Miami is known as a place for raucous Spring Break celebrations. A group of 14 college students from Abilene Christian University helped demonstrate that Miami can also be a place for serving and loving those in need.
This is the 5th year Miami has hosted ACU students for Spring Break, and this year the group focused their efforts on His House, a faith-based children’s home just north of Liberty City. Although the group was not able to work with the children (security clearances could not be obtained in time), they were able to serve in tremendous ways to help this organization serve the fatherless and abandoned children of Miami. His House has over 80 children on site, and some 350 in foster care.
As with many charitable organizations, keeping up with donated items is an ongoing task. When the group arrived, the donations room was so packed it was difficult to walk through it. They cleared out all the items that would not be of use for the children at His House, and organized the remaining items. The plan is to make a boutique where the children can come each month and choose clothing and other items.
The other major task was Building 32. This building was even more jam-packed with stuff, mostly furniture and large items. The building was desperately needed as another home for children, so the stuff had to go. Everything was loaded onto trucks heading to the dump, other area churches, and items that could be used at His House. I was amazed at how much heavy lifting this group of mostly women was able to accomplish. ACU girls are buff and tough!
While the benefits to His House were huge, the impact of His House on these college students was ever greater. Various have indicated that they would like to return to Miami and work either at His House or in some other capacity in Miami. Come on down! There is plenty to do and the workers are few. Thank God for raising up workers from ACU. Slow clap for ACU! (I apologize for the veiled reference — the group knows exactly what I mean!)
Orphaned children can find a home at His House.
There is a Christian School on site, with teachers and support from Dade Christian School.
On our tour of homes, we were impressed by each house and room.
Teenagers are two to a room,
and younger children are four to a room.
The donation room!
Building 32!!
The buff and tough, hard at work.
More than one student in the group said this was their best campaign experience ever. I agree!
