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Merry
Christmas to all,
2007 has been a year of blessings for Robin’s Nest. We
are most grateful for the children that we have had (as
you can see at the end of this letter). We are filled
to our capacity at present. See
Children's Page for pictures of the children.
Exciting news!! The container has left Minnesota and is
on its’ way here. The shipping company takes care of it
all the way to the “Nest.” Praise God and pray that it
will arrive safely with all contents intact and not
damaged. Thank you for your donations and help in
getting this done. What an undertaking!!
As
you know I have been serving on a community development
committee with 9 area communities. With the assistance
of “Feed My Starving Children,” we were able to feed
over 5000 people last February (almost sounds like a
Bible story!). We intend to repeat that process again
in 2008. As the chairman of the welfare and disaster
committee, I was humbled to receive an award for
excellent service. More than 60% of residents in this
area live at or below Jamaica’s poverty level. The area
development work received second place on the island and
was awarded financial aid to improve garbage removal
and clean-up in our 9 different areas, especially
helping with health issues and water situations. They
have asked me to serve as chairman again for next year.
All glory and honor to our Lord who not only provided
food but also school supplies, clothing, blankets and
quilts, toys and stuffed animals to children who would
have had none otherwise. We give thanks to the many who
have come in 2007 and brought these precious supplies
with them. To God be the glory!!
I
am also very grateful for our staff who consistently
work with our children here on a daily basis. With the
“pod” program, we are so excited about the relationships
that are forming between the staff and the children in
their “pod.”
And now, we as Robin’s Nest staff, board and volunteers
want to give thanks to God for the uniqueness of each of
the children here. Thank you God for:
Shana
Kay-
the way she really loves Robin's Nest and the kids she's
grown up with here. She sticks up for them, defends
them, and keeps an eye out for everyone.
Isha – her willingness to help and her smile, her
growing into maturity and being inquisitive to want to
know more.
Latidra – her honesty when she has a problem with
something or someone. She is shy, precious and funny
and “I could eat her up with a spoon.”
StacyAnn - how she's grown up and changed since
she came in 2005 and to see her soft side when she's
with Miss Dawn.
Tamara - the way she can make a comedic
performance out of everyday things; even thankful for
her loud, scratchy voice.
Shanice -her huge smile and her desire to make
you happy, even when getting shots.
Avalee – how much of a cuddle bug she is and the
love she shows other kids especially Dean.
Evian ["avion"] – her love for her little sister,
Avalee, the way she pours out heart to God in prayer and
is always willing to pray out loud. She is not ashamed
of her love for Jesus.
Sanika - her constant joyfulness and how she
converses with you.
Shanna-Kay [sanika's sister] - her big hugs and
requests to "pray for me" in her ear and to "let me love
you up" when she wants to hug you around the neck and
kiss your cheek.
Zoe - her cute scratchy voice and big beautiful
smile and eyes that shine. “I picked her up when she
was born, so it's a blessing to get to see her now, over
two years later. Very special.”
Martika - her honesty and eagerness to help (??)
with everything and I mean everything.
Denisha - the fact she is talkative even though
she is new to the “Nest,” her openness to the new rules
and life here and her playful heart.
Brittney
(Denisha’s sister) - her spunk, her smile, and the way
she trusts others.
Timar - those times he leaves everyone else to do
little things like feed guava to snails in a cardboard
box. It is such a joy to watch and hear him spell out
words all the time.
Peter - his bright imagination, hefty laugh, and
excitement to learn new things.
Shaquille - his willingness to help. He can
really step up to the plate to help get the boys room
ready for bed time.
Ian [Stacy’s twin/"walking Ian"] - his sweet and
obedient disposition.
Dean - his bright smile and the way he calls
women, "my darling”!!
Akiem - his cute little self. He is fun to take
on car rides because he gets really excited over big
trucks.
Ion [wheelchair ion] - his joy and the way he interacts
with Shantara...he was holding her hand and trying to
swing her when they were in the baby swings outside just
a few days ago.
Shantara - her beautiful smile, how she coos like
a little baby when she tries to talk or laugh. What a
blessing that she is here and able to get attention!
Noah - how nice he is and how he will read a book
over and over again and whisper when he wants to tell
you something.
Enoch - how he bounces off the walls with
excitement when he wants to play with you.
Evonne - her big smile and the way you can tell
she loves to be with her pod mom.
Grant - the way he plays copycat games and hums
baby songs.
Shammoy - the way he will laugh out of the blue,
even if he's sitting alone in his crib.
Usain - because he's an easy baby and so fun to
be around. He obeys and is usually nice to the kids his
age.
Keishmar [new baby] - he loves to cuddle.
Neyo
- he is developing really well and that even at just two
months, he stares into your eyes, laughs, and holds your
hand. He is an easy baby.
What
more can we say than “Have yourself a Merry Christmas
and many blessings in 2008!”
-Michelle (with the help of a few little elves)
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ROBIN’S NEST
We
not only want to wish you a “Merry Christmas” but we
hope you can remember “Robin’s Nest” this year with a
Christmas gift. Giving has been down this year and we
depend on year-end gifts to help us through the low
times of summer for the next year. The economy in
Jamaica has weakened this past year. One U.S. dollar
was 64 Jamaican dollars when 2007 began but now is
70.4. This is hard on them when they are making the
same Jamaican wages as at the beginning of the year.
Prices have gone up across the island and their gas runs
about $1.00 per gallon higher than us. The Nest will
also be in need of another vehicle in 2008 and we also
hope to finish construction on “Jake’s House.” We know
the government grant will not cover all the expenses if
we get it. Thanks so much for whatever you can do.
CONTAINER ON ITS' WAY TO ROBIN’S NEST
We
have just shipped a container of items to the Nest. We
need you to be in prayer for safety for this container
and that all items will arrive intact. We are so
grateful for the many donations we received for this
project. There were a few larger items that we had to
purchase and we would appreciate any donations, large or
small, that you could make towards these. We purchased
a new commercial stove with 6 burners and oven (our old
one had just 2 burners working and oven not working).
This was about $3000. Then the government has been
after us to get play equipment for the children at the
school. We were able to purchase an excellent quality
one on sale and need approximately $2500 to help with
this. There were many smaller items we purchased now at
the end as well because we wanted to make sure the
container was completely full since the cost of shipping
one is not something we have been able to undertake
since way back at the beginning of the “Nest.” We
appreciate any donations toward this container. Please
be sure to write container in the memo of your check and
send it to:
Robin's Nest Children’s Home, P.O. #122, Lake
Elmo,
MN
55042-0122.
SHOPPING AND SUPPORTING THE NEST AT THE SAME TIME
ANNOUNCEMENT! Are you looking for that perfect gift for
the hard-to-buy person, or just want to treat yourself
to something special? The opportunity is here!
Robin's Nest Children's Home will be sponsoring a new
cookbook fundraiser in 2008 featuring favorite recipes
including those from our “Robin’s Nest” cooks. So start
looking up your favorites. In this newsletter you will
find a Recipe Collection Sheet with specific directions
on how to fill out and correctly include the directions
for your favorite recipe. You can submit up to four.
If you do submit more than one, please make copies of
the form. Only one recipe per form.
Cookbooks can also be pre-ordered. There is a space
for that on the Recipe Collection Sheet. Please include
the number of cookbooks you would like reserved for you,
along with your name and address. Please include
$15.00 for each cookbook plus $3.00 for shipping and
handling.
Recipes can be mailed to:
Robin’s Nest
U.S.
Office
PO
Box
122
Lake
Elmo,
MN
55042-0122
Or
to: Sue Anderson, 1992A So.
Baker Rd.,
Balsam Lake,
WI
54810
Checks or money orders should be mailed to:
Robin's Nest U.S. Office, P.O. #122; Lake Elmo, MN
55042
(Along with your check or money order, please include
name, address, and number of books reserved) Questions
can be directed to Marguerite DeFore at
defore1@usfamily.net or to Sue Anderson at
andepete@pressenter.com
Please submit recipes by January 25, 2008. We want to
be sure the cookbooks are ready in time for Mother’s
Day.
Type or print clearly in ink, not pencil, and place only
one recipe per form. If more room is needed, please use
another sheet of the same size and staple together.
List all ingredients in order of use in ingredients list
and directions. Include container sizes, e.g. 16-oz
pkg., 24-oz can.
Keep directions in paragraph form – not in steps. Use
names of ingredients in directions. Include temperature
& cooking, chilling, baking, and/or freezing times. Be
consistent with the spelling of your name with each
recipe you contribute.
Click cookbook to download the Recipe Collection Form:
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