What a fellowship! What a joy divine...

Mama Elsie spending time with the Home  of Grace Kids

HOG Kids' Excel in School

Naomi receiving prize for coming first in her class

A good number of our kids came out in flying colours in their just concluded  3^rd term promotional exams and smiled home with numerous prizes to the glory of God. Naomi came first in her class, KG2. Yakubu, Dan-Asabe and Jacinta came second in their respective classes. Michael was the most outstanding student in mathematics (jss3) while Daniel was the overall best in his class (jss3). Three of our Kids are currently sitting for their junior West African Examination council examination. We covet and seek for prayers. The HOG in Niger Republic and Samunaka, Niger state are still in need of support.

Jecinta receiving prize for coming second in her class

Growing kids: The Future of the Church

Growing kids: The Future of the Church

Extending God's Grace to Vulnerable Kids

May 2015 Update - Orphans & Vulnerable Kids - Home of Grace (HOG)

14 of our kids have returned back to school. They are improving in both character and learning. We have two more kids from the devastated Boko Haram North Eastern States who are missionary kids. More missionaries endangering their lives in that region are pleading with us to send their children to join the Home of Grace (HOG). 

We are still waiting for improvements in our finances in order to enable us give them a go ahead. Ayuba has registered and commenced his MSc. Economics. Rachael, Mary and Salisu Chiroma have resumed studies at Federal College of Education Pankshin. 

Priscilla is currently sitting for her WASC examination. Six of our children in the HOG had a pass mark in their Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in preparation for their entry into the university. We have the need for school fees, food stuffs and basic toiletries like soap, body cream, tooth paste etc.

The Agony of a Vulnerable Girl & The Ultimate Divine Intervention

By Angela Velez  as told to Jane Bianchi

I’ve never met my dad, and until last year, I lived with my mom in a small apartment in New York City, where she wouldn’t let me see my older sisters, who lived on their own nearby -- or even go on the Internet. My mom forced me to sit there with her all day, but whenever I tried to talk to her, she’d just stare at the TV and say, “I’m too tired to talk.” My friends’ moms weren’t like that -- they talked to their kids -- so I knew something wasn’t right. I felt so isolated and sad.

As the years went on, life at home got worse. If I forgot to do something, like the dishes, my mom would curse at me in Spanish. Her bad attitude wore me down. So finally, one day in middle school, I got so fed up that I yelled back: “You don’t care about me!” As soon as the words came out, my mom started hitting me, and even though I asked her to stop, she just said, “Shut up! I'm not hurting you.” I felt a sharp pain in my leg, though, and when I looked down, there were cuts from where her nails had dug into my skin. I couldn’t believe my own mother could be so cruel.

Still, I never told anyone -- mostly because I was terrified of her. But last year, when I was hanging at a friend's on a Friday night, her mom saw I was upset and asked what was wrong. That’s when everything I was going through just came pouring out.

My friend's mom was so troubled by what she heard that she called Child Protective Services (CPS), a governmental organization that helps kids who are being abused or neglected. CPS deemed my mom unfit to be a parent and put me in a group home. I was thankful to be free from my mom, but I also felt scared and alone, like a misfit nobody wanted.

In the group home, I learned about foster care. Foster parents are people who become certified to temporarily care for kids who need a home. Sometimes foster care kids go back to their birth parents, sometimes they get adopted, and sometimes they stay in foster care until they can live on their own.

After I found out that I was going to foster care, part of me was relieved, but part of me thought, “What’s going to happen to me now?” I wasn't sure if foster care would be better -- or worse.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

My first foster care experience was definitely worse, or at least just as bad. When I walked in, the house smelled, and even though I brought eight bags full of clothes and books with me, nothing made it feel like home. The woman who answered the door didn’t hug me and barely talked. I felt trapped all over again.

Luckily, though, I got to leave within a few days, and walking into my second foster care home was a much different experience. These foster parents, Sandra and Henry, put their arms on my shoulders in a gentle way to show me that they cared. They then let me settle into my bedroom, and -- when I was ready -- cooked me dinner. 
Now, about nine months later, Sandra and Henry are the parents I always wanted. They allow me to see my sisters, let me use the Internet, and help me with homework -- things my mom never did. And on my 17th birthday, Sandra took me out to a nice dinner. Believe it or not, no one had ever celebrated my birthday before. For the first time in my whole life, I felt happy.

HELPING HANDS

Once I started living with Sandra and Henry, CPS hooked me up with a therapist. It’s helpful to discuss my problems, and she always boosts my confidence. She’ll say, “Dude, you're awesome.” After growing up around so much negativity, it feels great to be around positive people!

I’ve also been spending a lot more time with my best friend, Eric. He's like my brother. When I’m feeling down, he’ll say, “Ang, c’mon. You can do this.”

And you know, with all this support behind me, I’ve been thinking a lot about what “family” really means. A lot of people think it means a biological mom, dad, and siblings. But to me, family means people who love me and help me. It doesn’t matter if you’re blood-related; family can be anyone. When I look at my foster parents, I see that my life is finally moving in the right direction -- and that makes me smile.

One thing Sandra, Henry, and my sisters do now is ask me how I'm doing. Nobody had ever asked me that before! It’s such a simple question, but it feels so good when someone is concerned enough to ask. It has inspired me to ask other kids at school how they’re doing.

Because if there's one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can't just say that you care, you have to prove it -- and show that you care.

3 THINGS ANGELA WILL WANT YOU TO KNOW

1. Never give up. No matter what you’re going through -- even when you think you’re at your lowest point -- things will get better. It’s important to stay optimistic.

2. Don't hate. If you meet kids in foster care, don’t call them names. That’s not cool. Foster kids are the same as any other kids. There’s no reason to knock them down.

3. Speak up. If you or someone you know has a hard home life, don’t suffer in silence. Tell an adult, like a friend’s parent or a school social worker or psychologist. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get help.

CONCLUDING NOTE
God can use you to change the story of someone somewhere. I pray you will be available to help wipe away some tears. It will yield eternal dividend. There are many Angelas across the nations and I can hear God say whom shall I send and where are the willing hands to put an end to the pains of the innocent victims of child abuse!

Home of Grace(HOG) Kids Excels in School

Baby Victor

The school year is over and we are grateful to God for helping all the HOG kids through the session. Two of the kids, Jecinta Yakubu and Daniel Daji came first in their classes. Three of them, Jecinta, Blessing and Dauda  passed the common entrance examination to secondary school. 

One, Jonathan Umoru, completed his Junior Secondary School and is warming up for Senior Secondary School. Three of them, Salisu, Mary and Racheal are awaiting admission to higher institution. We have seen progress on all sides, spiritually, physically and mentally. We are grateful to you for helping us to literally transform these kids.

We want to use this medium to register our appreciation to those who partnered with us to put smile on the faces of the kids and to stress again that September is resumption date for most kids. It is not too early to appeal for back-to-school shopping since it is the beginning of a new session. For vulnerable kids around the world, no school supplies means no school. Uneducated kids are more likely to be victimized and struggle to develop communication skills. 

N7500 ($50) can change that.  It can provide them school bag, textbooks and other basic items. At the Home of Grace (HOG), we have prayerfully picked some  vulnerable kids from Unreached People Groups background to change their lives holistically. We made the decision because you are there to partner with us. If you want to extend your love to any of the children, please get back to us. If you wnt to go beyond and even pay the school fees of any of the children, it will be great and you will never go unrewarded! Some of the kids are due to also register for West African Examination Council(WAEC) and National Examination Council(NECO). Please, pray along with us for the required funds.

 For response, contact +2348173322222.

Back to School Season for HOG kids

 N7500 ( $50)  may not mean much to many families especially these days when the value of our currency is dropping very fast. It however can determine the future of one vulnerable kid. September is resumption date for most kids and calls for  back-to-school shopping since it is the beginning of a new session. But for orphans around the world, no school supplies means no school. Uneducated kids are more likely to be victimized and struggle to develop communication skills. 

N7500 ($50) can change that.  It can provide them school bag, textbooks and other basic items. At the Home of Grace (HOG), we have prayerfully picked some orphans and vulnerable kids from Unreached People Groups background to change their lives wholistically. We made the decision because you are there to partner with us. If you want to extend your love to any of the children, please get back to us. If you wnt to go beyond and even pay the school fees of any of the children, it will be great and you will never go unrewarded! For response, contact +2348173322222.

If these kids were yours, you will give them the best...

Many kids are right there on the mission fields waiting for those who care to love them. Will you...?

Elsie Govender Spends Time With the Kids

Ayuba Posted to Gombe, Nigeria

Ayuba Ajikovi

Ayuba Ajikovi, the first graduate from the Home of Grace(HOG), formerly known as Unreached Children home (UCH) has been posted to Gombe state, North East of Nigeria for his National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) service year. He will resume next week.

Join us in giving thanks to God for that concrete progress. Also, we covet your prayers for him for safety as the state is known to be porous for Boko haram activities and for God to use him to impact lives for His Kingdom.

Helping us Cope With the Challenges of Growth at HOG

Racheal Yakubu

When in 1993 we started the Unreached Children Home (UCH) which we now call Home of Grace (HOG), all the kids were really small and all we needed to keep them going were clothing, food and textbooks. Our missionaries sacrificed their little income to meet these basic needs and they did it joyfully. As the kids increased in number, we got partners involved who adopted the kids, pray for them, send monthly support of between N3000 to N3500 to them and some pays the school fees of their adopted kids and provide Christmas gift.

Over the years, some of these kids have really grown. To the glory of God, one of them is now a graduate in Economics and is warming up for his National Youth Service Corps. This coming session alone, four of them sat for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board examination (JAMB) examination.  The results of some

Salisu Chiroma

Mary John

Blessing Iduh

 were withheld. The performances of others were not too impressive. They wept profusely and we have all battled together with the emotional pain of the JAMB disappointment. After much prayer on the way forward, they are all being offered opportunities to pursue the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) IJMB program (equivalence of Advanced level). We are excited about the offer and will not want them to stay longer at home. God’s wiling, if they perform very well. They will be offered direct entry admission next academic session.

The challenge now is coping with the finance needed to move these four young adult forward in life. It is not a fun. Tuition fees for each person will gulp N30,000 ($192). They will need additional fund for feeding, books, hostel, etc. At the end of the day, each of these kids may have gulp N200,000 for one full session. Is it worth it? I think it is! How can you help? PRAY! No soldier goes to the battle front at his expense. Join us to confront this challenge of growth on your kneel for resources to come in as soon as possible.

Kamberi Missions Field Kids' Building Collapsed

Collapsed Building Housing several kids
~ Photograph by Sunday Musa

Sad news?  Not really! The building housing several kids at the Kamberi mission field collapsed last night. It would have being another horror but for divine intervention. The building collapsed in the middle on the night following terrific storm on the kids. The missionary on the field, Sunday Musa  who sent in the report was also lying down beside the collapsed building when the incidence took place.

The good news is that none of the kids sustained even the slightest injury. How did that happen? It was

Grace Foundation's Children on Kamberi Mission Field
whom the building collapsed on.

angelic intervention and it’s beyond description. To God be the glory! Thank you for your consistent prayers for us! They really help.

The two bedroom flat we are putting up at the field will readily help if God provide the N220,000 to roof the place and also fund to fix the windows and doors as well as plaster and floor it. In the interim, the kids may have to move into the church pending a miracle. Pray that God will turn away the mosquitoes from their direction until He provides the needed miracle.

Have You Prayed for an Orphan Today?

There are orphans and yet there are orphans.

At the Home of Grace(HOG), orphans, vulnerable and other kids are encouraged to pray for less privileged orphans. 

Can you please join us in praying for orphans in Iraq today?


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Pure Religion ~ Helping Orphans & Vulnerable Kids

God's Word declares, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). And Jesus Himself promises, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).

As a partner of this ministry, you are making a difference every day of the year in the lives of hurting people. When you give to this ministry, we see that your gift goes to our children's homes, church plantings, feeding programs, training facilities, and spreading the Gospel to the world. 

2014 Adoption Status ~ Names of Kids & Those Who Adopted Them

1.  Jonathan  Umaru~ Agatha Ani 

      2.  Priscilla John ~ Juliet Lukas
3.  David Maisomari ~ Edafe Oghenerobor
4.   Daniel Daji ~Agatha Ani
5.   Blessing Garuba ~ Chuka Anude's Family
6.   Jacinta Yakubu ~ Elizabeth Edime & Daniella Umo
7.   Comfort Boubacar  ~ Vivian Aboki
8.   Precious Yakubu ~ Juliet Lukas
9.    Victor Michael ~ Juliet Lukas
10.  Ishaya Yakubu ~ Assembly Redeemed Holiness Bible Church
11.   Ayuba Ajikovi ~ Nil
12.    Salisu Chiroma ~ Nil
13.   Blesing Iduh ~ Nil
14 . Mary John ~ Nil
15.   Rachel Yakubu ~ Nil
16.   Michael Vincent~ Barnabas Omali
17.   Sarah Ali ~ Barnabas Omali
   Yakubu Abel ~ Nil

NB:

We have 18 more kids on Kamberi field, Nigeria under the care of the field leader and his wife and 12 others in Niger Republic under the care of Emmanuel & Blessing Boubacar(Some are home based care). They also covet prayers and financial support for needs such as foodstuff, mattresses, text books, etc.

We are earnestly grateful to God for those who send in support periodically and those were adopting one child or the other before now but for some reasons are no longer able to continue. We are particularly grateful to RoseMary Aremu, Abigail Yero, Florence Okojie, Deji Adesanya & others who may not want their name in print. 

Another Opportunity for Investment that has Eternal Value

Season greetings and thanks for standing by us throughout this year. 

One of our multidimensional mission work among the Unreached People is our care for 17 selected orphans and vulnerable kids from mostly chronic Unreached people background.

Part of your support in the past have gone towards funding these kids and we are eternally grateful to you. One of them graduated this year and four are due to register for WAEC/NECO and JAMB exam. The school fees and WAEC & NECO exam (Excluding JAMB) is N52,000 for each person. 

The pressure is heavy on the ministry especially that we are really struggling to meet up with the need for upkeep allowance of our missionaries labouring in jungles where they cannot raise personal support and foodstuff for the kids. 

We have prayed about this need but also want to share it with you. We know you have done so much in the past but because of the urgency of the exam fees in particular, we are compelled to make this special appeal to you. 

We will be glad if you can be of help as God blesses you. Thank you in advance for helping to put smiles on the faces of the special kids. We consider it as another opportunity for investment that has eternal value. Please, help strengthen our hands in this capital-intensive dimension of ministry.

Another Story of Hope for the Hopeless

Ayuba Ajikovi, standing behind the Kamberi girls

Ayuba Ajikovi was a very young boy when he ran into the Grace Foundation Inland Missions (GFIM) missionaries labouring in the Kamberi jungle in former Kwara State of Nigeria now carved into the present day Niger State in a village not too far from Benin Republic. The gospel was presented to him in its simplest form and he quickly invited Christ into his life. His life changed completely and he turned his back against every bad thing he used to do. He began to attend discipleship class and learn how to read and write.

His family, especially his elder brother who stood as his father was enraged. He could not understand why Ayuba could turn his back against the gods of his ancestors. He was persecuted very badly and driven away from their family house.  The missionaries took him in. For them it was opportunity to thoroughly impact his life with the knowledge of Jesus.

He was enrolled in the GFIM primary school on the Kamberi field, in two years, he completed his primary school. Moved into the headquarers on GFIM and enrolled in High School. He came out with flying colours and was admitted to University of Jos to pursue a degree in Economics. Today, Ayuba has not only graduated from the Unversity but he love the Lord and he is making tremendous input in the preaching of the gospel.

This story can not be completed without the mention of those who partnered with GFIM to pray and provide financial resources for him to go through his studies. Ayuba is grateful and recognised that without you, he would have wasted away in Kamberi land, one of the darkest places of the earth when GFIM first penetrated the land in 1989. We join him to pray that God richly bless all of you. 

From Grass to Grace: The Pictorial Story of Baby Blessing

Picked when she was six months old and was about to be
buried alive with her mother. At this time, we have nurtured
 her for six months. So she is one year old as at the time
 she took this picture.

3 and half years

4 Years old

One year eight months

She is 11years old here.