You know something good is cooking over here at HFO when we ask for prayers!

That something good seems to be every day, even when we don’t realize it. I bet God is watching us scramble around, attempting to pick up HIS ingredients to put them into OUR pot.

“Oh yeah, Trust would be perfect right about now!!”

And then He nods. And maybe laughs.

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Well, we are pumping out some fierce hope over here, and this is where we are longing to hear your support and prayers.

Turns out that a property right next-door to the Hill-House has become available for purchase. This would mean expansion. As in, easily doubling our programming overnight. BAM. We got a chance to walk around and saw a beautiful opportunity: a big kitchen central to the whole house with doors leading into a spacious bathroom, potential intern spaces, office and computer labs, a game room. Plus, tall ceilings and plenty of storage make this baby feel like the HFO Loft!

We want it. We want to fill it with kids and learning and love. Pray for us in this big hope, and let’s see the other ingredients God tosses our way!!

Hello, Opelousas and friends of Hope for Opelousas!! This is Hannah McBride, HFO’s new face for the year. I am pumped to be in this place, living the dream—the dream of test-running Grace Corps, that is! Grace Corps is a hopeful addition to the programming here at HFO, a branch between summer internships offered for college students, and the full-time staff. I will be working for the next twelve months as a sort of intern, contributing skills in communications and a desire to see this community grow in love and resources.

I moved down to Opelousas this past weekend, fresh from time spent with my family—we hail from outside Philadelphia, PA—after leaving my work in the Midwest. I have spent the last two years working as an Admissions Counselor for Northwestern College in Northwest Iowa, where I also got my B.A. after studying Theatre. I loved my time spent in that community, and I am so ready to find a whole new love for warm people, a diverse area, and the Cajun flavor here in Louisiana!

As you probably know, the way God orchestrates us to move from place to place is sometimes long-winded and mysterious, and sometimes it happens swiftly and surprisingly. This past Spring Break, I was privileged to co-advise a service project for Northwestern College students. We packed ourselves into two vans and drove down here, perpetuating a relationship between the college and HFO’s work. I found myself in conversation with Loren and Kristina, keeping up with one of their favorite activities—dreaming. HFO made an offer I was thrilled to accept, and just a few months later, here I am!

This year I will be writing grants, updating communications, loving kids, working on fundraising, having some great talks with Loren and Kristina, and learning I can only imagine what!!

Am I ready for this? Probably not.

Am I excited about that? Absolutely thrilled.

If there is one thing I have already learned from these people, there is plenty of flexibility in grace. I cannot wait to see what happens this year through rising to a challenge in trusting what God’s grace does to our lives when we accept it. I crave your prayers as I learn a little of what it is to support these people.  Stay in touch with us here at HFO to see what crazy things happen this year!

HFO was in the news this weekend telling the story of one of our three trips this summer.

KAA was my first camp experience outside of camping in a cabin with my youth group. It was a wonderful experience and I hope it is not my last. KAA was very Christ centered. He was the focus of all that we did.

This camp was also focused on having the heart and mind of a servant. At meal times we were supposed to serve others and let others serve us. This was a neat thing to partake in. There was a lady who filled our glasses full of ice every meal. I would walk into the dining room and she would have the ice bucket filling everybody’s glasses. So it was a real pleasure for me to be able to serve her at the end of the week. When it was time for us to pack up and go I was able to carry her luggage up the hill for her. She was grateful but I don’t know if she knew how grateful I was for her.

Other than the time during my spring service projects I hadn’t spent much time with the kids. This was my first experience with just them and me. And man oh man was it good. The camp had it set up so we would meet with our kids every other day for about an hour. The first day was a little difficult because we didn’t know each other all that well, but by the end of the week things were grand and the kids were finally opening up to me. The hugs I got during that week I will cherish all my life.
Along with this being my first time with the kids by myself this was also one of the first times I was in a leadership role with that many kids. I had 10 kids that were under my care. It was my responsibility to meet with their counselors and just make sure everything was running smoothly. It was a little frightening at first but I felt confident before it was all said and done.

Overall this was a fantastic learning experience for me! I had an awesome time with the kids and a wonderful time with the ladies in my cabin. God was working in so many ways that week. It was nice to get away from all the troubles in this world, and be refreshed by people that love God. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use that week in the kids this summer.

-Nadine Lundgren
Summer Intern

Earlier this year we got a call from our friends at The Bridge Ministry in Lafayette. They told us about this camp in Missouri that they have brought their kids to for the past few years. They had room in their bus this year so they invited the HFO clan to go with them.

At 11pm we jumped on that bus and we were off to Missouri. The bus was full and the kids were pumped. When we arrived the next afternoon none of us knew quite what to expect. We were greeted by a crowd of college students dressed in crazy outfits ready to have some fun. They herded the kids off the bus into the next 7 days of their life.

Kids Across America is a week long camp designed for inner-city youth. They have 3 camps separated by age. Each has its own activities designed for that age range. The kids were able to choose a specialty sport and got intensive instruction and practice throughout the week. They were also able to

participate in other adventure activities like ski-tubing, high ropes courses, water slides and trampolines just to name a few. Some of our kids conquered their fears of heights of water and other social anxieties that go along with being a teenager. The camps ultimate aim is to spread the Gospel. So the kids were challenged and encouraged in their walks with Christ. It was amazing to see the kids surrounded by people that were all after the same end of growing their faith. This camp was able to share the Gospel in a way that was relevant to our students.

While the kids were being poured into by counselors and camp staff, we as leaders had people that were there to pour into us as well. We were able to participate in all the activities the camp had to offer as well as bible studies and networking time to re-energize us to continue the work we do back home. We met new friends and organizations that are just down the road in New Orleans and some from as far as Indiana. We are excited to see how God uses these new relationships as we continue to encourage each other in ministry and collaborate on ideas and vision.

You can be looking for more stories from some of our kids and other staff that were able to experience the excitement of KAA.