Christmas Blessing
Christmas Blessing
by Scott Nordstrom
December 12, 2023
Eighteen years ago, we were preparing to deploy our family to Juarez, Mexico, for our very first international mission. We were busy gathering gifts for 20 children that year along with some other supplies for an orphanage located there. It was an exciting time venturing into the unknown with only our faith to guide us!
While we might be larger as a group than eighteen years ago, we also have many commitments that didn’t exist then. We had no ongoing children to support nor were we regularly deploying teams. It was a simpler time, but same mindset endures. Our faith continues to guide us into the unknown.
As you might imagine, we receive a number of requests this time of year for something a little special for the children that we support. Of course, none of these costs are planned for nor budgeted in any way, so we thought we would provide an opportunity for others to participate directly this year -like we did back in 2005! We have requests from five field partners with different types of requests involved outlined as follows.
First, we are working toward a Christmas Blessing for the 44 children at the House of Faith, House of Hope, and the Kalomo Home in Zambia.
The church family at Freedom Fellowship in Highland Ranch has taken the lead on this effort and nearly has this portion of our effort funded.
Each child will receive a gift of some sort, some Christmas goodies, and assorted sweets. Thank you, Freedom Fellowship!
Second, we are planning to include additional food and for other needs in Ethiopia for the children we support at this location. In addition, if Christmas Blessing raises more than is needed, we can bless the additional 20+ children that we do not currently support in Sekota.
Third, we are planning on providing additional food aid in Pakistan, along with much needed clothing for the children served through our Pakistan Orphan Ministry partnership.
Child in Punjab, Pakistan, receiving food.
It is now wintertime in Punjab, and many of these children are without clothes, let alone clothing that is appropriate for the season. This will provide a Christmas Blessing for 100 children that we currently feed each month.
Our other partner in Punjab, Bethel Church of Pakistan, is also in the need of additional food, clothing, and bibles to provide at their Christmas gathering for 15 widow-led households, which will provide a Christmas Blessing to 50 orphan children.
Lastly, you have never seen this request on any Christmas list anywhere I bet, the children at Fortune Learners’ Centre (FLC) in Nairobi are in the need of a laboratory at their school. This will be a Christmas Blessing for the over 150 children that we support as this location.
Can you remember waiting in great expectation for Christmas day as a child? I can, but I cannot relate to waiting or needing something on Christmas day just to survive or to be better equipped for the elements. Though I have been to the field many times, many of the needs of these children remain foreign to me.
I do know that I cannot say ‘no’ to these children and I do not think that many of you can either. Join us for Christmas Blessing this next week and let’s make Christmas special for 378 orphan children as we celebrate the birth of our King!
These requests total $6,000 and you can provide your support via our website per the Donate button at the top right of this page or you can go to Donate and select ‘Christmas Blessing’ under the Fund designation.
Scott with Children at House of Faith in Zambia.
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care. As of October, we impacted 14,510 orphan children in six countries -in Asia (Un-named country), Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zambia within our Home-based Care, Scholarship, Nutrition, and Church Mobilization Initiatives.
Scott Nordstrom who leads GO! today and has done so since our launch in 2005. Scott has been instrumental in deploying 174 volunteers on 29 teams to the mission field, and has personally served in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, South Sudan, and Zambia. Scott is a published author and speaks in the United States, as well as, internationally regarding child welfare and matters of faith, hope, and love.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may also give electronically to support orphan children at Global Orphan Relief.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE