Josephine House -- A Shelter for Children in Crisis

Founded in late 2008, the Josephine House is dedicated to the memory of Ruth Powlison’s “Auntie Jo” who ran an orphanage in Brazil for 15 years. Its purpose is to provide a temporary home for abandoned babies and children until they can be placed in a Christian home. It was started by Ruth’s instinctive reaction to help children who were in crisis. Babies were dying and there was an immediate need to help. The need for this ministry was confirmed to the Powlisons when a family judge in Cusco, Peru told them she could send a child to Josephine House a day if they were up and running as a home.

Currently there are approximately 14 children at the orphanage. Most are four years old or younger. It is licensed and officially sanctioned by the Peruvian government. This sanctioning allows for placement of children into the home by Peruvian family court decrees, but many children are brought to the orphanage by family members. The connection with the Peruvian government also provides a conduit for the children to be adopted domestically by Peruvians as well as internationally.

Peruvian house parents and staff workers run the home under the Powlison’s direction. Missionary volunteers help as well. Short term mission teams visit to help assist the staff with the children, play with them, and have performed small construction tasks around the orphanage. 

Welcome Sign for Josephine House

"Shelter for Children in Crisis -- Jesus said let the children come to me"

Most of the children are “social orphans”, meaning one or more of their parents are alive and the reason for them being placed in the orphanage are to escape bad family life or for economic reasons. The range of family backgrounds among the children is large. Some children come from families with alcoholic fathers. Some have unwed mothers. Others are truly orphaned with deceased parents. Two children have a mentally ill mother and no known father. One was conceived by rape. Some have medical issues to include spina bifida, Down’s syndrome, and seizures. 

Back View of the Josephine House Building

The Powlisons have a “covenant view” of the children and they baptize them accordingly. Josephine House is a home, not an institution. The children enter the home in the spirit of Christ who said, “Let the little children come to me.” 

The children live together as a family under the care of Godly workers.  The children are fed well.  Their development is tracked on growth charts.  The staff does exercises with the kids to ensure their muscles are worked.   The love of the children have for each other is apparent when they circle around Beltran, a child with severe special needs, and sing “Ole! Ole! Ole! Beltran Ganara!  (Beltran will win!)” Seeing a group of orphans sing a song with this message to a child with such needs would seem silly to the world, but in Christ we know Beltran truly will win. 
 

 Care giver about to do exercise/play time with Beltran and another child.

 

 Mary Belle exercising/playing with younger children.

The Powlisons are striving to make the orphanage more self sufficient. Cattle and garden projects to raise food are two examples. Raising guinea pigs to sell at the market is another. A new well will help make Josephine House independent of the current unstable water supply as well as providing a water source for the garden project. Stables, green houses, and chicken coops are all things that are needed to further improve the long-term stability of the orphanage.

Several options exist for the children long-term. In some cases, they may return to live with their biological families. Others may not have this option. A Phase II for Josephine House is eventually planned to help meet the needs of older children. In the best case, children will be adopted to Christian families.

For more information about Josephine House visit:  www.josephinehouse.org