Children of the Nations

Monica’s aunt didn’t have any money to send her to school, but Monica wanted to learn. Every day she’d sneak into school. As soon as the teacher noticed, they chased her out. Most days Monica sat outside in the dirt playing with rocks to pass the time. When she entered COTN’s program, Monica finally got the chance to show everyone what she is capable of. Find out how Monica is changing the future of Uganda today.  Meet children like Monica who still need a sponsor like you at cotni.org/children. Special thanks for music from: “sun of the most high” by Ketsa (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Refraction/sun_of_the_most_high_stems_Master) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “Traces” by Hyson (freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Traces) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “The Time To Run” by Dexter Britain (freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/Creative_Commons_Selection/The_Time_To_Run) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; “Ode to the World” by Kai Engel (freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Better_Way/Kai_Engel_-_Better_Way_-_07_Ode_to_the_World) is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

The Unbreakable Connection Between Sioux Falls and the Dominican Republic by Beyond the Village

When DeAnne Jacobson began volunteering at a local nonprofit, Children of the Nations, she never dreamed she would end up sponsoring multiple kids or traveling to Uganda with her family. It’s been a life-changing experience for the Jacobson family. DeAnn, her husband, and her son share memories from their mission trip to Uganda, and describe the impact they see sponsorship has on the lives of children been given a hand up out of poverty. To meet children who still need sponsors, go to cotni.org/children. Special thanks for music from: “Heartstrings” by Dave Depper (freemusicarchive.org/music/Dave_Depper/Compositions_2/Heartstrings) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0; “The Time To Run” by Dexter Britain (freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/Creative_Commons_Selection/The_Time_To_Run) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; “01 - Warm and stricken by lashes” by Expwy (freemusicarchive.org/music/Expwy/Little_Hand_Fighter/01_-_Warm_and_stricken_by_lashes) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; “Traces” by Hyson (freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Traces) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “Message Received” by Ketsa (freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/May_Starlight_Find_You/message_received_) is licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Ben and Cyndi Levine, a surgeon and nurse, have been leading mission trips to the Dominican Republic since 2011. Their teams always include medical and non-medical team members, and each trip has a huge impact on the local community and the team members themselves. In this episode, Ben and Cyndi tell stories about their blended-team trips, from their terribly-planned first trip to the latest team effort that is healing a gunshot victim and his family. Want to have your life changed by going on a mission trip? Go to cotni.org/venture. Special thanks for music from: “Waxing Waning” by Ketsa (freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/May_Starlight_Find_You/waxing_waning) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “Falling Sky” by Ketsa (freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/May_Starlight_Find_You/falling_sky) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “Internal Backchat” by Ketsa (freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/May_Starlight_Find_You/internal_backchat) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In honor of Mother’s Day, Tabitha and Jenifer—single moms in Malawi—share their personal stories of redemption. Left alone to care for their families, Tabitha and Jenifer could barely feed their children or keep a roof over their heads. Sadly, this is all too common for widowed and divorced mothers in Malawi. There are very few government assistance programs in this African country. At their lowest point, these women learned about COTN’s Village Partnership Program and reached out for help. Now, years later, they explain how this help has transformed their families. If you want to help support more moms and their children, go to cotni.org/children. Special thanks for music from: “Try” by Igor Khabarov (freemusicarchive.org/music/Igor_Khabarov/Be_1632/Try) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0; “Rise” by Igor Khabarov (freemusicarchive.org/music/Igor_Khabarov/Be_1632/Rise_1869) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Brenda had to make a hard choice after her life-threatening motorcycle accident. Would she forgive the driver who hit her? Her decision rested on the lessons she'd learned from COTN's children in Uganda, who had survived atrocities of their own in Uganda's war. In this episode, Brenda talks about her time in Uganda, and how learning about forgiveness from COTN's children changed her life and the lives of everyone involved in the accident. To plan your own trip to Uganda or another country, go to cotni.org/venture today. Or, sponsor a Ugandan child at cotni.org/children.

Grammy award winner George Winston has dedicated his life to playing music and helping others. He’s best known for his solo piano recordings. In this episode he shares what inspires his music and why he gives back. This year, George will be playing four benefit concerts for Children of the Nations. Go to itickets.com/cotnwinston to purchase tickets for his concert in Mitchell, South Dakota, on May 6. For information about the remaining concert dates in Orange County, California, on August 19; Bellevue, Washington, on September 15; and Port Angeles, Washington, on September 17, contact COTN’s Community Development Coordinator, Kirstie Weeks, at 360-698-7227 or kirstieweeks@cotni.org.

Recently 600 people packaged 136,000 meals at Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington. Meal packaging events like this one are hosted all over the United States, thanks to churches, community groups, and individuals who want to help feed children in Africa. But what is the real impact of these meals? Listen in as COTN board member Jackie Lang serves these meals to children in Malawi. Meet a young woman who grew up eating those meals. And discover how much these meal packaging events affect the volunteers themselves. Learn more at cotni.org/meal-packaging.

Without any warning, water stopped coming out of the pipes in Don Bosco—an impoverished community in the Dominican Republic. Two years later, after hours of investigation, analysis, and meetings with just the right people, a community well is being drilled. In celebration of World Water Day, this podcast follows community leaders, COTN staff, and partners as they explore the harsh consequences of daily life without water and celebrate what happens when these people come together to bring water back to Don Bosco. To help bring water to more people in need, go to cotni.org/water. Special thanks for music from: “Traces” by Hyson (freemusicarchive.org/music/Hyson/Soundtrack_for_the_Weary_Vol_I/Hyson_-_Traces) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; “She's leaving for work in the underwater tram. I think I'll take a minute to think about it” by Cherly KaCherly (freemusicarchive.org/music/Cherly_KaCherly/Drop_a_4_note_Soundtrack/Cherly_Kacherly_-_Drop_a_4_note_Soundtrack_-_04_Shes_leaving_for_work_in_the_underwater_tram_I_think_Ill_take_a_minute_to_think_about_it) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; “Terminal Two” by Cory Gray (freemusicarchive.org/music/Cory_Gray/Music_For_Film__TV/Terminal_Two) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0; “The Time To Run” by Dexter Britain (freemusicarchive.org/music/Dexter_Britain/Creative_Commons_Selection/The_Time_To_Run) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Dominicans are obsessed with baseball and their country is famous for producing some of the best baseball players in the Major League Baseball organization. But there is a problem. In a country where poverty is widespread, families see an MLB contract as their ticket out. Sadly, greedy trainers and talent scouts called ‘buscones' take advantage of talented players and their families. Only one percent of players get signed. The majority return home as young adults without a marketable skill or education. Listen in to find out how COTN’s I Love Baseball program (ILB) is protecting these vulnerable players and setting them up for a bright future. To get involved with the team, go to cotni.org/i-love-baseball. Special thanks for music from: “Radiant Flux” by Anamorphic Orchestra (freemusicarchive.org/music/Anamorphic_Orchestra/Anamorphic_Orchestra/Radiant_Flux) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0; “Northern Lights” by VYVCH (freemusicarchive.org/music/VYVCH/Crazy_Fog/06_-_Northern_Lights#) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; “Steal It Back (Instrumental)” by The Bell (freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Bell/Instrumentals_1810/Steal_It_Back_Instrumental) is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0; “Guiro para Elegua” by SONGO 21 (freemusicarchive.org/music/SONGO_21/SONGO_21_-_Studio_sessions_2003/04_-_Guiro_para_Elegua) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

For the last six years, Dave Keller has lived on COTN’s ministry site in Sierra Leone and worked as a construction manager overseeing the construction of COTN schools and campus buildings. He’s become an expert on building in the heart of the Sierra Leone jungle. He’s survived the Ebola crisis and has no plans to leave Sierra Leone. Dave says the COTN children he serves have become family. Listen to hear Dave explain how he ended up in Sierra Leone, and why he’s dedicated his life to helping these children. Also, you’ll get to hear Dave’s exciting update! Want to help complete phase three of the secondary school in Sierra Leone? Go to cotni.org/opportunities.

Junior and Bless Moses, students at COTN's Uganda secondary school, love reading books. But without a school library, there was a problem. The unofficial book-sharing system the students had set up meant children were not held accountable for returning books, and there were never enough books to go around. So these two young men decided to do something about it. In this episode, you'll hear the story of how Junior and Bless Moses started a library for COTN’s secondary school and how a love for reading is transforming this campus.

For more than 20 years, Pastor James and other Ugandans lived under the constant threat of violence from a rebel war. He and many of the children in COTN’s care know what it’s like to run for their lives. But instead of leaving his home, Pastor James turned his efforts to helping children and families who were suffering and convinced COTN Founder Chris Clark that COTN was desperately needed in his hometown. In this episode, Pastor James shares the history of COTN-Uganda, the effect it’s had on the children, and his unique perspective on where the ministry is headed.

No one was more surprised than Carolyn Berger and her husband when God inspired them to donate a vehicle to an international nonprofit, just days before they’d planned to buy a new car for themselves. What they didn’t realize was that this was the beginning of a story that would bring their family closer and change lives for more children around the world. Carolyn tells stories of their life-changing Venture trip to Malawi and why she and her family still look for new ways to help children through COTN.

As a child in Sierra Leone, Henry Tower did the same thing every day. He walked through his neighborhood selling kerosene, trying to make enough money to buy food for his family. One day he heard kids playing soccer, his favorite game. He stopped to watch, and when the kids saw him, they invited him to play. Then, realizing he was hungry, they invited him to lunch. Henry couldn’t believe his luck! In this episode, Henry tells the story of how the kindness of these COTN kids ended up changing his life and his family. You can change the life of a child like Henry today! To meet children needing sponsors, go to cotni.org/sponsor

For years, Aleah Duren dreamed of teaching in Africa. But when the day finally came, it took a lot of courage for her to get on the plane. Aleah spent one year teaching COTN students in Uganda, but it didn’t take long before she realized she had a lot to learn too. Listen in to hear Aleah tell stories of her hardships, triumphs, the lessons she learned, and the moment she realized her students' lives had forever changed.

When Rob Slezak went on his first Venture trip to the Dominican Republic ten years ago, he had no idea this country and these people would become such a big part of his life. “The hardest thing is having to leave,” Rob says. Looking back over the last ten years, Rob describes the transformation he’s seen, lessons he’s learned, and why one little girl has become such an important part of his life.

After a month-long trip in Sierra Leone, Dave Spoon, COTN’s spiritual care specialist for Malawi, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, shares how the message of Jesus’ love is restoring dignity and hope to children, empowering girls to fight oppressive cultural norms, and building strong relationships with local Muslim leaders. Special thanks for music from: "Ghost (rare)" by Chamomile (http://myspace.com/chamomile); "Por Rosa" by Peter Walker (http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecompeterwalkerguitarist); "Circles" by Peter Biedermann (http://peterbiedermann.com)

From airplane, to Jeep, to dugout canoe, Rachel Wilson records her Venture Trip to Sierra Leone. “Our trip definitely opens your eyes to how other people live in the world,” Rachel says. Listen in as she describes what life is like in the jungle, how she learned to adapt to a relational culture, what it felt like to see her sponsored child, and what she is doing now that she’s back home. Want to go on a Venture trip too? Learn more at cotni.org/venture Special thanks for music from: "Steal It Back (Instrumental)" by The Bell (http://www.needledrop.co/artists/the-bell/); "Boute" by Au (http://au-au-au.com/ http://myspace.com/peaofthesea); "I'm Letting Go" by Josh Woodward (http://www.joshwoodward.com/); "Run" by Igor Khabarov (http://www.needledrop.co/wp/artists/igor-khabarov); "She's leaving for work in the underwater tram. I think I'll take a minute to think about it" by Cherly KaCherly (http://birdsong.co.il/); "Terminal Two" by Cory Gray (http://www.needledrop.co/wp/artists/cory-gray/); "Reminiscence" by Jamie Evans (http://jamieevansmusic.com)

It is Beyond the Village podcast’s one year anniversary! Thanks to COTN partners like you, big things have been happening this year. In this episode, you'll hear from previous podcast guests to find out what’s happened since we last talked. Find out who has a new job, the results of Erin’s marathon fundraiser, who joined COTN’s board of directors, and more.