As the South African Airways Airbus ascended into the clouds above Washington DC, I looked out the window and realized that God’s calling on my life was now a reality.  The Hooshga Project was on its way to South Africa!  I remembered my words to the Lord as my daughter, Libby, lay dying in her hospital bed: “Lord if you heal my little girl, then I will take her story of healing, her love for Jesus and the gospel message to children all over the world.”  I was overcome with emotions of joy and sadness.  Libby is with the Lord now but she is watching from heaven as I take the story of her ultimate healing, her love for Jesus and the gospel message to children across the globe.

Hooshga, The Good News Turtle, has gripped the hearts of children and adults in 10 different countries.  Hooshga was the name of Libby’s precious stuffed turtle that she loved to hold while looking at her picture bible. Libby had quadriplegic cerebral palsy and could not speak but she loved Jesus!  Her love for Christ inspired me, under the umbrella of IC Orphans, to start The Hooshga Project that brings the gospel to orphans and vulnerable children.  Libby died in 2011 from a seizure but her memory lives on inside of a ministry that has already reached thousands (visit hooshga.org).

This past June, I had the privilege of taking The Hooshga Project into South Africa. I was able to go there with my brother, Dave (a long time missionary to South Africa), his wife, Debbie, their son, Michael and his girlfriend, Kerry.  Hooshga was introduced into the Valley of A Thousand Hills through the ministry of Joe Morris called “Jesus To The Needy”.  This valley is known as the epicenter of HIV.  Poverty and death rule this area and orphaned children are walking all over this valley.  Parents die from AIDS, leaving their children all alone or with grandmothers in tiny shacks.  There can be as many as 8-10 children in one shack.  Joe Morris takes food, medicine and Christ’s love into the valley.  We were able to give over 100 Hooshga Care packages to these children!  Sharing Libby’s story, her love for Jesus and the gospel message through The Hooshga Project’s wordless gospel picture book brought 40 children, teens, young adults and even grandmothers into a personal understanding and relationship with Jesus.  This tool originally designed for children, is also making an impact on illiterate adults who are giving their lives to Jesus because they are able to understand the message contained in this wordless book.

While in South Africa, The Hooshga Project visited three orphanages and was shared in three churches. While at Makaphutu Children’s Home, Hooshga was presented to all the house moms as an evangelistic training tool–now all the new children entering the orphanage can hear the gospel through the eyes of Hooshga!  Praise God for His goodness and faithfulness on this amazing trip!  I am very thankful for Joe Morris’ ministry and what God is doing there in South Africa.  You can learn more about Morris’ ministry at jesustotheneedy.com

My wife, Melissa, and daughter, Abby, also had the honor of taking Hooshga to China on a mission trip with Grace Community Church.  While there, they were able to present The Hooshga Project VBS to orphans at Shepherd’s Field Children’s Orphanage.  They gave 95 Hooshga Care Packages, as Christ’s message of salvation was made known.

I cannot help but reflect on Romans 1:16 which says “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”  Libby was not ashamed of the gospel.  She very openly loved Jesus and was not afraid to kiss the pictures of him in her bible.  Now her little turtle and gospel picture book are reaching orphans and vulnerable children in so many places!  God has called me to take this amazing story to the ends of the earth.  There are millions more children and adults that need to hear about Jesus and God is using The Hooshga Project to reach them!

Flying back home on another South African Airways Airbus, I was once again struck with incredible emotion thinking about what God was doing through the life of a precious three-year-old girl.  God spoke these words to my heart, “this is just the beginning, trust in me.”  Please pray for this amazing outreach as thousands more Hooshga Care Packages need to be produced.  My prayer is that through the local church (see icorphans.org), Hooshga will reach the world.  I am ready to go wherever He leads and need God’s people to join me!

In Christ,

Chris Grohman – Libby’s Dad and Founder of The Hooshga Project