construction skills. He explained that, while God did not give him the ability to construct buildings, he did give him the ability to make money.
Listening to that sermon, Shawn Eyestone, was inspired to start a program in his community.
The program, called Eye on the Community, encourages clients of Mr. Eyestone’s law firm to make donations to selected charities. Beginning in April, the program will feature two charitable organizations every two months. Eyestone Law Offices, PLC will provide its clients a credit for donations made to selected charities for up to 10% of the amount invoiced for legal services.
Shawn Eyestone
It made for an inspiring ending. But I was troubled by the advice. My question was, what if the wealthy man had followed his calling and gone off to build orphanages?
History is full of stories of the most unlikely people accomplishing amazing things. Like David and Lydia Martinez, who founded Orphanage Emmanuel. After all, who were they to think they could start an orphanage? What if they had decided they just didn't have the qualifications? There would be no Orphanage Emmanuel. No caring and loving home for 500 children. And that would have been a tragedy.
My favorite movie of all time is It's a Wonderful Life. I watch it every year at Christmastime. In it, a distressed George Bailey wishes he had never been born. With some heavenly intervention, he temporarily gets his wish, and is shown all the lives he has touched and the contributions he has made to his community. He also gets to see how things would have turned out differently had he not been there. If only we had that same opportunity in real life.
It's a Wonderful Life
I wondered, what would I have said to the weathy man if I had heard his conversation with the preacher? And then I remembered the advice of Playwright Neil Simon:
"Don't listen to those who say, "It's not done that way." Maybe it's not, but maybe you will. Don't listen to those who say, "You're taking too big a chance." Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today. Most importantly, don't listen when the little voice of fear inside of you rears its ugly head and says, "They're all smarter than you out there. They're more talented, they're taller, blonder, prettier, luckier and have connections…" I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you, not to the exclusion of love, sensitivity, and cooperation with others, but with the strength of conviction that you can move others by your own efforts, and do not make success or failure the criteria by which you live, the chances are you'll be a person worthy of your own respect."
We all loved the toddlers at Orphanage Emmanuel. In fact Junior, who has the most infectious smile on the planet, was a toddler we picked out to sponsor. I can't wait to see him again in May.
Keeley and Junior
Another toddler we met on our first day at the orphanage was Gabby, who had been there for about six months. You quickly learned that once you picked up and hugged Gabby there was no going back. One night Frank Waggoner, a dentist who gives free dental care to the children, came walking up from the clinic with Gabby on his shoulders. As he walked toward us she recognzed me, flashed that heart melting smile and put out her arms to be held. I felt like human velcro. Gabby has that love for all everyone she welcomes into her life.
Gabby
Keeley and I were so happy when Frank and Tracy Waggoner decided to sponsor her. For them it was love at first sight, and they are two of the most wonderful people any child could hope to have in their lives.
We recently learned that Gabby has been reunited with her mother. We pray that she has a happy life filled with love and laughter. We also pray for Tracy and Frank. While we know they are happy and hopeful for Gabby, in a real way they were saying goodbye to their own child.
In December of 1989, without electricity or running water, Emmanuel opened its doors for the first 5 children. It was founded by missionaries Lydia and David Martinez. Lydia was the one of the first people I met at Emmanuel, and it doesn't take you very long to realize she is hardwired to God. Lydia says “We like to say that this is not a work for God, it’s a work by God.” The reason for this perspective is readily clear. Everything there has been donated by people. The staff doesn’t even get a salary.
David and Lydia in 1989
Simply put, they depend on God to provide. When David and Lydia were scouting out a site for the orphanage, they were shown the property at Emmanuel and were told that it was about 50 acres. But when they went to sign the paperwork for the loan, Lydia noticed it was actually 1,000 acres. David told her to hurry up and sign the papers. It's one of the many miracles you learn about when you come here.
David and Lydia in 2009
With this land comes timber. Most of the cooking in Guaimaca is done with wood, and Emmanuel is no exception. Cooking for the children is done on wood stoves like the one below. In town you notice workers coming home at night with big bundles strapped to their bicycles. The smell of pine in the air is constant and pleasant.
Twenty years later, facilities at the orphanage include the church, homes for the children, staff, and volunteers, dining halls, a laundry facility, warehouse, bakery, gymnasium, medical and dental clinic. They have two deep wells which provide for clean drinking water. Long gone are the days when creepy crawlies came out of the shower heads. On the farm they raise their own pigs, cows and chickens. While not entirely self sufficent, the farm provides all the necessary meat, milk and eggs for the orphanage.
Education
Emmanuel provides a comprehensive educational program for the children. The only grades the Honduran Government requires children to complete are grades 1-6, Emmanuel’s additional classes include Pre-K, Kindergarten, Special Education, Junior High, and High School. In addition to the basic subjects (math, science, Spanish, and social studies), they offer art, English and Computer classes. Emmanuel has begun offering quarterly extra-curricular classes in the afternoon to the children in grades 4-9.
First Day of School
Putting FedEx to Shame
The system of getting needed items from the United States to Emmanuel is run by Dr. Don Reynolds, a Chattanoga dentist. The operation puts FedEx to shame. Several times a year the "container" comes down to Emmanuel from a central warehouse in Tennessee. Used by Dole to ship their fruit to the U.S., use of the container is donated to ship items to the orphanage. Cases of Moon Pies, donated by the Chattonoga Bakery Company are used to help pack the container and ultimately make for happy children in Honduras who consume the packing material. The container is also the primary method sponsors send items to their children.
The Real Miracle is the Children
The biggest miracle, of course is the children and the love they so freely share. If you're not into hugs you came to the wrong place. The children immediately accept you and then they hug and climb on you with reckless abandon. They want to know your name and they want you to know theirs. Once you're on their grid - they call out to you by name whenever they see you. After a day with them you ask yourself, who is really helping who here?
Some of that love brought an unexpected gift to Keeley. On the first day she prayed that God would help her find some way to better relate to the children. After breakfast we hung out with the toddlers for a few hours, embracing our newfound status as human jungle gyms. You just have to laugh -- when they want your attention it's "Tio! Tio! Mira!" "Uncle, Uncle! Look!"
R.J. and Toddlers
The following day, as Keeley and I returned to the team house, Maria Wilcox stopped Keeley with a concerned look. "Let me look at you." "Oh no," she said. "You have lice."
Maria and Keeley
So for the next several hours and with great love, Maria rid Keeley of her new found companions. Keeley believed it was God's answer to her prayer.
What did you Build?
Explaining what we did here can be a challenge with some. It's easy to describe, it just doesn't fit their expectations. "What did you do there, did you build something?" "We spent a lot of time loving on the kids." "Right. But what did you do?" Yes, painting needed to be done and door frames needed to be installed at the school. And we did some of that. But nothing was more important than one on one time with with the children. Playing games, cooking them hotdogs for lunch, or just hanging out with them in their yards, their smiles and hugs tell you everything you need to know. Love is what they need the most.
Circle Time
Each morning, before breakfast, the children gather up at "circle time" at each of the houses. There are houses for small, medium and large girls and small, medium and large boys. Additionally there's the toddler house. They are all kept separate by these divisions. It can be a bit awkward for siblings as many of them have brothers and sisters at the orphanage and they are separated. At least physically.
During this time several childen are selected to lead and are placed in the middle of the circle. They sing for about 15 minutes, followed with a lesson, and then head off to breakfast. On Friday they do "big circle" where the entire orphanage gathers. Circle time is where I met and fell in love with one of the three children I now sponsor.
Circle Time
La Tienda
Going to La Tienda (the store) is a big deal. Here they have ice cream, sodas and snacks and it's a blast taking kids there. I just let them chose whatever drink and food they want (they love pringles). However during my first trip I noticed that they weren't eating what we had just bought. When I asked why, the little boy said "I'm saving it for my brother." I found this experience repeated nearly every time I took children there. And when they do eat, they insist you have some too.
La Tienda!
The Clinic
Both teams had doctors come with them, and the second week brought Carlos Azuzena from El Salvador. While on site, Carlos found a hole in the heart of 14 year old Laura. I found her crying one day in the yard, the news about her heart had her understandably scared. All I could do was hold her while she sobbed. The good news is it's totally fixable. She recently had an echo-cardiogram done in Tegucigalpa and we hope to see progress on getting treatment for her very soon. It's one of the things I hope the World Orphan Fund can help with here and at other orphanages.
Dr. Carlos Azuzena
The Girls at the Team House
Several girls, ranging from 14 to 17 years old helped us during our time at the team house with cooking and cleaning. With frequent laughter, goofyness and serious moments in-between -- we became a family. They cooked for us, ate with us, and just hung out with us. Several of us made our mission in life to fix a bicycle for Mersy. And of course, thanks to them, the now famous Honduran Chicken dance was invented.
At the end of the week they shared painful testimony about their lives before Emmanuel. They opened up to us in a way that the volunteers at the orphanage said they had never witnessed. I cannot begin to describe the emotions I felt as a child the same age as my daughter described how her mother was murdered. Through the tears she said she loved God and knew He had a purpose for her. Holding them afterwards you never wanted to let go. But I have no doubt God has them in His hand, and we were grateful He gave us the opportunty to play a part in helping them heal.
Comforting After Testimony
Just Scratching the Surface
There is so much more to tell about Emmanuel and you'll hear more about it in future posts. I'm returning there in four weeks to see my three kids, love on the others and find ways the World Orphan Fund can help.
If you would like to sponsor a child at Emmanuel, you can do so easily for only $35 month. Send me an email and I'll get you the information.
