Many of you know the story of how during one of the  pastor’s conferences in Jimani,  we found ourselves short of translators.  A very kind Christian man from Puerto Rico showed up, and offered to help translate.  He was retired from the Pepsi Coal company and lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but often traveled looking for people to help in Jesus’ name.  The first day he told us he could only stay one day, but the next morning he returned, and said he could be with us for “one more day.”  As it worked out, Lazaro Rolon stayed with us the whole week, and he has proved to be one of God’s angels.  Later we met his wife Elizabeth, a registered nurse, and she came down to help us in other projects.  Lazaro and Elizabeth were the first ones to call our attention to the orphanage that had been started by Pastor Miguel Olivas and his wife Sylvia.  Phil Ogle and I went to visit, and our hearts were broken by what we found.  At that time, about twenty-five children were sleeping in the back of a small church on a total of three bunk beds.  Many of the children were sleeping on the hard concrete floor.  We gave what money we had with us to buy some beds and mattresses, and with that, the Lord called us to take care of this orphanage.  Many organizations and individuals have given to help, but Radio Bible Hour was honored to commit to providing the monthly expenses to buy food and supplies, pay the salaries, and eventually to provide an automobile for the orphanage. 

        The Jimani Project has undertaken to build a new orphanage building on the Jimani Project site.  Lazaro and Elizabeth travel regularly to the orphanage, and Elizabeth has helped set up a nutritional feeding program, and helps in the food purchases each month, as well as monitoring the health of the children. Lazaro helps with the business management to make sure the funds are used well.

        The most important thing about this orphanage, which now cares for about forty children, is that it was God’s project, and we just came along to help.  We do not own or control the orphanage; the pastor and his wife that God called to start the orphanage are the ones who manage it.  We just help financially.  But what a blessing it is to send the money each month, and to travel down to Jimani and see those kids growing in health and strength.  More importantly, they are being raised in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and each child is being raised under the preaching of the Gospel.  These children represent the future hope of their countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  (About half the children are Haitian and about half are Dominican.) 

            April 1, 2008 -  Update -  We recently added eight new children to our orphanage, and their pictures are shown below.  These children were given new clothing, a bed, and food in their little tummies.  The need for a Christian orphanage is so great, and we are thrilled the Lord has provided a way for us to help these little ones.  As of this date we are happy to report that nine children have been reunited with parents or other immediate family members, and they no longer need to live at the orphanage.  In case you are keeping up with our children, Christopher, Elina, Frandy, Kenia, Luis, Mario, Robertina, Elena and Yesnar have all left the orphanage.  One of our children, Moises, dislocated his left elbow after falling from the monkey bars in a park where they were playing.  He was taken to the doctor where he was treated and his arm put into a cast, which he will need to wear for about a month.  Also, one of our girls, Cinthia, has been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, and is being treated for this condition.  We will keep you updated as we hear more news regarding our Jimani children.