January 30 - Why is "Hope" Such a Big Deal?

Whether in the inner city of Omaha, Nebraska or harsh poverty of Africa...HOPE is the big deal.

As we prepare to begin new ministries this year to bring HOPE to Africa, we are inspired by the words of one of our mentors Ty Schenzel (founder of the Hope Center in Omaha, Nebraska) in his new book:

"New ideas come from a hopeful heart. Hope keeps you thinking about the future, a better future. Hope helps you get through difficult times because you “hope” for things to be different in a good way down the road.

Imaginative dreams help a little heart breathe and spread its wings. They build a child’s hope muscles and empower him or her to look forward to the future.

Eventually, kids who have hope can reject choices that could and would probably would lead to painful consequences. Why? Because with hope, you’re willing to deny immediate gratification to exchange for a better future.

Kids who struggle with hopelessness have to have the hope that what they see today is NOT how their future will look. The future has to look a bit brighter in their hearts. I think that’s how God wired not only the hearts of children, but the hears of adults too."

- Ty Schenzel: "A Thousand Screaming Mules" (get the book)

Karl says, "This is so meaningful to me because it sums up everything we seek to accomplish in Africa. Soccer is a tool of hope - kicking a ball, learning a skill and becoming part of a team are all ways we extend hope...not just for an afternoon but for a lifetime!"

January 25 - The Human Swing

A baby boy was abandoned last week at a police station in a near-by town and our organization Baby Safe was called upon to take care of the baby until more permanent arrangements could be made.

Photo to right: Here is Karl, showing a Baby Safe "safety family" (the family who will take care of the baby for several days until he is placed) his best "Daddy Trick" - how to turn a car seat into a human baby swing to sooth a crying infant. Works like magic!

We are excited about our new design for the Baby Safe!

Why do we have Baby Safes?

We have discovered that one of the consequences of the poverty in South Africa is that new born babies are literally being thrown away. Baby Safe was birthed out of the realization that next to nothing was being done to prevent this. We are available to intervene with abandoned infants found anywhere, but we also have an anonymous baby drop called a "baby safe."

What is a Baby Safe?

The Safe provides an opportunity for a mother to leave the baby anonymously, while being assured that proper care will be given to the baby.

Our team of social workers are immediately notified by Voice Call when a baby is left in the Safe and a safety backup system confirms that the infant has been fetched. Read more about Baby Safe...