If you've read here before, you probably know that one of the ministries that I love and adore
is the folks at
Children's HopeChest; an internationally focused organization based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their motto is simple: Encourage orphans to thrive in their home culture and know God through a personal relationship with Christ.
While HopeChest's model is simple, it is the approach that I adore.
Take an American community; a church, a school, a business, etc.
and partner them with an international community;
a village, a church, a school, etc. who is in need of encouragement and capital.
This partnership provides that the American partner obtain individual sponsors at $34 per month for
the children currently in the international program
to provide basic medical care, school and uniforms.
Individual sponsors are encouraged to send letters to their sponsorship child.
But the commitment doesn't end there.
The American partners are encouraged to send a travel group at least once a year to check the progress of the development and assess other needs which may lead to other development projects.
For example, this year, LoPa Art stepped up to fund through our art sales, a brick making project for the Hand for the Needy care point in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Currently, all of the children at HFN are individually sponsored, but the care center
was is desperate need of income generating ideas for the elder boys aging out of the system.
Thus, the brick making project was born.
(And fully funded by the way. :)
Currently HopeChest has 150 care points and projects in 8 different countries wold wide.
I have advocated for HopeChest to partner with two congregations in our metro area
and LOVE watching the communities here fall in love with two separate communities in Uganda.
While my family sponsors other children through other organizations over the world, I love through our church that all of our children know each other. Each time a trip from Westmoore Church travels to Ngariam, Uganda, we are updated with pictures and videos of our kids.
Our family's small group love sharing letters from one another's sponsored kids.
Such a beautiful picture of community here in South Oklahoma City.
And in Ngariam, Uganda.
So image my giddy delight when HopeChest asked me to accept a volunteer position with them.
To advocate for other churches, schools and businesses to travel with me once a year to the different countries HopeChest serves worldwide.
Uh...YES!!!
I only had one request...that this first trip would be to my favorite place.
You know what it is...
Ethiopia.
So that's where we're headed.
July 6-16th, 2013.
There are currently 5-6 new locations that are looking for an American partner.
We will travel to these locations as well as 2 sites that are currently being sponsored so that
you may see the difference between what a partnership and un-partnership can mean.
We will spend time in the capital city of Addis Ababa and also in the rural region of Awassa.
We will also be traveling to the red light district in Addis to minister to the over
40,000 prostitutes and children who live there.
If you, your pastor, your best friend, your manager, your church leadership board would
like to know more information about partnership, email me.
I'll send you some information about travel, partnership and Ethiopia in general.
I cannot wait to lead this trip with HopeChest staff and see the way God uses this for His glory.
Now...go pack your bags!
