Interns needed to get away from mundane work and onto the mission field

Last summer's five Orphan's Heart
 interns all called their experience
 "life-changing."

Guatemala (MNN) ― Most college students are taking a break now after weeks of hard work and days of exhausting exams. Enjoying the rest could naturally lead to thinking about the summer.

This summer could be more than just enjoying the sunshine though. It could be life changing.

"Very rarely do students describe their internships as a life-changing experience, but all five of our interns said that very same thing at the end of the summer last year," says Howard Hooper with Orphan's Heart.

Most people at the university level need to do some sort of internship. Orphan's Heart summer interns are able not only to get that requirement over with, but to do it while impacting the lives of precious children.

"With Orphan's Heart, you have an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of some of the neediest children in the world," explains Hooper. "Guatemala's known, unfortunately, to have a 45% malnutrition rate among its children."

Interns spend a great deal of their time at the Orphan's Heart Malnutrition Center where kids are nursed back to health. The interns' job is to help direct and administer the volunteers that come to the Center, but also just to love on the children.

While most internships involve being stuck in an gloomy office doing mundane work, Orphan's Heart interns are able to get out on the field and work as a missionary would--living out Christ's love to everyone they encounter in Guatemala.

"We're not only ministering at the Malnutrition Center, but we're also ministering in the grocery store, we're ministering in the local market....We're able to witness, we're able to share, we're able to be light in a dark world wherever we go," says Hooper.

As if these life-changing elements were not enough, the logistics of the Orphan's Heart internships are icing to the cake. Interns essentially get to choose their own schedules: they need to be available for at least four to five weeks over the summer, but it can be in June or July. Orphan's Heart will work around schedules.

As any missionary would, students are required to raise their own support, which, including airfare, is about $3,500. Orphan's Heart will help you get started.

If you or someone you know would be interested in a life-changing summer for college credit with Orphan's Heart, check out the details at the ministry's Web site. Potential candidates can apply atwww.orphansheart.org. 

God provides for the tiniest as Diaper Drive takes off

Guatemala (MNN) ― Start saving those diaper coupons in your weekly ads, because Florida Baptist Children's Home needs your help.

Between its domestic and international childcare programs, Florida Baptist Children's Homes uses nearly 30,000 diapers a month. To offset significant childcare costs for their foster parents and for the Orphan's Heart Children's Malnutrition Center in Guatemala, Florida Baptist Children's Home is hosting a drive.

The goal is to collect a large quantity of disposable diapers for use throughout the year, but it's really more than just diapers. Defraying the high cost of this one item allows the Children's Malnutrition Center, in particular, to worry about one less thing, and instead focus their attention more fully on the main reason for its ministry: sharing the love of Christ with children who otherwise might never know it.

(Learn more about the Children's Malnutrition Center here.)

If you live in Florida, you can help by actually delivering disposable diapers to any of Florida Baptist Children's Home's locations from September 26 to November 4. All sizes of diapers are needed, but the greatest need is for size 1-2 and size 3.

For the majority of you who are not from Florida, you can still get involved with this project. Diapers can be donated online. Options range from 40 diapers for $8.99 to 300 diapers for $39.97. Click here to give.

Everyone who makes an online contribution to the diaper drive or delivers diapers to one of the campus locations not only has the opportunity to be part of an effort to give children hope through Jesus Christ, but each donor can also register for a chance to win a free mission trip to the Children's Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Guatemala.

If a church or organization collects diapers, they can register to win two mission trips for their organization. For more information, e-mail children@FBCHomes.org, or call (863) 687-8811.

As you give, pray for the precious babies who will be wearing these necessary items, placed on them with loving hands of dedicated Christ-followers. Pray that these children would grow up to know the God who loves them enough to provide even the smallest of needs for the smallest of bodies.

To learn more about Orphan's Heart and their ministry, click here.