a different Christmas

Monica

Lerato

Merry Christmas!

Below is a journal entry from Lois Niehoff. It is worth reading if you did not see it on their blog. She pretty well paints a picture of the facts around these girls. I couldn't say it any better. There isn't a day that goes by here that I do not shed tears because of the living conditions and situations of many orphaned children here. Our ability to help is so limited in relationship to the need and it is so valuable to those on the receiving end. The field staff here are taking Jesus Christ to these children in a very practical way that has an eternal affect on them. Thanks for your prayers and support! (B0b)

{This post was written the day Amber and I picked up Lerato and Monica from the social worker's office-December 20}

Today is a day that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Today is the day that the first 2 girls came to live at Restoring Hope Village. A day that we, the staff at Restoring Hope Village, have been eagerly anticipating for a while now. We have known about these girls and their situations for more then a month now and have been praying for them. Praying for their safety, for their family or lack of family situation and for their understanding of what is about to come.

Today is a day that these two girls will also not forget anytime soon but with time we pray their hearts will heal and their lives will be mended.

Today is a day that will forever change our lives. Each time God gives us a new child to care for, to love and to help mold them into His likeness, is a life changing day.

Now let me clarify a few details. Restoring Hope Village's first house is nearing completion, but not yet finished. A local social worker, that we work closely with, asked us to do her a favor. To consider taking these 2 girls into our own home while The Village is being completed. After much prayer and guidance from our local trustees the O'Tool family (our co-workers) felt the Lord directing them in this direction. We also desired to take these girls into our own home, but we knew with our upcoming move, having family currently living with us and once we move into our new house at The Village we wouldn't have a proper bedroom for them, we also knew it would be best for the girls to live with the O'Tools.

We have pretty much been on-call for these girls since December 8th but today was the day-December 20th. Their family situation is still a bit fuzzy to us, as the details aren't totally clear. Lerato is 10 years old and Monica is 6. They are cousins and have both been living with their Uncle since both of their mothers died. They have been living in a house full of men, with no mother figure and no one really caring for them. Neighbors report that the girls run in the streets all day and often don't even sleep in their Uncle's home at night.

Today is the day that their entire world got turned upside down again. Their Uncle brought them into see the social worker and that is when they found out that they were not returning with their Uncle to the township. Today they left everything that is familiar and what they call home.

Over the past 4 years of living in Welkom and caring for orphaned and vulnerable children it has become apparent to me how much family means to these children. It doesn't matter if it is an uncle, auntie, cousin, granny and often it isn't even a close blood relative but these children desperately hang onto these family members. It doesn't matter to them if they aren't fed, clothed, or loved by these so called family members. Love doesn't even enter these children's minds, only survival. These children don't even know what love is nor do they know how to accept it. Love is a foreign concept to them. The lasting comment from the social worker today "These children don't even know the love of a mother's heart."

Today Amber and I held 2 screaming, kicking, fighting little girls that in reality didn't know how to act differently. They were most likely acting out of fear. Fear of being ripped out of their Uncle's care, fear of these two white ladies holding them and fear of the unknown.

You may be asking yourself, so why did these 2 girls have to leave their uncle? I asked myself that many times in the short timespan of 30 minutes which seemed more like an eternity. Could their uncle be that bad? YES. The girls are filthy from not being washed properly, their shoes are too small, their clothes have holes and even though these are all materialistic things we know he hasn't been caring for their needs. They are small in size for their age, the uncle drinks way too much, and the only reason he desires to keep them is for the small foster grant he receives from the government for caring for them.

Even though today and most likely tomorrow and all this week will seem rather foreign to them and bewildering, we pray that Lerato and Monica will settle into their home comfortably. We pray they will be able to understand what love is and how to accept it. Most of all, we pray for their spiritual life-that they will come to understand and know that their Heavenly Father loves them more then we love them.

We ask that you also pray for Lerato and Monica.

Prior to their arrival we picked out clothes, shoes, school bags and Christmas presents for the girls. They arrived at The O'Tool's house with Christmas presents under the tree for them. I'm sure that is also another first of many firsts to come their way.

Life in SA

Several miscellaneous items in todays blog...check it out.
Work on Brian and Lois's home is going well. Their home and the first children's home are being built at Restoring Hope Village.
The carpet arrives! Three guys riding in the back and two up front, this little pickup was loaded to the hilt with guys, tools and carpet. It took all day for them to install four rooms of carpet. A job that would take 3 hours in the US.
Larato and Monica (the first 2 RH village girls) playing in the dirt with peach pits and stones. They had a real nice game going on until I walked up with the camera. I think they are a bit shy because they moved to a different location and continued playing. Grandpa Bob got the message and left them alone!
Yep, swimming 2 days before Christmas! The water was refreshingly cool and quite nice. Notice there are no girls in the pool...whimps!

Restoring Hope Village receives the first 2 children!

Lerato, age 10, and Monica, age 6 are cousins and both girls' mothers passed away this year. For the last few months they have been staying with an uncle in a situation that has been less than ideal. There are 6 other men living in the house with

no women, although to this point it seems that nothing terrible has happened. He has been trying to keep them only for the small grant he receives each month for foster care.

At The Village our first house is nearing completion. Many man-hours have been invested and we are almost ready. Since things aren't fully completed the two girls will be staying with the O'Tools until the house is finished. In the meantime we continue to make arrangements for their full-time care. Dunamis Christian School is holding a place for them, and we have several leads for housemothers. Lois and Amber have sorted clothes, found backpacks and school supplies, and prepared Christmas gifts for the girls.

Soon Lerato and Monica will be experiencing the same outpouring of love we have experienced over the past year during the establishment of Restoring Hope Village. It is through your faithful prayers and support that this day is possible. These two girls, along with many others will soon be shown of the love that God has given us. We are privileged to be the hands and feet of Christ, and your representatives to those who so desperately need Him.

Your partnership in ministry is essential. Many of you have already joined us in the work. Here are some ways you can continue to partner with Restoring Hope:

Continue to pray for the ministry here. Pray for the children, our church outreach ministry, and ongoing work at The Village.

Consider a 2010 year end donation. As 2010 draws to a close, consider a financial gift to help us finish our goal of $8,000 to ensure we are prepared to care for the children God brings us. We are over halfway there, and hope to reach our goal by the end of the year. You can give on-line at www.restoringhopeint.org or mail your gift to the address below.

Sponsor a Child. We have had several people already sign up for sponsoring a child. To learn more about our sponsorship, contact us at childsponsor@restoringhopeint.org

Join a team. We have several teams and visitors already scheduled for 2011. If you are interested, please contact us at info@restoringhopeint.org

Join us in thanksgiving for God's wonderful provision and blessing throughout this past year.

The Staff at Restoring Hope Village

Brian & Lois Niehoff

Louis & Amber O'Tool

Restoring Hope International

PO Box 372, Ankeny, Iowa 50021 · 515.963.6794

Gift of God--GRANDKIDS

Waiting for food at Ocean Basket...Lindie loves seafood!
Liam had to try on grandma's reading glasses and

daddy's safety glasses.
Liam and Gma made Christmas cookies. Liam just wanted to make stars and men (gingerbread men).

We are not sure what could be more fun than being around our grandchildren. Full of energy from the time they wake up until they go to bed at night, they energize us and are simply fun to be around. They can wear us out in short order. They especially like getting personal play time attention...jumping on grandpa, doing flips, and being carried around. It seems that anytime grandma or grandpa have food they enjoy sitting on our laps...and enjoying whatever is on our plates. It may be the same food they have but they definitely enjoy it more when it comes from our plates. They like our drinks too, even if it is water. We are getting used to the backwash!

The Pines

Some of you are familiar with The Pines children's home. Here is a quick update. The area around The Pines is undergoing a very dramatic change. Every day an estimated 150 people gather to illegally tear down buildings scavenging for anything of value. Within 100 yards of The Pines fence there are illegal gold miners digging up the ballast from the old railroad tracks. Years of rail cars full of ore going over the tracks has left traces of gold in the ballast. These miners are digging and sifting the material and then panning for gold. They then take it to an illegal processing plant in the township. Word is that people are actually living (squatting) in this area. Pray for The Pines staff and children that they would be safe in this drastically changing environment. Their utilities are more than occasionally interrupted due to all of the hand digging going on around them. To us it is actually scary!

On another subject, grandma and grandpa do take time to enjoy the kids occasionally or at every and any opportunity.

Happy Birthday Lois

Saturday we celebrated with Lois as she turned a milestone in her life. You can count the candles on the cake to determine how old (I mean young) she is but it ends in a 0.

For her birthday Brian got her the most adorable little puppy. She (the puppy) is adjusting well and is loved by everyone, even the big dogs.

It is our privilege to celebrate with her and to be here joining temporarily the great work that she and Brian, Louis and Amber are doing.

Happy Birthday Lois!

Snow, beautiful Snow

Yes, we know what snow and cold are like. FYI, it is up to 20 right now so don't feel like we are enjoying wonderful summer weather or anything. Yes it is a bit colder in Iowa but, hey it's always colder in Iowa.

We all enjoyed a wonderful church service yesterday with 25 in attendance. Continue to pray for this baby church. You would not believe the school that we meet in. Nice building but it

has been vandalized repeatedly...no electric anymore...graffiti everywhere...broken glass and windows...broken chairs. Even though school is out for 6 weeks now, the building is not locked up so we need to clean every week before we meet. The floor of the classroom we are using was littered with papers and dirt and other items I won't mention here. The main thing is that we worshipped God and His Word was proclaimed! Amber's classroom for the children is out under the sky.

Work at the property is going well. We don't have too many pictures because we work there and don't think to take pictures. Will try to do better. The walls are painted, doors up and trim being completed this week. It is starting to look livable.

Your prayers are valued regarding the Restoring Hope Village. Yesterday we had a huge storm and part of the concrete fence blew down. We are talking concrete posts that just snapped off! A temporary fence was put up but security is still an issue. Today was one of those days you just wish you could go home once you get to work. Seems like we started out way behind! You know those days.

God is at work

Sorry, I thought this blog had posted on Monday...seems like I am slacking in getting posts out. We have had internet issues...it goes down for a day or two at a time or it can be really slow. Here you go. Another one soon.

Earlier this week Susie helped Lois and Amber host a Christmas party/lunch for the hospice children. They had a blessed time as they ministered to these children.

It is truly amazing how God works out so many details... We experienced that today and in anticipation the first day of services for the first multiracial Bible-believing church in Thabong, an all black township of 250,000. It is amazing how God provided just what we needed as far a location, equipment, people and helpers. Louis preached an awesome message. There were 25 people in attendance, praise God! About half of them were unbelievers.

Construction on the house is going well. The ceiling and walls are painted and trim work begins tomorrow. Brian & Lois are on a much needed holiday until Thursday so work will progress a bit slower without him, we expect.

The zucchini and yellow squash in the garden have come up and the rest of the plants should soon follow. Last week 45 trees were planted on the property and it is obvious they will make a great impact (shade and decor) as they mature. 18 of those trees are fruit trees to provide food and nutrition for the children who will be living at Restoring Hope Village.

Cultural Moment...

Bob & Susan were at a little outdoor breakfast place at a strip mall and a normal looking armored truck drove up along with a small sedan like a Honda Accord. Out came a guy from the car and walked up to the ATM machine about 15 yards from us. He unlocked the secure door of room behind the ATM and then locked himself inside the area to load money into the machine. Next a guy wearing a bullet-proof vest carrying a machine gun (finger on the trigger) jumped out of the armored truck and scoped out the area 100 feet each way of the ATM. He stood a ways off and signaled a third guy who jumped out of the armored truck with the money bag on a hand truck. His hand was firmly on his revolver which was strapped to his chest as he walked up to the ATM and handed over the money bag to the guy behind the secure door. He guarded the ATM for the 10 minutes that they other guy was filling the machine. Brian later told us that the armored truck guys have the most dangerous job in South Africa. People actually knock off these trucks and rob them. I cannot imagine and am glad no one tried while we were there. Everyone went about their business as usual except us "Americans" who rather enjoyed (in retrospect) the diversion.

Have a great week.