“Lu-Lu”

When I first met “Lu-Lu” (Arreal), she was a skinny little kid with pigtails and barrettes. That was six long years ago and Lu-Lu is now a seventeen-year-old High School student. She’s our very first paid “Junior Staff” member.

While we’re excited about having her help out with some of the routine, day to day tasks at Granny’s House, we’re even more excited about helping her learn and develop invaluable job skills, a strong work ethic, and workplace etiquette.

In addition to working at Granny’s House every day, one of Lu-Lu’s favorite roles is being a teacher’s assistant for one of the children’s Sunday school classes at The Crossing. “The people at church are my favorite… especially the little kids. I love them!”
And at Granny’s House, we really love Lu-Lu! -Granny Pam

Happy Birthday To You!

Last fall, Altrusa International sponsored a “Birthday Card Design Contest” at Granny's House. The four winners' cards have been printed and made available for sale at The Pen Point in Downtown Columbia to raise funds for Granny's House.

Each set of eight uniquely designed cards contains all four award-winning designs!

Granny's House Birthday Cards are available exclusively at The Pen Point* for $12.00 for each package of eight cards with envelopes. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Granny's House!

*The Pen Point, 913 E. Broadway, (573) 449-6956

New faces at Granny's House!

Every semester, Granny’s House is blessed with new volunteers, and this semester has been no different as over 30 new faces have made their way to Trinity Place to hang out with our kids!
Coming from local colleges, churches and ministries, these volunteers have brought energy, encouragement and a heart for the Lord to the children we serve each day. We are so excited to watch them love on our kids and can’t wait to watch the Lord work in their lives as well.
Afterall, as the staff at Granny’s House always says “Many people come to Granny’s House to be a blessing to the children, but find in turn, that the children are a blessing to them.”

Our new van!

In October of 2007, thanks to The Crossing church and several individual donations, Granny’s House was able to purchase our first 15 passenger van! This vehicle has been an amazing blessing to the ministry and has been used to transport countless children to places such as church, CALEB the Science Club, MU basketball games, group fieldtrips and many community events. Looking back, we don’t know how we were able to function without it! The children take a lot of pride in our new van, and will be the first to tell you that it an incredible blessing from the Lord! We look forward to many exciting outings to come!

The Rwandans

If I pointed them out in a group photo, there's nothing that would distinguish them from all the other kids. One has missing front teeth, and another one loves wearing a sherbet-striped cap with matching gloves. They're all bright eyed, giggly, and oh-so-curious about everything.

Our new Rwandan friends moved across the street from Granny's House last year and have infused so much joy and excitement into our little Trinity Place haven. They're actually trying to teach me their language. In five months, I've learned only five phrases. Actually, I'm only really good at saying “Bee-Tay!” (“Hi”). That's not much progress, but I keep falling in love in the process. -Granny Pam

Welcome Aboard Rachel!

I remember the first time, nearly five years ago, that Rachel volunteered at Granny's House. In fact, I even remember that ardent look on her face as she stood at the kitchen sink filling watering cans for the kids. “I love this,” she said, describing her affection for Granny's House.

Rachel had come to Granny's House with three other Genesis Project interns to share her love for Jesus with children living in public housing. That was five years ago, two African mission trips ago, and one, red-hot romance with Tyler Bannister, who is now her husband. Rachel Bannister recently joined the Granny's House staff as Project Specialist and is raising financial support for that position. It's obvious to everyone that she still “loves this.” -Granny Pam

Smearing God's Love…

There's an endless stream of books, advice, and philosophies on the importance of upbringing. I especially appreciate Dr. Wess Stafford's* take on childhood:

“CHILDHOOD - We only get one pass at it, and yet it dictates the quality of the rest of our lives. What we think, feel, experience, and endure in this earliest phase is the single most important indicator of what the rest of life is going to be like…”

At Granny's House, we're passionate about investing in this “earliest phase.” We invest kindness, hugs, mercy, good food, face-time, homework help, forgiveness etc. as we communicate our Heavenly Father's heart for the children. We often call what we do at Granny's House “smearing the love of God on the children.” Our goal is to “smear” rather than “apply.” -Granny Pam

*Dr. Wess Stafford is the President and CEO of Compassion International