Divine Word Farms

Divine Word Missionaries is operating a 300-acre farm near Osceola, Iowa, to support a missionary ministry in Kinshasa, Congo.  The farm is named Divine Word Farm:  Kinshasa.

Divine Word Farm:  Kinshasa will grow corn and soybeans, with the funds going to support ORPER, the children’s ministry in Kinshasa.  ORPER operates six homes and two open centers for abandoned street children in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa.

Congo, formerly called Zaire, has been wracked by war for many years. Many socio-economic factors contribute to the desperate situation of thousands of children who have been driven into the streets.

The Kinshasa ministry currently operates six residential centers for 135 boys and 51 girls.  The centers provide housing, food, clothing and schooling for these kids.  Besides the residential centers, the ministry also operates two open welcome centers where street kids can come for safe haven, a meal, a place to do laundry and plenty of support and love.  Last year over 3,000 kids were treated at the medical clinic.

Divine Word Farm:  Kinshasa will provide a basic level of support on a stable basis. It costs about $2.40 per day to provide food, clothing and education for one child in a residential center.

Orissa is comprised of about 420 acres in Clark County, Iowa and it supports Vikas Deepti in Orissa, India.

Fr. John Maliekal SVD is the director Vikas Deepti a home for children with physical handicaps and for persons with leprosy.

Each year Vikas Deepti admits nearly 50 children who suffer from polio, cerebral palsy or other debilitating diseases.  After a thorough assessment, the medical team designs a plan for rehabilitation, which may include surgery, prosthetic devices, physical therapy and education.  The goal is to complete the rehabilitation process and return the children to their homes, now able to live a healthier and more mobile life.

Twice a year Vikas Deepti conducts camps in nearby villages.  These ten-day camps are designed to give families some strategies for overcoming a child’s disability; to promote more acceptance of children with disabilities in the family; to train parents to offer their children appropriate physical activity; and to identify children who would most benefit from a longer period at Vikas Deepti.  Last year Vikas Deepti fitted over 120 children with prosthetic aids.

Last year Vikas Deepti began an outreach into the community in and around Orissa.  After visiting many schools and families, a number of young adults with disabilities were chosen to participate in job training.  Forty-three young men were selected for welding classes and forty-three women were provided training in tailoring and embroidery.

Vikas Deepti also serves persons afflicted with leprosy.  For over thirteen years, Vikas Deepti has worked to improve the conditions within colonies where lepers live.  Fr. John began a revolving loan fund to allow persons with leprosy to acquire the means to make a living.  The fund has loaned money for rickshaws and livestock.  The centers have also established fishponds to provide income to the colonies.  The current focus is building concrete houses, which are rat-proof.  The goal is to build 100 houses.  So far, 70 have been built.  The ultimate goal of the colonies is to end segregation and bring the persons with leprosy back into mainstream society.

Divine Word Farm: Pune, is located in Decatur County, Iowa and consists of 257 acres.  This farm supports a Divine Word Ministry in Pune (Poo-Nah), India that cares for poor children.  Pune is an industrial city about 75 miles from Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Divine Word Social Service Organization (DWSSO), established in 1979, began with vocational training for disadvantaged children.  Children learned basic trades, such as typewriting, shorthand, tailoring and embroidery.  Graduates earned a certificate, which was recognized by the Indian government.  Since its humble beginning, over 1,500 students have earned their certificates at DWSSO.

As time went on, new social problems arose.  The ministry began to meet the needs of children living on the streets, many of who were infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.  Today the ministry assists 635 children in a home-based program.  Staff members from DWSSO help to ensure that the children attend school, offer summer camp activities, sponsor workshops on life skills and offer medical and nutritional support.  Another 112 receive full-time care at DWSSO residential care program.

DWSSO also provides micro-loans for families and children who are graduating the program.  For example, a family was loaned about $100, which they used to purchase a cow.  The cow produced a daily income from her milk.  Other graduates or families have borrowed money for other small businesses, for example, growing vegetables, growing flowers and sewing.

Pune has a big problem with street kids, some of who are barely five years old.  Children loiter around railway and bus stations, trying somehow to beg or earn enough money for food by washing cars or collecting recyclables.   DWSSO tries to intervene before children get caught up in crime or prostitution.  The ministry also operates a drop-in center where the children to seek safety and take care of some of their daily needs.

Divine Word Farm: Pune will provide a regular, annual level of support for the Divine Word ministry in Pune.

Divine Word Cattle Farm:  Thailand supports the Mother of Perpetual Help Center where there is a hospice for children with HIV/AIDS and a hospice unit for adults.  The hospice is located in the province of Nong Bua Lamphu in the Catholic Diocese of Udon Thani in northeast Thailand.  This is one of the poorest areas of Thailand. 

Along with Brother Damien Lunders SVD are three other Divine Word Missionaries:

Brother Ron Fratzke, Father Anthony Le and Father Truc Phan.  Members of the religious community established by Mother Teresa, the Missionaries of Charity, are also involved in this important ministry. 

Today twenty-four children live in the children’s home.  The adult hospice unit can accommodate up to ten at a given time and 30 to 40 in one year.

The cattle farm, west of Osceola, Iowa, raises 500 head of beef cattle.  Proceeds from this venture support the ministry at the Mother of Perpetual Help Center.