Holiday Greetings

Over the Christmas Holidays, Tati traveled to Klungkung, where we had our Bali Training Center, to visit families and the children there that we continue to support. AHFC funds were used to buy new school shoes and supplies, and also Christmas Gift snacks for those children. Many of the people cried and told Tati how much they missed her and Opa Dan and the activities the Training Center offered for nearly 5 years.

Saturday Dec. 12th, marked the end of the school semester for the Indonesian children, who will now have a 15 day holiday. This means that our North Bali base house will become home for many kiddos from the surrounding area during their vacation time. As in years past, former Orphanage and Training Center students now working in the main city of Denpasar, who have no family connections in Bali, will also be spending the 4 day Christmas Holiday weekend with us. It's a wonderful time to reminisce, to give them our attention and let them know that they are loved. 

The Kiddos in the above picture Putri 17 (holding Ling Ling), Bayu 14, Risky 2, Timothy 9, Riza 8, Dina 7, Devi 10 and John 17, are our live in family. 

Tati and I want to thank all of our faithful and generous contributors, whose donations have made it possible for us to help so many children receive food, clothing, an education, health care and a loving home to those kiddos who live at Mothers Heart Orphanage and at our home base here in North Bali.

All of us at A Heart For Children hope you have a very Joyful and Happy New Year.

May God Bless You All

Dan Yeager

Founder 

aheartforchildren.org

Letter from Bali

Now that we have settled into our new home base here in North Bali, I’d like to devote this news letter to informing you with specific information about how donated funds to A Heart For Children are being used for the support of school children.

A large portion of our ministry focuses on helping children from remote villages to receive an Indonesian Government school education. Parents will go to great lengths to see that their eldest son gets a basic education, because that son will be their inheritor and their source of care when they are old. It’s a different story for the village girls, who often do not continue their education beyond 6th grade due to the economic burden school fees and uniform costs put on poor families. These girls often will work in the rice fields, attend to the pigs and marry a parent chosen older man while still in their mid teens… carrying on the tradition of their mothers and grandmothers.

Tati and I are committed to triumphing over tradition to support these village girls. We have supplied girl students with undershirts (singlet’s), training bras (mini sets) and short leggings (mid thigh undies because they wear skirts). These items are usually unaffordable for the girls but they are necessary to avoid being belittled and teased by their male classmates and teachers.

There are 20 village children that have received school uniforms, shoes and backpacks from A Heart For Children. We also pay the $20 monthly school fees for 8 of those students who are attending Jr. High and Sr. High Schools. In July we will be purchasing uniforms for 3 more girls entering Jr. High School and we will also be paying their monthly school fees. 

Komang Debi

Kadek Ari

Luh Budi

Students entering elementary, Jr. High and Sr. High Schools must wear the required 4 sets of uniforms costing $100. School shoes and socks are $17 and back packs cost $18. We are blessed and grateful that our supporters in the U.S.A. have provided the funding to pay for all of the school children’s expenses.

Tati’s sister Mary is employed by the Indo Government as an English teacher. Some of the schools Mary is assigned to are located in remote mountain areas here in North Bali. We asked her to inform us when she comes into contact with children who may need assistance. Upon hearing about some of the children’s circumstances, and with the cooperation of the Head Master’s and teachers of 2 schools, Tati and Mary compiled a list of 40 children.

Knowing that the students lacked basic school supplies and to have an introductory meeting with those selected students in their school setting, Tati, Mary and volunteers purchased and individually bagged 6 class notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, pens and a zippered carrying case of each of the 40 students.

The kiddo’s are dressed in their sport uniforms for their once a week 1hr. of sport activities.

Now Tati and Mary will make home visits to interview these needy children’s parents and or guardians to assess the kiddo’s living conditions, home life and the child’s desire to achieve in order to determine if further assistance would benefit the student.

These village kiddo’s, who attend one of Tati’s weekly neighborhood classes, also received a packet of school supplies.

Thank you all for your encouragement and for your support of the children we care for.

Please keep us in your prayers, for we have many needs to meet in the coming months.

Dan Yeager

Founder 

aheartforchildren.org

Bali News Letter

June, 2014

  

Today was the last day of school for the children here in Bali. They will have from two weeks to a month of vacation before returning to another 6 day a week school schedule.

Thanks to your donations, A Heart For Children has set up a fund and interviewed the parents living in poor villages, who have children that are transitioning (needing different school uniforms) from Kindergarten to 1st grade; from Elementary to Jr. High and from Jr. High to Sr. High. These selected children will receive scholarships for their school uniforms fees and yearly tuition fees.   It's normal for children from poorer rural areas to start working to help support their family because the Indonesian government does not have free public education beyond grade 6. 

Our Kindergarten class of 12 students has come to an end.  Even though it has been a rewarding experience, we have decided that we will not commit to starting another class next school year. 

Our daily schedule at the Training Center…..  Kindergarten students arriving at 7:00 am and leaving at 11:00 am 6 days a week… and Elementary and Jr. High students arriving at 12:30 pm and leaving at 5:30 pm… has kept us very busy.

 With our morning free it will give us more time to focus on the needs of children from poor families living in remote villages. Like little Putu here holding the camera case.

For the next month our Bali Training Center will have an overflow of children.  Since school is out there are very few places for the children to congregate and have activities.  Many of our regular students will be bringing their friends .. so this is a wonderful opportunity for us to show all the children our Christian hospitality.

Thank you all for your prayers, your encouragement and for supporting our Bali Training Center activities, our widows, orphanage and children’s healthcare funds and for sponsoring children in our rural educational fund.

Elementary Class in session

Our Training Center football field and play area

Greetings to you all,

I have some interesting stories to tell you this month that reveal some of the lesser known cultural differences between S.E. Asia and the U.S.A.

John, my wife Tati’s 16 year old son, told us of an incident he had just witnessed at a police station. A teenager had been riding around the local area on his motorcycle with the muffler disengaged.. causing an enormously loud roar.. which was disturbing the neighborhood. The police intercepted the young driver and took him and the motorcycle to the local Police Station. While there, several policemen tied the young drivers hands behind his back, started his motorcycle engine, picked up the motorcycle driver in their arm, turned him upside down and lowered him head first close to the engines exhaust port and revved up the engine.

This incident also reminds me of the American teenager living in Singapore, who was caught several years ago making large scratches on cars with a metal blade. The teen was switched, beaten or spanked on his back with reeds causing outrage with some and applause from others.

There seems to always be effectiveness trade off’s when 1st and 3rd world cultures collide.

Two weeks ago our adopted 2nd grade son Timothy was crying when he came home from school. He said his teacher hit him and called him stupid because he could not answer a math question. I wanted to confront the teacher immediately, while Tati took it in stride saying Timothy will study harder because he does not want to be embarrassed and frightened again. If I complained to the teacher or school administration Timothy and our family would be labeled as trouble makers.

Tati’s observation of the solution to the problem has worked. Timothy studied hard and now knows his times tables…. His teacher tells him she is pleased with him …..And Timothy asked us if he could buy chocolate for his teacher for Valentine’s Day. Go figure.

At our Bali Training Center, I am continuingly observing the children and evaluating our programs to determine what is effective and what needs changing. This 1st world hands on approach is definitely necessary for our organizations success and the children’s development.

…. At the same time that I am making evaluations, Tati, being in the 3rd world mode of living in the moment with no agenda, will just sit on the entryway steps as the children enter for school. What happens next is truly enlightening. The children, especially the girls will gather around Tati and start talking to her. I don’t know the specifics of what the girls say but Tati nods affirmatively, smiles and just listens to them calmly and unhurried.

We truly believe that we are all beneficiaries of the exposure to different cultures… especially the children.

LEAD

Someone said “you’re a leader not when you say you are, but when you look behind you and someone’s following.”  I wouldn’t disagree, assuming you have an interested audience. On the other hand, I would propose one’s selfless resolve to do right in the face of adversity a leader, with or without followers.

The likes of Napoleon and Custard come to mind when we think of leaders.  However, considering their followers ended up on the wrong end of firing squads for retreating, let’s consider a different kind of leader.  Christ led not because his conquest was in front of him, but because he unconditionally loved who was behind him, and for no other reason he became the greatest leader of all time. 

The Psalmist prayed; “He [makes] me lie down in green pastures, he [leads] me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He [guides] me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are [with me]…”

Consider God’s leadership style; first he lies us down to rest, to get refreshed. Then he leads us, then guides us and finally sets us free to choose our own steps through this chaotic life, but never abandons us.        

AHFC began leading this outreach in 2006 with no other motive but to unconditionally love and offer tangible help to as many children as possible in Indonesia.  We felt called to do this.  Today AHFC has become a pillar of light and refuge for hundreds of needy young lives throughout that region because of your generosity.

I write this particularly to you who have partnered with AHFC through prayer and support.  Words are not adequate to thank you for taking a leading roll and becoming an instrumental part of this ministry and family.  God is indeed using you for his name’s sake.

Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness for the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

God bless,

Steve Williams 

Ps…, Close your eyes for a moment and imagine; now look behind you, you’ll see hundreds of smiling children following with hope in their eyes. 

Bali News From A Heart For Children - August, 2013

Before our Bali Training Center opened, A Heart For Children’s main focus was assisting Christian orphanages with funds for food, medical attention, housing and education. This was all done within the protective environment of the orphanages, where we could share our common faith openly and without fear of outside religious or political reprisal. 

Here at The Training Center in Klungkung it’s a different culture.  When enquiring about our programs, people would say to my wife Tati, “This is a Christian school… Christians will catch people and try to make them Christian.”

Bali and local government officials as well as the Hindu village chief and neighbors have been skeptical of our motives over the past 2 years.  Slowly and with genuine concern for the future and welfare of their children, we have gained their confidence and are now an integral part of the community.

Out of the 178 students registered in our programs only one has had prior contact with a foreigner.  When the children first started attending classes they were extremely shy, some would even cry and run away when they saw me.  They would not look at me when I spoke to them.  Even if they understood the message to respond, they were afraid to answer. And when they did speak, it was so soft I could not hear them.  In short, they were frightened of me.

I have worked on making eye contact…..worked on my facial expressions and soliciting verbal responses… showed them how to use a Western toilet…..lifting the lid, flushing it… and not standing on the bowl.  I’ve worked at perfecting body language and mime skills to compensate for my lack of language speaking skills.  Thankfully it has not been in vain.

For the parents to bring their children to the Training Center ….it is a great honor for our organization and for our Faith.  They trust us. 

Parents tell us there has never before been anything like the Training Center …..because we give  and do not take from them like others do.  They tell us that their children talk about the Training Center day and night and want to be there.  

We thank you all for your prayers and for your financial support, which makes The Bali Training Center and our other ministries here in Indonesia a reality for the children we are caring for.

Blessing to you all,

Dan Yeager

Kindergarten class in session.  They meet 6 days a week from 7:30 AM until 10:30 AM

Komang is ready to leave her mom’s motorcycle and start class.

Grade 1-4 students meet together before being divided up into beginning and advanced English classes.

Outside the green walls of The Center, the parents wait to pick up their Kindergarten children.

News - June, 2013

Dear friends,

I’m happy to report to you that our Bali Training Center English language and Computer training programs are running smoothly and have exceeded any expectations we may have had regarding participation by the local village children. Officially starting with 28 children in April, we have grown to 87 registered children attending classes now.

We have faith that we will be able to meet the additional monthly expenses necessary to hire teachers.  

The seeds of our faith were confirmed when we proceeded to build our Bali Training Center and were blessed with the funding to pay the 5 year lease. And again in February of this year when a loyal supporter of A Heart For Children answered our prayers by funding our special widows ministry for 1 year …after receiving the following email from me:

Nearly two years ago, after witnessing how difficult life is here in the surrounding rural villages for senior abandoned wives and widowed women, I began helping an older Hindu widow buy food, medicine and personal care items.  That simple donation of $5 a week from my personal funds grew to supporting 13 older women in 2012 and that support continues today.

I just couldn't get these scriptures out of my mind when I met the widow's.   James 1:27 ...Pure Religion .......  is this......  to look out for orphans and widows in their distress… etc.   The Spirit would not let me be satisfied with honoring only the orphan part of the verse.  And

1 John 3:17     If anyone has material possessions  and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

 I have nearly used up my personal savings when furnishing the Training Center and supporting other ministries over the years including these deserving  widows. I want to visit the U.S.  to register my wife Tati with the Social Security Adm. . If we could find another way to continue the widow's support, I would save $260 a month and be able to apply those funds towards the purchase of Airline Tickets.

These women are our family now.  It's such a joy to be able make life a little easier for them in their declining years and they are so humbly grateful.
If you are willing to support the Widow's Ministry please notify me by email, so the support is not used in the children's general fund.
The best way to keep track of the kiddos…..  is by the shoe trail.
Kindergarten Class in session

It’s events like these that have built our Faith and led us on into the unknown plans He has for us……. allowing AHFC to create a beautiful “Oasis of Care and Learning” in a village on Bali Island and to be able to support orphanages and a day care center…and to provide funds for children’s hospital and educational expenses and funding for the rescue and placement of unwanted children….all because of your faithful support.  What a joy!  

 One of the widows we support……… smiling for the camera with her visiting brother. We do not use donated funds to assist these needy older women because A Heart For Children follows our basic principal that 100% of all donations goes to support the children we care for.  

Thank you all for your encouraging e-mails, your prayers and your generous financial contributions.

You can view our Training Center classes in session on SKYPE  our skype name is “dymissions”

The best time to view is from 5 pm to 7pm PDT that’s 8 to 10 am in Bali.

Blessings to you all,

Dan Yeager

The best way to keep track of the kiddos…..  is by the shoe trail.

Grade 1-3 Computer Class

Kindergarten Class in session

Before and after classes the kiddo’s have free time to socialize and be challenged

All dressed up and attending Church.  These 3 widows live in a remote village compound 20K away.They raise pigs on the land owner’s property in exchange for food and a small sleeping room. Once a week the church bus picks them up and brings them to Klungkung for Sunday services. When we first started supporting them they said this is the first time in 15years that they had any money.  They, like most of the women we help cry openly when we give them support… so we are careful to conceal our giving.  It’s such a blessing to be able have this ministry.  The rewards are immediate and lasting.