The Dream - becoming a reality!
Vision renewed
A few months ago, we had the opportunity of meeting an American pastor visiting Sakhalin, meeting with local pastors in a conference. I (Tracy) cannot tell you how much I felt the pastor was talking to me directly! He spoke about dreams and how we all have dreams that have died, but God wants to revive those dreams. I went home so full of excitement with a million questions racing through my mind.
As I prayed with Pete that night what became clear to us was that we had allowed our dream for the House of Grace and Hope "Center" to die as being an impossible dream and settled instead with the present drop-in house as the final picture. Anything more seemed too big, too expensive and out of our hands!
Over the next several days we began to pray and talk about how we could start this process. Appealing for money just seemed wrong as we are so generously supported by so many people constantly. The following Wednesday night we mentioned it to our local pastor and youth director, but decided it really was out of our hands and resolved to wait and pray.
Wow!
The following Friday afternoon I came home from work and was sitting discussing things with Pete. The phone rang. It was an American friend of ours who lives in the city. She explained to me that she had been to a meeting with a combined expatriate group that raises funds through a Christmas bazaar and they had a donation for us from the previous year’s Christmas bazaar. Thinking there had been some kind of mistake, I explained we had already received a very generous donation from them of 50,000 RUB (1,700 USD) through the year. Our friend assured me there was no mistake and that we were to receive the leftover funds of 150,000 RUB (5,100 USD)! In complete excitement I went and told Pete the news, knowing instantly in my heart this money was for a special purpose and not for the daily needs of food, rent, and utilities.
Within 10 minutes the phone rang again. It was the leader of an international bible study group we attend. He reminded me that one of the members of the group was leaving the following month and proceeded to astound me with a challenge this guy had put to his co-workers.
The traditional departure of a work colleague dictates a hat passed around to collect money for a gift. Instead, the departing worker challenged his colleagues that whatever they raised up to 150,000 RUB (5,100 USD) he would match and donate to our House! He challenged his company to do likewise.
The challenge was met and matched. Unfortunately the company is still unsure whether they can meet the challenge due to internal policy.
After the Christmas bazaar another 200,000 RUB (6,850 USD) has been donated from the original charity commission. To date we have been pledged or given about 550,000 RUB (19,000 USD)! The only things I am sure of - this money is not a coincidence, it is not for the everyday and it is for a specific purpose. I believe it is for the building of the House of Grace and Hope Center.
What is happening now?
- The donated money is in a bank account and we will wait until we are certain how to proceed.
- We are organizing to visit a halfway house in another city in Russia which is very similar to our vision. They work with street kids and it will provide an opportunity to seek advice on how they do it - to find what works and what doesn't.
- We have spoken to our Russian pastor, who has already built his own house. His advice is invaluable with not only building details, but also how to navigate the Russian system.
- We have started looking for suitable existing buildings.
- We have started looking for suitable land.
- We have been offered additional funding to engage an architect to draw up plans.
How it would happen
We would like the House of Grace and Hope Center to be a community project. Peter and Tracy would coordinate and direct the vision. Groups from the local expatriate communities, international teams and local churches all working together - Russians and foreigners shoulder to shoulder giving their time and talents to invest into orphans' lives and Russia's future. What a great testimony of unity and love!
Financial position
Present estimates are around 2,000,000 RUB (70,000 USD) for the new Center utilizing community support where possible. We have about 25% of the required funding already in the bank.
How you can partner
We believe 2010 is the time to start building the House of Grace and Hope Center. We are daring to dream and step out in faith towards that dream. We don’t want to dream alone, we want you to come alongside us to share the dream and change the future of Russian individuals, Russian cities and the Russian nation.
- Please pray. Pray for wisdom, favor and open doors as we step out in planning.
- Pray for finances and for the workers to join us in the building project.
- You could plan a working bee team as the project gets under way. In the coming months more updated information will be posted on a specific page on this website. The page will give more details for specific aspects of the project.
- Financial contributions. Contributions can be made on-line on the Contribute page or you can email us for banking details. If you would like to contribute especially for the new building please mark your contribution "Building fund".
orphanshouse.org
