ROBIN'S NEST COOKBOOK!

   Robin's Nest Children's Home is sponsoring a new cookbook this year featuring favorite recipes including those from our “Robin’s Nest” cooks.  While the deadline to submit recipes has passed, cookbooks can be pre-ordered.  Please indicate 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.
  
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

 
A Message from Michelle:   JANUARY BLESSINGS COME TO THE NEST

   Recently a friend of mine called from Montego Bay and asked if I  would be home as she wanted to stop up at the Nest to see me. She surprised me by bringing along a mission team that had visited us before.  They were back in Jamaica on another mission trip and had a surprise for us.  Their previous visit to the Nest was terrible; no electricity, a generator that was hard to start, no gas to keep it running, and a car that was broken down so we couldn't get more gas. Yet God used this mess to do an amazing thing! That team went back
 home to their church and shared that bleak story with their congregation. Now, in January, the same team returns and blesses us with a huge generator that has the capability to run the whole house! It runs on propane fuel and when the electricity goes out, it comes on automatically just like a hotel! (Our old generator will be tuned up and used for the new boys' dorm, Jake's House.)  Now for the rest of the story…
    Before they could even get the new generator unloaded, a fire was seen in the valley and it looked like it could be headed our way.  The men in the group went with us to assess the situation and by the time we got back, the electricity had gone out. Since the new generator was far from being hooked up yet, much less unloaded, they tried to start our old generator for us, but the rope to the pulley broke. The team stayed, took it apart and fixed it before leaving that night.  They then returned the next day to begin the process of installing the new generator which is now complete and stands outside of the house where the noise no longer bothers us and the propane tanks to run it are right by it, safely away from the house.
   This whole sequence of events confirmed to them what a blessing they were to us at that time, plus how much the generator they had just purchased for us was truly needed.  Once again we saw how much God  knows and what He does as affirmation for all involved.   God's primary thoughts constantly are working toward things that give Him glory and honor and testimonies of His commitment to us because it is all HIS doing in the first place.   He demonstrates His faithfulness to us and shows us that He is a trustworthy God whom we can rely on to meet our needs. Our job is to trust and obey and place our hope in Him, the unseen God who makes Himself visible to us in the most unique ways.  All praise and honor to HIM for this blessing.

 Romans 8:28-
 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God is always there in the background setting all things in order and providing for us even when our faith is as small as a mustard seed.

 BLESSINGS TO ALL!  MICHELLE
 

A NEW PERSPECTIVE FROM A FORMER BOARD MEMBER By Kris Killian

It had been five years or more since I had last visited Robin’s Nest and I was looking forward to seeing the new house and grounds. Having witnessed Michelle’s total trust in the Lord carry the Nest through the lean and tumultuous early years, I knew in my heart that this house and property would be exactly the home God intended.  I was not disappointed: What God has done and is doing through Robin’s Nest is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

   The first spot for Robin’s Nest (1997 – 2000) was convenient, large, and affordable. Though there were only a few children at the time, there was room for many more and it seemed to be perfect.  It was run-down, but that provided ample opportunities for teams to roll up their sleeves and get to work. As plans were made to purchase the property, it was revealed that the cement used to build the home had been mixed with sea sand that contains salt, which was now corroding all the structural re-bar. Soon, part of the roof caved in. Meanwhile, Michelle was getting valuable, though painful, training on how to survive in Jamaica. A “chance” encounter in a Minnesota hospital with a Jamaican doctor and landowner led to the next home.

   The Nest rented the doctor’s house in Bogue from 2000 to 2005. The house was nice and the location was considered both convenient and very safe. However, the adults in this upper middle-class neighborhood regarded Robin’s Nest as somewhat of an embarrassment; they even requested that the handicapped children be kept inside the house. The older children from the Nest were sometimes shunned and teased at school. This was not the first-class treatment Michelle wanted for her precious children.

   In late 2005, Michelle became aware of a missionary couple who were selling their home on Salter’s Hill.  On top of this hill, Robin’s Nest is poised to shine like a beacon of love and hope for the island of Jamaica. Already Michelle’s generosity and leadership in the local community are legendary. “EVERYBODY loves Miss Michelle,” a local teen declared. To be from Robin’s Nest is considered an honor; the children from Robin’s Nest can walk without shame among their peers. Now, and in the future, they will be treated with the respect they deserve.

   While I was there, I had the good fortune to rock and feed two beautiful newborn boys who arrived at the Nest on Christmas Eve via orders from the Child Development Agency. The once skeptical government officials have become Michelle’s biggest fans and advocates. I saw one of the children jump into the arms of her soon-to-be parents, the latest in a line of lucky parents to adopt a healthy, well-adjusted toddler.  I witnessed Michelle’s love help to heal the wounds of a 12-year old girl who recently suffered the trauma of rape and childbirth. I observed her firm discipline beginning to shape the character and manners of a young local girl who had been living with relatives as their slave. I was amazed to learn how God has provided future families for nearly all of the handicapped children currently at the Nest. And it was a treat to observe the wonderful, caring staff that seem to know just when to heap double doses of love and attention on the ones who need it most.

   The healing is everywhere. Two of the children who were malnourished are putting on weight (show me one restaurant in Montego Bay that can compete with Miss Joy!), and all the children, most of whom arrive with stories that would make your jaw drop, are laughing, playing, growing, and learning to trust life again.

   And it’s still early days. There are many more pieces to be put into place. Most urgently, the boys’ dormitory needs to be finished so there is a safe and loving home for older, yet still vulnerable boys. Once built, there will be ample room to expand, as needed. An on-site fish hatchery would provide food and also viable, hands-on business experience for the older children.

   The long, rutted road up to the Nest needs to be upgraded. Because of the important historical landmarks from the 1700’s located on the property, the government has expressed an interest in funding the repair.  The question is not if, but when. Private donations to upgrade portions of it could jump-start the process.

   Please be assured if you are now, or have in the past, supported Robin’s Nest: this is God’s project. He simply assigned Michelle the task of starting it. He knew her faith was strong enough to endure the challenges she would face.  Our faith and trust are in Him who began this tremendous work in the first place.  What a privilege to be part of His work.