Special Projects
3 Sisters + 3 Days = 1 Amazing Makeover
June 11, 2012 | 
Author 
A couple of weeks ago I was shocked to see that one of the kitchen/ wash areas had been totally transformed into a new nurse’s room.
And, not only had it undergone a total makeover, it had been done in just three days!
Kelly, Lisa and Amy Boone from a supporting church in Los Angeles, breezed in to the ZOE Children’s Homes and quietly went about their mission.
All three young women painted, cleaned, moved furniture and set up the room as a blessing to ZOE. All who witnessed their complete dedication to the task were overwhelmed at the dramatic developments in such a short time.
After my brief interview with the Boone sisters, Kelly, a trained nurse, was beginning a workshop with the house parents on basic medical procedures as well as an explanation of the layout and storage systems in the new nurse’s room.
Despite my best efforts to convince Kelly to stay and be our ZOE nurse, and her admitting to being tempted, she is returning to America to further her qualifications. Kelly did admit, however, that she isn’t opposed to missions-related work in future.
To Kelly, Lisa and Amy: thank you so much for your hard work. Everyone at ZOE really appreciates your efforts. We hope you come back again – either for a short-term visit … or for longer!
Missionary’s Mom on a Walking Mission
You may remember ZOE volunteer Joe Chongsiriwatana. His son, Noah, featured on this blog back in December’s post: The Most Awesome Toy Ever Made.
Noah’s kindness, creativity and generosity touched not just the hearts of the ZOE children, but many others who heard about his Lego initiative and felt inspired that they could also make a difference, no matter their age.
Well now just months later, Joe’s mom is making headlines for her enthusiasm and commitment to being a Team Captain in the upcoming ZOE Rescue Walk.
While other 64 year olds might be feeling like life should be slowing down, this super-energized grandmother is reminding us all that we are only as old as we feel.
To recap:
- The ZOE Rescue Walk will provide several ways to help raise awareness and funds to support ZOE Children’s Homes.
- All of the funds raised during the ZOE Rescue Walk will help ZOE continue on its mission of rescuing children in need.
- The ZOE Rescue Walk, gives Southern Californians the opportunity to provide support to children who are suffering, not from a physical disease, but from a societal affliction: human trafficking.
- The walk will take place on November 10th, 2012, between 9 a.m. and noon at Newhall Park in Santa Clarita, California.
- Interested participants can register as walkers, team captains, team members, or simply support someone who is walking. Registration is $20 for adults and $15 for kids. Signing up as a team captain allows participants to set a fundraising goal and invite their friends and family to become part of their team.
- In addition, ZOE is inviting businesses to become corporate sponsors of the event, which will include a silent auction, a kids’ walk and an awards ceremony.
- Visit http://www.zoerescuewalk.com to learn how you can participate.
- And remember:
“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” (author unknown)
Chiang Mai Flood Clean Up -ZOE Youth
Local residents (center)
with ZOE Staff Nan, Jip, some of the ZOE youth and Denise Tang.
Here at the ZOE Children’s Homes, we are big advocates of encouraging our children and teenagers to develop servant hearts. We love opportunities for our kids to get out in the community and learn to give and help others generously.
Recently, as a result of the Chiang Mai floods, an opportunity arose for some of our youth to jump in and lend a helping hand in a mammoth clean-up effort for some local residents whose homes had been left uninhabitable after the floodwaters finally subsided.
Throughout the hardest hit streets remained a dirty, muddy residue that settled on EVERYTHING. Many people were caught unprepared, shocked and not knowing where to even begin in their efforts to return their lives and homes back to some sense of normality.
Resident points out the height of the water in her house.
What comes after a flood? MUD!
Realizing all that they had to be grateful for (thankfully our wonderful ZOE home was unaffected), our enthusiastic youth got busy cleaning up and sorting out the home of one needy couple.
As we know, helping others teaches compassion and responsibility, and it often reminds us of all the things that we should be thankful for; things that many people simply take for granted.
I’m so glad for our ZOE youth. I’m so proud of their willing hearts and their generous spirits. How can we ever say that we have nothing to give when we always have a smile, a kind word, and helping hands?
ZOE Missionary: Denise Tang.
The clean up continues…
Posted in Children's Home Update, Special Projects, Thailand | 
Tags: Chiang Mai Floods, Flood clean up, Thailand Floods, ZOE Children's Homes | 
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Shoes for Kids!
NEW SHOES!
Some kids spend more time researching and picking out a pair of shoes than their parents spend looking for a new car! You can’t just wear any old thing: it has to be a brand name. For many young people growing up in modern society, it’s all about “being cool.”
But for a lot of children in Thailand, it’s simply about “having” versus “not having.” Having a pair of your own shoes is a special blessing to many of the poor here; having a brand new pair of shoes is, well, almost miraculous. Thanks to the generosity of Life Outreach International and its supporters, a miracle was witnessed recently in Northern Thailand.
Sometimes you don't realize the level of poverty until you see the holes in their socks
Two thousand pairs of shoes were donated to ZOE and all of our kids were excited to receive bright, colorful, brand new shoes. And, because the Life Outreach International donors were so giving, not only did the ZOE children get shoes, but hundreds of other underprivileged youngsters throughout Northern Thailand were blessed with new shoes as well. For the ZOE boys and girls, it was a double blessing! In addition to getting shoes, they were able to help ZOE staff distribute shoes to some of the neediest children.
Wit (one of the boys at ZOE) offers to help ZOE staff member P Sakon as they deliver shoes
One of the young girls who helped pass out the new footwear had been rescued from a “begging ring.” Children enslaved by these rings are forced to beg on the streets for money. If they do not meet their cash quota, they are subject to unthinkable abuse. Nine out of 10 street children are exploited in some manner…it’s just a matter of time.
Before coming to ZOE, this young girl had no hope. But this day, rather than nervously begging for coins, she confidently took charge of her peers, making sure that every shoe size was arranged in order, ready to be matched to the children who were eager to receive their precious gift. Kneeling to the ground, she lovingly placed a new pair of shoes on a little girl’s feet who had big holes in her socks but an even bigger smile on her face!
In that moment, in that act, a life transformed was on display. A child who not long ago lived to beg and begged to live was now so filled with joy at being able to help other children in similar circumstances. That is the true miracle!
A child with new shoes...the smile tells the story!
ZOE Receives Award from the Children’s Hunger Fund
ZOE founders Michael and Carol Hart were thrilled to receive the 2010 Children’s Champion Award for ZOE’s work rescuing children from slavery, helping them recover, and empowering them with a new future.
Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) have closely partnered with ZOE Children’s Homes since 2008. Through this partnership, CHF has relied on ZOE as its chief distributor in Thailand for a large food distribution program called the “Mercy Network”. In addition to a variety of other benefits, the Mercy Network program helps prevent child trafficking activities by reducing the vulnerability of communities. ZOE not only rescues children from slavery, but also works to holistically solve the problem by empowering communities to protect themselves.
“We understand that human traffickers prey on people who are the most venerable in our society. We are empowering local community leaders and giving them both the resources from CHF and passing on our knowledge of child trafficking, so that by being both educated and cared for we are reducing their vulnerability”.
Michael Hart –ZOE CEO & Founder
“I recall when we first began working with the CHF leadership. It was such a wonderful relationship right from the beginning. Our strategic goals lined up perfectly. CHF helped empower ZOE to distribute over 20,000 pounds of rice to a network of vulnerable communities through local churches. Additionally, Children’s Hunger Fund provided food for the ZOE children for several months. I remember months that were financially challenging for ZOE, and this extra food money helped tremendously”
Greg –Director of Child Rescue
