This month, August 2021, was the two-year anniversary of the charter of Safely Home Children’s Ministries.  Back in April we got the disappointing news that our house wouldn’t meet the code for a children’s home.  We had to put our plans for a children’s home in Tennessee on hold indefinitely, maybe forever. 

I immediately thought about the orphanage in Panama because I had wanted to do something to help them for—well—almost two years.  During the pandemic their pleas for help became a little more urgent.  My board and I agreed that an orphanage assistance ministry would be completely in keeping with the vision of Safely Home.  Fast forward to June and I was on a short survey trip to meet the new director and assess the situation at the orphanage.  Assessing the situation involved everything from conversing with the new director and his wife, to spending time with the kids, to observing what they had for food in the house, to sneaking in the mud room to check out how worn the soles of their shoes were.

In June we were able to donate $1,000 from Safely Home Children’s Ministries to the Home of Beloved Children in Panama.  In July, I personally started sponsoring one of the older teenage girls for her high school tuition because she has to go to a special school.  In August, we were able to donate $300 on behalf of Safely Home, and in September we will be able to donate at least $400 on behalf of Safely Home.  Not only that, but we are making a commitment to the orphanage to send them at least $400 per month from now on.  This money will be designated to buy extra food for the children and to give all of the house mothers a small raise.  I’m sure it will be a relief to them, and we appreciate all of our donors who have made this possible.

I just wanted to make it clear to anyone visiting our website that we are NOT raising support for a children’s home in Tennessee.  We ARE raising support for an orphanage assistance ministry.