Katleho Gazebo

Photo Credit: Jackson Barense

“Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have done wonderful things,

things planned long ago.

You have been a refuge for the poor,

a refuge for the needy in their distress,

a shelter from the storm

and a shade from the heat.”

Isaiah 25:1&4

For years, Beautiful Gate has been known as a “haven” or an “oasis” for those that come on our campus. The grounds and services that we have desire to provide hope and dignity for those that need a place to pour out God’s love over them. This includes not only the children, but also our staff and the numerous volunteers that come onto our campus.

In 2007, a family from Michigan came to serve at Beautiful Gate for 5 months to help finish some projects on our current campus and help the move onto this campus. The Kroll family, Keith and Lori and their three children Tyler, Zach and Morgan, served very well not only in those five months but they have continued to serve well when they went back to their lives in Michigan and pointed key people that are in leadership at Beautiful Gate to the organization. The Krolls have continued to serve through short term mission teams through their church, Haven Christian Reformed in Zeeland, Michigan. Tragically on February 1, 2015, Zach Kroll passed away from this earth and entered eternity in Heaven with Jesus.  

Just over a year later, on April 6, 2016, The Kroll family along with the Beautiful Gate family dedicated the Katleho Gazebo. (Katleho, meaning success, was Zach’s Sesotho name.) This gazebo serves as a gathering place for all those that use it. It is a “shelter from the storm and shade from the heat” as it says in Isaiah 25:4. This gazebo serves as a gathering place on campus for people to come together and enjoy the blessings God has given them in each other. It serves as a place of joy and laughter. It also serves as a place of personal reflection and a place to spend time with our Abba. Zach knew and believed the promises in John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Ultimately, this gazebo serves as a place of acceptance. May those who use it either as a place to sit and reflect or a place to be with others, know the deep love of our Father that Zach knew and may they not only feel God’s love, but Zach’s love as well.

During the dedication the Kroll family said, “Today we dedicate this gazebo to God first, in memory of Zach.” To the average eye, the gazebo is a structure of concrete and thatch, but to those that use can feel the presence of the Lord. The swings and picnic tables, that were constructed by Zach’s friends, serve as a place to sit and take refuge in the One who has the world in the palm of His hand.

To Zach, thank you for being such a great friend to so many. Thank you for serving those in your path and loving them the way God loves them. Thank you for all the joy that you spread through your life.

To Keith, Lori, Tyler and Morgan, thank you for sharing Zach with us and allowing Beautiful Gate to be a part of your family. Thank you for continuing to be faithful to God’s leading in your life.

To those that donated the funds for the gazebo, we promise that this structure will provide the community and support that we all need and long for.

Last but not least, thank you Lord, for providing a place on campus that allows Your family to come together and find hope and shelter from the routines of their days.

For years to come, may those who sit and swing or those who gather in community, know that they are resting in the promises of God as they use the Katleho Gazebo.

Farewell Grace

It was a bittersweet day as we said goodbye to our long term volunteer and friend, Grace Boersema.

Grace served in the baby houses for more than one year. Her heart was 100% invested in Beautiful Gate and these beautiful people of Lesotho. She served with such grace and patience every day. Her housemothers appreciated her respect for them and her willingness to step in and do whatever was asked of her.  Grace, you will be missed! Our lives have been changed for the better because of you! Thank you so very much for serving the Lord by serving the staff and children of Beautiful Gate.

~Karen Boersema 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”   ~Matthew 25:40

Haven CRC

This past week Beautiful Gate had the distinct pleasure and privilege of hosting a team from Haven CRC in Zeeland, Michigan, USA. Haven teams are an annual regular here at BG and it’s always such a pleasure to see people return and reconnect with our children and staff. Each time Haven comes we see new relationships formed and old ones strengthened. This year was no different. The tears in many of our staff members’ eyes as the team departed were a testament to the amazing ways God used each team member to bless and love us so well.

This year the Haven team served in the baby houses, caring for the children and loving and encouraging our house mothers. They also built picnic tables and bench swings for the newly completed gazebo on our campus. We also took the time to dedicate the gazebo in honor and loving memory of Zach “Katleho” Kroll, a member of both the Haven and Beautiful Gate families (more on this in a separate post). Overall it was a week of selfless service, encouraging one another, and doing all things for the glory of God.

Haven team, thank you for another year of unwavering dedication and support. Thank you for how well you care for all of us at Beautiful Gate both while in Michigan and here in Lesotho. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your story and thank you for being a part of ours. Until next year, God bless!

Bittersweet Reunification

            Yesterday we had the opportunity to see two beautiful twins reunited with their biological father. Since I’m not on the management team here at Beautiful Gate I’m not always aware reunifications are happening until moments before they do. Yesterday was one of those situations. About twenty minutes before the father arrived I was told the children were going home and I was able to sit in the office, holding one of them until dad came.

            This man doesn’t have a lot. The brutal honesty of the situation as that the quality of care these children receive from here on out probably won’t be as good as what we were able to offer them. Realizations like that make reunifications difficult for me. I can’t help feel like we’ve failed on a certain level. But then I handed one of the kids over to the father. As he held his baby in his arms he was visibly choking back tears. As we prayed I heard him sniffing, trying to hide his emotion in that moment. Perhaps these children won’t have the same kind of care they received while at Beautiful Gate, but they have a father, and a father who loves them very much. He’s going to provide them with the best he can.

            In the grand scheme of things I realize I ought to be grateful because these babies have an earthly father who actually cares about them and wants them. They also have a heavenly Father who loves them more than anyone else ever could, and He’s going to provide for them in ways we can’t begin to imagine. The gap between the kind of care Beautiful Gate was able to provide and the care their father will be able to provide will be filled by the Great Provider. He will not let them fall. They will not be forgotten. They are blessed and now they are home. I can’t hope for much better than that.

Getwell Road UMC

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22. NIV)

This past week Beautiful Gate Lesotho was blessed to have a team of volunteers from Getwell Road UMC (Southaven UMC) come and be doers of the Word. They embraced God’s calling to care for orphans and widows literally The team cared for the children, lead a Vacation Bible School for our older children, built two swing sets (which our constantly in use!!), fixed major plumbing projects in two of the baby houses (including new drywall) and cared for the house mothers. Not a day went by when you would find a team member stopping what they were doing and praying over a staff member. In the evenings the team cared for the volunteers by encouraging and speaking truth over them.

Getwell Road, when you volunteered to come to Lesotho and serve, as a team we knew southern hospitality would follow, but we didn’t expect the intense feeling of seeing God’s unity in the body surround our campus. You each used the individual gifts the Lord gave you to give Him honor and glory. Thank you for coming and reflecting God’s love so well. Thank you for being Jesus with skin on to our children, house mothers, maintenance staff and volunteers. Thank you for not only hearing the Word, but carrying out it’s message to all those you met in Lesotho. 

Adoption Celebration

“Meeting your adoptive baby is like being set up on a blind date with someone you will have to spend the next eighteen years with. You care about looks, because you desperately want to fall in love with the stranger who will be your child.” ― Jana Wolff, Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother

I was reminded of this quote when I witnessed Tsepang, one of our oldest children, meeting his mum for the first time last week Tuesday (01/03/2016). It was so sweet observing them approach each other with those anxious, questioning faces: ‘will he/she like me?’, ‘What should I do, should I run to him/her?’, ‘Should I give him/her a kiss or a hug?’ ‘Will she/he reject me if I do/say this?’. In just a little while, it was such a glorious thing to witness the child’s anxious face, break into a big, happy, shy smile, to see him bubble over with joy when he realizes “this is it, she’s really my mum and she has come to get me and take me HOME. She has brought me toys that are MINE to play with and KEEP! My mum is also cool, she let’s me rummage in her bag, find cool things like sunglasses, and SHE LETS ME WEAR THEM”.  I think for both it was love at first site. I believe this is a day they will never forget.

Then the child’s anxiety slowly fades away and about an hour later he’s playing with the cool toys with mum, the smile has turned into joyful laughter and giggles. Then a few minutes later the Social Worker announces, “This child is ready to go with mummy”. The child is told in Sesotho: “Ke nako ea ho tsamaea joale Tsepang” (It is now time to go Tsepang), he quickly jumps up from the chair, takes mum’s hand and holds on for dear life. The trip to the car is very short as he is literally almost running and dragging mum along. He gets to the car and is the first to jump in. We try to say ‘goodbye’ but he is so looking forward to getting out of here that he doesn’t even respond to us. WHAT A JOY WITNESSING A CHILD BEING ADOPTED TO A FOREVER HOME!!!

Yesterday was the Adoption Ceremony where Tsepang was officially handed over to his mum. This is always a sad-happy occasion.  Sad for the house-mothers, volunteers and staff who have loved and cared for this boy for the past four years. Happy for everyone to experience a child going to a forever-family, where he will be loved, nurtured and have a sense of belonging. WHAT A JOYOUS CELEBRATION! 

Adoption: Geurink Family

Last week we were given the opportunity at Beautiful Gate to celebrate God’s redemptive plan. Adoption days are reflections of God’s truth found in Ephesians 1:4-5, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” The apostle Paul knew that we are God’s children, chosen to be His by Him. Whenever we celebrate an adoption at Beautiful Gate, we celebrate God’s plan for us. It is such an amazing time.

Each adoption is a big celebration, but last week when we were given the opportunity to celebrate the adoption of two girls into the Geurink family it was even more special. Bryan and Anita, co directors of Beautiful Gate, grew their family from five to seven. Even though the girls have been with them for a month, the celebration was our way to bless the whole family and pray God’s promises over them.

Geurink family, “May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13.)

Graafschap CRC

The season of teams has begun. It is always a joy to watch people step on this campus for the first time and see their hearts grasp the mission. The past 10 days have been full of moments like that for the team from Graafschap CRC in Holland, Michigan (USA). The 11 member team, have been in the houses serving the house mothers by caring for the children, scrubbing all the walls, washing windows and floors. They also went up and down the road to BG and picked up 56 large trash bags of garbage. The children and the house mothers have really appreciated all the extra love and attention they have received.

For me, a fun aspect of this team was watching some of their hearts grasp the mission. People can come to BG and work put never really allow themselves to fully understand what needs to happen to make things run smoothly here. Some of the team members on this team did. They say the long hours, the hard work and the tender care that is needed. They grasped that these children are not orphans, but children who need to be loved and the house mothers are not here just for a job, but to care and invest in the hearts of the children. The team also so the great joys in simplicity, like a child who arrived terrified and within a week is smiling with the other children.

Thank you Graafschap for you continued service to BG. Your hearts are ready to leave here and grow the mission in your own surroundings. May you know and embrace the calling God has on your lives and cling to His finger tip as you trust in Him.

TRUST

At Beautiful Gate we strive to trust God each day but especially during these last couple of weeks, we have been trusting God specifically with our children. He is sovereign and His ways are higher than ours.

This place called Beautiful Gate is His and these precious children are His and our dedicated staff and volunteers are all His. We trust Him in the midst of difficult times and in good times. He cares about the children far beyond our own ability to care.

Last week we transferred 3 boys to another care center. And this week there was another reunification between a mother and child.

We have had several reunifications in the last month and along with these 3 transfers, we are now at 63 children. Our maximum is 75 children.

As sad as it is to say goodbye to the children that we have come to know and love, we know that now there is room for more vulnerable or abandoned children.

We continue to pray and ask that you join us in this call to seek and trust Him.

Isaiah 55: 6-13

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
 You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.

Thank you Nykallo, Jane and Margie!

Today we said thank you and farewell to 3 of our wonderful volunteers.

Nykallo served as a local volunteer in one of our baby houses for more than 3 months.  She has shown a kindness, gentleness and joy that is contagious to those around her. She has such a beautiful heart! Thank you so much Nykallo for your time and love that you have invested in the children and Bo Me of Khotso 1!

Jane has been such a wonderful addition to our team here at BG for the last 3 months. She has worked in a baby house and focused most of her time on therapy with our special needs children and shown them so much love as she worked with them. This daily therapy with the children has proven to be so valuable in their development. Thank you for this service Jane. She has also made many, many trips to the library with the children providing one on one time and more English and learning as they read books. Jane you have added so much to BG by your service. Thank you!

Margie has been with us for 3 years. She has such love for the children and has been serving them in Playgroup every Tuesday and Thursday in a more structured environment. She has been teaching the children how to use scissors, glue, to wait their turn, to color, string beads etc. Margie, your energy, your positive attitude and diligence in preparing the children for school have been so valuable. Thank you so much for loving the children so well, for teaching them and reading to them. They will miss you and so will we!

Volunteers are such an important part of our ministry as they give of their time and of their hearts. We value each and every one of you!

Deuteronomy 16:17 Every one shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

Guest Blogger: Co-Founder Ray Haakonsen

As the last of our 5 day visit back to Beautiful Gate Lesotho draws to a close, I try to search what my heart for what it is feeling.

In October 2011 we (Sue and I) attended the 10th anniversary of the ministry we had started and at the same time, handed over the baton to Bryan and Anita Geurink. This trip is the first time we have returned together, with our 2 girls Maleteka (turned 15 today) and Lineo (12), both of whom were residents at Beautiful Gate, but before we moved to this new property.

So many thoughts, feelings, memories, joys, challenges, victories and defeats in battle come flooding back. I know this place intimately, having walked on it for the first time early in 2004 when it belonged to an old farmer…..barren….with 3 nearly empty ponds and a lone Willow tree. The next 6 years we oversaw every aspect of its development, building, staffing, children, volunteers, etc. into an amazing place of love and care for vulnerable children. But without Him it could not have happened.

God had given us a promise that He would expand out tents and we buried that promise next to that lone Willow tree and placed an altar of stones just below that to remind ourselves of God’s goodness. So many memories, too many to include here, but coming back now revives them all…my mind awash with pictures, words, encounters.

Being here with my dear wife Sue, who in 2001, was the one with the compassion and vision to care for 7 abandoned babies (5 of whom had tested HIV positive) neglected in the hospital, has been special. Just as special has been bringing our daughters with to remind them of what has been done here and where their roots are. Whilst we had adopted both before we came to this property, the DNA of the original Beautiful Gate is here!

“So how do you feel being there?” more than one person has asked me. Wow…how do I answer that? As the co-founder and ex Director, with no other title now, my overwhelming emotion I feel is THANKFULNESS!

Im thankful to God for calling Sue and I to stretch ourselves and risk believing in Him and his love for children.

I’m thankful for the way He ‘showed up’ when we, as two ordinary people, chose to believe Him.

I’m thankful for His provision for our ministry over those 10 years, including the building of the Center and all we needed to care for hundreds of vulnerable babies and staff who faithfully and diligently ‘loved on’ them.

I’m thankful for the multitude of lives moved by this ministry including very special volunteers (short and long term), donors, visitors, who had/have such a profound impact on the growth of BGL.

I’m thankful to God for bringing an unlikely but very committed and loving couple in the Geurinks, (with their 3 dear children Eli, Faith, and Mercy), to carry on what we had built, physically, emotionally, spiritually and with love for those mentioned above.

I’m thankful for what I see and experience here as our original vision has not only been followed but added to…talk about expanding our tents!!!!!

I’m thankful for the love, laughter, celebration and fellowship I see in the eyes of the staff and children.

 I’m thankful that our original vision of providing the best care and facilities for children who began their lives so harshly continues to be strived for.

I’m thankful mostly for the Handprints of God being ALL OVER this place, bringing glory to Himself, who originally called us to be His hands and feet to the ‘least of these’. He is such a great God!

Not everything is perfect and there’s a part of me that wants to point out what I think needs attending to, but I agreed with God before I returned here, to let go and release my own expectations of where Beautiful Gate Lesotho should be.

I believe we as a family have had a God-ordained time here and have been so blessed by so much of what we have seen and experienced. Our girls, graduates of this ministry, were able to help out with loving on, feeding and interacting with babies and toddlers who are where they were 12 years ago. Maleteka got to celebrate her 15th birthday here today…significant for us! My wife Sue has been able to catch up with some babies she knew, cuddle those new ones she didn’t (72 babies and toddlers in residence!) and interact with the staff she always regarded as her ‘çhildren’ too.

We left in October 2011, as ‘Grandparents of Beautiful Gate Lesotho’. We both walk away this time, with that sense that we still carry the position of Grandparents, and do so with pride, knowing that this thriving ‘teenager’ (now 14 and a half), is in very good hands, but more importantly in God’s hands!

I’m thankful, in closing, for the wonderful way we have been hosted by Karen Boersema, the Operations Manager, embraced by the staff and loved by the kids (they do it automatically) and for the break Bryan and Anita are able to have with their children, having done such an awesome job of something that is definitely not easy.

God’s compassion, provision, love, Grace and strength be in abundance with you special couple and all those serving here as staff at Beautiful Gate and those involved in various ways to ensure continued top quality care and love for the vulnerable. Sue, the girls and I love and appreciate you all for loving God enough to be involved here.

I leave you with this word; “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!” – Galatians 6:9

Farewell Rachel

Friday we held a farewell ceremony for our long term volunteer, Rachel Pate. She has served here for over 7 months.

The children and staff will miss her very much, so it was a bittersweet goodbye.

We want to thank you Rachel, for your time and commitment to the Bo Me and to the children of Beautiful Gate. You showed such dedication to them and also loved them so deeply as they love you.

Coming straight from high school graduation to live in Africa for 7 months away from your family, is a big step. Thank you for following God’s voice and trusting Him for this journey. We pray that God would honor your service to the least of these…. when you could have been doing anything else, you chose Beautiful Gate.

Thank you so much for your sacrifice, for your love and for sharing your heart with all of us at Beautiful Gate. May God bless you as go from here and may you follow where He calls.

Ruth 2:12

May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done

Farewell Abuti Qhomane

Friday we said farewell to our friend and coworker, Abuti Qhomane.

He worked in the maintenance department for Beautiful Gate for about one year. He was always kind and helpful. Qhomane is a young man of respect and character and we will surely miss his presence around here. After some travel, Abuti will be going to University in a couple of months. He is someone who is always eager to learn new things so this path will fit him well.

May God bless you Qhomane as you go from here and further your studies. We give God praise for the time we’ve had!

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Rejoicing in Adoption

Today Beautiful Gate celebrated another adoption! We praise God for this God-ordained union between mother and child!

There were many tears shed as the deep meaning of this day impacted the family, friends and BG care staff.  There was also a lot of celebrating with plenty of singing and dancing! Our chaplain concluded with a few words from Psalm 30, which reflected so well this mother’s heart.

Beautiful Gate exists to care for children who have no homes. We celebrate when our children finally find a loving home they can call their own.

We pray a blessing over this new family. We are thankful that this new home is a Christian home and we pray with confidence that God will always be the center.  Congratulations Baker family! We know that this child will always know how precious she is and how much she is loved.

    You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    You have loosed my sackcloth

    And clothed me with gladness,

   That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
   O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!   ~Psalm 30:11-12

How can I keep from singing

his post was originally posted on October 16, 2015. 

God is so worthy of our praise and I see glimpses of His beauty and glory in this place called Beautiful Gate.

Every day, we witness the innocence and perfection of these orphaned, abandoned and neglected little ones.

One of our playgroup leaders took some of our children for a walk outside of campus through our neighborhood today.

They were so well behaved on this walk, partly because they listen to and respect the playgroup leader, but also because they were so mesmerized by the sights and sounds along the way.

Here are some things we saw on our walk:

     Mud puddles from the recent rains.

     Cows grazing.

     Construction workers building a house.

     Neighbors walking past.

     Other children playing in a puddle.

     The sounds of children playing at the neighborhood school.

     And a few cars and trucks passing by.

The children were just taking it all in.  As I observed them; my thoughts drifted off to thinking about their futures.

All of our futures are unknown. But most of us do know who our family is. We do know where we belong.

What will happen to them? Will they join a forever family? Will they go back to their relatives in the village? Will they go to another care center for older children?

How will God be directing their steps as they leave Beautiful Gate?

We don’t know the answers. But for now, Beautiful Gate is where they belong and Beautiful Gate is their family.

There are days that I just stare out the window of my office and smile and have such a warm, blessed heart. I not only see beautiful scenery, but beautiful people.

No it’s not a perfect place, but some days it seems that way.

I see little ones bringing balls to our campus Chaplain, so that he can kick it for them. They go and chase it and bring it back to him for another kick. They could do this for hours.

I see one of our office workers stop and talk to one of our older kids. I see and hear children who are playing outside at the preschool on campus.

I see our school aged boy walking home from school. He stops on the bridge to look back at the office. He sees me…he smiles and waves.

I see so many things that bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. You may have read similar sentiments over the last several months or even years about this place. But they are true and just plain indisputable.

How can this place with so many stories of hard ache be so incredibly joyful and beautiful?

The answer is…the presence of the Living God.

Looking back to the first line of this blog…”how can I keep from singing your praise..” I ask myself, how can I not praise the God who shows Himself here? How can I not see Him in these children and in this staff? This place is here because of His love and grace and He shows Himself in so many ways.

The thoughts of this blog….they are my heart today and many of my days. I hope you, who are far off, get a glimpse of God’s beauty through those of us who witness this and walk it each day.

God is here. There is joy and beauty all around because of Him. To God be the glory! How can I keep from singing your praise!

     Karen Boersema

Thank you to the England Team

This post was originally posted on November 4, 2015

Thank you England Team for the love and joy you brought to Beautiful Gate this past week! The team members included Steve Dobson, Jenny Dobson, Jane Richardson, Josh Plant and Fred Abbott.

Each member brought a unique blessing to the children and staff for which we are grateful. Thank you Steve for your work in the office helping with IT issues, this is always a need and you solved some problems that have been ongoing. Thank you Jenny for your endless energy and joy…it is contagious and we just love having you around! Jane, we thank you for your sweet, gentle spirit that the children just need and love. We are excited that you will be able to stay on for a few months and continue your ministry with special needs and reading. Josh and Fred, we are grateful for your time here too. The children just love having young men on campus and the connections between you and the staff and children were hard to miss.

Thank you all for giving up your time and resources for the benefit of Beautiful Gate. We feel so loved and encouraged by you!

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." ~Philemon 1:7

   Karen Boersema

Staff Team Building

Today during our chapel time we had the opportunity to hear from one of our Beautiful Gate board members named, Ts’epang Majara. He is a Psychologist and founder of Lesotho Psychology Association.

Ts’epang is currently providing counseling for a boy who is part of a family that Beautiful Gate is helping in the community.

His team wanted to give back some more and offered their expertise in interpersonal relationships by coming to Beautiful Gate and giving a presentation on team building.

He and his partner started the session by asking our staff to participate in an icebreaker kind of activity, something like Simon Says. The staff was laughing and having a great time during this activity!

Then he spoke on the necessity of treating each other with respect and to make good communication a priority in the work place. He reminded us that we are a team all working toward the same goal. The goal of providing the best care we can for the children here at Beautiful Gate.

The staff showed much appreciation for this service and has asked the agency to come back another time for more training and educating.

We are all grateful for these opportunities as we continue to learn and grow together!

      Karen Boersema

Thank You Verkaiks!

We want to express our thanks to the Verkaik family! Mike, Dawn and Chad served at Beautiful Gate for a few weeks at the end of October. Dawn and Chad were a blessing for a little over a week and then Mike stayed on for another 10 days. Dawn and Chad served the care staff and children along with Mike most days. Other days Mike painted in the volunteer house and hauled dirt with the maintenance guys.

We are so thankful for the work you did and for your time and sacrifice to come here. We thank you for your service and pray that you were able to experience God’s goodness through the staff and children in this beautiful place.

Thank you too for encouraging the staff in their various roles. Thank you for spending the time with us just to listen and share. These things we do not take for granted; it lifts our spirits and helps us to keep going in our jobs here.

May God bless you richly as you go from this place. We will miss you and pray we will meet again!

 "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."   I Thess. 5:11

Adoption Day Celebration

What a special adoption day for this amazing family, for this special little boy and for Beautiful Gate.

We give praise to God for His sovereign hand in this child’s life. His days being ordained before he was born…..to his birth…..how he came to Beautiful Gate and now his being adopted by this family, all have been God’s story and one that will get shared for years to come. To God be the glory!

It was a beautiful ceremony with singing, speeches from the housemother of the child, the director and from the new parents. It was wonderful to hear from their perspective on this adoption journey and their sentiments about Beautiful Gate and Lesotho. We finished with a prayer of blessing over the family and enjoyed some cake and fellowship.

We are quite sure that God was smiling on this beautiful moment in time as we all were. Congratulations to the family and blessings as you transition into life back in the States.

Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. Matthew 18:5