Mother's Day Cards to Benefit Delivering Hope Project

What is Delivering Hope? Delivering Hope is dedicated to helping reduce the number of infant and maternal deaths in Liberia by giving them the tools they need for a clean delivery along with
educating them on the importance of delivering babies in a clean environment. We will
also be providing prenatal vitamins, plus teaching them the importance of taking these
throughout their pregnancy to help supplement where their diets are lacking.

We believe that every baby needs their mother, and every mother needs their baby!

And now you can help! Buy your mother's day card from Global Orphan Outreach- Delivering Hope and the proceeds of this card will go to help save a mother and child's life in Liberia by providing a birthing kit. The cost-$10.00

Call us or email us today- Mother's Day is coming soon.

Unlike most African countries which are improving maternal health, in Liberia maternal
mortality is actually on the rise. Liberia is a country where the basics of life are almost
non-existent, especially in the outlying villages like the Kpeletayama Village. Most of these
women do not have access to even the most basic health services, due to location and lack of
money. The majority of women in Liberia deliver their babies at home with the help of a
local “midwife” who has had no official training. By providing these women with a birthing kit
and some simple instructions, they will be able to have a clean delivery which will greatly
help reduce the occurrence of infection in both the mother and baby, along with reducing
the incidence of tetanus. Just by providing a plastic sheet for them to lay on for delivery,
rubber gloves, clean razor blade and ties for the umbilical cord, soap, and antibacterial gel
we can greatly improve the chance at life for the mother and baby.

Liberia is 2nd highest in the world for maternal deaths, and
50% of the infants born die of either infection or tetanus
from not having access to a clean delivery. By providing
these women with a birthing kit that costs under 10 dollars,
we can help reduce the infant and maternal mortality rate in Liberia.

My voice - Their reality

by Christina Barlow-Hoffman on Friday, April 22, 2011 at 3:31pm

I am not one that likes to write, I'm just not good at it. I have a hard time finding the right words to get my point across. BUT, I have something to say and have been tired of not saying it.

Being the director of the Forget-Me-Not Children s Program, has really stretched me! If you know anything about me, you know I love each one of those kids, but I hate speaking in public! Well, in a position like mine, you can't sit idle and not speak out on behalf of these children. I try so hard to advocate for these precious ones, be their voice when they have none. Why do I always feel that I am trying to convince others of these kids true reality?? The reality is this...'special needs' kids in Liberia are being rejected everyday, from a society that places little value on them! They do die, they are killed, and so many times abandoned, just because of their special need. When I speak to individuals or groups, advocating our program for our kids, I am THEIR voice. Why must I feel that I have to convince you of what I already see and hear? Why must I feel I have to sell a product to you to 'entice' the 'deal.' I'm not selling a product, but I certainly feel like I have to be a salesman sometimes!

Is it that we Americans are so complacent, so desensitized that if it's not physically in front of us, if it doesn't directly impact our world, we can't see it? If any one of these precious children were yours, you would do anything to give them the best life possible! Well, that's where I'm at right now! I do have 6 beautiful children and a fantastic supportive husband that are such an amazing blessing to me! I also am in love with my Lord and so thankful for the gifts and the blessings that he provides daily to me and the FMN program. He constantly reminds me to "speak the words for the children, and leave it up to their hearts to see it." That is truly tough...especially when we have witnessed so many children dying. I consider every single FMN child precious! I do love them!! I grieve when something happens to one of them. I do get frustrated and angry when people don't 'get it.' When we are advocating on behalf of the FMN kids, and feel dismissed, it is like that person just dismissed a hurting child. Please understand, I know there are so many others out there that feel like I do, especially those directly involved in ministry. I am so grateful to our regular sponsors who have never met a FMN child, but give from their heart, to an 'unseen' situation. They bless this program in so many ways, but mostly bless a child. I love all of you who listen to me, and know me, and know my heart. This program is working because God continues to bless it, regardless of what I do. I truly am nothing without HIM!

So, when we feel knocked down, doors shut...we wipe off our knees and keep moving forward, keep being a voice for some precious kids, because that's what God wants from us. Obedience. I will stop when He tells me I'm done.

Amazing Love

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing Love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As Grace flows down and covers me

Happy Easter!

where does your water come from?

Did you know?

Did you know?

Did you know that you can sponsor one of our Liberian school children and receive pictures, report cards and have contact with them through writing letters?

Did you know that you can change their life with as little as 25 dollars? If you sponsor a child from Light Stream Academy for 25 dollars, you will enable them to attend the 2011-12 school year?

Did you know that when you sponsor a child, not only are you giving them a year of education but you are giving them HOPE. JOY. PEACE IN THE FACT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

Did you know that when you sponsor a child YOU will be blessed, you will feel joy and peace and begin a journey of hope alongside them?

Did you know that our Liberian kids love it when another child their age writes letters to them? Yes, even kids can sponsor kids!

Take a peek at some children on our SPONSOR A CHILD page. Pick a child that you can sponsor, email me and start getting pictures, report cards and information! Sponsor a child, your child, today!

*$25.00 covers cost of tuition only at Light Stream Academy* Liberia

Twins Sponsored

Stephen is our program director in Liberia for our Liberian Literacy Program. He had a recent tragedy in his family. Stephen's sister has died while giving birth to her beautiful twin children. She delivered a baby boy and a baby girl. This is their picture at one week old. Left, baby girl and Right, baby boy.

The babies were taken to an orphanage. This orphanage is overcrowded with too many children and it is not a place where these babies can grow and be healthy. We have asked Stephen to go get the children. They will need food and necessities to take care of them in their foster placement. Stephen and Rebecca cannot do this alone. They do not have the financial means.

So the exciting update is many families came forward volunteering their hearts and finances to help these babies. A wonderful family has been picked who will be these babies sponsors long term if need be.

Thank you everyone who has prayed and volunteered. We will keep you posted on how they are doing.

Just 25 Cents

You might be wondering why I would post about Vegas. This past week I was in Vegas, Nevada to promote the work of Global Orphan Outreach. I have never been to Vegas up to this point and admit that when I got here it was like stepping into Oz. (were not in Kansas anymore Toto). Especially since I was just in Liberia. I felt uncomfortable around such vast financial (some call it wealth and I would call it wastefulness) resources.

The huge difference between buildings and needs here vs there…

The differences between the hotel I stayed at in Liberia vs the one I stayed at in Vegas..



Yes there are now some very fancy hotels going up in Liberia marketing to tourist. Yes Liberia has wealth in some areas too. You will notice when traveling in Liberia several fancy hotels going up especially along the ocean. Please know I do not speak out against these establishments. They are great hotels. Just noticing the vast difference between unmet needs of Liberia for example and the vast abundance and over use of wealth that could be better used elsewhere in my opinion.

I didn’t leave Vegas on the day I was supposed to so stayed at a hotel. That night as I waited for my dinner order, I watched the people coming and going into the casinos. I wondered what brought them here, why spend their money on gambling, and what would they have left when they were done. What would they have to show for it?

I don’t judge people’s entertainment method and certainly I feel blessed to be born in America. I don’t believe in financial equality for all like a Liberal voter might. However, couldn’t there be more balance in how we view what we do have? Could you imagine what could be done with every quarter being stuck into a slot machine vs being given to a child in need of a meal?

It’s time we all evaluate what we have and what we do. How effective are you in the humanities of this world? Do you want to be effective? Do you care? Time – Talent – Treasure… what will you do with what you have? It starts with just 25 cents! The power of humanity!!

This is Michael Brown who played for the Chicago Bulls. He now runs a non-profit for inner city youth who are in gangs. Michael teaches these kids that the gang violence they are involved in is no different than the genocide involved in Liberia during the war that the youth were involved in during the Liberian wars. He actually takes a few kids each year to Liberia to meet some of these child soldiers who have been mentored and changed. These kids learn much from the kids (who are now adults) about the senselessness of their ways. And these kids come back changed and spread the word to help stop the violence in their communities in Chicago. What an awesome man and awesome work.

One last picture- You would think this would be me in the jungles of Africa. Not so. Haha. This was me by a guy dressed tribal to promote the Lion King Theater performance.