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Blessings in 2009!
Generally, everything is going well
here at the Nest. Praise God that Christmas break is over, and we
made it through! Thirty-one kids at home for three weeks was
overwhelming and exhausting, but we had fun making extra trips to
the beach and the park to tire them out. Michelle also visited in
December and the children were happy to spend time with her.
We had a team just finish building
a chicken house for us. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of 50
baby chicks to put in our chicken coop that will grow into laying
hens for us. The kids will be so excited. Several of the rooms
have also gotten a fresh coat of paint and the children painted more
birdhouses for the entry way. Each time a room is done it is
shocking to see how dirty the walls are compared to the white; all
those sticky fingers!
Our garden
keeps growing! We have had a new gardener for almost a month and he
seems to be doing well. In the next couple weeks we could have all
the cabbage we can eat! The men visiting have cut down five trees,
and in the next month we plan to expand the garden again. It is fun
to watch it grow, and buy less from the market. We just received
38
banana trees for free, also found that there used to be a pipe there
from the kitchen sink, the tomato seeds took root and we have a
beautiful tomato garden... after seeing that we bought many tomato
plants and will fill the area between the trees and have a whole
garden just tomatoes and sweet pepper!
We
had a former boy return to the Nest right before Christmas, and is
blending in well with the rest of the boys. We now have 9 at Jake’s
House which keeps us very busy as pod parents. There is always
adjusting that needs to be done as the boys act up as they compete
for their place in the group. Yet this has seemed to have subsided.
He is now at Irwin with the other primary children and is enrolled
in fourth grade there. He seems to be doing well thus far and is
reading at an age appropriate level. I am always amazed that kids
are able to learn and concentrate on school despite all the moving
that he has done over the past years. Praise God for his
resilience. We
just got a new little girl, two years old with Down’s syndrome. She
is a sweetheart and is beginning to come out of her shell. We have
said we could take up to four more babies. Please be in prayer for
these little ones as the care that they could receive here would be
dramatically better than what they are receiving somewhere else.
We have hired some new staff
recently that seems to be working out well. We were having trouble
finding a staff interested in a weekend cook position, but we
finally filled that position, and the cook position at the school.
Our new school cook worked at the bakery in town, and I found out
that she decorated our Christmas cake! She has said she would love
to do all of our kids’ birthday cakes; she is very gifted and just
asks that we get her proper cake decorating tools. Our kids will
have beautiful birthday cakes! - Anyone that knows of a place we
could get cake decorating tools donated would be greatly
appreciated. Please keep 2 of our staff in your prayers, Gwen and
Joy, as they face health issues that are not only trying physically
but emotionally and financially.
Ian's wheelchair is in terrible
shape. One of the wheels is broke off and beyond repair. He is also
outgrowing it and it is in generally bad shape. I emailed his
measurements to the states, and we are praying that someone will
donate us a new wheelchair. Please let us know if you know where we
could get one. The progress that he has been making this year has
been amazing. Please also pray that God will bring another Special
Education teacher to the Nest for next fall. Dana is doing a
terrific job with the 4 boys in an encouraging and loving
environment. One of our boys who typically struggles with health
issues due to stress and anxiety has been healthy all fall. I
believe that it is due to the comfort and joy he has working with
Dana.
As you know two days are never the
same, and each day has its own challenges. Andy and I are tired as
usual, but making it through, and are encouraged by the teams coming
who are always a breath of fresh air, and bring with them the energy
and enthusiasm that we wish we could have.
Blessings! – Laura and Andy Chapeau, Interim Directors
Many thanks to those who supported us over the Christmas
holidays. It helped us to finish the year in a positive way. Since
then giving has once again dropped down. The economy is taking its'
toll on all and we appreciate any small gift you can share with us
during this difficult time. We understand you all have your
churches to support and other ministries so are grateful for the
blessings God brings.
“Religion
that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from
being polluted by the world.” - James 1:27
To the
friends of “Robin’s Nest,”
With spring comes robins and my heart leaps for joy as being back in
Minnesota for most of the winter was difficult and seeing the robins
reminds me of the joy I’ve had in serving at Robin’s Nest and
meeting many of you. Having been in Jamaica for 11 years, my body is
adjusted to a hotter climate. There are no words adequate to
express my appreciation to everyone who has been involved in one way
or another in Robin’s Nest Children’s Home. May God bless you for
your part in taking care of the orphans of Jamaica.
We are all chosen like the body of Christ with each and every
one of you playing a vital role in the ministry. Whether you have
been to the Nest, supported us financially, sponsored a child,
prayed for us, served on the board, had me speak at your church or
organization, or given in other ways; you are appreciated. Even
though I have stepped down as full-time director of the home in
Jamaica, I have been busy speaking to churches and organizations
about the mission of Robin’s Nest over the last 11 years and also,
for the years to come. God has given me complete peace in all of
this. I hope that you will contact us if you would like me to come
to your area and speak in 2009.
Please contact
robinsnestja@gmail.com
to arrange a date.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at
the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Let us not give up, the harvest will come.
In His service I remain,
Michelle Robinette, Founder
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You are invited
to a fundraiser for Robin's Nest. Information Below:
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Host: |
"Let Justice
Be" |
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Time and
Place: |
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Date: |
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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Time: |
4:00pm - 8:00pm
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Location: |
Perkins
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Street: |
494 and 55
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City/Town: |
Plymouth, MN
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Friday March 12th, Perkins will be giving 20% of each "Let
Justice Be" meal to Robins Nest children’s home in Montego
Bay, Jamaica.
A couple years ago a team went down to the nest to do work,
and the kids stole our hearts. We want to return the favor
by helping them out in these tough economic times. Show up
at the Perkins on 494 and 55 between 4pm and 8pm and tell
your waiter/waitress that you are there for the “Let Justice
Be” dinner. |
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Perkins Site:
http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/ |
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We
are most grateful to the Weimer family for their
visits to Robin's Nest and their support. We
extend our sympathy to them on the loss of their
12 year-old son. The have started a Foundation
to carry on Zach's memory and it will kick-off
this weekend. Please pray for the event as many
of us are far from Tennessee but if you are
close, try to attend.
If
you are near Tennessee, please plan to attend
the Z Foundation kick-off at Two Rivers Church
in Dixie Lee Junction this Friday, April 17th
from 6:30-9pm. The night will include live
music, speakers, a silent auction, and dessert.
Casual attire is desired, seating is festival
style. The silent auction will benefit the
Robin's Nest.
Musical guests include
recording artists FFH, singer/ producer Travis
Hill, and contemporary Christian artist Stefan
Youngblood. Tickets are free! Just fill
out the form on the website (http://www.z-foundation.org/index.html )
and your tickets will be emailed directly to
you. We only ask that you bring at least two
food items per person for Second Harvest Food
Bank. Food suggestions are: peanut butter,
cereal, macaroni & cheese, soup, tuna, or any
canned vegetable or fruit.
We
are sure you are wondering what is the
Z-foundation? The easiest way to explain it is
to visit their website
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Zachary Weimer was a 12-year-old boy
that had visited Robin's Nest and also took mission trips to
Guatamala. Zach loved God. Zach expressed a desire to give
money and his service to those in need. He was confident in
his salvation, yet wept for those who did not know Christ.
He recognized the importance, even at his tender age, to
bring others to Christ.
On October 4, 2008, while attending Bible camp, Zachary was
catastrophically injured while riding a zipline and was
rushed to a local pediatric hospital. Word quickly spread
throughout his church family and the Farragut, Tennessee
community. A CaringBridge website (http://caringbridge.org/visit/zacharyweimer)
was established, and well wishers from across the country
began to post messages of love and hope. CT scans revealed
a severe brain injury. Zach succumbed to his injuries on
October 8, 2008, devastating his family and a loving and
close community.
His parents began to ask themselves how they could honor the
life of their precious son. They treasured Zach’s love for
others, and in particular, began to reflect on a recent
family trip to Robin's Nest in Jamaica. They also recalled
Zach’s desire to participate in mission work in Guatemala.
The Z Foundation is the result of Zach’s desire to serve
others. The idea for the Foundation rose from the ashes of
this tragic loss. It has leapt forward from the spirit of a
sensitive and loving child. In essence, it is his family’s
pledge to “allow God to use this.” The Z Foundation’s
mission is to provide opportunities, funding and logistics
for those who want to serve others. We are dedicated to
honor God and Zachary and help Change Lives for Eternity.
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To the
friends of “Robin’s Nest,”
As 2009 begins, I would just like to simply say, “thank you.”
There are no words adequate to express my appreciation to
everyone who has been involved in one way or another in Robin’s
Nest Children’s Home. May God bless you for your part in taking
care of the orphans of Jamaica.
We are all chosen like the body of Christ with each and every
one of you playing a vital role in the ministry. Whether you
have been to the Nest, supported us financially, sponsored a
child, prayed for us, served on the board, had me speak at your
church or organization, or given in other ways; you are
appreciated. Even though I have stepped down as full-time
director of the home in Jamaica, I have been busy speaking to
churches and organizations about the mission of Robin’s Nest
over the last 11 years and also, for the years to come. God has
given me complete peace in all of this. I hope that you will
contact us if you would like me to come to your area and speak
in 2009. Please contact Kris Killian, K.Killian@att.net,
to arrange a date.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at
the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Let us not give up, the harvest will come.
In His service I remain,
Michelle Robinette, Founder
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Sunday, March
8, 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
FROM THEIR
WEBSITE: YOU ARE INVITED --- SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2008, 9:30 -
10:30 AM
MICHELLE ROBINETTE WILL BE OUR
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER!
In February
of 2002, a Grace Mission Team of 14, including 4 ladies from
Headline News Sunday School Class, embarked on a children’s
ministry mission to Montego Bay, Jamaica, where we met a special
lady named Michelle Robinette and a number of her children at
Robin’s Nest. Please join us in welcoming Michelle
Robinette to the Gayler Chapel, where she will share with us her
incredible ministry with children. For additional information,
please contact Paul & Eleanor Waugh at
elewaugh@bellsouth.net
Sunday, March 15,
9 a.m.
First Baptist Church of Lake Park, Georgia
116 N Gordon St, Lake Park,
GA 31636
(229) 559-5462
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TRIP REPORT
FROM OGDEN, IOWA
In our first ever foreign mission trip, Water's Edge
Church in Ogden, Iowa, was blessed to experience Robin's Nest
Children's Home. Our team consisted of 11 women and 6 men, all
adults, and we saw God work in so many ways. We went to serve
and as we served, we were also served. One of the small
children washed the feet of one of our team on the first morning
there. The child never looked at Joy but spent several minutes
washing her feet with a small white cloth. Life changed in that
instance for Joy. Laura's love and concern for others,
including her neighbor, Clarice, was humbling to us all. We
went to serve the Nest, and the first think Laura suggested we
do was to go put a new roof on Clarice's home. Clarice is 90
years old and hasn't had water in the house for 2 years. Two
team members, Charlie and Bill, got water to her kitchen and
bathroom. Clarice's love for the Lord was evident. We went to
do work projects and were so thrilled to be able to spend a lot
of time with the kids- feeding, preparing breakfast for the
boys, bathing, playing, reading books, tucking them in, and
praying with them.
Three of our ladies; Joette, Lisa and Amy, had the rare
privilege of getting to go pick up a new child from Child
Development Agency. WOW! You can tell by smiles of these
children and the warmth they show to others how much they are
loved and cared for at the Nest. Andy, Laura, Dana and their
entire staff are doing a wonderful work through the power of our
Lord. They taught us about being more relational and not just
task oriented. On Saturday, we worked in the morning, but
they insisted we take the afternoon off to go with the children
to the park to play. And then on Sunday, we were honored to be
able to go to church with them. It was an awesome service.
Then it was off to the beach for an afternoon of fun with the
kids. We learned that we all should make Sunday "Fun Day" - a
day set apart to bask in God's love. On Monday, Andy and Laura
took us to "The Infirmary" (senior care center. Although it
looks like a heart breaking place, once again we were humbled by
the love for the Lord from the people there, especially Agnes.
We asked her to pray for our team, and the first 10 minutes
of her prayer was praise to God before she asked his blessing
upon us. She truly knew how to enter His gates with
thanksgiving. As an older lady sat on the steps singing her
favorite old hymn (unknown to any of us), her eyes lit up with
true love when Charlie started to sing with her. God's love
transcended race, age, and knowledge in that moment. I am so
proud of our team for the way they connected with those we met
along the way and their willingness to see a job to be done and
just jump in.
Some of the projects we accomplished at the Nest were:
painting the mission statement on the wall, chicken coup,
garbage bin, changing table, benches, some walls in bathrooms
and kitchen; weeding in flower beds, weed-whacking around the
grounds, built a fire pit, uncovered some steps down to the
pit, fixed the fence with a new gate, built a retaining wall
for a flower bed and planted it, hung birdhouses that the
children had painted in the foyer, planted 36 banana trees,
picked oranges, removed tree stumps and brick fireplace, cleaned
swimming pool, organized linen closet and children's clothes,
did laundry and dishes; at Miss Clarice's: replaced roof and
ceiling on porch and in bedroom, painted ceilings, cut down
tree, fixed plumbing so she has water in the house, took her
meals and visited with her. We were privileged that God put us
in that place "for such a time as this" so that Andy and Laura
could attend a Marriage Saturation Day at their church, which
had been prearranged for them. They are doing an awesome work,
but it is so very important that they be able to be renewed and
refreshed. We were so blessed that they felt they could leave
us with their staff for a day.
As we settle back into our lives here, many of the team
members have expressed how hard it is to adjust after the things
we saw and learned. As Brad, one of the team expressed,
"Prepare to have your heart broken", but then isn't that what
God wants- Ps. 51:17 "The sacrifices that God wants are a broken
spirit, a broken and contrite heart." To those at the Nest and
to those who serve in various ways stateside to continue this
work, we say "thank you for being God's hands and feet to these
children.
An email had been sent out to teams that we have had at the nest
in the past year and an anonymous report from a team member came
back that really touched me. I had asked teams for a report
regarding the spiritual impact of the trip for our
newsletter/email update/etc. Tears came to my eyes when I got
the following response:
"Since you asked about spiritual impact I need to submit the
following. I have always been a believer but realized what it
was really like to have faith and trust in the Lord. I had a
couple great conversations on the plane trip home and realized
that I had not fully dedicated my life to God. When we were
sharing stories of our experience after getting home, I declared
that from this day forward I know that God is in charge and he
will take care of me and I gave my life to the Lord. I think
that a little old lady at the infirmary (Jamaica's home for the
impoverished elderly) was an angel sent to me from God to tell
me to get over myself and realize that I cannot do it on my own
I need God in my life as a constant not a sometimes but always."
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