From the Streets to the Father’s House: LOL Children’s Home in Belize
- Bob Gustafson
- Oct 1
- 5 min read
In 1985, our founders Dennis and Robin Nonnemacher took their very first mission trip to Belize. Seeds of caring for children and orphans were planted, and God’s call to the nations began to grow. Forty years later, those seeds have come full circle in Punta Gorda, where our partners Jervis and Melissa Fisher lead the Laugh Out Loud Children’s Home (LOL), a place where children who have been abandoned or abused find not just shelter, but family.
I (Bob) first met Jervis and Melissa at Texas Bible Institute in 1996. But Jervis’s journey to that place was far from easy. At just eight years old, he was forced to stand in front of his class at the chalkboard, unable to answer a single question. Humiliated, he went home the next day, opened his notebook, and realized he didn’t even know how to spell his own name. From that day forward, he gave himself a name and identity , which he carried with the equivalent in Creole: “Dumb.”
Shame became the label he carried, and soon the streets became his classroom. Gangs became his family. Drugs, crime, and violence marked his teenage years. A drug deal gone wrong left him shot in the leg, and an infection nearly cost him the limb. In a miraculous turn, Jervis met an American surgeon at a church service who performed emergency surgery that saved his leg and likely his life.
His father, desperate to save his son from a path that would end in prison or death, sent him to Texas Bible Institute. Though Jervis originally went to hide, it was there that he encountered the Father he had long been missing. “At TBI,” he says, “I met Jesus as my Father, and everything changed.” What the enemy meant for harm, God used for good—the saving of many lives.
Today, Jervis and Melissa lead LOL Children’s Home with that same heart of adoption. Children who come through their doors don’t wait for paperwork or future placement to belong. They belong immediately as sons and daughters. Daily life includes schoolwork at the kitchen table, chores alongside house-parents, laughter, birthdays, bedtime prayers, and even a family dog.
The ministry now cares for over 40 children in family-style homes, provides education through a Learning Center, and equips young adults through tiny transitional houses where they practice independence while still surrounded by love and support.
On this recent trip to Belize, I was joined by Chad Chism, a faithful member of our board of directors. Chad has walked with Dennis and Robin since the founding days of Going Global Inc. His heart for missions is evident, and it was powerful to see him pray with faith for the sick, encourage our partners, and strengthen the work on the ground. Chad’s presence on this trip was a reminder that Going Global Inc. is not built on a few, but on a family of believers who give, go, and carry the message of Jesus to the nations.
The same nation where Dennis and Robin first answered God’s call in 1985, and where a broken young man once ran from gangs, is now home to a thriving ministry where children are discovering their identity in Christ. Seeds planted decades ago are bearing fruit for a new generation.
Going Global Inc. is unique in our model, which is a great blessing to our partners who give. We function with 100% of designated giving going directly to the field, supporting orphans, widows, and pastors in remote areas. Our operations are sustained by those who specifically give toward the work of Going Global Inc. itself. We are blessed to function in this way, and we pray it encourages you. On this trip, Chad’s church gave the first donation for Belize that our ministry has received. For several years, we have faithfully supported LOL from our operations budget, and now we believe this first gift is a seed that will grow and multiply in Belize.
Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus with the globe!
Bob Gustafson
President, Going Global Inc.
Spotlight: Bangladesh
We are blessed to come alongside our partners Sukhen and Puspa in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Their ministry includes three family-based children’s homes, where vulnerable children find safety, love, and the opportunity to grow in faith. They also lead a widow’s ministry that is reaching 263 women, offering dignity, encouragement, and hope in the midst of hardship.
Bangladesh is a nation of more than 175 million people, and with its rapid population growth, the needs of widows and orphans are immense. More than 4 million children are considered orphans, and millions of widows face social and economic vulnerability. On top of this, Bangladesh is both a source and transit country for human trafficking, where women and children are often exploited through labor and sexual exploitation.
In this context, the ministry in Bangladesh is a picture of God’s redeeming love. By caring for children in family-style homes, supporting widows with community and provision, and standing against the forces that exploit the vulnerable, they embody James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”
Prayer for Nepal
In recent weeks, massive protests have erupted across Nepal, fueled by anger over corruption and growing hardship for the poor. Demonstrators in Kathmandu even set fire to government buildings, including Parliament and key administrative offices, reflecting the desperation many feel.
In the midst of this unrest, our partners Paul and Bawana continue to serve in the slums of Kathmandu. These communities already struggle with poverty, lack of clean water, and limited education. Children and widows are among the most vulnerable, and their daily struggles are compounded by the instability in the nation.
We ask you to pray for Nepal, for Paul and Bawana, and for the communities they serve. This October, we will travel with a team of four to Nepal to stand with them, bring encouragement, and share the hope of Christ.
Food For Thought
“My soul finds rest in God alone.”
Psalm 62:1
Our souls were designed to feel peace, calm, safety, and confidence. The only place we will find it is in God alone.
Prayer Requests
You can be an essential part of our ministry by praying for us. Prayer is a powerful weapon, and we value your prayers. If you would like us to pray for you, please email your prayer requests to us. Here are some specifics to pray for:
We thank you in advance for praying for the following:
Pray for your pastor and family.
Pray for the mission trip to Nepal.
Pray for the family-based children’s homes in Belize and Bangladesh.
Ministry Goal
“And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” - Luke 24:31
We founded Going Global Inc. in 2007 with this ministry goal. It remains our heart today. Thank you for praying and partnering with us. Together, we can achieve much!
Dennis & Robin Nonnemacher
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Help reach orphans, widows, and pastors in remote areas of the world.
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