Covenant Village/Almost Homes

I just can't escape some things these days as the prospect of planting Covenant Village/Almost Homes is ALL over me. I knew this would happen down the line, but have to admit that I am surprised that the opportunity has happened so quickly. I think of where God planted things in me I could not turn from...That adoption was not going to be the end. Below is a blog entry from when I was in ET and was still being told that Selah's chances were SLIM of returning home with me...her situation was hopeless in ET at this point...AIDS took over (At least, by sight)...This perspective has never left me...


The only thing that is keeping me from flipping out about not having control of my flight home is the humble reminder of how many heartbroken mothers here in ET are watching their children die before their eyes with NO hope of a lifesaving flight to the U.S..........the distance between here and the U.S. doesn't diminish the devastation for the mothers here, their pain isn't any more bearable here....in fact here, they must throw their hands up in the air and crumble into a sea of hopelessness, the sea that separates their children from medicine, and results in preventable, inexcusable horrible death......today I cry for them and their pain and their hopelessness.......I ask God why is it that I may have hope and that they don't..........WHO is failing these precious mothers and their children?...........IT IS NOT GOD THAT IS FAILING THEM!!!!!!

This realization is huge part of what is driving the goals for Covenant Village. I have to share, that it is a bit scary. As Project HOPEFUL, we are spread a bit thin, yet the call to dive into this is unmistakable. I am attaching the goals and mini vision for Covenant Village/Almost Homes:

COVENANT VILLAGE/ALMOST HOMES
Legadadi, Ethiopia
A VISION to care of Orphans and widows/woman infected with HIV. Holistic care including; Specialized medical clinic, psychosocial care, education, spiritual needs and housing in a self-sustaining atmosphere. Focusing on the needs of the community, integrating the Covenant Village purpose into the community through sponsorships and relief efforts, with the first goal to maintain families and eliminate the need for woman to relinquish their children for reasons that can be alleviated.

ALMOST HOMES
• Family like settings (cottages) for 5-8 children consistently with 2 caregivers. Unlike typical orphanage setting, children will be raised in small family units. Providing for a nurturing atmosphere, with emotional development and care being paramount.
• The goal ultimately to place the children in forever adoptive families, after the possibility to keep them with family in country is exhausted.
• We will utilize HIV+ widows and HIV+ young women, to care for the children, giving them housing, education and medical care.
• Every child shall be paired with Christian family/person in U.S. to advocate and pray and ACT until the child is placed in FOREVER family. (Families In the Gap, FIGS…)

FAITH MONTESSORI SCHOOLING
• Hands on learning, crosses language barriers. Originated for underprivileged children.
• Encourages self-learning and teaching .
• Train women to be certified Montessori teachers and contribute to the village and community.
• Excellent and easy to replicate materials and manipulatives. Sturdy and easy to clean and maintain.
• Stimulating and fresh atmosphere full of HOPE and KNOWLEDGE.

SELF-SUSTAINING VILLAGE
• 6 fresh springs
• Clean river
• Acres for agriculture, chickens, cows and sheep
• Bee keeping
• Potential for income and industry Career and skill training
• Building materials, for bricks etc. on site. Adequate soil compounds.

MEDICAL CLINIC
• Specialized clinic within the compound to treat and monitor HIV and related infections.
• Available to community to sustain first goal of maintaining original family units.
• Consistent health care in a community that otherwise has none.
• Aid to prevent passing HIV to unborn by infected mothers, providing means necessary with medication and baby formula to reduce the chance of transmission.

NEW HOPE CHURCH and RELATIONSHIP CENTER
• Community outreach respectful and loving to the culture…. living JESUS through love and care of the most vulnerable people in the world today.
• FOCUS on THE PURE AND FAULTLESS RELIGION in all facets and seeing it through from beginning to end. Teaching relationship with the LIVING GOD that SEES them KNOWS them and LOVES them. THE TRUE GRACE MESSAGE…. No…really…THE TRUTH OF THE GRACE MESSAGE.
• Reducing stigma through the actions of the church, through caring for HIV + orphans and widows without ceasing.
• Church building and worship center, community center.
• Feeding program
• Sponsorship disbursement
• Integration and HIV education
• Skill and career training
• HEALING….HEALING….HEALING and a little more HEALING. Through recognizing the VALUE of ONE at a time.

EDUCATING, ENCOURAGING and ENABLING families adopting children with HIV/AIDS. EXPANDING: Creating villages to fulfill His intentions for the orphans and widows, the lonely and the desolate.
"A FATHER to the FATHERLESS and protector of widows is God in His holy dwelling.God places the lonely IN FAMILIES and gives the desolate A HOME in which to dwell;" Ps 68:5-6 Any questions?

Please join us in prayer on this....as we seek all that is needed to pull this off. Obviously we will be doing some fund raising, and putting together missions trips. Our first phase is to fence of the buildable acreage for approximately 14 acres...The cost for this is $4,400. this is to employ and pay Ethiopians to do it. We can curb costs a small amount by sending out a team to help set posts, but we also want to store up team energy for the larger builds. The school building can be multi-purpose while the rest is being taken care of. We have an Italian Architect firm in Addis that has done the plans and cost breakdowns. If you are interested in seeing these please e mail me.

I am trying to incorporate the travel necessary for the adoption of Andarge and Eyerus with the needed travel and business dealings with the village. YES..we are still working on getting our kids HOME...it is TIME to reunite these children.

We will be doing some raffles and selling a few different items to support PH and this worthy effort. PLEASE add them to your blogs...every little bit helps......

Please join us in this...PLEASE help us to give permanent relief to these children and women in Ethiopia. I can't get our sisters in Christ in Ethiopia out of my head. They are PRAYING for us to care for their children they will leave behind, that they live knowing they have passed HIV to their children...We HAVE to be HIS hands and feet on this earth...we have to care for the most vulnerable, no matter what it takes...