Dear friends of Beautiful Gate,

We expect 2010 to be as busy and challenging of a year as 2009. As we prepare for these challenges we have set a number of goals in order to strengthen and sustain our ministry. These goals include our desire to expand our ministry through various projects.

First we plan to erect God’s Way Playground facilities for our playgroup age children early in the New Year. These playgrounds will help develop their motor skills and social development. We have some funds allocated for this goal and hope to build these playgrounds as soon as possible.

Also, we hope to research, raise funds, train and implement the Skills Training Center for orphans and caregivers in the first quarter of 2010. The purpose of the skills training center is to provide individuals from the local community with the tools to financially support their household and care for their families. In order for this program to move forward we are in need of volunteers to help teach various skills and funding from interested supporters.

Additionally, to complete our facility development we plan to erect three buildings on our current property. The first building is planned to be an indoor play center for our playgroup. The second will be used as a hospitality house where we will welcome and care for visitors and volunteers. The last building is planned to accommodate and train children and adults as a part of our Skills Training program. Before we are able to break ground on this project we are in need of financial provisions.

Finally, Beautiful Gate has acquired a four-acre site, five kilometers from our current property. This year it is our goal to research, plan and decide on a project that will produce a sustainable income for our current care center. We invite you to join us in prayer as we seek God’s leading on what to do with this property.

In closing, we want to thank all those who are significantly partnering with us in this vital work. We also give glory to God for all He has done in our midst. We look forward to yet another year full of God’s grace and majesty!

Ray Haakonsen

If you wish to give financially to any of these projects please visit our donation page. To find out more information on how to volunteer email pr@beautifulgatelesotho.org.

As clocks struck midnight on the 31st of December champagne bottles popped, toasts were made, fireworks were shot off into the sky and the world celebrated the New Year!

A New Year brings hope for change with a new year. The cycle of life continues on bringing new births, laughter, death, and sorrow. Beautiful Gate is not immune to these things. While welcoming in the New Year we have experienced a mixture of emotions. On December 6th, 2009 a 14 month old baby girl passed away. We laid her to rest on January 7, 2010. Soon after, an abandoned 2 month old baby boy was found by the grace of God and is now safely in our care. Additionally, the children in our care who came to us malnourished and sick are now flourishing. We also anticipate the imminent union of families with their beautiful children.

The realities of life never change. Sorrow and joy come to us all. Never the less, we know that we are in the palm of God’s hand. We find peace in knowing that He will carry us through all of the challenges and emotions that 2010 will bring.

We praise His name!

Beautiful Gate needs your prayers. Here is what the staff is currently praying for. We would love it if you joined us!

1. Two Children are currently ill in the hospital with pneumonia, one is HIV+.
2. House mothers and support staff as we transition to a new care structure. So far the transition has been good.
3. Quick acclimation into the new homes of the three children who have recently been adopted.
4. Love, joy and peace at Beautiful Gate this Christmas and the New Year.
5. Family of social worker who recently passed away of cancer. Additionally, for the new social worker to be committed to working on adoptions promptly.
6. Unity of staff.
7. Health for all the 57 children being cared for at Beautiful Gate.
8. For the families traveling to Lesotho to be united with children.
9. For the social Welfare Department Staff as they have an increase work load with adoptions.
10. Continual financial needs to keep Beautiful Gate running.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and financial support especially during these difficult times. May the Lord continue to be your strength, bring you His love, joy and wondrous peace.

This Christmas came like most others. We found shops and homes decorated inside and out with Christmas decor. Television and radio advertisements once again wittingly tried to persuade us to add their expensive products to our Christmas lists. Children especially were persuaded to want the latest fashions, music, video games and other expensive items!

It seems very few people remember the true meaning of Christmas amidst all of their wanting. I believe it saddens the heart of God when we want the latest things more than Christ. Christ’s gift of his only son was the best gift that any father could give. We rejoice as the gift of his son came in the form of a precious little baby. This baby was to grow up into a man who loved, served and ultimately gave his life for all people. Who would not find joy in a gift such as this?

This Christmas we rejoiced with three couples that received the precious gift of a child. These individuals did not receive just any children, they accepted children from Beautiful Gate into their families. An overwhelming sense of joy flooded the care center as we watched these parents bond with their children. The newly united families left the premises with huge smiles stretching across their faces and tears of love dripping down their cheeks. It is hard to find the words to describe this bittersweet moment. There is joy and sadness in giving a child to a new family that you have helped nurture for some time.

As we parted with these children we found peace in the knowledge that they are in the palm of God’s hand. All we could do was stand back in awe as we witnessed the union of a child with the parents God had hand chosen for them. We praise God for this awesome Christmas gift!