ZOE Visitors

Delightful ZOE Volunteer!

Last month, we debuted our volunteer spotlight article.  Our volunteers assist us with various tasks and projects in the ZOE USA office. All of our volunteers have such an amazing heart to serve.  Some of our volunteers find out about our organization through friends, school, the local Santa Clarita Magazine or just by word of mouth! Many have a heart to combat human trafficking and want to somehow get involved. We are blessed with the amazing, dedicated people that God has sent our way. Thank you all ZOE Volunteers!

Name: Sharon

How did you find out about ZOE?
I heard a KKLA radio station host talking about ZOE and the work ZOE does

What made you want to volunteer?
A couple of weeks before hearing about ZOE on KKLA, I attended a church sponsored conference on human trafficking.  Over the following days, I learned more and knew I needed to help to make a difference in whatever small way I could.  All the organizations were geographically too far to volunteer on a regular basis.  When I learned that ZOE’s office was only 15 miles away, a friend and I visited and as they say, “the rest is history!”

How long have you volunteered at ZOE?
Since mid-March 2011

What type of tasks do you do at ZOE?
I regularly process the mailings of Thank You letters to the ZOE supporters.  Additionally, whatever task and projects are to be done are prioritized/completed from packing, printing, sorting, research, other.

Tell us about your overall experience in the office?
From the first day which was introductory, I sensed that loving, kindness hsared by and for each person in the office.  As I spent more time in the office with everyone, I simply wanted to carry the feelings of me outside the office!  Contagious would be a good word description.

Have you learned anything new while volunteering?
I’ve learned how joy can come from darkness.  The staff, volunteers, missionaries and especially the children have taught me how the little things and bigger things of God’s goodness counts above all things.

THANK YOU SHARON FOR ALL YOUR COUNTLESS HOURS HERE AT THE OFFICE! WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Volunteers at ZOE are a Blessing!

From time to time, we would like to spotlight a volunteer that assists us with various tasks and projects in the ZOE USA office.  All of our volunteers have such an amazing heart to serve.  They find out about ZOE from various avenues whether it be through a friend, school, conferences and seminars that we attend or just through the internet!  Many have a heart to combat human trafficking and want to somehow get involved.  We are so blessed with the amazing people that God has sent our way and we are extremely excited to be able to introduce them to you.  Thank you all ZOE Volunteers!

Name: Roshan

How did you find out about ZOE?
A friend of mine told me about ZOE

What made you want to volunteer?
About three years ago, I learned what an epidemic human trafficking is to the world and I wanted to help.  After I graduated, I wanted to help the world instead of diving into corporate America and I thought that starting with ZOE would be a great way to make it happen.

How long have you volunteered at ZOE?
I’ve been volunteering since January 2012

What type of tasks do you do at ZOE?
Mainly IT related tasks

Tell us about your overall experience in the office?
I love coming into the office and volunteering.  The people here are so friendly and easy to get along with.  The responsibilites that I am given have clearly organized direction and they are easy to do!  I know that the work I do has an impact on someone else’s life.

Have you learned anything new while volunteering?
I learned that there are countless people that are in slavery of one form or another all around the world and I can do something to help them!


THANK YOU ROSHAN FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK HERE AT ZOE!  WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Aria Studios

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Aria Studios: Christine and Kash

 

While wedding cinematography and still photography are their “bread and butter,” Aria Studios owners Kolby and Jay have a passion to use their gifts and talents to help children who are at risk or in abject poverty.  They know that digital media is a powerful storytelling medium; one that can give a voice to those who have none.  Exceptional skills in all areas of digital media combined with a heart to help those hurting – we think it’s a marriage made in heaven!

 

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When asked to describe themselves, they are in turn serious and silly:

filmmakers. photographers. writers. artists. dreamers. dancers. risk-takers. ridiculous. curious. cool. sappy. happy. stylish. hungry. addicted to dessert

Thankfully, the recent flooding in Thailand did not affect the mango supply so we were able to fuel Aria’s dynamic duo Christine and Kash with their favorite Thai sweet treat: Mango & Sticky Rice!

The entire ZOE family was excited at the arrival of Aria Studios to film our new ZOE Children’s Home, but no one was more thrilled than the kids!  It seems every boy and girl was dreaming of a chance to be a movie star!

 

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We couldn’t wait to see the finished products of Aria’s hard work so we took a sneak peak at the footage and – wow!  It is simply beautiful!  We can hardly wait to share the final result with everyone.

Team Aria also left us with some breathtaking still photos of the ZOE children.  You can bet our Guardian Alliance child sponsors (ZOE’s child sponsorship program) will be surprised and delighted when we send them pictures of “their child.”

 

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Check out the Aria Studios blog for more information and examples of their recent projects.

 

On behalf of everyone at ZOE, we want to say a huge “THANK YOU Aria Studios!”  In our opinion, your focus is just right!

 

 

 


Kids Quest International

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Kids Quest International has a training program that is designed to train and teach Thai nationals how to use a range of communication techniques to teach children.

 

Five of the ZOE Children’s Ministry team attended a seminar that taught techniques on clowning, magic, drama, make-up, object lessons, emcee style, costume design, and stage set up.

 

But this was more than just training … the program culminated with all the participants required to put on a children’s event and use the new skills they had learned.

 

The only catch was that Kids Quest International needed a venue that had lots of children …  hmm…  so where do you think ZOE’s Jessica Dodd suggested?

 

To see all the fun and photos from the day click here

 

 

 

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More Than a Shelter…It’s a Home

The ZOE Family at the ZOE Children's Home

 

It was a sight to behold:  As the representatives and donors from Life Outreach International drove out of the forest and pulled up to the new ZOE Children’s Home in Northern Thailand, they stood speechless, tears of joy in their eyes, at the site of the newly completed “House of Destiny.” Life Outreach International raised and donated the money to bring into reality the first phase of ZOE International’s vision of a 150-acre campus that will one day provide a safe home, education, and spiritual mentoring to 2,500 children. It was very humbling to be present that day in January for the dedication of the House of Destiny and a powerful reminder that with God, nothing is impossible!

 

The ZOE Children's Home (named the House of Destiny by Life Outreach International)

 

A prayer of dedication was read by all those present, in English and Thai.

Our prayer is that this will be a safe home for thousands of children for generations to come.

Truly touching was to see the ZOE kids, many of whom were homeless not so long ago, standing in front of their beautiful new home now filled with joy and happpieness.

During the celebration, 12 year-old BanYat came forward to share his testimony.  He thanked the Life Outreach International visitors telling them: “I have nothing to give back to you.  But I promise that when I grow up, I will follow your example of helping others.”

 

BanYat has a wonderful future, thanks to all those who support the ZOE Children's Homes

 

ZOE Children’s Homes (zoe means “life”) is committed to stopping child trafficking, as well as to the rescue of orphans and children in harm’s way, while raising global awareness of  human trafficking. We are dedicated to providing homes that offer hope and a future to those rescued.  Every child has his or her own story and we are so privileged to be helping these children to become all that they were created to be.

 

After the ribbon cutting the balloons were dropped -much to the delight of the children!

 

ZOE exists to make a transformational difference in children’s lives.  As little BanYat promised, we are certain that when our ZOE kids grow up, they will be a powerful force to combat the evils of human trafficking and the child sex trade as leaders within their own nation.  The impact that the House of Destiny is already making will be felt far beyond the borders of Thailand, stretching around the world!

 

Amprai is now in the safey of the ZOE Children's Home

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