'Embracing Orphans' in Jamaica

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg Christian Church pastor Matthew Wyatt is excited to finally be planning a long-anticipated service trip with Carl Robanske, founder of Embracing Orphans. The Waitsburg Christian Church will host a Race for Grace 5K run/walk on Sunday, July 30, to raise funds for the trip, which will take place during spring break in 2018.

"The idea of this mission trip is a culmination of many years of friendship," Wyatt said.

Robanske graduated from high school in Dayton in 1997 while Wyatt is a WHS grad. The two schools combined for cross-country, and the pair ran together for two years, becoming fast friends, Wyatt said.

As the years progressed, Wyatt became a pastor in California, while Robanske, founded the non-profit organization Embracing Orphans. For the past eight years, Robanske and his organization have worked to improve the quality of life for orphaned, abused, and neglected children in Jamaica. He was formerly a teacher and coach in Walla Walla, but is now devoting himself full time to Embracing Orphans.

Wyatt said he followed everything Robanske was doing, and even attempted to set up a mission trip with his California youth group three years ago. But logistics prevented it.

"I told him that if I ever got up to Washington, I would love to join with him in this amazing mission (not knowing that I would ever get back to Washington)," Wyatt said.

Wyatt was called as the pastor of the Christian Church in September 2016, and wasted no time in connecting with Robanske.

"I met with him my first week here and quickly became a member of his advisory board. We began brainstorming how to get our church to Jamaica," Wyatt said.

Embracing Orphans ministers to youth in many ways and has built playgrounds, set up youth camps, taken kids on beach outings, and opened a home for at-risk teenage girls. They work closely with the childcare and protection agency of Jamaica, the Child Development Agency, to determine where the greatest needs are.

"One of the gifts that Carl has is his ability to identify the strengths of each group member and utilize them in the proper setting. We will be feeding infants, sitting and talking with orphans, performing service projects on anything that need fixing or built, and more," Wyatt said. "There will also be a fun day when we'll hit the beach, and even go on a glass-bottom boat ride."

Wyatt is especially excited that the dates chosen, March 20 – April 8, will allow his group to experience Easter Sunday services in Jamaica.

He said anyone interested in participating in the 5K and/or the service trip is welcome to attend, not just church members. "We realize that the bigger group of individuals who love Jesus, the bigger impact we will have in Jamaica," he said.

"I'm so excited to see the way God will move in Jamaica, not only through these orphans but also through the service team members that will be going. I've had the pleasure of talking to many individuals who have experienced this trip and the main theme was that they return home changed forever. We will be able to experience Jamaican culture through life experiences and be able to serve in ways that also allow growth in these incredible human beings," Wyatt said.

The first main fundraiser for the trip will be the Race for Grace 5K, on July 30. The race is an offshoot of the church's Run for God ministry, started by Sandra Farley. All proceeds from the race will go directly to the Embracing Orphans service trip fund.

"I'm extremely proud of Pam Conover and Sandra Farley, who took the reins and created this idea for the Race for Grace. It took an extraordinary amount of time and effort to start Run for God in our church building, and then move it into the 5K in July. This has been a way to help dozens of individuals learn more about God through fellowship and exercise." Wyatt said.

Race for Grace registration forms can be found on the Christian Church website at waitsburgchristianchurch.org under the Run for God/Race for Grace link or at Waitsburg Grocery. The $25 entry fee includes a T-shirt if registrations are received by July 15. Entry fee on the day of the race is $20 with no T-shirt. For more information contact Sandra Farley at (509) 520-1774 or rsfarley96@gmail.com.