The Bible makes clear that the Lord is nearest to the poor in spirit. And where God’s heart is we want to be also. What could be a truer index of MorningStar’s Vision and Mission than that of being agents of justice and defenders of the poor, particularly for children who find themselves trapped in broken societies and abject poverty in the world’s most remote places—trapped, and feeling abandoned.

Our senior leaders, Ken Jaeger and Matt Turner, have walked the path of poverty many times in developing nations, each trip a profound and humbling experience, deepening their resolve that MorningStar Senior Living play a central role in impacting the world for good.

MorningStar has been privileged to invest in the people of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

To the forlorn area of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, Ken Jaeger first came in 2010.  There he met Pastor Earl Bowie and his fledging orphan ministry, Casa Bernabé. On the plane ride home, Ken’s heart was clenched by the desperation of need he’d witnessed. “I knew I couldn’t turn the page on this. What I saw insisted on a response.”

The concentrated volunteer efforts ever since have made their loving mark on the orphanage and its surrounding village. Today, for the 140 children it serves, Casa Bernabé has new dormitories; dining hall and commercial kitchen; soccer field and basketball court—a miracle of progress made possible by teams of volunteer workers and donors. Ken and his grown children have led many of these teams themselves; in 2016, he took 15 leaders from MorningStar’s Home Office.

This ministry of love to the people of Eastern Nicaragua has advanced our mission in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

Without clean water, life is a torment.

Nearly 90% of diseases worldwide are caused by unsafe drinking water, poor Hygiene and inadequate sanitation. Every 60 seconds, a child dies from waterborne illnesses. That’s 1440 kids a day. The hours spent finding distant water, no matter how unclean, is time not invested in income-producing, parenting and educational pursuits, all of which keep families in a devastating cycle of poverty.

To an Ethiopian village of 500, who have known nothing but filthy water teeming with disease, imagine the joy when first they see water surging forth from a new well—clear and cold and fresh. This is Answered Prayer. This changes Everything.

Lifewater focuses not only on delivering a safe water source, but on ensuring good hygiene in every villager’s home.

MorningStar is an abiding partner of Lifewater, impressed by the rigors of its project management and outstanding sustained results.