Osanidde Village Child Sponsorship: Q & A

What a JOY!

It’s our 4 year anniversary since the founding of Osanidde Village!!!

In February of 2006, Harvest Ministry embarked on a new journey of faith and love for orphan children. We have grown so much, and our hearts have expanded. We started with 30 children, and by God’s AMAZING GRACE, Harvest Ministry is now caring for over 600 precious children through two ministries to orphans, and seeking God to raise each child for His MISSION-MINDED purposes. Over these 4 years, we’ve been amazed at God’s daily, monthly, and consistent yearly PROVISION for these children!

God truly cares about these kids, even more than we do . . . and what a joy it is to be a part of something so special to His heart!

God has been, is, and will always be our FAITHFUL PROVIDER.

Could you consider sponsoring a child?

Currently, 15 children at Osanidde Village (one of Harvest Ministry’s two orphanages in Uganda, East Africa) are available for individual child sponsorship, a commitment of $1/day ($30/month or $35 if possible). Every little bit makes a HUGE difference, and the one-on-one love and individual prayer support is powerful!

For more information, including details and photos of the kids now available for sponsorship, please download the following.

(NOTE: this post and the following PDF file will be continually updated and reloaded as each child is selected for one-on-one sponsorship.)

• DOWNLOAD MORE INFORMATION: Osanidde Sponsorship Q & A - (in PDF format - Updated February 19, 2010)

• How to send a PERSONAL LETTER/GIFT to your Osanidde Child - (Download information in PDF format)

• TO CONTACT US . . .

Osanidde Child Sponsorship Update:

Mid-January, 2010 - Children in need of sponsorship: 36

NEW SPONSORS: 21!!!

As of February 19 - Children currently available for sponsorship: 15

Keep these kids in your prayers, and thank you for caring!!! GOD BLESS YOU!

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

Daring daughters & dirty feet

I’ve always had this “thing” for baby feet. I pull off darling shoes, and little newborn socks, and just want to kiss each of those tiny toes! I always ponder where a baby’s precious feet will go, and about God’s destiny and purpose for each new life. But speaking as a mother, what happens when our kids grow up, and God perhaps would call our sons, or our DAUGHTERS, to dangerous places?

Our oldest daughter, Christi, recently climbed a mountain barefoot. She didn’t want to wear out her TOMS, which incidentally are shoes produced by a company that helps kids in impoverished countries . . . . who don’t have shoes. These dirty feet actually give a pretty clear glimpse of our daughter. Christi’s always dreamed of daring things for God. She’s grown up on a steady diet of missionary biographies — Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, Florence Nightingale, Lottie Moon, and Elisabeth Elliot; but she’s done more than merely read about godly self-sacrificing women. Christi’s been living-out her own mission adventure story, as she’s also continually dreaming about the future.

The Bible says, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,

and bring glad tidings of good things!” - Romans 10:15

I want to be a mom who encourages each of our children to completely fulfill God’s destiny — not by our own efforts, but by God’s GRACE!!! Jon and I know that each of our sons, and our DAUGHTERS, have been entrusted by God into our family to be raised FOR HIM and His mission-minded and eternal purposes. We want each of our kids, including each son and each DAUGHTER, to fully obey God’s call and purpose for his or her life. Sometimes, as a caring and loving mom (who remembers kissing our babies’ feet and tucking away their precious hand-knitted booties for the next generation), that can be challenging and stretching.

But oh, what a JOY!!!!

Our daughter, Christi

Here are a few pictures of our daughter on a mission outreach in East Africa. Christi was instrumental in helping to establish Osanidde Village and Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center, Harvest Ministry’s two orphanages in Uganda, currently caring for over 600 children orphaned primarily because of AIDS. During her last year at home, Christi worked tirelessly in our ministry office, coordinating child sponsors and sharing needs. She’s traveled the globe to share the Gospel and to help others; but her passion for people who need Jesus is just as fervent here in the United States! She loves to mentor young women, to pray for those who are hurting, to speak out for world missions, and to have fun with community outreach projects (just last weekend, on Oct. 31st, she worked alongside an “army” of college students in an exciting city-wide canned-food drive!).

As mothers in God’s kingdom, we need to not only raise our own daughters to love the Lord, but realize that there are multitudes of God’s precious daughters throughout the world, who desperately need all the motherly-and-sisterly-love we can give, along with our sacrificial support and prayer.

Rescuing one of God’s girls . . . in Uganda, East Africa

When Christi was 15-years old, she wrote a powerful orphan essay (you can read it here) about the needs of one precious abused girl, named Jennifer, and this essay was only the beginning of God stirring His compassion in our daughter’s heart.

Here’s a picture of this rescued orphan girl, Jennifer, today (four years after Christi wrote the article). This precious young woman is still living with our dear friends, Naboth & Alice, and she continues to be a vital testimony about God’s hand on these beautiful orphan children. The most recent report is so beautiful. Naboth wrote:

Jennifer is now in primary four. She sleeps and “feeds” at Pastor Naboth & Alice’s home, and she is very bright and hard working. She “leads praising” in Sunday school. Her hope and happiness is restored, as God has healed her wounds.

Fulfilling a dream . . . for God’s girls in Cambodia

As for Christi, she’s now in her final year at ORU. This semester, she’s writing her senior paper, focusing on the horrible issues surrounding child prostitution and international human trafficking and the necessary process of healing after sexual abuse. She’s also preparing to be an ATL (Assistant Team Leader) for an upcoming two-month ORU summer mission to Cambodia, in Asia, working with precious girls who have been rescued out of the sex trade. This mission team will be helping these rescued girls (our precious sisters in Jesus) to fulfill a dream they have to produce a Cambodian worship CD.

It’s amazing how God puts all the details together. Some people say that homeschool families isolate their children and keep them sheltered from the world. For us, we have protected our kids and teens from allowing compromising friends and lifestyles of sinful distractions, as we’ve covered them in the power and blood of Jesus Christ, so they can IMPACT a dark world with the bright light of our wonderful Lord.

Interceding for God’s girls . . .  in Iran

As a side-note, I (Ann) have had a tremendous burden this week for persecuted women, especially in Iran, who are being abused and tortured for their unfailing love for Jesus Christ. Just today, I received a specific prayer request from Voice of the Martyrs to uphold two beautiful Christian girls in Iran, Maryam and Marzieh, who are suffering persecution right NOW for their faith.

Please pray for our daughter Christi, for Mayam and Marzieh, and for God to give all of us more of His passion for ALL of His daughters throughout the world.

I love Proverbs 31. Sometimes we neglect to read all the verses about God’s virtuous women. As moms, we don’t need to be afraid about what is to come, for our household is “clothed in scarlet” (protected by the blood of Jesus). We need to reach out our “hand to the needy” and train our daughters to be women who “fear the Lord.” Here are my favorite verses from Proverbs 31:

“Open your mouth for the speechless,

for the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Open your mouth and judge righteously,

and plead for the cause of the poor and the needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9

May we raise daring daughters, perhaps with dirty feet, who will fully obey and follow God’s plan and purposes, in complete obedience and submission to Him, with fervent love.

God is so good.

May His goodness flow through us, and through our sons and our DAUGHTERS.

11/18/2009 - PRAISE REPORT: Just received news today via twitter (on @persecutionblog and The Voice of the Martyrs) that the two women in Iran, Maryam & Marziah, both mentioned in this article, were just SET FREE after 259 days in prison!!!)

QUOTE from persecutionblog.com: “VOM’s friend, Elam Ministries, which serves the growing church in Iran, has announced that Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh have been released from Evin Prison in Tehran. Family members picked them up at the prison this afternoon, Iran time. The two women immediately expressed thanks to Christians around the world who had prayed for them during their 259 days in prison.

“Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to his people who have prayed and worked for our release,” they said.

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!

Audio #2 - COMPASSION

God’s compassion is nothing to fear; it’s compelling and exciting. If God “moves” your heart with compassion in regards to a specific need, rest assured that He will provide all that is needed (in finances, wisdom, and connections) to do all that He’s called you to do!

Audio #2 - COMPASSION

The second audio in Ann’s 3-part-series, “Living Joyfully as a Mission-Minded Family.”

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!

The Challenge: DAY 2 - Get the Vision! #2

GOD’S COMPASSION!

Welcome to DAY 2 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s focus is about being “moved” with God’s compassion and learning how to actively respond to the needs that God places on your heart. If God compells you to help assist with a specific need, He will also enable you by His grace (and through His provision, wisdom, and connections), to take action.

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resource: Hudson Taylor - Deep in the Heart of China
• Missionary Quotes by Hudson Taylor (online bio at wholesome words)
  
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: ASIA
• Memory Verse: James 1:27
  

A few questions for feedback: Has there ever been a specific need that God has stirred in your heart? Has there ever been a mission need or burden that you just couldn’t get out of your heart or perhaps a need that makes you cry? What spiritual needs stir in the hearts of others around you, perhaps missionaries you know, or some mission-minded friend, or your pastor; ask them how God brought this need to their heart. And consider sponsoring a child . . . or if you already do, take a few minutes to pray for him or her.

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.

April Outreach to APAC, UGANDA

April 13th to 21st, 2009 - Harvest Ministry just returned from an exciting time of mission evangelism in Northern Uganda, East Africa, in an area called “APAC” (which sounds like “a-patch”). Approximately 13,000 people heard the GOOD NEWS of JESUS, and over a thousand people surrendered their lives to the Lord.

Background . . .

This isolated district has been a center for the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) Ugandan rebels and riddled with civil war and horrible human rights violations (slavery, abduction of children, forced child soldiers, prostitution, and other abuses).  It’s a place that needs JESUS!

April 17th -  Current Update & Report from Apac:

The land and spiritual condition in this Apac district is extremely dry, but God is beginning to move and to pour out His Spirit. This morning, there was a minister’s meeting where many national pastors and leaders repented before God of division between the churches. And right after the announcement of this week’s upcoming meetings, there was a physical torrential downpour of rain. We’re praying that God will continue to pour out His presence, open the eyes of these precious people who need Him so desperately, and draw SOULS into His kingdom through the Gospel message - God’s Good News of salvation from sin through the cross of Jesus Christ.

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April 18th - Thunder, Lightning, and SOULS!!!

In response, Jon says, “I love my job!!”

Later he said, “It’s still pouring rain! And it’s so much fun preaching with thunder, lighting, rain, and flooding. It makes me feel like Elijah. And it feels like God is in our midst!”

Please continue to pray!

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April 19 - Lunch anyone? How ’bout some GOAT GUTS and ANTS??

The city-wide Apac outreach began with approximately 4,000 people in attendance. Already, hundreds of people have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and have prayed to receive God’s salvation . . . in the midst of torrential rain during the preaching. There were also 13 cases of violent demon possession “stacked on the platform.” Everyone was soaked, with mud and water everywhere.

Jon says, “Long Ugandan church services this morning. For lunch: rice, beans, goat guts, and a paste made of sesame seeds and smashed ANTS . . . nice!!!”

The final night outreach in Apac will start soon.

Thanks for your prayers!

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April 20th - Such JOY!!!

The final night in Apac concluded with “TOO MUCH JOY!!!” Over the three nights, approximately 13,000 people heard the Gospel message (combined total attendance) and approximately 1,200 individuals prayed to receive God’s salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ. There were many people set free of demonic activity, and many who were touched by the Lord. We thank everyone who has been prayed!

Please Keep Praying:

Continue to pray for all of these new converts, and for the local pastors and church leaders to welcome and to teach and to disciple these young believers. Also, be continuing to pray for safety and strength for Jon and the team as they begin the long journey back to Kampala, Uganda . . . and then home.

These rebels operate under a spiritual mixture of “so-called” Christianity, combined with Islam, witchcraft, sorcery, and tribal animism. This area is so remote, we can’t access it through M.A.F (Missionary Aviation Fellowship). Instead, our team plans to drive in, with all of our evangelistic equipment, for a large city-wide outreach to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Harvest Ministry’s advance team (led by NETS Minister, Paul Kintu), just returned from securing local government permission for this outreach, along with cooperation and prayer support of the few local churches. There are many people in this area who desperately need God’s salvation and deliverance, and Jon is excited to GO!

Jon will also be ministering at Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village Orphanage on Bussi Island, and he looks forward to spending time with the children and encouraging the leaders.

Prayer Request: Please pray with us for provision and direction for this upcoming mission, for God to prepare the hearts of people in Apac, and for SOULS to be won to Christ!!!

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