missions

shine your light

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

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embrace missions | overview shine your light. embrace a child. change their world. Embrace Missions exists to equip the body of Christ to reach out to the orphans of the world through organized short-term mission trips. There is no greater way to embrace a child than with your own hands. The word “orphan” holds a different value in the heart when your eyes have met theirs. Something miraculous happens in the exchange of a gift between a generous giver and a needful recipient. In truth, these trips alter the lives of orphans, as well as the teams that participate.

what kinds of trips do you offer? Preplanned Individuals Trips – Every year AGCI preplans and leads several trips for individuals. This is a great opportunity to meet other people across the U.S. that have the same heart and passion for serving orphans as you do. Check our trip calendar for open teams you can join! Customized Group Trips – We can work with your group to customize the right mission trip for you! Teams of 8-20 people travel for one to two weeks to work at Hannah’s Hope Orphan Care Homes, partner orphanages, and surrounding communities. We customize group trips for: • Churches • Youth groups • Small groups • College groups • Schools • Friends • Businesses

Family Trips – We believe it is important for children to be exposed to missions and the needs of the world. What better way to educate your children than by serving together as a family? That is why AGCI provides the opportunity for your family to customize a mission trip that is perfect for you. Project Teams – AGCI keeps an updated list of needed work projects for Hannah’s Hope Orphan Care Homes, partner orphanages, and communities. We will work with your group to match you with a project that best fits your budget and interests. Typically groups interested in work projects raise between $500 and $5,000 towards the project.

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2 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

how can i serve? Embrace Missions trips are designed to coordinate with and carry out AGCI’s orphan care efforts around the world. Our Embrace Missions staff will work with your group to plan activities and work projects to match your team’s passions and skills with identified orphan care needs. Trips will include the following ministries: Hannah’s Hope Homes – AGCI maintains its own orphan care homes in several countries— homes which act as refuges of mercy for children who have been abandoned, abused, or orphaned. Hannah’s Hope offers exceptional care, providing Christian caregivers called special mothers, teachers, psychologists, doctors, and social workers. These individuals focus on giving the attention and love that each child deserves. Activities your team can do with the children include arts and crafts, VBS, sports, assisting caregivers, and work projects.

Partner Orphanages and Community Projects – AGCI has partnered with several government orphanages and private orphan care homes, as well as schools, hospitals, and local ministries all around the globe to bring teams to share God’s love with vulnerable children. Your team can serve at orphanages, schools, and communities by engaging the children through: • Creative Ministries – Music, sports, arts and crafts, and medical outreach. • Special Projects –Building houses, pouring cement, replacing roofs/walls/floors, landscaping, painting, cleaning, and plumbing. • Sharing God’s Love – Sharing the gospel and personal testimonies in a local church, private home, or street ministry. There are also opportunities for preaching, leading Bible studies, VBS, and handing out Bibles. (Limited ability in some countries due to sensitivity.)

how much does it cost? The cost of an Embrace Missions trip will vary depending on the number of participants, the country, and the length of the trip. Up to 15% of your trip fees will be used for orphan care efforts during your mission trip.

Trip Costs Include:

• AGCI trip leadership and interpreters • All meals and water • In-country lodging • In-country transportation • Emergency travel insurance • Trip preparation & follow-up materials • Embrace Missions T-shirt • Administration costs • Orphan Care relief projects • Sightseeing

Trip Costs do NOT Include: • Pre-trip items (passport, immunizations) • Airfare • Trip cancellation insurance • Extra baggage fees • Extra work project material costs • Extra orphanage donations • Souvenirs, offerings, spending money, etc.

how do i pay for my trip? Below is the fee schedule for making payments for your mission trip. Application Fee First Trip Payment Airfare Payment Final Trip Payment

$250 $200 Varies Balance

Due with application Due with orientation packet Due 65 days prior to departure Due 30 days prior to departure 3

all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

rwanda The need in Rwanda is overwhelming. Estimates suggest that one million of the country’s ten million residents are orphaned children. These children are filling orphanages or living on the streets due to poverty, the repercussions of war, the AIDS pandemic, and the impact of the 1994 genocide, when over one million Rwandans were killed. Families have been torn apart. Orphans are raising orphans. In response, AGCI has embraced this country in need and answered the call of service for God’s children of Rwanda. AGCI has partnered with several government-run and private homes to serve children in need. Embrace Missions to be a “It was an amazing experience to be able trips to Rwanda include activities and work projects in it of the witness to the resilience and beautiful spir orphanages, schools, street kid ministries, it has been Rwanda people! The need is so vast that and women’s programs. what I am difficult to fully grasp. However, I will do It was an called to do to help these beautiful people. erary amazing experience.” sample itin – Amy, Alabama SA. t Hometown, U Day 1 Depar da. in Kigali, Rwan Day 2 Arrive isit urch service. V end African ch tt A da. – i an al w R ig K of Day 3 e history th n ar le to s te genocide si n in several ork with childre W – i al ig K -9 Day 4 nd Kigali. orphanages arou t Kigali. Day 10 Depar

Rwanda and China Trip Participant

“We were looking for a mi ssion trip for our whole fam ily where we could work with orphans –going to Rwanda with AGCI turned out to be pe rfect! Our kids, ages 11 an d 9, related to the kids we met in Rwanda on a whole new level that we couldn’t as adults. It was awesome to be a part of what God was doing in Rwanda , and we can’t wait to go ba ck.” – Vanessa, Texas

Rwanda Trip Participan t

4 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

ethiopia ary sample itiner

Every day the 75 million people of Ethiopia face challenges of famine, conflict, and disease. While every Ethiopian feels the impact of these challenges, the 4.3 million orphans suffer the most. With one of the largest orphan populations in the world, approximately one in six Ethiopian children die before their fifth birthday.

ometown, USA. Day 1 Depart H opia. Addis Ababa, Ethi Day 2 Arrive in ice. opian church serv aba – Attend Ethi Ab s di e op Ad H 3 h’s ay na D children at Han Activities with the l dinner. Ethiopia. Cultura rious projects at ge Outreach – Va Day 4-9 Orphana . partner orphanages

AGCI has partnered with several governmentrun and private homes to serve children in need. Embrace Missions trips to Ethiopia include activities and work projects in orphanages, schools, and women’s ministries.

dis Ababa. Day 10 Depart Ad

“God has revealed to me deeper parts of Him and peeled away layers on me. I believe it was a tremendous foundation building experience for a life I feel called to with missions.” – Nikki, Oregon

Ethiopia and Rwanda Trip Participant

“My overall experience was lifechanging. I have never felt so close to God and have never wanted to rely completely on Him so much. My heart toward adoption was utterly changed in an instant and I feel the call from God to become an adoptive parent someday. I can’t wait to go back to Ethiopia and visit Hannah’s Hope in the near future!” – Ryen, Oregon Ethiopia Trip Participant

5 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

ghana As one of the original hubs of the British slave trade, Ghana has seen its fair share of pain and struggles over the centuries. Today there are over a million orphans wait for the love of a family. The number of orphans in Ghana is a massive problem for the country’s rudimentary social welfare services. In the orphanages that do exist, caregivers struggle with limited resources to feed, clothe and educate the children in their care. Caregivers all too often simply don’t have the time to provide the individual love and attention that these children need so they can have as normal a childhood as possible. In response, AGCI has embraced this country in need and answered the call of service for God’s children of Ghana. AGCI has partnered with private homes to serve children in need. Embrace Missions trips to Ghana include activities and work projects at Hannah’s Hope Foster Home, partner orphanages, community projects, and abstinence education programs.

erary sample itin

. Hometown, USA Day 1 Depart Accra, Ghana. Day 2 Arrive in annah’s Hope – Work with H Day 3-6 Accra Foster Home. . eading Program – Community R ra cc A 8 7ay D Castle. oast Salve Trade Day 9 Cape C t Accra. Day 10 Depar

6 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

haiti AGCI is brokenhearted over what has happened in Haiti. When a nation is falling apart, children are often the most overlooked. Our Embrace Missions trips to Haiti will collaborate with organizations, orphanages, and schools to bring support, encouragement, and hope to the most neglected places. Trips to Haiti include outreaches and projects at partner orphanages and communities. The team will help clean, prepare meals, teach English, play sports, and do crafts and activities with the children. Join us this spring to extend hope and love to children in Haiti!

“Despite all the heart wrenching stories, overall devastation in Haiti and tears shed, I have never felt so much joy and abundant life radiating from the children, the staff, and the members of my team. I had the opportunity to live out what I have always heard….that you think you are going to bless those in a poor country on a mission trip, but in the end, they bless you and change your life” – Heather, Texas

Above Photo: Special thanks to Faith Missions International’s Gift of God Orphanage in Port au Prince, Haiti.

7- day sample itinerary Day 1 Depart Miami, FL, US A. Arrive in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Day 2-3 Rivers of Hope – Pro jects and activities. Day 4-6 Partner Orphanage s– Various projects and activities. Day 7 Depart Port-au-Prince.

Haiti Trip Participant

“I left Haiti with such a deep, gnawing hunger for God like I have never felt before!” – Trish, Illinois Haiti Trip Participant

7 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

bulgaria In 2011, All God’s Children International marked twenty years of service to orphans in Bulgaria. Throughout the past two decades, AGCI has improved orphan care by providing food, clothing, bedding, diapers, and developmental toys. Additional donations have increased the number of caregivers to provide individualized care and support to the children living in orphanages. Although great strides have been made to improve the lives of orphans in Bulgaria, orphan care remains an important need throughout the country. Embrace Missions trips to Bulgaria include working with government orphanages located all over the country. Opportunities to serve include activities with children, sports outreaches, and work projects to improve existing facilities. “My overall experience was incredible. Everything from the breathless beauty of the countryside to bonding with , astoundingly compassionate team members to holding a small helpless orphan in my arms was nothing short of amazing.” – Michelle, Massachusetts Bulgaria Trip Participant

erary sample itin

Bulgaria. rrive in Sofia, A . SA U n, ow art Homet Day 1-2 Dep government ork projects in w d an es ti vi ti ious ac Day 3-8 Var orphanages. eeing in Sofia. Day 9 Sights art Sofia. Day 10 Dep

8 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

china Since 1994, AGCI has been blessed to serve the orphans of China, where some 50,000 children live in orphanages. Embrace Missions trips to China include working in our partner orphanages: New Day Foster Care Home and Harmony House. This missions program has a focus on special needs children living in privately-run orphanages in and around Beijing, China. sample it inerary

Day 1 Depar t Hometow

n, USA. Day 2 Arriv e in Beijing, C hina. Day 3-6 New Day Foster C are Home – Various projec ts at the specia l needs home in Qingy undian. Day 7-8 Har mony House Day 8 Sights eeing in Beiji ng – Great W Tiananmen Sq all, uare, The Forb idden Palace, and th e Chinese Acr obat Show. Day 9 Shop ping in Beijin g – Si lk M arket. Depart Beijin g.

“God confirmed His call on my life to be an d advocate for orphans an ate adoption. I was passion before, but He renewed and expanded that while in China. It’s been thrilling since returning home to see how God is s providing opportunitie for me to share and work...all for the cause of orphans!” – Karen, California t China Trip Participan and Adoptive Parent

“My overall ex perience on th e mission trip to China was amazing and life changing! I w ill never forget the trip, my teammates, an d the beautifu l children!” – Stacy, Mich igan, China Tri p Par ticipant

9 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

embrace missions | process

Is God calling you to Embrace Missions? The following checklist will help you begin.

STEP ONE – return your completed application and application fee Download an application and return it to AGCI along with your $250 non-refundable application fee* and confidential reference. For Group teams, submit a $500 group deposit with your application to hold your team’s dates, which will be applied to the total cost of the trip. AGCI will then complete a criminal background check for every applicant, which may take 3-5 days. address

All God’s Children International Attn: Missions Manager 3308 NE Peerless Place fax Portland, OR 97232 email

(503) 282-2582 [email protected]

* Application fees will apply towards the total cost of your trip.

STEP TWO – complete your orientation packet After your application has been processed and you’ve been accepted on an Embrace Missions trip, you will be sent an orientation packet to complete. Each trip participant will send back to AGCI the following: • $250 Trip Payment • Signed Release Waivers • Signed Fee Schedule Agreement • Church Profile Form (group leaders only)

STEP THREE – receive your trip preparation packet Once we receive your completed orientation packet, you will be sent a trip preparation packet. If you are attending one of our preplanned individual trips, our staff will contact you to schedule a trip orientation. If you are a trip group leader, we will work with you to make all arrangements for your group’s Embrace Missions trip. Your trip preparation packet will include: • Airline Booking Information • Orphanage and Community Outreach Details • Country Information and Language Guides • Fundraising Ideas and Resources • Ministry Activity Ideas and Resources • Evangelism Tools • Travel Checklists • Helpful Articles

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all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

embrace missions | partners All God’s Children International is grateful for the support we receive from churches, organizations and individuals who have given of their time, talents and financial resources to improve the lives of orphans in the countries we serve. some of our partners include:

church partners • Sagebrush Community Church www.sagebrush.cc Sagebrush Community Church in Albuquerque, NM has partnered with AGCI to send teams to Rwanda and Haiti to serve orphans, as well as supporting our Hannah’s Hope Ethiopia ministry.

• Harvest Community Church www.harvestcc.info Harvest Community Church in Camas, WA has partnered with AGCI to send teams to Ethiopia and Haiti to serve orphans, as well as supporting our Hannah’s Hope Ethiopia ministry.

• North Addison Baptist Church www.nabcspokane.org North Addison Baptist Church in Spokane, WA has partnered with AGCI to send a team to Ethiopia to help renovate an orphanage.

• Walloon Lake Community Church www.walloonchurch.com Walloon Lake Community Church, located in Walloon Lake, MI, championed their youth day camp to raise over $900 at a Penny Drive to purchase blankets for orphans in Bulgaria.

organizational partners • Global Occupational Therapy for Orphans www.gotorphans.org GOT Orphans has partnered with AGCI to put on OT trainings and workshops as well as deliver therapy equipment to partner orphanages in China, Rwanda, and Mexico.

• BRIGHT Children Intl. brightchildreninternational.org BRIGHT creates opportunities for children to learn music and develop through musical exploration, as well as donating musical equipment to our partner orphanage in Haiti.

• Sweet Knee Baby Products sweetknee.com Sweet Knee donated blankets and onesis for AGCI teams to deliver to baby orphanages in Bulgaria.

• The ProVector Community Project www.provectorcommunityproject.com ProVector donated netty’s to distribute in orphanages throughout Rwanda. Netty’s act as an anti-mosquito device to aid in protection against malaria and other mosquitoborne illnesses.

PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS AGCI greatly appreciates the participation of the following photographers, videographers and artists as they have used their talent to capture the image and voice of orphans we serve around the world. • • • • • • • •

Brian Beazley Photography – www.brianbeazely.com Tyler Gould Media – www.tylergould.com Luminescent Images – David Uttley – luminescentimages.com Ian Pratt Productions – idpratt.com Impact Photography – Amy Coffee – www.impactphoto.us Strutting My Stuff Photography – Kayla Adair – struttinmystuffphotography.com More Media – Stephen Buchanan – moremediaforeveryone.com Gray Communications 11

all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

ORPHAN CARE MINISTRY “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3 All God’s Children International strives to improve the lives of the world’s “weak and fatherless” children through our Orphan Care Ministry. We “uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” in communities around the world by providing the shelter, care and love that every child deserves. AGCI positively impacts the lives of orphans by working at three levels simultaneously – Providing Quality Care Homes for Orphans, Preserving Families, and Strengthening Communities. some of the orphan care ministry projects and programs carried out by recent missions teams:

building hannah’s hope A project team worked tireless hours to open our first Hannah’s Hope Taiwan in Tiatung, a home that will serve as a house of hope for unwanted or abandoned babies. Hannah’s Hope Homes are not orphanages or institutions but actual homes where children are nurtured, fed, and loved as God indented. Hannah’s Hope has a long-standing tradition of providing the best in orphan care standards; we are continuing the legacy by bringing hope to orphans to Taiwan.

providing playgrounds We believe every child should have the chance at a “childhood experience.” For AGCI, that means providing opportunities for play, for imagination and for growth. By providing the funds and equipment for one of our Grantee Homes in Ethiopia, the children now have a new playground to run around and play on.

12 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

ORPHAN CARE MINISTRY occupational therapy trainings AGCI has partnered with Dr. Tara McCormick OTD R/L and Global Occupational Therapy for Orphans to facilitate workshops, presentations and demonstrations covering proper therapy techniques and treatments. Teams have delivered therapy equipment to improve caregiver’s ability to meet the special needs of children in living in our partner homes in Rwanda, Mexico, and China.

art and music therapy room AGCI helped build a Creative Development Center for the children of Kaspichan Orphanage in Bulgaria, where they can now experience new educational opportunities through art, music and play. The new Center will provide an area to develop skills to draw, paint, mold, and use their imaginations through art, which in turn develops self confidence and self evaluation.

musical opportunities AGCI has partnered with Bright Children International to create opportunities for children in Haiti to develop their musical interests. The team works with children in small groups that do a variety of musical activities including sing along type songs, instrument playing, music and movement, and lyrical analysis.

13 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

frequently asked questions is there an age limit for trip participants? AGCI recommends children be at least 13 years old to travel on Haiti trips, and 8 years old to travel on all other Embrace Missions trips. Exceptions can be made for family mission trips. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

can i take my children with me on a trip? Children must complete a separate application to be considered for a mission trip. AGCI recommends children under the age of 8 not participate in mission trips. For families with younger children wishing to serve together, please contact Embrace Missions staff for other options. Parents should be aware that traveling into certain areas of the world can be difficult for children and can possibly hinder the ministry or effectiveness of the mission trip.

what training is provided? AGCI provides an extensive Trip Preparation Packet for each team member, which includes lessons and exercises to prepare for crosscultural ministry. Embrace Missions staff works with group leaders to equip them and prepare their teams, as well as provide encouragement and support during and after the trip. Embrace Missions staff have past leadership experience in cross-cultural settings.

can i stay with friends living in-country? All trip participants must stay with the team at the identified lodging during the duration of the trip.

do i need to be an active member of a local church to participate in a trip? AGCI is not affiliated with any organized domination; therefore, you do not have to be associated with any particular denominational group to participate. While we encourage you to be active in a local church body, it is not a requirement to travel on an Embrace Missions trip. All of our trips are purposed to fulfill God’s commandment to serve orphans, which is the primary focus for our teams.

can i volunteer in an orphanage without joining a preplanned trip? There may be opportunities for individuals to volunteer in one of AGCI’s partner orphanages without attending a preplanned trip. Please contact Embrace Missions staff to discuss further options.

14 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

frequently asked questions can i extend my trip by going earlier or staying longer than the team? All trip participants are recommended to travel over and return home with the entire team. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact our Embrace Missions staff with requests.

can i book my own airfare or do i have to travel with the team? Airfare is reserved for all preplanned individual trips in which all team members must travel. This enables our teams to get to know one another before serving in a cross-cultural setting. AGCI has partnered with MKI Travel to find the best-priced flights available. Though it is not required, we recommend you use MKI for booking all flights. Air miles can be used on a case-by-case basis.

how do i pay for my mission trip? Embrace Missions staff is available to give ideas, guidance, and encouragement while you fundraise for your trip. We encourage you to write letters and involve your friends and family as support partners in this ministry. Embrace Missions provides an extensive fundraising manual within your Trip Preparation Packet.

i’m currently in the adoption process; can i attend a mission trip? Families currently in the adoption process, up to one year home with their child, cannot attend an Embrace Missions trip. Please see our Adoptive Family Mission Trip Policy below for details.

adoptIVE family mission trip policy AGCI believes that, in the best interest of children and adoptive parents, there be a waiting period before families or adopted children travel on AGCI sponsored mission trips. It is our hope that families and adopted children be given ample time to adjust and bond before a significant separation, and that adopted children be emotionally prepared to return to their home country. This can also apply to adopted children traveling to other countries where they will witness circumstances similar to their own history. Mission trips are designed as service opportunities and not intended for homecoming purposes. AGCI has adopted the following as our policy guidelines: • We ask that any family currently adopting through AGCI not participate in an AGCI sponsored mission trip unless: they have completed the paperwork process, have not yet received a referral, and are not traveling to the country of their adoption. • Adoptive children must be home a minimum of one year before either parent travels on an AGCI sponsored mission trip to provide ample time for the family and adopted child to adjust and bond. • We ask that adopted children be home at least five years before they participate in an AGCI sponsored mission trip. • Past adopted children must be at least 13 years of age and be accompanied by a parent when participating in an AGCI sponsored mission trip. • AGCI mission trips are not designed or intended for birth family meetings or orphanage visits, so please refrain from visiting birth family or your child’s orphanage while on an AGCI sponsored mission trip. 15 all god’s children intl. | 3308 NE Peerless Place | Portland, OR 97232 | www.allgodschildren.org | 1-800-214-6719

shine your light. embrace a child. change their world. “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

all god’s children international

3308 NE Peerless Place Portland, OR 97232 www.allgodschildren.org ph 1-800-214-6719 fax (503) 282-2582