Blog

Rebecca Pratt, the co-founder of Orphan Relief and Rescue, is thrilled to announce the release of her new book “Inspired to Action". While reading, you will join Rebecca on her journey though Africa, Central America, and the United States. You will be swept into the lives of the hurting and suffering around the world. You’ll experience the redemptive power of Christ through the stories of Rebecca and others choosing to be Jesus’ hands and feet.

The end of the year is always a busy time for Orphan Relief and Rescue. We ended 2011 with lots of Christmas festivities-- over 350 Christmas bundles were ordered—and we are carrying on the celebration and delieveries into 2012. Construction is almost finished on the security fence at the Francis Gaskin orphanage; new latrines are scheduled to be going in at Rock of Divine Healing orphanage, and the kids at Danny Feeney are going strong in the Child Development Program. Overall, the kids are healthy and happy. 

On December 15th, we had an unexpected gift from a local radio station and their listeners here in Seattle. 820 AM KGNW hosted a giving campaign to fund some much-needed flushing outdoor toilets for a Liberian orphanage and daily operating expenses for our Benin orphanage. We were so blessed by the heart and compassion of the radio host Doug Bursch and the generosity of the listening audience. Below is Doug’s letter of thanks to all of you who participated in this campaign.

Dear friend in ministry,

Christmas bundle deliveries are in full swing in Liberia. We have already delivered 125 fun-and-love-filled bundles to children in two orphanages. Thanks to the amazing response of bundle donators we still have a long way to go—352 have been donated so far!

Christmas is only a few weeks away and preparations for Christmas bundle delivery are in full swing in Liberia. It only costs $25 to provide a special Christmas delivery for a child this season. Please donate a bundle (or two) today!

If you need help getting into the Christmas spirit, watch this video from last Christmas!

Since we started, Orphan Relief and Rescue has been committed to improving the health and well being of the orphans that we care for. In the past we have dug wells for clean water and built latrines that have greatly improved sanitary conditions in our orphanages. Sadly there are still many orphanages that lack these basic facilities. This year we have a number of latrine projects that we want to do. We are committed to making sure that the latrines we build or renovate are used properly and well cared for.

Christmas is such a special time of year for so many of us. I am reminded of special family traditions like driving around our home town after Christmas Eve service and looking at all of the lights on houses, or waiting on Christmas morning for my parents to wake up so my brother and I could tear into our presents. Like many of us, the focus of most of my Christmas memories is around my family.

As the rainy season draws to a close and the sun shines brightly everyday, it can only mean one thing in Liberia: construction is on! The first construction project that Orphan Relief and Rescue is tackling this year is a security fence at the Frances Gaskin Orphanage. It has only been a week since the latest round of elections, and even though they have declared a winner, things are still very tense. The need for security for the children has never been more crucial.