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After he received the gift of a personally recorded piano solo tape from his daughter Major Eileen Hoogstad, for Father’s Day, Orrin Smith, encouraged her to use her God-given gift of playing to serve others.
As a result of her father’s encouragement, Hoogstad now donates the proceeds from all five of her heartfelt, spirit-filled piano solo recordings, “Time For Christmas;” “It is Well With My Soul;” “In Quiet Pastures;” and “People Need the Lord” toward rebuilding the monsoon devastated, 68-bed Salvation Army Children’s Home in Palu, Indonesia, a project close to her heart.
At least five times a year monsoon floods hit the home, situated below the road, causing walls to crumble.
The girls (including six officers’ children) who reside in the home climb to the top bunks of their beds when floods come and stay there until the water subsides.
The Children’s Home has no indoor plumbing and only a very primitive kitchen, where all drinking water has to be boiled. Rice is the girls’ main meal, eaten morning and evening, sometimes with donated tofu or chicken added. The girls love the Lord and often pray that rice will be donated.
As they realize the desperate need for a home that sits higher up, many individuals are starting to contribute to a building fund, but more help is needed. The hope is to rebuild in February 2002.
For more information about the Palu, Indonesia Children’s Home or to order tapes and CDs, call Major Eileen Hoogstad, 1-916-563-3751, EHoogstad @ aol.com, or Eileen Hoogstad (Lotus notes).
