One Body One Hope

Back at it...

2012-01-27T15:10:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone!

Well, the One Body One Hope team has been home from Liberia for a couple of weeks, and I think it's finally safe to say that we're settling into life as normal. Transitioning from Africa to the US is a rough adjustment no matter how you slice it, but I think the flip-flop was made especially hard this time around because we were focused primarily on relationship building--and when you spend time investing in relationships, it's always hard to say goodbye. But we're back, we're excited, and we're ready for all that is to come...

If you are a child sponsor, check your mailbox in the next week or so for a newsletter, some new photos of your sponsor child, and an extra-special surprise! And if you'd like to sponsor one of the gorgeous kids at Christ Our Hope, we do still have a few who are in need of support. Please email me if you'd like to commit, or even if you would just like some more information. nicolebaart@yahoo.com

Today I just want to share a few photos of our trip! I thought I would be able to do so in-country, but our internet access was too limited. So, sorry they're late. Hope you enjoy them all the same!

Our first day in-country, we toured the rice farm and got up close and personal with some of the local flora and fauna. Believe it or not, Fatu actually took this *ahem* little cutie home and cooked him up for supper. Not a word of a lie...

Have I mentioned that the children are breathtakingly beautiful? These two sweethearts are twins and the children of one of the rice farm workers. They were too pretty not to photograph.

This is Benjamin, one of the boys at Christ Our Hope. He is a darling little man with a secret half-smile and a mischievous glint in his eye. I loved photographing him because he had no problem staring at the camera and giving me his characteristic tight-lipped smile.

You all spent time praying for JoJo, I thought it was only fair that you got to see her! This darling is our little Josephine, emphasis on the little. She's a tiny thing, but as you can tell from this photo the medicine was starting to work by this point and she was feeling better. Thank you for your prayers while we were in-country! We felt them so much! And please continue to uphold JoJo in your prayers, as well as Robert and Eve, two of the children who we are also concerned about.

My fondest memories of our time in Liberia was every minute that we spent with the kids. The first day we were at the orphanage we tried to teach them some American games like Red Rover and Duck, Duck Goose. Unfortunately, Red Rover was an epic failure... Though you can tell by their grins that it wasn't without a few redeeming qualities.

Thanks for stopping! Check back more for updates on our trip as well as information about our upcoming plans and projects!

Warmly,

Nicole

Last Days...

2012-01-07T20:45:00.002-06:00

Well, I’m writing this final Liberia blog post from the airport in Minneapolis. The last few days have been such a blur, it’s going to take me a while to sort through all the events and emotions. But before I arrive home and get swept up in my day to day life (and in seeing my amazing kids again!), I want to quickly try to record what the One Body One Hope team did during our final days in Liberia.

On Friday we kicked off the day with a teacher’s workshop. Emmanuel told us earlier in the week that the teachers were interested in having a little Q&A time with us. Todd and I are both certified teachers (Art and English), but Julie also taught a very relevant crash course in First Aid and CPR, and even Tim got involved by giving a little lesson on biology and livestock farming techniques. The teachers at Abide in the Vine school system (the school that holds the equivalent of K-8th grade classes at Christ Our Hope orphanage) are a fantastic group of very giving, dedicated men and women who are committed to providing the best education possible for the kids they instruct. They asked tons of questions and seemed very engaged in our rather thrown together “lessons.” I don’t know about anyone else, but the morning definitely gave me a passion for creating more professional development opportunities for these teachers! They care so much about the kids, and I long to give them the tools necessary to be the best teachers they can be. (BTW, our teachers are also available for sponsorship! Since the kids cannot afford tuition, we have committed to pay the teachers at Abide in the Vine school system a fair, livable wage. By sponsoring a teacher at $80 a month, or co-sponsoring at $40, not only to you provide for a teacher, you ensure his or her entire family is able to survive--and thrive!--in Liberia. Email me at nicolebaart@yahoo.com if you would like more information.)

While Todd, Julie, Tim, and I were having our own Pro-D day, Nick, Brent, and Aaron went to spend some time with Robert (the pastor of the Jacobtown branch of Abide in the Vine). Robert’s wife, Lucia, lost her father unexpectedly this week. He went into the hospital because he was not feeling well, and passed away very unexpectedly that same night. As far as we can tell, it was some sort of respiratory problem. Our hearts go out to Lucia, her younger brother, and their entire family. And we are reminded of how tenuous life is... especially in a place like Liberia.

On Friday afternoon the entire team (minus two) went shopping for backpacks! The Kid’s Connection program at Bridge of Hope raised money this fall to purchase a backpack for all the children at Christ Our Hope. We took the money along so we could buy the backpacks in-country and save on shipping costs.

And the two who didn’t go backpack shopping went to the airport. :-( Instead of helping to pick out backpacks, Aaron and Emmanuel brought me to the airport in Monrovia on Friday afternoon. I’ve been traveling alone for over thirty hours, and I’m a mess of emotions. The airport in Monrovia is a nightmare to say the least, and the twelve and a half hour flight from Accra, Ghana to Atlanta, Georgia was enough to mess with my head. Long layovers haven’t helped much... I’m a weepy, homesick, Africa-sick puddle of exhaustion. I miss my kids on both sides of the planet, and I’ve already had several good crys hiding in bathroom stalls as I prayed for and thought about all my sweet, sweet children. Isaac, Judah, and Matthias, but also Robert, Jennifer, Elizabeth, Christiana, Amos, Fatu, Reuben, Uriah, Emmanuel, and the list goes on and on. It’s 58 kids long to be exact.

Stay tuned for much, much more as the board of OBOH starts to process all we learned. We have big things in store, and we are looking for partners to embrace what is a slowly materializing, but undeniably thrilling vision. And, of course, please come back to see some of our pictures and videos! I know I told you I’d try to post pictures while we were in Liberia, but the internet connection was simply too spotty. In fact, I’m quite sure that God allowed us to post blogs and not much more! Every time I tried to post a blog it would upload quickly and smoothly, but if I ever tried to do anything else on the internet it froze immediately. I think God has a good sense of humor. ;-)

Love and hugs to you from Minneapolis,

Nicole (aka, a global mommy in transit...)

PS - Please pray for the rest of the team as they leave for home tomorrow. Pray for safe travels and for peace and acceptance as they depart Liberia. It’s hard leaving those kids and those friendships behind...

Game day!

2012-01-05T14:35:00.000-06:00

Hey, everyone!

Greetings from hot, sunny Liberia. :-)

Today was a “down” day. We were able to sleep in a bit this morning, and enjoy an amazing breakfast thanks to Brent and Todd. Brent is a master omelette maker and Todd was gracious enough to hold bread over a burner to make toast for us. Summer sausage and unidentified cheese blended through buttery eggs, plus peanut butter from home and grape jelly obtained at an astronomical price... Bliss.

After a somewhat lazy breakfast (we deserved it after the busy days we’ve had!), we walked to the Samaritan’s Purse compound in ELWA and spent some time with Rosie, the head of a national NGO in Liberia. Rosie heads up THINK Liberia (Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness), a ministry that works with at-risk women and adolescents. Although their ministry is focused on girls who are in dire situations, they also offer a summer program that welcomes women and girls from the local community. It’s a three month program that focuses on baking, sewing, and cosmetology--basic technical skills that many women in Liberia are interested in. Sounds like a great opportunity for the girls at Christ Our Hope orphanage!

Although our meeting with Rosie was wonderful, we were all eager to get to the orphanage! Today was the day that the children at Christ Our Hope treated us to a “program.” They sang, recited Bible verses, and all-around overwhelmed us with their brilliance and grace. It was an emotional afternoon!

As wonderful as it was to see the children’s talents on display, the rest of the afternoon was a definite treat. We all divided up into teams and played a couple of traditional Liberian games: kickball for the girls, and football (soccer) for the boys. Julie and I played two innings of kickball (honestly, we couldn’t have handled anymore in the crazy heat!), and then the boys divided up for soccer. The boys’ game was pretty intense! There were a couple of minor injuries, but I think everyone had a wonderful time.

This evening was spent swimming, playing Rook, and even watching a little Seinfeld (there’s a DVD set at the guest house where we are staying).

Time for bed! I’m exhausted...

Sending love and hugs from Liberia,

Nicole

Wednesday, January 4

2012-01-04T14:43:00.000-06:00

Hi, all.

I promised an update on JoJo, and I’ll start today’s post with that. Julie and Fatu spent most of the day with her again today at the hospital. Her lab results leave a lot to be desired--they simply don’t have the medical technology needed to figure out specifically what’s wrong. But in a nutshell (and after conversations with doctor’s in the US), Julie is quite convinced that JoJo is in need of further medical care. She’s a very sick little girl... Nine years old and forty-four pounds. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that she’s far from thriving. Please continue to keep JoJo in your prayers, especially as we work with Emmanuel and Fatu to figure out what the best course of action is for her. Should she be treated in Ghana? Or the States? Is that even possible? We don’t know, but we covet your prayers as we continue to explore the options.

Although JoJo’s situation feels a bit all-consuming, we do have a limited time in-country and we have much to do... Therefore the rest of the team has continued to follow our itinerary. Here’s what we’ve been up to...

Yesterday, Brent and Nick spent some time with “Big Time Joe,” a member of Robert’s church and the person that we’ve been considering starting a mechanic shop and salvage yard with. They learned a lot and have much for us to consider after their morning with Joe!

While Brent and Nick were busy with Joe, the rest of us traveled to New Dollo Town, a small township on the big Firestone plantation in Monrovia. We were able to see how Firestone operates (each worker is responsible to tap 700 trees a day--which usually requires the entire family to get up well before sunrise and work until sunset), and we spent some time with Abraham, the pastor of an Abide in the Vine church plant in New Dollo Town. Abraham amazed us with his passion for Christ and his commitment to his community. I think we all left feeling like we had spent time in the presence of greatness! Abraham showed us his church and home, and also took us to his garden--a small parcel of land that is a very long hike from his home. He grows cassava, corn, peppers, okra, and a few other things. His garden is completely at the mercy of the elements... And the tiny plants were a testament to the difficulty of raising a good crop without proper irrigation, pest, and weed control.

In the afternoon, the whole team (minus Julie because she was with JoJo) spent time meeting with and interviewing the pastors from the five branches of the Abide in the Vine churches. We fell deeply in love with each of them, and feel a strong call to help out in any way we can. We pray that God will raise up partners who share our vision for these amazing people, their churches, and their communities.

On to today... Today we all split up. Julie went to the hospital with Fatu and JoJo, Brent, Nick, Aaron, and Tim went to LEAD Liberia (a non-profit that specializes in micro-loans), and Todd and I spent the entire day at the orphanage updating the children’s records and photographing, videotaping, and interviewing every one of them. I can’t speak for anyone else, but today was a JOY! Todd and I worked hard for hours (and got pretty stinkin’ sunburnt) but it was worth every minute. I got to spend ten minutes one-on-one with each and every child at Christ Our Hope, and I feel like I got a pretty good grasp on their individual personalities, interests, and hopes for the future. For the first time since it’s inception, One Body One Hope will have (relatively) accurate, updated records! I can’t wait to share it with all of our sponsors. And I’m also excited to say that I have a few surprises for those of you who sponsor our kids... It’ll be a few weeks, but watch your email (snail mail?) for a gift from halfway across the world. (BTW, we still need a few sponsors, so it’s not to late to get in on the fun! Email me at nicolebaart@yahoo.com if you’re interested.)

Well, I think that’s enough for now. We’re all exhausted, but we weren’t too tired that a LONG swim in the ocean didn’t sound like fun... We all played in the waves and body surfed for an hour or two when we got “home” to ELWA. (And I have a massive sand burn on my hip to prove that we caught some awesome waves!)

Thank you for your prayers! We feel them SO MUCH... This trip has been richly blessed in ways that we can’t even begin to comprehend. God is moving in big, BIG ways and I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store. Wow. I. Am. Amazed.

To God be the glory, now and forevermore.

Nicole

Pray for JoJo!

2012-01-03T08:30:00.002-06:00

Hi, everyone.

Just a quick update today, along with a pretty desperate plea for prayer.

One of the girls in the orphanage, a beautiful little thing named Josephine, is very, very sick. She has sickle cell anemia, and although she has medication to treat it, Emmanuel and Fatu can only afford it sporadically. Usually when she becomes sick, they buy the medication and she snaps out of it. But she is not snapping out of it right now... Yesterday she napped on a blanket for most of the day while we swam in the ocean and played with the kids. She also has no appetite, and is so skinny her tiny arms are the size of sticks. Right now, Fatu and Julie are with Josephine in the hospital, and we’re not sure if she’ll need more medication, a blood transfusion, or even a hospital stay. Julie has assured us that the situation is very critical, and that if Josephine doesn’t get her illness under control she may very well die from it.

Please pray for JoJo! We had no idea she was so sick, and are even now making plans for her long-term care. Illness just seems like an acceptable part of life here, but some of the illnesses that the children are suffering from are more serious than we realized and definitely require our attention.

I’ll keep you updated, but for now, just pray that JoJo recovers quickly. We know that she is very ill because she has not responded to her medication... And we don’t know what the next step will be.

Prayer changes things. Prayer can heal JoJo.

With love,

Nicole

Day Three!

2012-01-02T15:24:00.001-06:00

Best. Day. Ever.

Today we held a New Year’s party for the kids at the ELWA guest house. We were going to go to the orphanage, but we asked Emmanuel if the children would like to get out a bit... And he assured us that they would be thrilled at the prospect of a little adventure!

We started off our day with pancakes thanks to Brent, and then a group of us headed to the grocery store to pick up supplies for our party. Groceries are limited in Liberia, but we managed to scrounge up hot dogs and ketchup, popcorn, fresh fruit, and even Mr. Freeze pops for dessert. (Plus lots of soda as it’s a treat for the children!) Emmanuel started bringing van-loads of kids around 10:30, and we entertained them with bocce and other lawn games as he carted kids back and forth. He fit fifty-some kids in three van-loads... Don’t ask me how! ;-)

We had lunch on the front lawn, and marveled at how Elijah (one of the teachers at the orphanage school) was able to laugh and play tirelessly with the children. He’s amazing. Absolutely, positively amazing. He should be sainted!

As fun as it was to simply play and have fun with the children, the highlight of the day was an event that Emmanuel called “historical”... We took the kids swimming.

Swimming. That might not sound like such a momentous event to most of us, but Liberians are typically afraid of the water. In fact, for the past few days when we have gone swimming as a team, Liberians have gathered on the beach to watch us (the crazy white people). But today, Emmanuel and Fatu, as well as all the older children from Christ Our Hope, braved the water and surfed the waves for an entire afternoon! To say that we had fun would be a ridiculous understatement... Even though many of the kids were terrified at first (Julie has tan lines from where the little girls clung to her arms, and I have bruises on my wrist), they absolutely loved it. We “swam,” body-surfed (or tried), played Five Hundred in the waves (thanks to Todd), and had an all-around wonderful time. It would be perfectly safe and completely accurate to say that today will go down in history as one of the best days of my life. The kids were delighted--and tireless. I’m sure they will all be sleeping like babies tonight.

After all that fun in the sun, we were pretty much ready to call it a day. We hung out with the children until late afternoon, and then they all headed back to eat. (Our American food does not fill their tummies--they aren’t full until they eat rice!) As for our team, we spent some time decompressing and planning our day tomorrow. And for supper Lucia brought over Brent’s favorite: sweet potato greens with fish and rice. Sounds awful, tastes amazing... Sweet potato greens are definitely a new favorite of mine!

Tomorrow we get down to work in earnest. We have meetings with the pastors and governing members of the Abide in the Vine Fellowship churches, as well as a visit to Firestone Liberia and the new church that AVF has planted there. We are also hoping that Nick and Brent can spend a few hours with “Big Time Joe” talking about the possibility of opening a garage and salvage yard--with opportunities for the kids at Christ Our Hope to work alongside him and learn a trade.

I feel like up until now we’ve been relationship building. And what a joy it has been! Tomorrow we get down to business... And we’re praying the God is ready to fling open some doors before us! Please join us in prayer--we are so anxious to see what God has in store!

With love and hugs,

Nicole

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:49:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe that we have only been in country for two and a half days. In some ways I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime here, and yet not an hour goes by that I am shocked by something so outside of my comfort zone it makes me catch my breath. Today we went to church in Jacobtown and worshipped with Christians who welcomed us with arms (and hearts) wide open, and we also drove through Red Light (the shopping district) where I was overwhelmed by the garbage, the press of people, the sight of UN trucks and Liberian police in full riot gear.

Liberia is a study in contradictions. It’s beautiful here... Warm and sunny, overflowing with tropical flowers and joy and hospitality, but every so often we uncover an edge that surprises us--and we are reminded that this is a country that is still experiencing the effects of war.

But I’m babbling. It’s been another very full day, and we’re all trying to unwind a bit. We swam in the ocean tonight and bodysurfed until we were kicked out of the water by the ELWA security guard, and then played bocce by the light of our headlamps. (My poor dad doesn’t even know that we stole his bocce set for use in Liberia! Thanks, dad!) Now I think we’re all about ready for bed, and it’s only 8:20. But that’s okay. The days have been full... and emotional.

Today we went to Robert’s church. (Robert is Emmanuel’s brother, the man who Aaron and I met in Ethiopia and who sparked the first flame of One Body One Hope.) The service was beautiful and we particularly enjoyed the children’s program. Church services are long here, with lots of singing and prayer. We were also blessed to participate in communion with our Liberian brothers and sisters--something I didn’t anticipate and really cherished.

Afterwards, we were invited to Robert’s house where his wife, Lucia, laid out a feast for us. Lucia is trained as a chef, and her cooking is beyond amazing. We all ate until we couldn’t hold another bite, and then enjoyed great conversation with our friends.

On the way home, Emmanuel took us through Red Light. The guys who have been here before said that the market district was dead compared to what it normally is (considering that today was Sunday and a holiday), but I was transfixed. The traffic was insane... People flood the streets and wait for the warning honk of cars to step onto the shoulder, but in the midst of all that traffic I felt like we were just waiting for an accident to happen. (And we did actually see a motorcycle accident later in the day.) Craziness. It also struck me as we were driving through that there wasn’t another white person as far as the eye could see. It gave me great empathy for people who live most of their lives as minorities. It’s a bit of an unnerving place to be.

I hope I don’t sound melancholy. It’s been an awesome trip so far. Beyond awesome. I’ve made more life-long memories--and been more deeply, personally challenged--in the last few days than in the last several months combined. It’s unreal. And the team is doing great. We’re having so much fun together--there’s lots of laughter and great conversations happening nonstop.

Please keep praying for us! Tomorrow the children from Christ Our Hope are coming to our beach for a party. We’re going to host a beach picnic, make some sand castles, and maybe even teach them how to swim. Or at least try! We will also be meeting with the pastors of the satellite churches of Abide in the Vine (the churches from up-country). We can feel your prayers and support, and it’s making all the difference!

Love and hugs from Liberia,

Nicole

We're here!

2011-12-31T14:16:00.000-06:00

Greetings from Monrovia, Liberia!

Our team arrived safe and sound last night around suppertime. Getting through customs was a zoo, and Todd (our intrepid filmmaker) attracted the attention of airport police by filming the chaos that was the baggage claim. They made him delete the footage, but thankfully they did not seize his camera! We are also thankful that we have all of our luggage. All in all, the trip was a blessing (though long and exhausting), and we are so happy to be here!

This morning we were able to sleep in a bit and enjoy a morning walk on the beach (coffee in hand, of course). Then a few of us ventured to the market for a few supplies, while the rest of us plugged our disposable cell phones with minutes and strolled around the neighborhood a bit. Emmanuel and Fatu happened across us at a market stall, and picked us up to go to the rice farm.

CHAP (Community of Hope Agricultural Project) is an ag project that some members of Abide in the Vine have been championing for the past several years. It has received attention from the government, and they recently secured a US Aid grant. Basically, the farm is a pilot project for seed rice, and it seems to be going extremely well. We all hiked out to the rice paddies, and were given small knives and taught how to harvest rice the Liberian way (cut the stalk with one hand, and sweep the head of rice into your other hand). We harvested for a while, and enjoyed meeting the workers, especially the men and children who have been hired to keep the birds out of the fields. Armed with slingshots and nets, they catch or kill as many birds as they can to stop them from eating the rice. We were charmed by the brightly colored little birds (they looked like something North Americans would put on display in an aviary!), but we were assured that they are a terrible nuisance. We also saw how the rice is threshed and dried, and were interviewed by a national television team who is doing a special on agriculture in Liberia.

As fun as it is to simply be here and experience such a different world, I won’t lie... This afternoon was the highlight of the trip so far. After a quick lunch, we headed out to Christ Our Hope orphanage. Most of the team (Brent, Nick, Tim, and Aaron) have already visited Liberia, but for Todd, Julie, and me, this was our first ever glimpse of the place we have prayed for and ministered to for the past five years. The children were singing as we drove up, and they pulled us out of the car with hugs and kisses. We spent the rest of the day simply enjoying their company. We flooded the beach and made sand castles, played games, and hunted for seashells. The ocean was crashing behind us and the children were exuberant as we held races and played “This Little Piggy.” It was beyond amazing. Hours later, sunburnt and exhausted, we kissed them goodbye and promised even more hugs and affection when we go back there this evening for a “Watch” service (New Year’s Eve).

Yikes. I’m really not the sort to write such a factual account of such an emotional journey. I would much more like to wax poetic about the way I held the hands of ten little girls at once (they all grabbed a different finger in their hands), or how my heart was both filled to overflowing and broken to pieces as I cupped the faces of children I’ve loved long distance for so many years. They are indescribable. Beautiful and joyful and so sweet. I want to take them all home, and yet I know that they are home, that Christ Our Hope is so very much more than an orphanage. They are a family. They call each other “brother” and “sister,” and they call Julie and me “mother.” It fits. I feel like their mother.

It’s pretty amazing to have such a big, breathtaking family.

More soon.

Sending love and hugs from Liberia,

Nicole

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T10:49:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas from Liberia! I just got off the phone with Emmanuel and Fatu, and was blessed to chat with them in the middle of their Christmas celebration. The children were enjoying a program (sounded like a movie to me?) and paused long enough to shout: Merry Christmas! We love you! That sentiment is meant for all of us who love them and pray for them and support them with everything from financial contributions to heartfelt prayers. It was such a blessing to hear the joy in their voices, and in some small way I hope that you can read this and know that you were a part of it, too. Merry Christmas. :-)

Well, Christmas is officially over at our house, and I'm firmly entrenched in the preparations for our upcoming trip to Liberia. We leave on Thursday! Please pray for our team as we pack and plan, and especially as we leave our families and children. We are so excited to spend time with our Liberian family, but it is also hard to leave the ones we love behind. Please pray for health and safe travels and most of all that the Holy Spirit will explode over our relationships and clearly reveal what the next steps should be for One Body One Hope. As we move into redevelopment, we want God's hand guiding our every effort.

Also, if you would like updates while we are in Liberia, please bookmark our blog page and check back regularly. I hope to post every other day (more if I can!) with reflections on our trip, prayer requests, and any news that develops. I'll also be bringing my own camera and computer along so this will be the first year that I can update with PHOTOS! Want to see current pictures of the kids? Stop back soon! I can't wait to post some.

Sending love and hugs from Iowa and Liberia.

On behalf of the board,
Nicole

Happy Holidays!

2011-11-30T13:38:00.001-06:00

I can't believe it's that time of year again... Where has 2011 gone? If you're anything like me, you're scratching your head as you look at the calendar, wondering how in the world you're going to make your December schedule jive while you contemplate the months gone by. Our children have grown up a little and we may notice an extra laugh line or two when we look in the mirror. If we're lucky, happy memories float to the surface more quickly than the sorrows that burdened our hearts this year. But whether 2011 was bittersweet or nothing but joy, life is a gift and we are so blessed to live it!

Last week during our One Body One Hope meeting, I looked around the circle at the amazing people who make up our board and thanked God for fitting together all of our different gifts and personalities. It is so obvious that we have each been given a role, and God is using our discussions and convictions (and even our disagreements) to make us a better, more unified group. We've grown a lot this year, and we've articulated a direction that we have all embraced with passion and anticipation.

In the first few years since it's inception, One Body One Hope was a relief organization. We "staunched the flow," so to speak, as we raised money to provide basic necessities for the kids at Christ Our Hope orphanage (food, medical care, clothing, etc.). Since we are working with an orphanage (an institution that will never be self-sustaining simply because it provides care for those who cannot care for themselves), part of our mission and mandate will always be relief. That's why we rely on the generosity of our child sponsors! However, we also have a deep desire to work in the arena of redevelopment, and we definitely feel God leading us in that direction.

We're not sure what redevelopment is going to look like for Christ Our Hope or the surrounding community, but our eyes and ears (and hearts!) are open and we can't wait to see what God has in store. In less than a month, most of our board will be traveling to Liberia to explore some of these options. We have also enlisted the help of a friend and filmmaker who will document our time there and translate the story of the kids we've grown to love into something that we can share with you.

As you contemplate the holiday season ahead, and the year gone by, we hope that you will remember to pray for the children at Christ Our Hope. Pray that the Lord will reveal ways for us to continue to support and encourage them, and pray that He will open people hearts to give. Pray for the ministry of One Body One Hope, and for the upcoming trip. Pray that we will continue to be salt and light, people living lives of love and generosity.

Happy holidays to you.

Liberian Elections

2011-10-12T13:57:00.000-05:00

Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Liberia as we celebrate a peaceful election day! Yesterday (October 11, 2011) marked the second democratic election in Liberia since the bloody civil war ended in 2003. The momentous day proceeded smoothly and peacefully, prompting accolades from the UN and other foreign outlets. However, we must continue to pray that peace reigns as the votes are counted. Early poll results show that the incumbent and Nobel Peace prize laureate (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf) holds a small lead against her primary opponent Harvard graduate Winston Tubman. This close race will likely end in a run-off election on November 8.

Please join us in prayer as we lift up the country of Liberia and its people in this pivotal time in their history. May peace reign in this place.

Want to know more about the elections? Here are a couple of good articles:

Liberia: Polls open in 2nd postwar election

Liberia's Sirleaf has slight edge; run-off likely

Observers: Liberia Presidential Election Peaceful

July 9 Social

2011-06-08T09:59:00.002-05:00

Please join the board of One Body One Hope for a dessert social on Thursday, June 9 at 7:00 in the back shelterhouse of Children's Park. This is not a fundraiser--you don't have to bring a thing! Please let us treat you to a time of dessert and fellowship as a "thank you" for supporting us in this past year. There will also be a time to share some new developments at OBOH and to answer any questions you might have. We hope to see you there!

Rice Harvest

2011-02-20T19:09:00.000-06:00

Last week I shared some photos with you--pictures of our dear friend Robert Bimba meeting the president of Liberia. The CHAP (Community of Hope Agricultural Project) program received high honors from the government and was touted as one of the premier farming projects in the country. Anyway, in light of that exciting news, I thought I'd post a few photos of last year's rice harvest. Enjoy!

Bundles of harvested rice.

Sacks of rice.

Robert's lovely wife, Lucia, bundling rice.

Presidential Photos

2011-02-03T13:56:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of photos of Robert with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. (For reference, see the last post.) Robert is the handsome gentleman in the black suit and red shirt. The president is in green. Exciting times!

CHAP Project Receives Boost

2011-02-01T19:46:00.000-06:00

We were thrilled to learn last week that the CHAP program (Community of Hope Agricultural Project), a farming venture backed by Abide in the Vine Church received national accolades in Liberia! I could try to explain it, but I'll give Robert Bimba the honors. Praise God for his provision!

A letter from Robert:

Hi Brother,

I just came from the president honor and speech to the nation so we have CHAP highlighted as the group that produce the best quality rice seed and form part of the first group that stop the importation of rice seed after 20 years of imputing seed from out of the country.

After the meeting we took picture with her (the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf), US Ambassador, Vice president. She directed the relavent gorvenment agency to give us the 35 arces of land but ask that we survey it but it will now cost us $1,000 to have it survey and corner stone /poles planted which I have been working for over the years. The area have finally been given to us but we are responsible to survey and manage it. Is this something you can help us with? Thanks for all we cherish the relationship which have afforded us this great honor and land finally.

Greet your wife.

Blessings,

Robert

* * *

We have transferred the $1,000 needed to complete the donation of the land, and now Abide in the Vine owns the 35 acre rice farm. What an exciting way to start a new year!

What we're up to...

2011-01-07T16:14:00.000-06:00

Happy 2011 from the board of One Body One Hope! What an exciting year it has been. In addition to successfully completing our Capital Campaign, we sent a team of 14 people to finish construction on-site, witnessed the official wedding ceremony of Emmanuel and Fatu, enjoyed full sponsorship for all of the children in the orphanage, and became an officially recognized, independent non-profit organization. 2010 will definitely be a memorable year in our history.

But we're not done yet! We have lots of exciting things in store for 2011. Our board met last night and brainstormed some big ideas about where we're going next. At the top of our priority list is lifelong support for the kids at Christ Our Hope. We want those amazing children to have the tools and the skill set necessary to live a life abundant beyond the doors of the orphanage. What will that look like? Continued education? Technical training? Micro loans for business ventures and opportunities? All of the above and more! Please keep our board in your prayers as we explore all these exciting options as well as look at land, learn more about business in Liberia, and walk alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world. We covet your prayers.

Want to get involved in another meaningful way? We are currently looking for teacher and pastor sponsors. For $100 a month (or $50 if you would like to split sponsorship with another family) you can provide a living wage for our teachers, pastors, and their families. How amazing is that? $1200 a year and you will have supported an entire Liberian family. I don't know about you, but I can't think of a better way to spend $100. Email me if you would like more information!

Blessings,
Nicole

Liberia 2010

2010-12-07T11:54:00.000-06:00

They're Home!

2010-12-01T21:45:00.000-06:00

I am happy to say that the team made it home safe...and cold! Thirty hours of travel is hard on a body, but they were nothing but smiles getting off of the plane. Some had a little flu bug the last few days there and on the plane ride home. Aaron got an infection in his eye on the way home. He did get some medicine. We will pray for healing for Aaron, Arlys and all of them getting over the jet lag.

It is fun to hear about God's work there. I just keep hearing over and over that God's hand was truly at work. They keep saying how the work got done so fast that God had to have made time stand still! Despite the container coming so late, God finished everything on time. The Liberian people were a blessing to our team. They went out of their way to make them feel welcome and to help them keep cool! The kids were amazing! The kids gave a program for the team when they left followed by a lot of tears by all.

Thank you all for your support! We can't tell you how much your prayers and support mean to us! Please keep watching the blog for pictures and more information about what is going on with Christ is Our Hope orphanage and One Body One Hope.

Julie Bajema
From the Board of One Body One Hope
I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Phillipians 1:3-6

They're coming home!

2010-11-28T22:14:00.003-06:00

The team continues to be having a great experience in Liberia. Yesterday they enjoyed the wedding of Immanuel and Fatu. It was described as a western wedding with a Liberian spirit! Today they did some body surfing and then enjoyed the church service. This afternoon they played soccer against the kids. Our team one 2-1. (But the little kids were playing, else our team wouldn't have stood a chance!)

Prayers are needed for Arlys DeWeerd. She cut her leg a few days ago and she got a cellulitis infection in her leg. The doctor came yesterday and gave her an antibiotic. Today, the redness spread further down her leg. Her and Stan left today so that she could get home. This can be a very serious infection. Please pray for her pain and infection and that it does not get worse.

Tomorrow the team will be flying out about 6:40pm Liberian time, which is 12:40pm our time. Please pray for their safe travels. Many of them have become very close to some of the kids there. They will have a hard time leaving and returning to 'normal' here knowing how those sweet kids are living there. Please pray that they will be able to readjust to life here.

Once again, we thank you all for your support! We can't wait to share the pictures and videos with you! Please keep up with our blog to see the pics and video one they get back.

Julie Bajema
From the Board of One Body One Hope

Thanksgiving in Liberia

2010-11-26T22:46:00.003-06:00

The team in Liberia has had another great day today! They celebrated Thanksgiving last night with Samaritan's Purse eating turkey and all the trimmings. Today they got all of the windows and doors in, all of the bunks are put together as well as the desks and benches and bookshelves. They have about 1/2 to one days work left and then they are done!! Tomorrow (Saturday), they are going to celebrate the renewing of vows of Immanuel and Fatu, who run the orphanage. They were originally married during the civil war. So the government is requiring them to get re-married. Aaron is officiating the wedding. What a great celebration that will be!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the 'warm' weather!
Thank you again for your support!

Julie Bajema
From the Board of One Body One Hope

God is Powerful!

2010-11-24T07:23:00.001-06:00

I just got off the phone with Aaron, and the container is being backed onto the orphanage grounds as I type. Praise God! They'll be opening it and getting to work in mere minutes! Please pray that they'll have enough time to complete all the projects in spite of getting a late start.

Woo-hoo!!!

Move that container!

2010-11-23T22:20:00.000-06:00

I am so glad to tell you all that the container is on the trailer and ready to be delivered tomorrow!! They are planning on opening the container on the truck at the port, scanning what they can see, and then driving to the orphanage where they will finish inspecting as they unload. Please remain in prayer as they still could make this part difficult, but we are so happy it is on the truck!!

The team spent their time today on the beach while the kids were in school and then went to the orphanage when school was done. There is a lot of soccer and boccie ball being played! Brent DeJong stepped on a sea urchin while on the beach. The doctor had to come to remove the spines from his foot and it is wrapped up. Pray for fast healing and little pain.

We are so thankful for all of your prayers and support! It is uplifting to those of us back home who have been planning this trip and for those holding down the fort (which is a challenge with all of these young ones around!) We are letting the team there know about your support also. It is uplifting to them as well as they are waiting to do the work they want to do for these kids.

Julie Bajema
From the Board of One Body One Hope

Savior. He can move the mountains. Our God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save!!

Please Pray!

2010-11-22T15:51:00.002-06:00

Hello again. The team had a good day of exploring the city of Monrovia. When school was done, they went to the orphanage to spend some time with the kids. The container remains in port. They have the "misunderstanding" with the paperwork figured out. Now the guy they are working with at the port is making it difficult to get the container to the site. They are hopeful that it will get there tomorrow. Despite the hold-up with the container, everybody seems to be upbeat and really enjoying the time with the kids. Some of the team members have been feeling ill, we hope just from the long flight.

Please continue to pray for the container and for the health of those there.

Thank you for your support!!

Julie Bajema
From the Board of One Body One Hope
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12

The team has arrived!

2010-11-21T21:04:00.003-06:00

It's Julie Bajema, from the Board of One Body One Hope, sending you all an update on our team in Liberia.

Nick and Aaron left this past Tuesday and arrived safely on Wednesday. Aaron has been giving a pastor's conference. The Liberian pastors do not have ready access to furthering their education. Pastors there walked hundreds of miles to gain more knowledge about our wonderful God! Nick has been working hard to get the shipping container out of port. It is still being held up. The container contains all of the trusses, steal, windows, doors, bunk beds, desks, benches, book shelves, electrical supplies, clothes, ect. As of now, it is still in port. Please pray, pray, pray that it gets released and on site tomorrow!!

The rest of the team left yesterday and arrived in Monrovia a couple of hours ago, being greeted by Nick, Aaron, Immanuel (who runs the orphanage) and about 1/3 of the kids singing to them! What a great way to lift their spirits after the long flight!!

Once again I am going to ask for prayers to soften the hearts of the gentleman at the port who needs to release the container. The children of the orphanage have even began to fast and pray continually for its release! Please let the faith of those children inspire you to get on your knees for the release of the container. There is a lot of work to be done there. They will be hard pressed to get it all done if it does not get on site tomorrow.

We have been focusing on the container getting to the site, but also pray for relationships to be built. God calls us to help his orphans and to show them His love! Pray that the children there will feel extra loved this week!

Thank you for your support!

Julie

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. ~ Isaiah 58:10

Prayers for Liberia

2010-11-16T09:25:00.000-06:00

A letter from one of our board members:

Hello everybody. This is Julie Bajema. I am a board member for One Body One Hope, a non-profit organization that helps support Christ is Our Hope Orphanage in Monrovia, Liberia. You are getting this email because you have supported this adventure with gifts and prayer or somebody you know is going to be leaving soon to do some work on the orphanage and school in Liberia.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), two team members are leaving to get things set up (Aaron Baart and Nick Doelman). The rest of the team is leaving on Saturday. (Tim Bajema, Brent DeJong, Scott Postma, Troy Ten Napel, Brian VanDerVliet, Grant & Desarae DeVries, Ken VanOort, Stan & Arlis DeWeerd, Mary DeGroot, and Randy Swier.)

We are asking for prayers for three things at this point 1) The shipping container is in port, but not yet at the orphanage site. Please pray that this transition goes smoothly. 2) Please pray that everybody is safe and stays healthy. 3) God will work in amazing ways in the hearts of those going on the trip and those living and working at the orphanage. Pray for those relationship to grow strong.

I will be sending you updates as the team arrives and during their time there. Please feel free to share these updates. Prayer is coveted.

Thank you for your support!
Julie Bajema

Updates

2010-10-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

Great news! Our container has officially landed in the port of Monrovia. Now all we have to do is pray that it clears customs without a hitch. Please join us as we cover this final stage of our capital campaign process in prayer!

Also, I wanted to share a few exciting photos with you. The second dormitory construction is well underway. Once our team lands in Liberia, all they'll have to do is install the windows and doors and finish the roof. How fantastic is that?

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Capital Campaign Video

2010-08-20T13:57:00.000-05:00

The Container

2010-07-26T14:34:00.001-05:00

One of the most complicated pieces of our capital campaign has been coordinating a way for goods and materials to make the trek between our little corner of Iowa across the ocean to Liberia. Months ago we realized that we would have to load a shipping container and transport it across the ocean. Little did we know what an ordeal it would be!

On Friday, our container pulled into Rock Valley and parked in the loading dock of a local non-profit, Justice for All. How fitting that all of our goods were housed in such a wonderful place of ministry and outreach! And how appropriate that this haven of restoration became the site of a miracle... When some of our board members first surveyed all that had to be put in the container and began doing preliminary measurements and calculations of space (or lack there-of), it quickly became apparent that there was no way everything would fit. We were quite sure that the mattresses would have to be left behind. Or the clothes, or the books...

But God answers prayer and he heard our face-down pleas. Everything fit in the container with the exception of one mattress. We had 60 mattresses for the 58 kids at Christ Our Hope. The Lord left us with one extra mattress. How cool is that?

Anyway, the container is on it's way to Omaha where it will take off for the East Coast and beyond. It should reach the port of Monrovia in six to eight weeks--we didn't want to take any chances that it would be late for our work crew in November.

I'm going to leave you with a couple photos of the loading process. Please stop back later this week as I spend some time outlining all the goodies that were shipped as well as thanking the people who made each contribution possible.

When you gotta go...

2010-07-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

...you use the new latrines on the expanding campus of Christ Our Hope orphanage! Yes, the latrines are completed and already being put to use. This is a photo of Immanuel and some of the kids from the orphanage in front of the new bathrooms.

We are so grateful to George Kpawulu, our Liberian contractor for doing such wonderful work half a world away. He is laying the groundwork for all of our capital campaign projects, and when our work team heads to Liberia in November all they will have to do is the finishing touches: electrical wiring, roofing, installing windows and doors, assembling new bunk beds and desks, etc.

It's so exciting to see these projects already in various stages of completion. Stop back on Monday for more updates about what's going on at Christ Our Hope!

Catching Up

2010-07-22T13:40:00.000-05:00

So sorry about the long absence! Due to a book deadline, a research trip to Alaska, a family vacation, a new job, and a new baby I have not had time to update our One Body One Hope blog. But don't think for a second that a lack of information means a lack of exciting developments! So much is going on... I'm going to take the next several days/weeks to try and get you all up to speed.

Anyway, though the news is old, it's still pretty thrilling: we reached our donor-match goal! $10,000 was raised for the One Body One Hope capital campaign in May. We have been so blessed to watch people with generous hearts give sacrificially to this campaign. In fact, though numbers are liquid and sometimes things cost more or less than projected, it seems we've nearly reached our $50,000 goal. Praise God!

Also, tomorrow our shipping container will be rolling into town! We have Friday and Saturday to pack a container full of all the materials that we will need for our work project in November. On the shipping manifest are items such as: new bunk beds and mattresses, specially fabricated steel doors and windows for the existing dormitory and the new one, books for the library, clothes, school items, desks, roof trusses for the new dorm, electrical equipment, and lots of tools. I can't wait to share with you some individual stories in the coming weeks--we have seen donors step forward and give selflessly and with abandon. Very exciting stuff!

I'm going to leave you today with a photo of Immanuel and some of the kids at Christ Our Hope standing on the concrete pad that will soon be the floor for the new girls' dormitory. Construction is well under way!

Stop back in on Saturday for some exciting news about the latrines! :)

Donor Match Week! May 2-8

2010-05-02T14:21:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! Today is the kick-off of our donor match week!

The next 7 days could result in $10,000 for the kids at Christ Our Hope orphanage. But we can't get there without your help! Please consider donating to One Body One Hope this week. All we're asking is for $5 from our friends online... The price of one large latte quickly doubles into $10--the amount needed to buy toothpaste for all 56 kids for 10 days. Or a one-month supply of pens, pencils, and crayons. Or one month of fuel to run the generator. Your $5 donation could buy anti-malarial meds for five days... Just imagine the possibilities!

Please email me for more information, or take a trip to our Facebook Causes page. You can donate online and hassle-free via PayPal.

Also, it's not too late to join us at our first annual Women's Night Out event! Please join us on Wednesday, May 5 at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley at 6:30 pm. Dessert, door prizes, entertainment, and a night out with the girls... What could be better? Email Julie to set aside your $5 ticket, or you can pay at the door. Everyone is invited!

Exciting Opportunity!

2010-04-22T10:10:00.001-05:00

An anonymous donor has gifted us with a matching donation of up to $5,000. If we raise $5,000 during the week of May 2-8, our donor will match that amount. $10,000 in one week! How cool is that? We're doing a couple of things to spread the word...

1.) A Mother's Heart Benefit: On Wednesday, May 5, we will be holding our first ever One Body One Hope Benefit. If you're a woman living in the tri-state area, we invite you to join us at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley at 6:30pm. There will be a dessert buffet, some live music, a presentation about One Body One Hope, and an amazing speaker. Meredith Efken is going to be joining us! We couldn't be more excited. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by emailing juliemvr@hotmail.com.

2.) Facebook Challenge: In case you didn't know, One Body One Hope now has a Facebook Causes page. Since we are a registered non-profit, we can receive online donations through Pay-Pal. In the next few weeks, we are going to challenge our Facebook followers to give $5 to the cause. It's a tiny amount, but if everyone does it (or feels led to give more!) we could raise $580. Double that amount thanks to our donor, and suddenly $1,160 is no laughing matter. I encourage you to join our cause on Facebook and give up your latte for just one day. Princess, Lovette, Amos, Benjamin, Quessay, and Immanuel will thank you. Of course, so will the rest of the kids at the orphanage. :)

3.) Spread the Word Initiative: We want to raise awareness about One Body One Hope! Even if you can't come to our Benefit or give at this time, we would be so thrilled if you would spread the word. Many of you have blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook accounts, or other social networking avenues. We'd be honored if you'd take a minute to link us up and let your friends know about our ministry. If you are willing to do this, please leave a comment after this post! I'll randomly draw from everyone who leaves a comment and send one lucky winner a One Body One Hope t-shirt, calendar, and some of our handmade, goat-milk soaps. It's a pretty fabulous package.

Anyway, thanks for reading! Your prayers and support mean the world to us...

Facebook!

2010-03-25T12:04:00.000-05:00

You can now find One Body One Hope on Facebook!

We received the good news last week that OBOH is an officially recognized public charity by the IRS. Since we are no longer under the wings of Bridge of Hope, our non-profit is now an autonomous, independent entity. Click here to become a member of our Cause on Facebook, and stay tuned for some exciting fundraising news. (Here's a little hint: We have a donor who will match any donations we receive up to $5,000. Could be a 10K fundraiser!)

Luau Photos

2010-03-09T09:12:00.001-06:00

Getting set up for the Luau with some help from kids in the church!

Some of our goodies for sale: handmade soaps, t-shirts, and calendars.

(You can still purchase any of these items by emailing: nicolebaart@yahoo.com.)

Our dedicated board!

(l-r) Nick Doelman, Aaron Baart, Brent DeJong

(l-r) Julie Bajema, Nicole Baart, Abby Foreman

(not pictured) Troy TenNapel, Grant DeVries

Liberian Luau

2010-01-06T09:54:00.000-06:00

What: a Liberian Luau (just what we need in the middle of a long, cold winter!)

Where: in the high school cafeteria

When: after the January 24th Sunday morning church service at Bridge of Hope

(service begins at 10:00, Luau to follow)

Who: everyone is invited!

Why: to raise money for the One Body, One Hope capital campaign!

Though we should be serving traditional Liberian fare, we will in fact offering pork brats, hot dogs, potato salad, fruit salad, chips, and drink.

A free-will offering will be taken.

We will also have t-shirts, calendars, and soap available for purchase.

Hope to see you there!

Community Bazaar

2009-11-07T07:59:00.002-06:00

Join us today at the Centre Mall for the Community Bazaar! We'll be there from 9-2, selling soaps, calendars, and t-shirts, as well as providing information about our ministry and capital campaign. Hope to see you there!

Gearing Up for Christmas

2009-11-05T11:22:00.001-06:00

Start your Christmas shopping early this year with gifts from One Body One Hope! Everything you purchase from our organization helps Immanuel and Fatu (the orphanage directors at Christ Our Hope) offer better quality of care for the children.

Products for Sale

Homemade Goat-Milk Soap - These beautiful, fragrant soaps are hand-made by a gentleman in our church with milk from his two pet goats. This soap is extremely soft and perfect for sensitive skin. It comes wrapped for Christmas in burlap and holiday ribbon. The perfect stocking stuffer!
$5 (100% of the proceeds will go to our Capital Campaign fund)

2010 Calendars - These attractive calendars feature full-color photographs from our 2008 trip to Liberia. Truly National Geographic worthy, these pictures are gorgeous and a great conversation starter. Included on every month are specific prayer requests for the orphanage and the community.
$15 ($10.50 from the purchase of every calendar will go to fund our Capital Campaign)

T-Shirts - Our t-shirts are 100% preshrunk cotton and feature our logo (One Body One Hope) name-tag sized on the front. Across the back you will find Spend Yourself. The t-shirts come in white or chocolate brown. We have adult and child sizes.
$20 Adult/$15 Child ($13 Adult/$10 Child will go to our general budget)

For more information, or to order any of these products, please email nicolebaart@yahoo.com.

Our Invitation

2009-11-05T10:20:00.000-06:00

We invite you to partner with us as Spend Ourselves!

You can make a one-time donation, sponsor a child, or participate in our capital campaign. Please email nicolebaart@yahoo.com for more information.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: $50,000

Shipping Container $7,000 (July 2010)

Security Wall Encircling Property $13,000 (October 2010)

Second Dormitory Construction $10,000 (December 2010)

First Dormitory Renovation $2,000 (December 2010)

Furnishings for School (Desks & Chairs) Constructed in US and assembled in Liberia via donated materials and labor (December 2010)

New Bunk Beds for both First & Second Dormitories Constructed in US and assembled in Liberia via donated materials and labor (December 2010)

Windows and Doors for Church/School Building $3,000 (December 2010)

Drinkable Water Line $3,000 (Spring 2011)

On-Site Bath House $2,000 (Summer 2011)

Truck $10,000 (Summer 2011)

Our Vision

2009-11-05T10:04:00.000-06:00

The Current Situation:

Today, the orphanage runs on a lean budget of approximately $2,000 US per month based on committed donors here in the US. These funds currently cover:

Food, clothing, medical, shelter, and educational needs of 56 orphans.
Basic living expenses for Emmanuel & Fatu who live on-site.
Salary for 8 full-time college-educated teachers who teach the children daily.
Cooking, cleaning, and security personnel.
Educational costs for an additional 75-100 community children who attend the school daily.

The Growing Needs:

Our current operational set-up has allowed us to dramatically increase the overall health, education, and safety of these children. However, our current 56 child sponsor families’ donations at $30 US per month are allowing us to “tread water” but not really get ahead. Yes, basic operational costs are being met; but children still sleep 3 to-a-bed, medical emergencies require additional fundraising, and much-needed capital projects have not yet been started.

The Goals and Timeline:

After partnering with the orphanage for nearly three years now and following a visit in person by three of our board members in November 2008, we have compiled a list of goals we hope to reach in the coming years to better equip these children to not merely exist, but to thrive as Christian leaders seeking to be a generation of rebuilders in war-torn, poverty-stricken Liberia.

Our History

2009-11-05T09:50:00.000-06:00

Abide in the Vine Fellowship is a network of four non-denominational church congregations throughout Liberia. They were all planted by Rev. James Bimba (now retired) and run through a collective leadership system, headed by Rev. Robert Bimba, James’ son. He pastors a congregation in Jacobtown, a suburb of the capital of Monrovia.

A second congregation is located in the Dumbar Farm suburb of Monrovia, headed by Rev. Emmanuel Bimba, another son of James. Emmanuel and his wife, Fatu, felt compelled along with their congregation at the end of the civil war to minister to the many orphaned children they found walking the streets of the city. This Spirit-led compulsion led to the founding of Christ Our Hope Orphanage. The orphanage is housed on the property of the church with one main dormitory, a church building, latrine, and one additional structure for meetings. The grounds are extremely rudimentary with no running water, utilities, phone lines or general civil infrastructure available.

However, Emmanuel and Fatu have been incredibly committed, taking in 56 children without knowing how they might be able to meet all of their needs. Periodically, God brought individual donors along, and their church helps out where they can. Unfortunately, their pressing needs are ever-present and they prayed long and hard for committed long-term partners.

Despite these incredible limitations, they have created a community of family, sacrifice, love, and renewal for these children. When Pastor Aaron Baart and his wife Nicole met Rev. Robert Bimba in Ethiopia in December of 2006 while adopting their son, the two felt an immediate calling to partner together in ministry. This began the birth of One Body One Hope.

Over the next 2 years, a multi-faceted partnership developed that focused on the orphanage and its growth, but also spilled over into other shared ministry endeavors.

Coming Soon...

2009-10-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for more information about One Body, One Hope and our newly launched Capital Campaign.