God’s Heart for Orphans

We appreciate all of our friends who help us to care for hundreds of precious children at Harvest Ministry’s two orphanages, Osanidde Village and Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center.

Recently, there was a wonderful Christmas celebration for the children, with special meals and gifts. It’s so exciting when God gives an idea to someone, and to be a part of the delivery. A Christian elementary school in the U.S. conducted a LEGO toy-drive, where kids donated baggies of LEGO’s, Christian women coordinated a large sewing project (making about 100 uniquely crafted jumper-dresses), and other child sponsors continue to send caring notes and small gifts. What a blessing!

God calls us to care for orphans…

• Learn to do good; Seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17, NASB)
• Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)
• When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:21, NASB)

God’s justice will cover the orphans…

• Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. I f you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exodus 22:22-23, NIV)
• He executes justice for the or phan and the widow.(Deuteronomy 10:18a, NASB)
• Woe to those who…rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans. (Isaiah 10:1a-2b, NASB)
• Do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow. (Jeremiah 22:3b, NASB)
• Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against…those who oppress…the widow and the orphan. (Malachi 3:5a, NASB)

The Bible says evil men take advantage of orphans…

• They drive away the orphan’s donkey and take the widow’s ox in pledge. (Job 24:3, NIV)
• They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans. (Psalm 94:6, NASB)
• Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge. (Job 24:9, NASB)

God promises His love and protection for orphans…

• Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. (Jeremiah 49:11a, NIV)
• I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18, NIV)
• You have been the helper of the orphan. (Psalm 10:14b, NASB)
• You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. (Psalm 10:17b-18, NASB)
• For in You the orphan finds mercy. (Hosea 14:2c, NASB)

God blesses those who are obedient to care for the needs of orphans…

• When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19, NASB)
• For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. (Job 29:11-13, NASB)

These verses were compiled from the facebook group, “A Heart for Orphans.” Photos from Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village orphanage.

Keep it PURE!

There are 143 million orphans in the world today.
But why should you CARE?

’cause it’s PURE!

We all know that it’s physically healthy to drink a lot of pure fresh water. And how many glasses-a-day are recommended? Isn’t it about eight?

Well, how much of God’s PURE and undefiled religion are we getting into our spiritual system on a regular basis?

Let’s drink more.
Let’s keep it pure.

A note from my journal:

I’m feeling so blessed and excited to know God is hearing our prayers for the few hundred orphan children He’s put on our hearts. Just yesterday, two people handed me generous checks because they said the “Lord told them” to help these orphan children in Africa (what a BLESSING!!!). One man drove across town to present us with a special missions gift . . . and he said he had never given an offering like this in his entire life. He was struggling to conquer a “fear of lack” in his own life, yet he “felt compelled” that he was supposed to help these orphans with their needs. And right now, others are also seeking God’s direction regarding what they should do to help. God is SOOO good. I’m feeling the Lord’s focus for me is simply to not worry and to not fear. He simply wants us to obey . . . with a pure heart.

Yep.
Hand me another glass.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake, for they shall be filled” (JESUS - from Matthew 5).

Related audio: COMPASSION

Here’s a copy of a recent postcard we sent to our ministry partners:

Please keep these precious children in your prayers!

Correction: Our mailing address is Harvest Ministry - P.O. Box 727 - Hood River, OR 97031

A Special Day at Osanidde!

Jon just returned from a wonderful time with the kids at Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village Orphanage. We had a special “SPORTS DAY” to celebrate the end of the school term, with all kinds of races, cultural contests, singing, and dancing. This 4-minute video includes special praise reports about two special Osanidde kids: Justine & Eliman. Justine is now excelling at KING’S COLLEGE; she ranks in the top academic percentile in the nation; and in this exclusive secondary school, she ranks #5 out of all of these top 77 students which is a huge “boost” to all of the children and to our Osanidde school and teachers!. Eliman recently had surgery on his CLUB FOOT - He used to be called the little “lame boy” but now he can walk and RUN! Praise Jesus! God has a huge love for orphans, and so do we!

Thank you for loving these precious children! Please keep everyone in your prayers!

New Osanidde School Buildings!!!

At Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village there are now two brand-new school buildings, with eight classrooms. Please continue to pray for all of our precious children, and for continual support for the ongoing needs. God is good!

Three Precious Girls

Three girls, Josephine, Mariam, and Amooti (from Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village Orphanage), were in need of sponsorship, and God provided!

Josephine, Mariam, & Amooti

Here is the need we shared . . . and be sure to read the comments, because God provided!

For several years, the monthly sponsorship for these three Ugandan girls has come from a wonderful missionary family currently living and serving the Lord in Asia. This mission-minded family continues to have a huge heart for these three orphan children. However, because of a (temporary - in Jesus’ Name!!!) economic challenge in this missionary family’s ministry and personal finances, they had to let us know, with much regret, that they are unable to continue their sponsorship at this time (although they hope to resume their commitment as soon as their financial situation permits).

We’re all a family in this together, and like the early church in the book of Acts, we can all share to help meet this need.  After praying for this situation, I (Ann) felt to simply write on-line about this specific need and prayer request.  I’m believing for God to abundantly provide, as He always does.  I’m curious if anyone would be willing to take on one, or two, or all three of these awesome girls (at $1/day - or $30/month each) for this interim time while this missionary family is unable to do so. If you’re interested in helping to meet this need, just let us know!

Prayer & Response: Please pray specifically for God’s provision for this missionary family, as well as for these three orphan children. God is our provider, God is the provider for this family, and God is the provider for these kids!!! And He’s so GOOD!!!!

If anyone feels led to help, please send us an email from our “contact us” page.

To learn more about Osanidde Village - click here.

Kid Orphan Sponsor Featured on TV News

KELOLife Television in Aberdeen, South Dakota ran a feature about one of our Osanidde orphan sponsors, an energetic 10-year-old, named Ethan, who’s been selling lemonade (for three years!!!) to support his friend, Allan, in Uganda. Ethan really takes his sponsorship commitment seriously!

It’s a sweet news clip . . . and a blessing!

You can view the TV station’s video file right here. And if any of you could take a moment to log in to view the article on the TV station’s website, it would be wonderful to add some positive comments about the feature. Please keep Harvest Ministry and all of our orphan children (currently 610 kids!) in your thoughts and prayers.

P.S. Ethan was inwardly “moved with compassion” with a specific burden on his heart; he felt that if he didn’t raise that last $4, his orphan friend would “die.” We’re all so inspired by Ethan’s commitment; but be assured that if any of our sponsors are unable to meet their commitment (of $1/day), we’ll simply trust God together for His provision!!! Amen???

Will you “plead” for orphans and souls?

Completely surrendering to God is more than merely asking Jesus to “come into our heart.” Instead, it’s coming into “HIS LIFE” and allowing the heart and passions of Jesus to flow through us.

iPlead [i-pleed]

VERB: to allow GOD Himself to make an earnest and urgent entreaty through me, perhaps in emotional terms, on behalf of another person or a specific need, and to willingly argue for His justice in support of someone or something, especially for SOULS.

In our hightech world of ipods, itunes, and iphones — in a world that needs God more deperately that ever — comes a new mission word we recently combined.

The word is “iPlead” and this fresh yet timeless theme sums up so much of our heart . . . for reaching SOULS with the Gospel, for helping orphans and people in need, and most importantly, for loving GOD.

Just think of the word “I.” Have you ever wondered, “What difference could “I” ever make?” or “How could “I make an impact for God, when the needs are so huge?

But the exciting point and focus of this new word is that the “I” in “iPlead” doesn’t represent us. The only “I” we should care about is the Great “I AM” . . . not ourselves or our personal lives and selfish ambitions (me, myself, and I).

When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, He declared, “I am that I am” was sending him. It was God Himself who spoke to Pharoah and to the children of Israel. (Remember the words, “Thus sayeth the LORD…”?) And today, God wants to speak through you, and through us, and through all Christians. To literally “plead” through us for His purposes.

II Cor. 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Prov. 31:8-9 tells us to “plead” the cause of the poor and the needy. And Esther was challenged to “plead” for her people before the king.

Wow.

Those words “plead” and “implore” are passionate and intense, and how much more-so when I realize that God wants them to refer to pleading for HIS purposes, on HIS behalf.

God is giving me a bigger passion to plead for precious orphan children, and to plead for the lost.

In the world today, there are over 430,000,000 orphans, and far too many of these precious children are in desperate need. They need the basic necessities of life . . . something for their tummies, somewhere for them to live, and something for their nakedness; yet more importantly, these little ones are “people” who need love . . . specifically to know their Heavenly Father’s love, and to be shown the eternal life God has provided for them through the only way of salvation: JESUS CHRIST.

In the world today, literally billions of people are so lost, and they’re totally oblivious to the forever-punishment they deserve. Because of sin, there’s a guilty charge against them, that’s completely impossible for them to pay . . . without God.

So this is the question I’m asking myself? “Who will plead on their behalf?”

“ipead” is about being God’s ambassador and submitting to His purposes. Following God is more than simply “asking Jesus to come into our lives.” Instead, it’s surrendering into “HIS LIFE” and allowing God’s heart to flow through us.

There’s a lot stirring in my heart along these lines. For now, I’m simply responding to what I believe the Lord (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is asking of me:

He’s asking, “Who will plead for Us?”

And I’m responding, “I will.”

iPlead.

Ann

So, here’s a question to consider: What about you? Will you allow God to plead through YOU . . . for the specific assignment that’s from His heart, through yours?

Feel free to share your comments . . .

Welcome to Osanidde Village!

For these orphan
children, it’s finally an . . .

“Oh Sunny Day!”

If you come to Bussi Island, you may wonder if these 160 “beaming” children are truly orphans, because they’re some of the happiest children you will ever meet. It’s because of the love of JESUS and the presence of God’s Holy Spirit that fills this wonderful, healing place.

Introducing Osanidde Village . . .

Osanidde is an African word (in the Luganda language) — common in many beloved Ugandan worship songs. The word means “You are Worthy!” and it sounds like “Oh Sunny Day!” This word sums up our heart and vision for this unique Ugandan orphanage.

Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village is a joyful, sunny place, and there’s an anointing of God here, from the fervent prayers of these precious orphans. These children are being instilled with vision and mission-minded purpose - to share God’s glory throughout the earth. And they’re making an impact! These children are fervent prayer warriors, exuberant worshipers, and they’re already proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ (through singing and preaching). Several of the children have traveled on “mission outreaches” to extremely poor nearby islands, to share God’s LOVE and God’s LIFE. And these little Osanidde “missionaries” have been thrilled as they’ve led others to receive God’s salvation!

Who we are . . .

Osanidde Village Directors: Both Uncle Michael (left) and Uncle Ronnie (right) have great compassion for orphan children.

Osanidde Village was established in February, 2006 — co-founded by African national evangelists, Drake & Josephine Kanaabo of Kampala, Uganda and USA evangelists Jon & Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry. Osanidde Village is nationally-directed on the local level by godly Ugandan “uncles” — led by the Kanaabo’s two adopted sons, Michael and Ronnie, both orphaned as children and now called to direct this work. They are assisted by other “uncles” and “aunties”, a Ugandan-certified Osanidde nurse, 9 qualified teachers, and 16 wonderful “mommas” (most who are widows - and all who love God and care for “their” new Osanidde children as their own)!

Where we’re located . . .

Osanidde Village is located on 40 peaceful acres of lakefront property (special land which served for over ten years as Harvest Ministry’s “N.E.T.S. Retreat Center” for international prayer and intercession) on Uganda’s remote and beautiful Bussi Island in the middle of Lake Victoria, the second-largest lake in the world.
Bussi Island is a tropical place, known for its pineapple, sunshine . . . and peace. Even through all of Uganda’s civil wars, this remote island remained peaceful; yet recently, this island has been devastated by other “enemies” to its people — including poverty, AIDS, and neglected orphans.

But now, God is doing something wonderful . . .

Guma Na Yesu - “Keep with Jesus!”

The need and the vision . . .

In Southern Uganda - our dear longtime friends, Naboth and Alice, have been helping approximately 450 needy orphans. This African couple haven’t had much to work with, but they’ve been doing everything possible to extend the love of Jesus. To meet the basic needs, they’ve been digging-up cassava from their garden . . . they’ve been selling-off whatever they can for food and necessities . . . their teachers have been working without any salary . . . and they’ve all been praying hard.

Because of this need, and our long-time ministry relationship with Naboth and Alice, Harvest Ministry is currently helping this second orphan project, GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center - with 450 orphan children.

Introducing Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center . . .

To remember this African word (from the Runyankole language), just think of the word “GUM” . . . and imagine chewing a sweet, delicious, sticky wad of GUM . . . and to keep chewing it for a long, long time. The name of this new orphanage project is Guma Na Yesu (pronounced “Goom-uh nuh Yay-soo”) - which means “Keep with Jesus!”

The long-term vision is to care for hundreds of orphan children through the support network of a strong Christian church and caring Ugandan families.

The vision is to build a Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center - with a free orphan school, basic provisions (of food, clothing, and educational supplies), and a family support base - to enable hundreds of orphans to be adopted into Christian families. Our prayer is for each of these orphan children to “keep” with Jesus for their entire lives! The heart of this orphan project is to train children to be mighty in God’s Word and to experience a life of knowing God personally - so they can fulfill God’s purpose. These children experience the presence of God daily - through prayer, child-led preaching, and through fervent worship and dancing. These children love Jesus, and their heavenly Father loves them.

Who we are . . .

N.E.T.S. Ministers, Naboth & Alice
Directors of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center

The Lord is just begining to give a new vision for Guma Na Yesu and through His wisdom and direction, He’s showing us how the needs of these children can be met. This orphan ministry is founded and directed by African ministers, Naboth and Alice of Southern Uganda.

Currently, this work is being assisted by Jon & Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry. The vision for Guma Na Yesu is for it to be nationally-directed on the local level, by Ugandan ministers, teachers, and church families — under the blessing and direction of JESUS Christ and the authority of God’s Word.

Where we’re located . . .

This African orphan ministry is being built in Mbarara, Uganda. It’s a needy area, with many orphans. Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center is currently under construction - on a hilltop property near one of Naboth’s new church facilities - directly above a Ugandan military base.

How you can help . . .

Right now, Lord is directing Harvest Ministry to do what we can, by God’s grace and through His provision, to help to relieve the immediate “pressure” regarding the support for these precious orphan children - as we seek the Lord concerning His long-term support, and what our involvement and commitment should be. The need is very big . . . beginning with several thousand dollars a month . . . for basic food and educational needs for these 450 children (not including any building construction, clothing, or on-going support).

Prayer Focus: Please pray with us for God’s abundant provision for the orphan children of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. And if you want to help, do let us know. Also, we would really appreciate your prayers for God’s wisdom concerning the future of this orphan project, and what Harvest Ministry’s long-term involvement should be.

Devotional for Mothers - Blessed to be a Blessing

Ann has several devotionals published in A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers - Daily Inspiration for Christian Moms,

By James Stuart Bell (Editor), Jeanette Gardner Littleton (Editor)

Hardcover - Available from Amazon.com

Here’s a sample of one of Ann’s devotionals from this book:

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Blessed to be a Blessing

By Ann Dunagan

“I was naked, and you gave me clothing…” Matthew 25:36

Amid twisted hangers, bulging drawers, and way too many clothes, the kids and I began our major closet-cleaning attack. It took days–with sacks for the dumpster and sacks to give away. Best of all, we finished just in time before I left on a short-term missions trip to Uganda.

Soon I was surrounded by orphans adorned in only rags and ripped-up shirts, and often with bare bottoms. I thought of these precious children and my family’s ridiculous “conquered” closets. Then I felt the Lord whisper, “I’m the One naked on these street!” Immediately, I went and bought armloads of children’s clothing, but the situation turned pathetic. Mothers came from everywhere, holding up naked babies and begging for help. The need was beyond me.

Back home, our family raised funds to clothe that whole village, and this year, we even started an orphanage. The world’s need is huge, but it’s not beyond God!

Let’s show our kids that we’re blessed
so we can turn and be a blessing!

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