The Excitement of Diversity in Christ Jesus

We have a diverse team of volunteers from all races and ethnic backgrounds. In fact, the more diversity we have, the better. Our students and members of staff are spoilt for choice as far as learning and exposure is concerned. They are able to experience taste of diversity right at the comfort of the GHMI premises at completely no cost! Can you imagine having a volunteer introducing a new cuisine or a different form of art? It’s a simultaneous way for volunteers to bond with the fraternity while adding in some liveliness to break the monotony of redundant schedules.

Our former and current volunteers can agree that the stories and adventures they’ve experienced at GHMI are priceless. At first glance, you will think you have more to give to the students and staff than they have to offer you. However, you will quickly change your mindset when you begin to interact with them and realize how rich they are in knowledge and creativity. For most of the students, you will quickly learn that their creativity was nurtured as a survival tactic from their less-privileged backgrounds. Nevertheless, they have an interesting way of creating a silver lining to every cloud.

Listening to others’ stories is always a great opportunity to learn. As volunteers interact with staff and students, they all soon realize that there was a story behind them meeting under such circumstances. Each one learns that there is a common motivation. Our staff also comprises of people that have had their own stories. For example, some were raised as orphans and were driven by the desire to be better foster parents or workers in service to others that have to grow up in similar circumstances; only that they are determined to provide a cushion for those that have come after them. Isn’t that inspirational!

Most importantly, we are conscious of the constant need to moderate the interactions between volunteers and children of GHMI. While we allow the children to gain exposure to people from diverse walks of life, we are keen to ground them on God’s word. There are many times when they will have many questions regarding people they interacted with. It remains our responsibility to help them view all things through the lens of God’s eyes and apply wisdom to the knowledge they have acquired.

Philippians 4:8-9 says “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Just as Paul was confident that his life had conformed to the image of Christ that he should be a good example to all, we prayer that our volunteers may likewise conform to the image of Christ, so that in all their interactions with GHMI, they will give us the most vital gift; Christ’s image.

In Christ Jesus.

 Post-Author is Donna Onjala a Christian Freelance Content Writer

Graduating to a Better Life

Many things have taken place in the home, and one of the things that stood out most for us is the revelation behind the upper-class graduations. It was an epistle written to us on what to expect as we walking trust towards God. As we look at the graduates, we are reminded of the level we all look forward to attaining even in terms of our spiritual work. We couldn’t help but look back at how far we have come. We remember the ascension up the ladder since the initiation of GHMI.

Further interactions with the graduates gave even more profound revelations. Isaiah 50:7 says “For the Lord God will help me; therefore, I will not be disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.” The graduates admitted how challenging the journey had been. While we did our best to make the experience as seamless as possible for them, we could only do as much as our resources enabled us, courtesy of the help from our volunteers and supporters. While it wasn’t easy to get to the end of the upper-class phase, they found encouragement in the greater opportunities that lay ahead once they completed this level. Every day was a step closer to the dreams and ambitions they have desired to attain.

There have been some dark seasons for different individuals at GHMI, and such milestones were a letter of hope in the midst of uncertainty and pain. Looking at the happy faces of the graduates reminds us of just how God is able to bring a beautiful ending to a tragic situation. They are nothing similar to what they were when they joined us. Despite their painful life stories, the Lord has given them a reason to rejoice in the end.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Our graduates are the epitome of a race well ran and they testify of the truth in Hebrews 12:1-2 above. They have endured every inconvenience and challenge that would have barred them from getting to this point. In the same manner, they are an encouragement not only to the younger ones but also to us who are needing to apply this scripture in different spheres of life.

We, the entire team and staff at GHMI.org rejoice that we are enabled to be acting as a “foster parent” to the children. We have our supplies because God never fails to supply our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. You, our partners and donors are an integral part of the supply in Christ Jesus and therefore, we are so grateful to God for His gift of His Son. We are rejoicing in the blessing each generous action in faith your support has provided Give Hope Ministries International since it started over 10 years ago. As we share in our actions to observe the times in the children’s journey by the side of our Lord to learning to be “overcomers”, breaking the cycle of poverty in their lives and bringing this forward to others as living testimonies, we give thanks for the Love of the Holy Father and the gift of the Holy Spirit so we ourselves are not left Orphans as Jesus stated.

We are humbled and grateful. Join us in giving Glory to God for his indescribable gift, in Christ Jesus, birth, and life on earth as Emanuel. Suffering for us, walking in the same challenges we face daily and showing us that HE calms every storm for us. May each of you be as blessed as you are being fully accepted in the beloved.

In Christ Jesus.

 Post-Author is Donna Onjala a Christian Freelance Content Writer

Perpetual Gratitude

Psalm 9:1 tells us_ “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” In this article, we chose to reminisce of the new developments we have experienced so far. This and many more articles on our page are our way of expressing our gratitude to God by expressing His wonderful deeds in our lives. Recently at the home, there have been a number of exciting developments. Some of these include upper-class graduations, the purchase of a new school bus, and that acquisition of a designated housing for the orphan girls. They have been able to live beyond the ordinary limitations of most orphans around the globe and enjoy privileges that others would term as a luxury to others like them. All this would never have been possible without the mercy of God that created a bridge for us. The children have been excited with the new developments and have truly seen the hand of God at work for their advantage.

In addition to the other structures we have in place like the households within the home, the recent developments make it all the more vivid to the children that God can enable them to live beyond the circumstances in which they have found themselves. Being members of the GHMI every addition of amenities is counted as an increase to every child. They have embraced this community as family, and just like every child in a normal family set up would feel the need to identify with their parents’ belongings, the children identify with every blessing and progress. They are able to look at amenities like the school bus and recognize it as “our” bus.

We are grateful to God that in addition to ability to cater to the physical well-being of the children, we have also been able to give them an understanding of how the kingdom of God works. They are experiencing the life of sonship through the sense of belonging and family they have at the home. The foster parents have gone above and beyond to enact the Trinity in the best way possible.

Other progresses like the upper-class graduations have given us more reason to express our gratitude to God. All the hard work and discipline that the children put in pays off with a promotion and we are sure to appreciate them in the best way possible. All the recent developments mentioned are just some of the many reasons to thank God. They are our crowning glory that covers all the disappointments and challenges that have come with growing the orphanage to where it is today.

Our desire is that we develop perpetual gratitude that supersedes all the blessings we have experienced. The children have been taught to gratify God in and out of season and the great milestones we are experiencing as the GHMI family are fuel to keep thanking God for the far we have come. Most of all, we are thankful to God who continuously answers the prayers and petitions we present to him even in accordance with Philippians 4:6.

We, the entire team and staff at GHMI rejoice that we are enabled to be acting as a “foster parent” to the children. We have our supplies because God never fails to supply our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. You, our partners and donors are an integral part of the supply in Christ Jesus and therefore, we are so grateful to God for His gift of His Son. We are rejoicing in the blessing each generous action in faith your support has provided Give Hope Ministries International since it started 10 years ago. As we share in our actions to observe the times in the children’s journey by the side of our Lord to learning to be “overcomers”, breaking the cycle of poverty in their lives and bringing this forward to others as living testimonies, we give thanks for the Love of the Holy Father and the gift of the Holy Spirit so we ourselves are not left Orphans as Jesus stated.

We are humbled and grateful. Join us in giving Glory to God for his indescribable gift, in Christ Jesus, birth, and life on earth as Emanuel. Suffering for us, walking in the same challenges we face daily and showing us that HE calms every storm for us. May each of you be as blessed as you are being fully accepted in the beloved.

In Christ Jesus.

 Post-Author is Donna Onjala a Christian Freelance Content Writer