One: The Hoffman Family

 When I boarded a plane in 2007 to South Africa - never in a million years did I think that the trip would eventually end up being the catalyst to my heart that forever changed the way I thought, acted and lived.  Nope - I just thought I was checking something off the list.  Mission trip?  Done.

Ha ha - I learned quickly that life with Him doesn't quite work like that.  Laura and I were in the middle of our dossier being logged in to China after a few painful years of trying to have biological children.  We felt at peace as we chatted - me in South Africa, her in Atlanta - about stopping the futile attempts at pregnancy and giving it over to the Lord.  And our paperwork was in China.  We were in control, right?

Nope.  China adoptions came to a screeching halt.  It was looking like it would be YEARS before our family grew.  But then - through a friend - Ethiopia was placed on our hearts.  We decided to do a concurrent adoption and we started the paperwork process again.  It went quicker this time as we were skilled at it and we were matched with a little boy that we named Brighton Asher.  As we were gearing up to bring him home in December of 2007, Brighton got sick.  Real sick.  He ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and diarrhea.  He made a comeback and was released.  We couldn't do much but keep praying.  So we did. Then in January he got sick again and this time his little body couldn't take it.  He went home to be with his Heavenly Father on January 8th, 2008 and our lives were permanently altered.  Our hearts - on that day - broke for what breaks His.

Fast forward 6 months - we have accepted another referral and just landed at the Ethiopian airport.  In what can only be described as a whirlwind of a few hours - we visited Brighton's grave, and then within an hour, were handed our beautiful little gift of healing from God named Meron.  A 7 month old bundle of love so full of God's redemption that our hearts had no other option but to heal.  But with a scar - a permanent scar that ached for His kids.  Ached.

We went home with Meron and did life as a family but couldn't shake the almost constant ache that was in our hearts.  Were we happy?  Absolutely.  But our hearts just hurt.  And we knew we couldn't sit idly by.  Why had God given us Brighton - even if just for a few fleeting weeks from far away?  Was it to see these kids like He sees them?  We decided we had to do something.

In early 2010 we started a nonprofit organization we named "Brighton Their World" that was going to focus on the nutrition of infants in these orphanages and more importantly - advocate for orphans every single chance we got.

In June of 2010, Laura stepped out in faith and went on a mission trip to Ethiopia and Uganda with Visiting Orphans.  She came home wrecked but filled.  We now knew what our lives were going to be about.  That winter, I led a team for Visiting Orphans to Rwanda and Ethiopia and again was filled with His love for His children as He shaped, molded and guided our lives towards His will.

We continued to run Brighton Their World - sending as much formula as we could to a partner orphanage in Addis Ababa as well as supplying formula to Haiti, Ecuador, Guatemala, Uganda, Rwanda and even here in the states.

In late August of 2011, we brought home our second daughter from Ethiopia after a rocky 26 months of working and fighting for her.  Two weeks later I joined Ethiopia Smile - a dental mission team - in Ethiopia to provide free services and just love on His people again.

In the winter of 2011, I again led a team for Visiting Orphans - this time to Uganda and Kenya.  More heart shaping for me, more of His love witnessed for His children.  Six months later Laura and I were blessed to co-lead a team to Rwanda and Ethiopia for Visiting Orphans.  As incredible as our lives had been to this point - leading with each other was a beautiful gift from God.

Where are we now?  Well - we just submitted our dossier again - this time saying we are open to sibling groups as well as special needs from Ethiopia.  We're excited to see what God does in our lives moving forward in the area of adoption.  We also are in the preliminary planning stages of the very first official Brighton Their World mission/vision trip slated for summer 2013.

As far as fundraising and stuff - we are ALWAYS doing that.  Our next big push is to feed 500+ kids a massive Christmas feast on January 7th.  People can contribute to that here:

www.brightontheirworld.org/FeedEm/

We are always accepting donations in general on the main page of Brighton Their World, here:

www.brightontheirworld.org

And for the first time ever - we are open to anybody who wants to help us bring these next kids home.  I know some people like to support in that way - and after China, Brighton, Meron and Mebrate - this is basically our 5th process.  We've been blessed financially (we ain't rich!) but are open to exploring grants or anything else this time around.

Thanks so much for being willing to share our story.  I hope God is able to reach people through it - through Brighton, through Visiting Orphans, and through the amazing, incredible experience of mission trips around the globe.

THEY WILL KNOW US BY OUR LOVE.

~The Hoffman’s

A Year in Review: 2012

“I Knew God Had a Plan” : Part 2

“I Knew God Had a Plan” 
(Part 2: continued from yesterday’s post)

Later that day... 

That part of my day was pretty awesome, but the best part of the day was spent with my new best friend Oliver.  He is 12 and has no siblings and has been at the orphanage his whole life.  We immediately connected the first day I came to Noel, and by the end of the day he was calling me mom .....which crushed me. 

I was given a Bible in their language (kinyarwanda) by my team leader and was told to be in prayer as to who God wanted us to leave this Bible with.  I knew immediately that God was prompting me to give Oliver mine, but I didn't want to just hand it to him--that being the end of that awesome opportunity to share God’s word with Him.  So I told him I had a Bible for Him and we would read it together when I came back Sunday (today).  He was so excited that when we pulled up, he was standing outside the bus waiting for me to get off!  When there was a moment we could actually sneak away from everyone, I grabbed the Bible I brought him and my Bible in English.  We went off to a corner and opened them up and began reading Hebrews 13:5-6 "I will never leave you or forsake you.  Therefore, we may boldly say 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?” 

As we were reading this and I was explaining it to him, another boy named Oliver who was 16 came over, along with 5 or 6 other kids, and noticed we were reading the Bible.  I explained that God was their Father.  That sometimes they may feel alone, even though they have tons of friends there, but that they were never alone because God was their heavenly Father and would NEVER leave them.  This gave them comfort.  They wanted to hear more.  

These kids go to Mass every Sunday and they know who God and Jesus are and that there is something called heaven ........but that seemed to be about it.  I talked to them about having a relationship with Christ and how it is more than just believing in Him. 

They asked me, “How do we get to heaven?”  

… So we turned to Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved........Everyone that calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.”  I explained to them that they not only had to believe in Jesus with all of their heart but they had to proclaim His name, to tell others about Jesus.  I explained that their life had to reflect that and that we should always ask ourself "What Would Jesus Do?” 

They asked what happens if they were bad ........If it was an "accident." I told them about grace, and repentance.  That when you have a relationship with Christ, He forgives us of our sins.  That we will always be sinful people but we have choices everyday to either obey God or turn the other way.  

I asked if they prayed.  They said "yes, at church.”  I then asked again, "do YOU pray?”   

They they said they didn't know they were suppose to. 

I told them that when they have a relationship with Jesus, that he is their Father, their best friend ......so they should pray continuously to Him, the good and the bad.  I explained that throughout my day I ask Him to guide my steps, and I come to Him with my sadness and my hurt, and my happiness and praise as well.  I told them that as I am walk, I will say to God, “Thank you for this sunset, it is so beautiful." "God, thank you for this food because I was so hungry." I explained that when missionaries come and we bring them food and toys, that it is because of God that we come and are able to bless them.  So when they receive those things they should not only thank the person handing it to them, but thank God, their Father, for providing it.  They said, “Oh, I did not know I could talk to him like that.  I like prayer.  I tell him everything.”   

I told them that we should always pray for the lost, the ones that do not know Him.  They asked, “What happens to them?  They don't go to heaven?”  And I explained to them about hell and Satan and that is why they needed to proclaim the name of Jesus to everyone so that no one would spend eternity in hell.  They were really soaking up every word and had no idea that everyone wouldn't go to heaven. 

The bus was about to leave, so I told them we would study one more verse, and I would take the Bible with me and bring it back tomorrow so we could read and study some more.  We read Colossians 1:16 "All things were created BY HIM and FOR HIM.”  I explained how God created everything and they asked, “The good and the bad?”  I responded, “Yes, everything!”  … and they responded with "did God make Satan?".......... 

I just love how they are connecting everything we are talking about.  But the bus was about to pull out and I had to go and since there wasn't a short answer to that I told them we would talk about that tomorrow and we would study some more.  They were so happy.  

all photos courtesy of Billy Pope Photography

I am so blessed to have been part of that moment!  That was one of those moments where I said “So that's why you brought me here, God.”  :) 

I plan on writing more when I get back from Rwanda.  I just didn't want to be spending a lot of time on the Internet.  I just wanted to share some moments of why God brought me to Rwanda and encourage everyone to go on a short-term or even long-term international mission trip.  It really will change your life.  You can read about it on blogs, read every book ever written about missions, watch movies or documentaries about them...… but you will never fully grasp it until you GO yourself. 

I know you may be thinking, “It's so expensive for us to go.  We could give so much more to the kids if we weren't spending money on flights and hotels etc.”  But the truth is, moments like I just told you about are priceless and it is more than just bringing them food and supplies and filling that physical need.  They need people to love on them and show them compassion and tell them that they are beautiful and they are not alone.  They need the Gospel. 

So I ask you, how much is a soul worth?  We should be willing to empty our bank accounts if that is what it took for one person to know Jesus.  I challenge you to go on an international mission trip in 2013.  You will not only change lives but you will be forever changed!

I Knew God Had a Plan

“I Won a Mission Trip”  

by Sarah Snell 

Part One

Sooooooo, I'm writing from Rwanda!! I am so humbled and grateful to have won the mission trip with Visiting Orphans. :) 

Long story short, God had been laying on my heart to go and serve in Africa, but I didn't know in what capacity or where.  I prayed that if God wanted me to go to Africa, that He would get me there...….. and the rest is history! 

I have been journaling since I started this journey, and I plan on blogging once I return to sweet home Alabama.  But until then, I wanted to share a few moments with you from today that really confirmed to me WHY I am here. 

I knew God had a plan in bringing me here to Rwanda, but I didn't really grasp how you could fall in love with a place and its people on a short-term mission trip.  Back home, I have been ministering in the inner city and have been building relationships with, and serving the homeless, for about a year.  God has really been breaking my heart for what breaks His over the past two years and constantly opening doors, putting people in my path that need not only their physical needs met, but also their spiritual needs.  I serve the poor and the orphans and the widows not because I think it earns salvation...…. I do it because it is overflowing out of me because of my love for my Heavenly Father.  

Many people question why I would go on an international mission trip since I am already so active in my community.  But I believe in reaching the lost and the hurting with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of compassion in my hometown AND in other parts of the world.  In Acts 1:8, the last thing Jesus told His disciples before ascending to heaven was, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea And Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Before I came to Rwanda, everyone told me I would never be the same again.  I knew seeing the orphanages would effect me, but I thought, "I see poverty everyday back home, surely I will be able to hold my emotions together while I am there.  I do not have blinders on like a lot of America.  I see the kids that don't have food in the inner city; the single moms that love their children but can't provide for them due to poverty; the young girls that struggle with addiction problems so they turn to the street to satisfy their cravings; the men and women who don't have the option of staying in a shelter and sleep under the bridge...….. I see all of this in my hometown and I try, through Christ, to help meet their physical needs so I can build up trust and a relationship, and then, along the way and more importantly, help meet those spiritual needs."  

… One of the orphanages here that we have been serving at is Noel.  It is a Catholic orphanage that has 150+ babies and toddlers, all the way up to 18 years old.  There are 600+ children total.  The first day we went to Noel was to get a tour.  When we took the tour of the babies' room, I immediately starting swelling up with tears and had to walk about and pull myself together.  For those of you that know Ryan and I, the doctors have told us that we won't be able to conceive a child of our own.  We plan on adopting, but of course, we still believe that God is bigger and He opens the womb, so we are not losing hope.  We know that God has a perfect plan already for us.  But seeing these babies with their cribs stacked back to back, crying because they are hungry and need someone to hold them...….. and Rwanda doesn't allow adoption from the U.S...…. I just felt helpless and hopeless and I honestly thought I would not be able to go back in those two rooms the rest of our time at Noel… 

Photo courtesy of Billy Pope Photography

But today I prayed all morning that God would lead my steps at Noel, and speak through me, and give me peace to be able to step up and love on these babies that need to be held, and He would take care of everything else.  When I came back to Noel this morning, the first thing I did was go to the baby room.  They immediately handed me a baby and a bottle…… 

"Feed," they said.   

As I was holding little Angelica in my arms, my heart melted and I don't think I stopped smiling the rest of the day.  God helped me overcome my fears.  The workers then tied her onto my back and I toted her around with me wherever I went.  To see her little feet sticking out beside my waist...…. I just can't even describe it.  

Photos courtesy of Billy Pope Photography

I didn’t think the trip would change me in the way it has...

I was wrong.  God broke me in Rwanda even more than I was already broken.  In the U.S., most have a fighting chance.  They have access to clean water and bathrooms and can walk to the downtown library and have access to free Internet.  There are many ministries that try to give them a bed to sleep in, give them a nice hot meal, access to showers and wash their clothes, and will try to help them find jobs.  Compared to the people I am seeing in Rwanda, they are rich!  I have never seen this level of poverty.  Kids are just piled up on a concrete floor sleeping because they don't have enough beds.  They wear ripped up clothing because they only have two outfits per child, and you can't give them any more clothing because they have no means to wash another outfit when some orphanages have 500+ kids.  They have no toys.  They make toys from our leftover water bottles and broken jump ropes.

There are no words to describe it......….. you just have to come.   It will change you.

(You can read my “Before I Went” testimony here! http://www.visitingorphans.org/connect/blog/all/65)

His Little Feet: Guest Blog Post!

We always feel so blessed, and so honored, when ministries are inspired by a mission trip.  His Little Feet is an amazing, God-centered ministry that tours the nation with a children’s choir, composed of the most precious children from orphanages around the world!  You can find out more about their tour schedule here:

HIS LITTLE FEET

We were so surprised, and again honored, to be featured in their blog this month!

(be in on it): GO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012

There are approximately 8,871 miles between Denver, Colorado and Nairobi, Kenya. Yet when the wheels of our plane touched down in Africa for the first time on in December, 2011, we didn’t feel like we were on the other side of the world. We felt like we were home.

Throughout our Visiting Orphans trip to Kenya and Uganda, God took us on a journey of amazing highs and difficult lows. We heard the heart-breaking stories of children who had been left on doorsteps, orphaned after losing both parents to AIDS, or turned into a children’s prison because their parents knew they would at least be fed there – an impossibility at home.

We met a 6-year-old boy whose only possessions were his one, ragged t-shirt and his little, plastic, spinning top. We met a 10-year-old girl who took care of her three siblings because her mother was too sick to do so herself. We met an 8-year-old girl who was convinced her mother was coming back to get her from the orphanage soon, even though it had been over a year since she had seen her.

Yet despite the pain we encountered, we saw far more joy during our time in Africa. Joy in the form of a 14-year-old orphan boldly preaching the Gospel. Joy in the form of 6-year-olds helping to feed 3-year-olds. Joy in the form of 50 children gladly sharing 1 soccer ball and destitute women who were more thankful to receive a donation of Bibles than money or food. 

Each and every day, we saw God using our 24-person Visiting Orphans team to touch lives in amazing ways. By the time we left Uganda to return to the U.S., we had donated hundreds of pounds of food, dozens of Bibles, countless school supplies and soccer balls, and thousands of dollars raised by our team to children and ministries in need.

But while all of these donations were important, what we all came to realize was that the only truly valuable thing we had to offer these children and people was Jesus Christ. When the truth and love of Christ is offered to a broken world, the hopeless find hope, the homeless find a home and the orphan finds a Father. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

Visiting Orphans provides an incredible opportunity to do just that. We would encourage anyone who seeks to share the love of Christ with a broken world to consider taking a step of faith to "go." God will use you in powerful ways... and your life will never be the same! 

- Jeff and Becca Dillon 

For more information on how you can "go" on a trip through Visiting Orphans, click here.

“It’s So VO”

Moments like this happen in 13 countries around the world thanks to the people who say, "Yes.”

Kari Hamilton

"This is all I need.... This is all they need. To be touched, hugged, kissed and loved.”

Simply Love Trip

Ethiopia & Uganda

June 2012

God Wins

We received an amazing story of how one man went on a mission trip, told and submitted his story… and won a contest!  With no hesitation, Don Henry sent us the story of how GOD WINS.  God prevails…

“Amanda,

I just wanted to share this with you. I am amazed at God’s blessings.  I shared my story of our trip, briefly with my coworkers, it was forwarded on to state and later to national, and I was so surprised to win the national competition for human interest stories by our employee organization.  So I won a trip to Boise Idaho in August.  Not sure if I can go, due to limited leave time, but I just wanted to share with you.  To God be the glory.  I still pray fervently, as I know you do for those precious people we encountered, and even now it brings tears to my eyes.  God is so very, very good.” 

--Don Henry

My Trip to Africa 2011/Don Henry, CED Delaware County, Ohio

Early last summer I was surfing the web and came across an article about orphans that caught my eye.  The article was written by a former orphan who had a heart for the 147 million orphans worldwide & had started a ministry to increase awareness of this tragic reality.  They offered the opportunity to go and visit orphans with the scriptural theme of James 1:27 which admonishes us to go & visit orphans and widows.  I thought to myself, I could do that, in fact, I should do that.  So I filled out the application online at Visiting Orphans (www.visitingorphans.org) and hit the send button.

In just a few weeks I found myself on a 777 Ethiopia Airlines jet headed for a 15 day adventure in Uganda & Ethiopia.  It was no ordinary adventure as this trip was called the “Man Up to Protect & Love the Fatherless Trip”.  It was the first group that Visiting Orphans has ever sent that was mostly men.  Our goal was to simply love on orphans.  I was unprepared to see the extreme poverty there but I was taken in by the beauty of the people and landscape of these countries.  We visited 7 orphanages and 2 prisons.  Many orphaned children end up in prison being unjustly accused or abused and have no one to defend them so they are stuck there for many years.  A ministry we worked with called 60 feet (www.sixtyfeet.org) is working to improve prison conditions for these children, helping place them in a family setting or to provide education to give these kids a future and hope.

There are 43 million orphans in Africa, many orphaned by the aids epidemic and other diseases while many others are orphaned due to civil unrest.  I have such admiration to those who have given their lives and put feet to their vision to help the fatherless.  In almost every situation it was one person who started an orphanage and they were nationals who had compassion for their own people.  We were there to come along side and provide support.

I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with these beautiful children.  I was always surrounded by kids just wanting a hug, to be held or to spend time with a father figure.  That was the biggest joy of my trip.

        

We also spent time in the village of Korah, located literally at the city dump in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, where the unwanted lived.  Many lepers and their families, and many widows and orphans as a result of aids in their families, lived here in deplorable conditions, finding their food by digging in the dump.  It was most heartbreaking to see the children and women searching for scraps with the vultures, wild dogs & hyenas.  

We were able to do some home improvement projects here as well as feed the children goat stew.  This place literally broke my heart and it is my privilege to sponsor a child here through the ministry of Project 61 (www.p61.org).  

I enjoyed seeing the agriculture of Uganda & Ethiopia as well.  We saw large fields of egg plant, tea bushes, sugar cane, pineapple and bananas as well as multi-acre buildings housing roses.  Most work in these countries is done by hand.  Beef cattle and goats were everywhere as well as donkeys used for transporting goods.

We also visited a village in the bush called Chuko where 80% of the deaths are from drinking contaminated water (see photo).  1 in 5 children do not survive to age 6.  They simply need good drinking water and we were involved with a project which is drilling a water well in this area that will serve four villages.  If interested in helping with this project visit Glimmer of Hope (www.aglimmerofhope.org). 

I would encourage you to take a trip with Visiting Orphans.  It will change your life, expand your worldview, help you realize just how very blessed we are, and challenge you to do something to help others.  I’m thankful for this experience and I know I will never be the same.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at quaker5@redbird.net.

  

NASCOE Publicity Contest Announcement

Dear Contestants,

Thank you for participating in the NASCOE Publicity Contest. Your dedication and the hard work you have put forth in the promotion of NASCOE through publicity is to the betterment of all members. It is a commitment of your time and talents that are greatly appreciated by the Officers, Area Executives and Committee Chairs.

The judging results are now in and I am proud to announce the winners for the 2011/2012 year. As with any contest, there can be only one winner in each category but let me make it clear that all submitted newsletters, feature story articles and websites were fantastic to see and review. The scoring and judging in all areas was extremely close, a testament of the quality of the items submitted. This is a compliment to each winner.

The Winners in the Publicity Contest are:

            Best Newsletter Renee Boykin, South Carolina

            Best Single Issue South Carolina Spring and Summer Issues, Renee Boykin, Editor

            Best Website Aaron Moore, Wisconsin

            Best Feature Story Human Interest Don Henry, Ohio-”My Trip to Africa”

            Best Feature Story Humor David Stromer, Iowa-“Wedding: A Fathers Point of View”

Congratulations to all the winners! And a Big THANK YOU to all of this years participants and judges. Your time committed to NASCOE Publicity is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to seeing you at the National Convention in Boise, Idaho!

Tammy Eibey

NASCOE Publicity Chairperson