What we do for the children means so much and at times it means life.

Consider water for a moment. It is life giving, it takes relatively little to produce too just some capital, some know how, a truck or two and an engaged community.Look at how it works.

For example look at these results just in, Star of Hope has been part of bringing water to more people. Water is talked about so much in all circles of life because it is also the solution to sanitation and hygiene problems in the developing world. Not only life-giving but life sustaining and improving! Together we have helped make great strides to improve the quality of life for the people of Hesse Haiti.

Before we drilled in Hesse it was common to see a long line at the old pumps. The old pumps were spring fed and gave little water and often ran dry. One would see people waiting at the old spring well with empty buckets in hand, so sad to see the fear that the well would run dry.
In the effort to make drinking water available and abundant in the whole community of Hesse, Star of Hope’s plans were to dig four water wells, the wells were planned and dug in four different areas in Hesse. With no real road infrastructure, it was a great challenge just to get the big trucks to the community. To get the trucks on site, people living in the community contributed with labor and made it possible for the trucks to drive up. They were about one hundred men and women who came with picks and shovels, with big smiles on their faces they worked and they sang and it was a commotion when all the tools hit the rocky ground of the old donkey road. They cleared the way for the big trucks to get in. One collective goal on the people's minds, “find water”.

As some farmers lost their new beans crops to drought, they were very happy and excited to get the wells done.

It took the big machines five days to dig four wells in different areas in the community. Water was found in two wells. The population of Hesse was very happy and grateful for this new gift, soon available as the pumps and cement holding pads are being installed right now.

People sang, danced and praised God for and asked for blessings on Star of Hope and all the sponsors who contributed to bringing drinking water in Hesse community.

The population in Hesse is still talking about water that Star of Hopes donors made possible for them.
What a blessing you have been, real change has been created for the Hesse community.

Rich Blessings and thank you for making this happen, for bringing water to the people of Hesse.

WE need more water wells, if you are not on board - join us. CLICK HERE

EZ GIVE FORM - 10 Bucks!

The summer is in full swing here in the Midwest of the US, with temperatures hovering over a hundred degrees and it seems like the 100 degree days are lasting forever. Some of our staff has flown the coop and left the high temperatures and are now in the field where it is cooler. We would like to tell you a bit about what they're doing.

KAY

First off is Kay Metsger, a board member and area representative from Portland, Oregon. Kay is representing Star of Hope USA in Romania during the Romanian Family Conference. Star of Hope has organized this yearly conference since 2008 in Romania. The conference has a sharp Christian message for the mothers, families, and specialists that work in the field of children with special needs. Most of the mothers have a child or children who need extra help. Of course, this includes their families too. One staff member puts it like this, “We have witnessed how our Lord talked to them personally and these women and men demonstrate the significant increase in self-worth, confidence, and in their value as a person.”

Board member Kay Metsger visiting in Romania 

Kay has a very limited internet connection and she reports in a short post, “This year we have 160 parents, 90 children, 50 volunteers, pastors, and guests. The opening session is called ´Broken Hearts, Great Destiny, it is wonderful to be here, lots of praise and singing. Joy in being together in Mamaia, Romania, just outside of Constanta on the Black Sea. The overworked families are invited to rest, renew, and restore broken places in their hearts and exchange for fellowship and a great destiny. Our best is yet to come!”

KAY LAURA PAUL AND OCTAVIO

Kay, Laura, Paul, and Octavio 

Laura and Paul Raica our representatives from Seattle Washington are also at the camp. I am sure they will have many great stories to share with all of us soon.

DAN

Dan Sheridan from Raymond, Kansas, is a faithful volunteer and has been to Haiti again. Dan visited the new orphanage construction at one of our partners, Grace International. He also visited the Rigaud church and held a short presentation. He also visited the Marigot School where he had the opportunity to help staff with the mass mailing to sponsors across the globe.
This trip is the 7th trip for Dan to Haiti. Most of his trips were Star of Hope mission trips or Star team trips where he made hundreds of school benches, assisted in school construction and disaster recovery missions. Dan also had some rest days, the first time for such luxury in 7 visits, well done Dan, you are awesome.

MARIA ULRIKA LENNART

Maria Presson, our operations chief and so much more, has been in Sweden representing Star of Hope Sweden and the USA for the annual conference. This was the Semi-Centennial conference or the 50-year conference.

Karrsjo Lake from a drone

50 years of conferences

The conference that we produce every year in July is a way for Star of Hope and the Tent Mission to share the results and the stories about what's going on in the field. More importantly, we celebrate Christ as well as all the things that are going on to spread the Gospel in the world.

This year was special as we had visitors from Brazil especially one VIP named Paulo Barbosa. Paulo is important to the Star of Hope story, more on that later.

From a local newspaper Ornskoldsviks Allehanda we read: as the fiftieth anniversary approached the large white tent is set up on the hill down by the lake in Karrsjo. A bit up on the hill is the office and Star of Hope’s Swedish headquarters; an old Swedish estate and there is a lot of movement ongoing. Preparations are underway for the four-day conference.

Maria Presson and Ulrika Kallin

It is time for Tent Mission’s annual conference here at the founder Erik Gunnar Eriksson's childhood farm. “We have the Karrsjo conference every year since 1965, says Ulrika Kallin, manager of Star of Hope International and the daughter of Erik Gunnar Eriksson.

Erik Gunnar with Mother 

The event has been a regular feature of the Swedish summer all the way back to the founder's days as a traveling evangelist. The Tent Mission was formed in 1966 in Dalarna, Sweden and Erik Gunnar traveled extensively around Scandinavia with his tent. But it is here, in the courtyard of Karrsjo where the original feeling is strongest.

Because this is the home of Star of Hope and that Erik Gunnar is from Karrsjo, the conference has been here every year, says Maria Presson, who works with Star of Hope Sweden and the USA.

The trips were not limited to the Nordic countries. Erik Gunnar Eriksson was an international person and kept on the move, a man with a mission. The Tent Mission traveled personified by Erik Gunnar the evangelist preaching in several different countries. Towards the end of the 60s, he was in Brazil, and it was there that he met by chance the baby Paulo.

It was the mother who sought him out. She had heard that he was there, says Ulrika Kallin.
Maria Presson and Ulrika Kallin, daughters of Erik Gunnar Eriksson, tells of his father's travels.

Paulo Barbosa's mother appealed to Erik Gunnar to pray for her terminally ill children; she even tried to give Paulo to the foreigner, a stranger who was shocked. Right then and there a thought was planted a tap on the shoulder perhaps, it's that typical “faith in action” you cannot just believe you also have to do something, says Maria Presson.

Paulo 2016

Erik Gunnar had in that moment turned towards his interpreter and said that he wanted to build an orphanage in Montes Claros Brazil, a project that defied all odds and scope of costs. Even before the construction, there were several obstacles to overcome. Catholic and other religious communities strongly disagreed that a Protestant preaching to over 6,000 people in Brazil and therefore made death threats against Erik Gunnar.

For someone who neither spoke Portuguese or English and who would have to raise a substantial amount of funds to build and run an orphanage on the other side of the earth was initially no bed of roses.

Erik Gunnar Eriksson, with the guitar, was noticed in the Brazilian media after the death threats against him surfaced.

But our father was not just a dreamer; no he also acted very quickly. It was typical Erik Gunnar that once he had decided on a path there was nothing to stop him, says Ulrika Kallin.

Paulo Barbosa, who survived his disease, became the first child admitted to the home.
Forty-seven, 47 years later, Paulo, along with his family and others who grew up in the Brazilian orphanage are in North Sweden, in Karrsjo to participate at the 50th Tent Mission Conference.
I had a nice and happy childhood. When I was little, there were many people from Sweden who helped raise me. And one of these great people were Erik Gunnar Eriksson says Paulo Barbosa. Paulo personifies the fact our whole mission because; if Erik Gunnar had not met him we do not know if there had been any orphanage, says Ulrika Kallin.

The orphanage in Montes Claros was the start for the Star of Hope and soon they expanded its operations and today is the organization in place in over fifteen countries.
Erik Gunnar Eriksson's children, Ulrika Kallin , Maria Presson and Lennart Eriksson who now assumed the reins and run the organization. The siblings are also the twelfth generation family farm in Karrsjo, yes 12 generations in Karrsjo.

The siblings Lennart Eriksson, Maria Presson and Ulrika Kallin now runs Tent Mission and the Star of Hope's activities

“We know that education is changing lives. With many great disasters and events touching our heart strings here in the western world as we see such things destroy lives. There is however, something you can not take away from someone, their education and this can break the chains of poverty”, says Maria Presson.

So Maria was busy at the 50th conference, helping with the guests, praying for the work, reporting about her visits and also cooking for many hundred every day!

We will be posting updates from Kay on Facebook, www.facebook.com/starofhope.org

Want in? Right now we are looking for Lunch Buddies, help us provide school lunches here:I will be a lunch Buddy

Shop through this link and we will help hungry children in 16 countries. EZ right! 

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-2844916

Star of Hope Romania's Dorohoi Day Care center staff tells us in an unedited story about the Ilies Family, these folks are super. 

Mihai and Viorica Ilies family consists of three children; two boys and a girl, all with disabilities. The Ilies family lives in the village Lozna, near of DorohoiRomania; one of the poorest areas in the north part of Romania. They started to attend to our day care center in 2004. Now the family is living in the countryside where the parents work in agriculture. They used to come to the center 3 times per week. A difficult thing is that their trip from home to Dorohoi and back took 3 hours. But they believed this was the best way for their children and their family to get assistance.

Their troubles began from the first day after their marriage when Mihai’s parents rejected both of them because they were not in approval of their marriage. A year after came their first child, Sebastian that they would call Seby.
People from medical services told them that a child with a disability will not live more than a month. After a year and two months Viorica, the mother, gave birth to the second child, Eduard (Edy), who was born with the same disability. The doctor who helped her to give birth said you have a handicapped child at home and now you've given birth to another one. Let him die!" From then with two disabled children, their best friends departed from them, the relatives were not on their side anyway but in that moment they told to Mihai and Viorica that their family is cursed.

Without any information, no house and no support, they isolated themselves into a rented room without a basic comfort: without fire during the winter time, with very modest furniture and a very small kitchen. Without any help, the Ilies Family started to raise up their kids. During the first 2 year's the mother made a hard effort to raise them and many sleepless nights followed, also there was not proper food for her of for the boys. After these 2 hard years the mother started to feel very sick and when she went to hospital Viorica was diagnosed with hepatitis C type.
After some investigations Seby and Edy boys were diagnosed with so many disabilities: deficit attention, hyperactivity, severe mental retardation, microcephaly, epileptic syndrome occasional, pyramidal syndrome. When she received all these information she felt it was the end of her life. How to manage with two sick children and also with her health problem?

The children were sick, growing heavy, rejected by others, marginalized. The kindergarten rejected them too, on the street people were looking strange to us and walked just upside down. But one day we just looked up next to a banner where was writing down Star of Hope Foundation - Down syndrome. We didn’t understand much at that time, but I realized it was something different, as our little boys. It was like a miracle that we have seen that banner. Since that day I can say that the meaning of our life had changed forever, our lives began to acquire color and see it differently. Our boys had one three years and another five years when we met Star of Hope center from Dorohoi town. Here we began a recovery therapy for our boys. We started to attend to support groups for mothers and fathers following counseling sessions, different courses on disability issue and other activities. All these gave us so much hope and strength to move forward, to raise our kids, to not give up”, told us Ilies family.

At the beginning these 2 little boys didn’t know anything, even their name said the specialist at the Day Care center for Children with disabilities of Star of Hope. They started to attend weekly to our center and to follow the therapies, even it was very difficult to work with them because of their hyperactivity. Our specialists applied different therapies learned from international volunteers and specialist and applied strategies of integration in kindergarten and school. After working with them day by day the boys were integrated into a kindergarten and after few years in a normal school in their village. Soon we started to see a hidden talent in Seby and we encouraged him to develop it, Seby loves to run. He won different competitions organized in his village. Encouraged by his results Star of Hope registered him to the National Special Olympics and we had a great surprise last year, in 2015: Seby won again!

Seby

Seby is the one who continue to go to school. Now he is able to go by himself and to come back home, to help in the house, to manage the computer (basic things), to have friends in the center and at school. The normal school is difficult for Edy but he use to come in our center for different therapies but also for having fun with the other children, being the only place where he found out good friends for him. Both of them, Seby and Edy participate in activities organized by children’s club: dancing, drawing, developing computer’s abilities, playing games, celebrating their birthday or Christmas. Day Care center of children with disabilities Dorohoi is a place called second home for them but also for many other children.

“The support groups for parents from Star of Hope were a constant emotional support and encouragement for us. Star of Hope Foundation was and it is for us the second family. They were near to us in very difficult times, encouraged us, offering counseling to us to pass more easily through the hardships. Thank you Star of Hope that you didn’t give up to us. You have helped, transformed and lifted up many mothers and fathers who were fallen" said Viorica Ilieş.

Edy

The annual five day family camp is coming up this July 2016. With your generous support, this event will host 300 people this year. For many, this gathering of families from many regions of Romania, including Moldova, will be the only sponsored trip they have ever attended. It is a chance to fellowship with other families who have children with disabilities, to receive the Word of God, and to hear inspiring testimonies and victories of people in similar situations. They learn tools for good coping skills, communication techniques with their children, and are nurtured in HOPE.

This year, SOH Board member Kay Metsger and Development Director Laura Raica will attend also Tent Missions CEO Lennart Eriksson, will speak, teach and baptize any wishing to complete this call in their lives. Last year, 75 people responded to the gospel teachings and went forward, responding to the call for salvation.
It is our hope that YOU partner with us to help sponsor as many families as possible. No contribution is too small and greatly appreciated. We believe God for a miracle harvest from your faithful seed and for a supernatural touch upon our Star of Hope families. May God richly bless your sowing and reaping for a time like this.

Give Here and help us make a change

or call 866 653 0321

Myrtha Dor Reports:

Our soccer field in Dano Haiti has been inaugurated after 16 months of work. The soccer field measures 56 meters X 90 meters, yes its FIFA regulation size. Along with the soccer field, the compound also has 2 changing areas for the players, a sanitary divided for men and women, an official tribune, space for children playground and parking area.

Balloons and flags. 

It is a large field and will serve many.

The inauguration of the Soccer Field in Dano was named “SoderStar” this stands for the collaboration of Soderberg and Partners the funder and Star of Hope; who executed the project.

Erik Rosengren from Soderberg & Partners

It was a day of joy for everyone in Dano and other people coming from all the surroundings villages and cities to applaud and welcome this tremendous achievement in the community that will serve the kids, youngsters and adults to use and develop their skills in soccer and other sports.

With the support and presence of the Major, the Deputy, Sandro Masucci from Star of Hope Haiti Board of Director, Erik Rosengren from Soderberg & Partners, Maria Presson from SOH International, the kids and parents coming to assist to this special event in the community; they all agreed that this soccer field will work positively in the life everyone in Dano.

Some local big guys came to play for the opening.

This project adds to a chain of projects and accomplishment already realized in Dano and still going on with positive results.
No words can say how proud we are all to see this great accomplishment in Dano and proud as well for this great work executed completely by Star of Hope team and leaders in Dano. Together with people living in Dano and all visitors from different parts of the country, Star of Hope is thanking Soderberg & Partners for being a good partner in our development work in Dano.
Myrtha DOR - Star of Hope, Haiti

See more photos from the event below and consider partnering with us, then give us a call or just sponsor a child here - Sponsor a child

 Slide show of inauguration 

We received a short update from Ghana and just had to share it, Star of Hope Ghana staff writes: 

The end of the term came for these young students of Pechi Nursery School near Kumasi. We visited to celebrate with them the closing day of the term.

During that time the children put up different activities to entertain themselves. One such activity was the enactment of a Future Careers of some of the children. Some of the careers chosen by some the children include being; a Priest, Lawyer, Medical Doctor, Soldier, Nurse and a Teacher.

There was a mock display of their profession and their activities, pictures of which are attached.

The Soldier.

The Doctor and nurse.

The lawyer.

/

The Pastor.

That's it, join us here if you like.

Pay It Forward Click Here Now

Together, with you, we have been able to give out 216 goats, chickens, a horse, 3 cows, bibles, Sunday school material, seeds for planting, cooking supplies, food baskets and so much more. The positive things we see, the joy and happiness given to the children and families in Haiti,

Romania, Argentina and Trinidad are heartwarming to report. In the midst of the Haitian drought starting last year, one father, Cermon, lost his wife. He was left supporting 13 children. When he received beans, carrot and cabbage seeds to plant this season, he was moved to tears. He now has HOPE. He is praying for a good harvest and with this opportunity, he believes this season will be fruitful. He will be able to reimburse parts of his wife’s funeral expense and to feed his children.

”PAYING IT FORWARD” is the concept of sharing the blessing received with others, not because one deserves it,but because one chooses to do so. For Star of Hope, the new young goat owners and their parents were very happy knowing that owning a goat is a source of economic stability that will meet ongoing and urgent needs. When baby goats are produced, they in turn, will PAY IT FORWARD to another child/family. The blessing is recurring, multiplies and is self-sustaining.

Start your Pay It Forward Click Here Now