Provide Food for Orphans in Need
Donation protected
Last year, my husband and I had the opportunity to take a group of students from the school I teach at on a trip to my home country of Honduras. Our hope for the trip was to expose students to a different culture, language, and way of life, and see their eyes be opened to the reality that for most of the people in the world, life isn't like it is for them here in the States.
As a part of our week in Honduras, we had planned on visiting a home for the elderly to serve the people there and spend time with them. As is the case so many times, God had different plans. After several phone calls, we found out the home was closed and would not be able to receive us as guests that day. With a van full of students, and nowhere to go, we reached out to a local contact who does incredible humanitarian work in the area, and she informed us that she knew of a small, off-the-grid orphanage that we could visit. When we arrived, we immediately realized this was not the kind of orphanage we were expecting. This was a small, regular house. A small house that twelve children and two caregivers call home.
We were amazed as we learned the story of this orphanage. This is not an institutional orphanage, but is a grassroots operation based on the simple love of the caretakers for children with no home. Some of these kids have been dropped off by parents who simply don't want them. Others were rescued from unsafe homes. Still others, found in the street, left to die. With no regular cash flow, and instead relying on word-of-mouth and the graciousness of those nearby, these caretakers truly sacrifice everything to provide for these children. While we were there, we noticed that the kitchen was empty. They hadn't had much food or milk for the babies in several days. After providing for their immediate need by having some milk and food brought to the house, we played with the kids and as night fell, headed back to our hotel.
After experiencing this afternoon at the orphanage, the students decided to donate all of the extra money they had brought along to provide food for these kids! What an answer to our prayer that their hearts would be touched and their eyes opened. With that money we were able to provide food to them on a monthly basis for six months! Each month, we would receive pictures of the kids receiving the food, each of them full of excitement at the simplest of provisions. It was a joy to see our students experience how the smallest amount of generosity literally changed these little lives.
Fast forward to this year, and we once again planned to visit Honduras with a group of students and visit this little orphanage. We hoped to perhaps see a new group of students also feel the call to generously help provide for these children. Unfortunately, due to the tension-filled political climate in Honduras due to a very volatile and violent presidential election, it was simply not possible for us to continue as planned, and we had to cancel our trip.
My heart feels heavy knowing that these kids are not receiving any food from us anymore. So here we are, dreaming and praying big prayers and dreams. We feel called to do what we can to rally those around us who might feel called to give. We believe God wants us to see food delivered to these kids for the next 12 MONTHS. There are currently 10 children living in the orphanage, and for only $1 PER DAY, they (and their caregivers!) can have basic provisions like rice, beans, milk, and other essentials. So 10 children x $1 per day x 365 days = $3650. Add $100 to cover the monthly purchasing and delivery (carried out by our family and partners in Honduras), and we have a grand total of $3,750. $3,750 to ensure that these children don't go hungry!
It's our prayer that God will lead the right people to make a contribution, however big or small, and that we will see 2018 be a year of full bellies at this tiny orphanage.
We'll be sure to share all of the pictures and stories we receive as we see them grow throughout the year!
Thanks for reading!
*NOTE: We are not affiliated with any organization or non-profit and are simply two people trying rally anyone who feels called to provide for a small orphanage in need in my hometown. We have verified the legitimacy of the orphanage and caretakers through friends and family, and 100% of all money given will go to deliver food to these children each and every month.
As a part of our week in Honduras, we had planned on visiting a home for the elderly to serve the people there and spend time with them. As is the case so many times, God had different plans. After several phone calls, we found out the home was closed and would not be able to receive us as guests that day. With a van full of students, and nowhere to go, we reached out to a local contact who does incredible humanitarian work in the area, and she informed us that she knew of a small, off-the-grid orphanage that we could visit. When we arrived, we immediately realized this was not the kind of orphanage we were expecting. This was a small, regular house. A small house that twelve children and two caregivers call home.
We were amazed as we learned the story of this orphanage. This is not an institutional orphanage, but is a grassroots operation based on the simple love of the caretakers for children with no home. Some of these kids have been dropped off by parents who simply don't want them. Others were rescued from unsafe homes. Still others, found in the street, left to die. With no regular cash flow, and instead relying on word-of-mouth and the graciousness of those nearby, these caretakers truly sacrifice everything to provide for these children. While we were there, we noticed that the kitchen was empty. They hadn't had much food or milk for the babies in several days. After providing for their immediate need by having some milk and food brought to the house, we played with the kids and as night fell, headed back to our hotel.
After experiencing this afternoon at the orphanage, the students decided to donate all of the extra money they had brought along to provide food for these kids! What an answer to our prayer that their hearts would be touched and their eyes opened. With that money we were able to provide food to them on a monthly basis for six months! Each month, we would receive pictures of the kids receiving the food, each of them full of excitement at the simplest of provisions. It was a joy to see our students experience how the smallest amount of generosity literally changed these little lives.
Fast forward to this year, and we once again planned to visit Honduras with a group of students and visit this little orphanage. We hoped to perhaps see a new group of students also feel the call to generously help provide for these children. Unfortunately, due to the tension-filled political climate in Honduras due to a very volatile and violent presidential election, it was simply not possible for us to continue as planned, and we had to cancel our trip.
My heart feels heavy knowing that these kids are not receiving any food from us anymore. So here we are, dreaming and praying big prayers and dreams. We feel called to do what we can to rally those around us who might feel called to give. We believe God wants us to see food delivered to these kids for the next 12 MONTHS. There are currently 10 children living in the orphanage, and for only $1 PER DAY, they (and their caregivers!) can have basic provisions like rice, beans, milk, and other essentials. So 10 children x $1 per day x 365 days = $3650. Add $100 to cover the monthly purchasing and delivery (carried out by our family and partners in Honduras), and we have a grand total of $3,750. $3,750 to ensure that these children don't go hungry!
It's our prayer that God will lead the right people to make a contribution, however big or small, and that we will see 2018 be a year of full bellies at this tiny orphanage.
We'll be sure to share all of the pictures and stories we receive as we see them grow throughout the year!
Thanks for reading!
*NOTE: We are not affiliated with any organization or non-profit and are simply two people trying rally anyone who feels called to provide for a small orphanage in need in my hometown. We have verified the legitimacy of the orphanage and caretakers through friends and family, and 100% of all money given will go to deliver food to these children each and every month.
Organizer and beneficiary
Leonela Kattan Runnels
Organizer
Franklin, TN
Jameson Runnels
Beneficiary
