Why Go? Wednesday: To Be Aaron and Hur

My parents live just around the corner from us and that means our kids get to spend a lot of time with their grandparents. Sometimes I envy those grandparents. It seems they have it easy. They get the kids in small doses – for play time and snack time and then they get to send them home. They are not around for feedings, baths, homework, meltdowns, sibling rivalries, etc. It’s nice to be a grandparent.

But then I remember that we can’t do it alone and quite often when we are at the end of our rope it is our parents who step in and fill the gap. When a kid is sick and we have to work… grandparents. When a car breaks down and we have to get kids from point a to point b (and c and d and e)… grandparents. When I am not sure how to handle a situation and I need some parental guidance, who do I call… grandparents. It really does take a village and we could not do what we do without their help.

Life is like that. We often need the help of those around us to do all that we have to do.

There is a great story that illustrates this concept in Scripture. In Exodus 17 Israel is fighting the Amalekites. As the battle rages on Moses is standing at the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands overlooking the fighting. We are told that as long as Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning. But whenever he grew tired and lowered his hands the advantage shifted to the enemy. In verse 12 we read that whenever Moses grew tired Aaron and Hur would come alongside him and hold his hands up “one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady until sunset” and Israel won the battle because others helped Moses do what he could not do on his own.

At Visiting Orphans we view our role in a similar fashion. We send people on short-term trips who get to go and be with children, love them and then come home, but our role is so much more than that. Our desire is to come alongside local churches and long-term missionaries who are doing the hard work every day. We want to be Aaron and Hur to them as we hold up their arms so they can do what God has called them to do.

Peter Rwagasore is a pastor in Rwanda. He and his wife Jane serve as guides for our teams who come to Rwanda. We also partner with their church to serve the community. Here is what he has to say about how VO is supporting their work…

“I may be tempted to write a book on how much the VO teams have been of great help to my family and the church. Jane and I started New Covenant Church in Kigali Rwanda in 2007 and our vision was to take the Gospel to the forgotten ones, poor, orphans, and the backsliders and our goal was to empower them so that they may live an abundant life. We met financial challenges in the ministry because we were not being paid by the church. When VO came to Rwanda they hired Jane as their Guide and this brought a huge blessing to my family because many teams started coming every year.

One and a half years ago we moved our church from our living to a place full of prostitutes and drunkards and The Lord brought many who getting saved in our church. (At that time) VO began to partner with our church. Teams that came started serving with us in different areas of ministry like supplying food to the widows, single moms, renting homes for former prostitutes, buying musical instruments for the church, and encouraging our members by making home visits. Last year, we started another church in Bugesera in the Pygmie community and we saw a need of starting a nursery school and VO team members helped us to pay for the rent of two classes. VO team members are helping us to build a school on land donated by the government.

Indeed VO has been our Hur and Aaron!  I don't have enough vocabulary to say how much VO has been of great help to us. I may say that VO has been a beacon of our ministry. May The Lord continue to strengthen in everything you do for the Glory of his Kingdom.”

Visiting Orphans partners with ministries in 14 countries. These ministries do the hard work that God has called them to do every day. They battle poverty, disease, corruption, and more to bring hope to the hopeless and light to dark places. I think all of them would tell you that they cannot do it alone. We hear story after story of teams arriving at just the right time, with needed supplies and even more needed encouragement.

When you support VO you help us support them. You help us be Aarron and Hur to 45 ministries who serve over 5000 children and families in 14 countries.

In Romans 10 it says that we can’t go if we are not sent. Will you come alongside us as we come alongside these amazing ministries? They can’t do it without us and we can’t do it without you.

Here are 6 ways to support VO so that we can continue to support those 45 partner ministries. 

-written by Frank Pass, VO Trip Coordinator

Team Leader Tuesday spotlight: Lori Hayden

Lori Hayden is a team leader for Visiting Orphans. She has led teams to Uganda and will lead a Costa Rica trip next month. You can read about her and the other VO team leaders on our Team Leaders page here.


If someone would of told me I would be leading mission trips to Uganda, I would of never believed them. As a widow, I was looking for my "new normal." Part of my "new normal" was the calling for short term missions.

After my first trip, I knew it was the experience I needed to choose joy in my life. At first I thought I would bless others and found out quickly I received so many blessings! I have been to Uganda numerous times and each time I learn something new. I learn to love deeper and grow wider as Christian.

Joy is such a gift!! It's not dependent upon circumstances, like happiness is. Missions are such a gift! They bring joy.

I no longer question why me but what me. In November 2014, I am leading a group to Costa Rica. Outside of my comfort zone of Uganda. I am so excited as I am taking one of my daughters and several friends with me.

I no longer look for that burning bush but a sense of contentment and peace. It's easy to love those we have never known. I have been so grateful for the opportunity for mission work. As for me, I will continue to seek and rejoice in the Lord. No one can steal my joy!

MINISTRY MONDAY spotlight: Out of the Ashes in Korah, Ethiopia

One of our partner ministries in Ethiopia is Out of the Ashes. Read more about them below and watch their latest promo video. To sign up for one of our Ethiopia trips to work with this amazing ministry in Korah, Ethiopia, go here. 

Out of the Ashes Primary purpose is to reduce the suffering of the orphans and vulnerable children of Korah by helping them break the cycle of poverty. We want to Empower and build their character through the love of Jesus Christ while caring for their basic needs and educating them so they can one day become productive members of society and positively impact their community. Sponsorship includes education, room and board, medical care, supplementary food, clothing, counseling, life skills training and economic developments. One of the ways we will achieve our mission is through development of personal mentoring relationships with each child. We encourage sponsors to actively engage in building a relationship with their sponsored child which we believe is spiritually rewarding for both the child and sponsor.

If you can't view the video below, you can watch it here.

#TBT - China, 2010

#TBT to our very first VO team to Chifeng, China in 2010. One of the highlights of the week was making and eating dumplings with the children. As you can see it is easy to tell which were made by the Americans. In a place like China where the language barrier is so big, a small act like making dumplings can break down walls and help us to build relationships with the children and workers. Is God calling you to Go. Be. Love. in China? Check out our China page for upcoming trip dates.http://www.visitingorphans.org/mission_trips/countries/china ​

WHY GO? Wednesday spotlight: Hannah Kramer

We recently asked past team members to share their most memorable moment from their Visiting Orphans trip and a few of their favorite photos. 

Hannah Kramer from the July 2014 Kenya/Uganda trip wrote:

The most memorable moment of my trip has to be when a young boy, Eric, who I had just met gave me the biggest hug and said "nacupendasana" which means "I love you so much". My heart melted. This young three year old knew how to give love better than I did. Throughout the rest of the trip I was shown a great amount of love from everyone I came in contact with. God is good and working through these people. 

Team Leader Tuesday spotlight: Kerri Ballard

Going on a mission’s trip was never a thought until I heard the story of Katie Davis. After reading her book Kisses from Katie I knew God was calling me to do something outside of my comfort zone. Before going on my first Visiting Orphans trip everyone always asked, “Are you nervous?” I knew God was calling me to go and nothing was going to stop me. What God had in store was so much more than I could have ever hoped or thought.

The team I went with became instant family. I even met my ‘sister’ on the team. That bond is still there today, two years later, only because God knew I needed it for the trip and for what was happening in my personal life.

When I arrived in Uganda I cried from the moment my feet hit the red dirt till about two weeks after I returned home. I am forever grateful for the experiences that I had on my first trip. Seeing children and grown adults touch and taste clean water for the very first time, seeing children smile even though they sleep on a dirt floor, playing jump rope with teenagers, and caring for babies that don’t have a parent to tell them “I love you” forever rocked my world. Pictures of orphans had become real to me - they were actual people with a name and a face.

 When I returned home my first night I wanted to sleep on the floor. Why me? Why do I get to have a bed, clothes to wear, a nice house, and a family that loves me?  Those were just a few of the questions I was asking God. Then He made it all very clear to me. You know the saying here in America—Rags to riches. Well, he told me I have it all wrong. True riches have nothing to do with material wealth. It’s all about Him, our relationship with the Father.  We only experience true joy and riches when we totally and completely trust Jesus and put our faith in Him alone.

That is why I’m so passionate about Visiting Orphans and missions. My life was forever changed by going and being the hands and feet of Jesus. I want everyone to have the opportunity to experience what I have experienced. Putting others first and loving the orphan has caused me to love people more and to care less about temporary things that will soon pass away.

MINISTRY MONDAY spotlight: Imana Kids Sponsorship Program in Rwanda

This week we want to feature a ministry that was started by a couple that went on a trip with us to Rwanda. Imana Kids was founded by Kara & Ryan Higgins who still lead teams to Rwanda through us and are changing the lives of the children at Kimisagara. To sign up for their next trip, go to their trip page. Watch their latest video below to learn more about Imana Kids and the precious children they serve.


Kimisagara Orphanage is nestled in the hills of Kigali, Rwanda. Imana Kids is a 501(c)(3) created to place the orphans of Kimisagara into boarding schools. Education is one viable solution toward ending the orphan crisis. Visit Imana Kids website at www.imanakids.org, like them on Facebook at Imana Kids: an Orphan-Care Ministry or follow them on Twitter @imanakids


If you can't see the video below, you can watch it here: http://youtu.be/8GL946v9W2c

IMANA KIDS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

Sponsorship is one way to make a difference in the world.   One child matters.  Sponsorship provides a vulnerable child with the necessary tools to achieve.  Sponsorships are available at four different levels - preschool/daycare, primary, secondary, and university.   Additionally, opportunities to travel to Rwanda each year are available for sponsors to meet their children.

Preschool/Daycare 

Sponsoring a child age birth to 5 years for daycare/preschool is a $40/month commitment.   Sponsorship will provide three nutritious meals a day, trained nannies/caregivers, and additional supplies for daily living.  It also includes safety improvements to the structure of Kimisagara.

While in Rwanda in September, we attended church of our friend, Pastor Peter and James, our in country staff. During worship, we interacted with three lovely women.  They sat with us, visited and generally made us feel at home.  Later, when we inquired about who they were, James told us that all three women had been baptized the previous week, given their hearts to Christ and turned away from their jobs as prostitutes.  The church members were praying diligently for employment for these ladies so that they could support their children.  We knew that God had already done so; they are now Imana Kids "Aunties," daily feeding, bathing and caring for our little ones. The orphanage is on the bus route from their neighborhood and they can bring their children to work with them.  

Primary and Secondary Students

Sponsoring a child at the primary level (grades 1 to 6) will allow your sponsored child to attend GOOD HARVEST BOARDING SCHOOL.    Good Harvest received national recognition for their academic achievements in the 2012-2013 school year.  The staff at GOOD HARVEST stood out to us; as we visited their classrooms, many of the teachers had children sitting close to them or even on them.  There was a lot of affection demonstrated in the classrooms.

Secondary students will (grades 7 to 12) attend HIGH HILL BOARDING SCHOOL.  In both schools, students will receive 3 nutritious meals a day, a warm and safe place to live, school uniforms and supplies, and an education.    

Both primary and secondary level sponsorship will entail an $85 dollar a month commitment.   Sponsoring an older student involves regular communication through letters and emails.  Sponsors will receive their child's report cards as well.

University Students

We are currently in the process of coordinating the sponsorship program for university students.  If you are interested in knowing more about sponsorship at this level, please let us know.

Prayerfully consider if sponsorship is a commitment you would like to make for 2014.  If so, please complete the information below.    Please indicate what level you are interested in for sponsorship and if you have a preferred gender.  Or, if you do not have a preference, please indicate that at well.