Okay, I know this looks bad. Let me explain. . .

This picture was taken yesterday at a DARE program where I had the opportunity to speak to the 5th grade class of South Street Elementary. No, I was not arrested yesterday. But the fact is, 11 years ago I was arrested. Those shackles were the grand crescendo, the “EPIC FAIL” of my young 18-year-old life.

Yesterday’s program let me share my story in a way I haven’t before. It was surreal. I distinctly remember in junior high a DARE presentation was made at my school where an inmate in an orange jumpsuit shared his own “epic fail” story about drugs ruining his life, and ultimately landing him in jail. That junior high version of me thought I was so different from that inmate, and that I would never go to jail.

Yesterday it all came full circle.

I was the one standing up in an orange jumpsuit, pleading with these young people for their futures. I feel like I am a lifetime away from my experience with drugs. The spell of deception has been broken and all I see is the reality of the death it carries! With stories of friends’ funerals and images of families broken to pieces in my head, my passion to fight the war for the hearts of these young people is fueled by everything I know is at stake.

As I look around Opelousas, I see a deep oppression the dope game has had on the people that live here. A self-inflicted slavery, it is championed by music, culture, and especially those trapped in it. Misery loves company.

I’m praying for the liberation of souls in this city. I am ready to go to war for it, my brothers and sisters.

Would you pray and fight with me?

-Loren

We hope this post finds you refreshed and grateful at the close of another year! HFO experienced some incredible growth in 2011–in the depth of our programming, scope of fundraising, and student relationships. As you may know, each blessing brings more responsibility, challenges, and hope along with it. Thankful for these opportunities, we would like to re-cap some of the highlights—

• HFO excitedly received our first and second grants from the Pugh Family Foundation to fund the ‘Agents of Hope’ high school internship program, which launched with the hiring of five seniors from OHS to work with our after-school program.

• Spring Break mission teams visited Opelousas once again! We played host to thirty college students for a week, serving all over Opelousas in the name of Christ. This work included helping to raise $13,000 with ‘A Night on the Town’ homelessness awareness event, with more than 600 attendees.

• Two interns helped support us this year—the ‘2011 Summer Internship’ program brought Nadine Lundgren to HFO to serve as our summer intern. HFO also hired our first ‘Grace Corps’ member, Hannah McBride, to have our dream for a year-long internship position realized.

• HFO brought twenty-three kids to the ‘KAA Summer Camp,’ a week long Christian sports camp, instigating a new summer tradition. What a blast!

• Eight students traveled with us to the 9th Ward in New Orleans for the first ‘HFO Mission Trip’ to work, pray, and play with new friends.

• ‘Adventure Crew 2011’ canoed the Buffalo River and Heber Springs in Arkansas for forty miles of cliff diving and fishing adventures.

• And last, but not at all least, HFO purchased a second home next door to our current property to expand our after-school program, looking to double the amount of students we serve by 2013.

We share our joy with you—our supporters, mentors, and family—in these milestones and the restoration they bring. We are thankful to all of you who have walked with us these last four years and we are trusting to God’s loving provision to overwhelm our family, and yours, in 2012.

Peace!

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!!

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!

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

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.

The cost is $150 a student. This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, or bible study groups to consider partnering with us to serve.

You can mail a check or donate through our website with a credit card or paypal account. Just designate that your donation is for HFO Summer Camp.

If you are excited about helping partner please paste this link on your facebook or twitter and tell your friends to partner with us!

Thanks,
Loren
Hope for Opelousas

Meet the Agents of Hope interns:

Carmen Washington

My name is Carmen Washington. I am a senior at Opelousas Senior High. After high school I plan on furthering my education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA. There, I want to major in secretarial studies. Although I love to do busy work, I enjoy reading, writing, and listening to music. I love learning and enjoy the feeling of sharing my knowledge with others. The feeling of succeeding in a goal sends magic through my soul. I know, feel, and believe that I can, and will, be the best I can be in life. With love, care, and tenderness around me I know there is a reason for me to believe in myself as well as others. I am Carmen Washington, the future leader of tomorrow’s world.

Carla Rosero

Hello Everyone! My name is Carla Rosero. I’m eighteen years old and I go to Opelousas Senior High School. I love sports, especially tennis, and all sorts of music, mainly rock. I absolutely love to sketch. I adore children and could like to do all I could to see to it that our future generations prosper.

Jaferrius Thomas

Hi my name is Jaferrius Thomas. Im nineteen years old and am a 12^th grade senior at Opelousas Senior High School. I like to play in our school band and march as well. I would like to attend Southern University and go for General Studies. I would like to learn from this job but mainly from the kids. I think learning from kids is a great idea because the children are our future. And in order to have a successful future we must learn about the people that will be in it. With this opportunity I would love someone to say I made a difference in their life.

Renesha Darthard

My name’s Renesha Darthard. I’m nineteen years old and I’m a senior at Opelousas Sr. High. I enjoy reading, writing, and playing sports. I hope that by becoming a part of Hope for Opelousas, I can become even more outgoing and experience life and childcare. I also hope that by God’s grace I can be a great contribution to Hope for Opelousas, the children, the community, and one day the world.