Talking to Myself

Please read this

2010-04-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger lately, but I will work on it...I want you to read this post from Tom Davis who is in Moldova. Moldova has the distinction of being the country with the highest rate of sex-trafficking in the world. Please take the time:

Tom Davis' Blog

-greg

Jet Lagging Hard

2010-03-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

So, I am home and getting ready for bed. Yes it is 8:00pm and to tell you the truth I am kinda amazed that I even made it this late. The jet lag is really kicking my butt this time. Great to be back at the HopeChest office today. I am so thankful for the people that I work with. They are really a good team and work hard!

I am still processing everything that I have seen and heard on this trip. I shared Knowledge's story today with the staff and was on the verge of tears again. The work that God has called us to is not something to be taken lightly. Children's lives are hanging in the balance.

My brother Jim is getting married this weekend. We leave tomorrow afternoon for Orlando. It should be a good time to be with him. I am excited for he and Rachel. They will be getting married at Harmony Golf Preserve in Kissimmee, FL. Little Jimmy is all grown up!

I am hoping to be able to post some pics from the wedding as well as from the weekend. I am really tired, but I am looking forward to reconnecting with good friends, and family and also being back at Westwood Church this weekend.

I am falling asleep...

-greg

Sitting in Joburg

2010-02-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I left Uganda this morning at 7:00 am and I am sitting in the Joburg airport in hour 4 of my 11 hour layover. I am so thankful that the "alwayson" internet service came back on because it would have been a very long day without it. When I arrived I was told that "alwayson" was experiencing an outage. Hmmm....

I got to tell you, my time in Uganda was difficult because I have been away for awhile, but at the same time, it was extremely productive. Joseph and David are running a great ministry and they are working hard to see that the orphans entrusted into our care are served in the best ways possible.

We had an opportunity to brainstorm and really lay pen to paper on some long term strategic planning. We discussed infrastructure, staffing, capital purchases. But even more exciting Joseph shared the vision that he has for our ministry. He has a desire to change the long term trajectory of the lives of the orphans of Uganda. Orphans hold a stigma in the communities where they live. They are seen as a burden, another mouth to feed which only stretches the already limited resources. They are told that they are worthless.

Joseph envisions a different Uganda, one that provides opportunities for those who society has deemed outcasts. Joseph said that his dream is to walk into his attorney's office 15 years from now and it will be one of the orphans who went through our program. He wants the next generation of professionals in the TESO region (primarily where we work) to be children that HopeChest has served. It is really a great vision! There is a passion there.

I am excited about all that is happening, but I do want to make you aware of some infrastructure needs that we have as a ministry in Uganda. I would ask that if you feel led to meet any of these needs that you would contact me at greg@hopechest.org

Our Uganda office needs (all costs are estimated):

Office Furniture

-Desks (2) $360 each

-Conference table $450

-Filing Cabinet $225

-Book Shelf $250

-Office Chairs (12) $60 each

-Laserjet Printer $350

-External Hard drive(2) $90 each

-Desktop computers with monitors (2) $600 each

-Battery Backups (2) $150 each

-Toyota Pickup Truck $13,500

-Motorcycles (3) for the staff $1500 each

It has been our experience that it is less expensive (due to shipping costs) to purchase items in country. Electronic equipment should be purchased in country due to the power supply difference (110 vs 220).

If you feel led to meet any of these needs I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

This has been a great trip. I leave Africa encouraged by the work that is taking place. We have a great team in Swazi and Uganda, and our South African partner Focus on the Family Africa is going to do some great work this year!

I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me. I have appreciated your kind words and your prayers!

-greg

PS. I still miss my wife and kids

Our site visits today

2010-02-26T09:29:00.001-08:00

Short post today. But I wanted to give you an update and a few pictures to show you what's happening. Today we visited two CarePoints, Kayango and Nabukalu in Bugiri. We also visited a potential CarePoint in Torroro. It was a very productive day.

The development at Kayango is exciting to see. The community of Kayango is invested in the process and has played a large role in the planning and building taking place. Our country director Joseph has purchased as many of the building materials as possible from the community. He has used local labor for a majority of the work. The community has taken ownership of the project and truly is committed to the work!

Here are a few photos of the development taking place at Kayango:

The new pit latrine (in process)

The well (complete)

The kitchen, storeroom and multipurpose room (in process)

Things are improving for the children that we minster to here in Uganda. I had the priveledge to help sort and address letters that are going to be delivered to the US. As I read them I was amazed to read how many of the children stated that they have seen a lot of changes and how grateful they were to their sponsor. The really cool thing is that the thing that they were most thankful for wasn't the physical provision, it was the relationship. The letters that you are sending to your sponsored child mean more than you know. My encouragement to you is to keep it up. Send more. You can send them directly through the HopeChest website. I know that it takes work, but what relationship doesn't?

Tomorrow is our last full day here, we still have much to do. I am thankful for the time that I have gotten to spend here. We have a great team on the ground and they are working hard to see the children of Uganda reached for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

-greg

ps. Have I mentioned that I miss my wife and kids?

Uganda...I'm Back

2010-02-25T10:34:00.000-08:00

I stepped off the plane, the warm air filled with the aroma of coal fires hit me and I felt like I was coming home. I know that sounds like an exaggeration but it's true. This place feels like a second home to me. I have such a love for the people and the country...it's good to be back!

Last evening was interesting, we stayed at a new guest house that none of us had ever stayed at before. I had been to the property one other time but was unaware that there was a guest house there. We stayed at the zoo. Yes the Entebbe zoo has a guest house. It was pretty cool to drive onto the zoo property at 10:00pm and go past the monkeys, turn left at the hippo enclosure, drive past the lions and pull up to our guest cottages. The accommodations were actually pretty nice for $30 a night. My cottage had a kitchen, a sitting room, a bedroom and a bath. The only problem was that there was a distinct odor around the place. It really did smell like a zoo.

I was awoken at 6:30 am by an extremely loud noise/scream/ear piercing terrifying something, and come to find out an extremely large stork sitting outside of my window decided that it was time for me to get up. I shot out of bed completely confused and really terrified. All I could think was that the lion had escaped and was waiting for me. I know it doesn't make sense but I was half asleep. We're staying there again on Saturday...I'm sure I'll have more stories from that place.

It was a highly productive day with our team here. Meetings went really well and I am excited about the long term plans and vision that we have here for Uganda. The ministry will be a source of life and hope to the communities that we reach.

Our good friend Katie Davis invited us to her house in Bukaya for dinner. It was great to spend time with her and her girls. For those of you who know her girls they have a nickname for me, and yes it has continued...I will forever be Uncle Brandi. I guess it could be worse.

Tomorrow we are off to Buguri to visit Kayango and Nabakalu. We will also make a stop in Tororro to visit a potential future ministry site.

I know it's a short post tonight but I'm tired and heading to bed.

-greg

ps I still miss my wife and kids!

Thoughts as I leave Swaziland

2010-02-24T00:18:00.000-08:00

Today I leave Swaziland and head to visit with Elotu Joseph and our team on the ground in Uganda. I have many thoughts and impressions that I will be processing over the next weeks and months to come. Swaziland is place of great beauty, rolling mountains, lush forests, incredible people, and yet it is a place of great need and incredible pain.

I am so impressed with the work that our partner Adventures in Missions (AIM) is doing on the ground in Swazi. The ministry here is a mature and a productive endeavor that is impacting lives not just in a physical way but also for the Kingdom of God. The team here truly has a heart for the Swazi people and it is evident in the way that they work. 16 hour days are the norm not the exception. I am so thankful to be associated with this group of people. They are truly the hands and feet of God here in Swaziland.

HopeChest and AIM have a great partnership and it's amazing to see the development of the CarePoints in 3 1/2 years. We talk about ministry in three phases. Phase 1 meets the basic survival needs of the orphans that we serve (we hope that our church and connect communities are able to fulfill phase one within 3 years of sponsoring a CarePoint). We visited two CarePoints yesterday, one sponsored by a church in Col. Springs CO and one sponsored by a church in California. These churches have fully outfitted their CarePoints for phase one. Ministry is taking place daily at these CarePoints. Children are being fed, discipleship is happening, there is access to clean water, and clothing. There is a markable difference in the health and well being of the children that are served by these CarePoints vs. the future sites that we will serve. The signs of malnutrition are all but gone, we have hundreds of children that are happy, well fed, loved and learning about our Lord. It is very encouraging!

The AIM team are all donor supported missionaries, meaning they all go out and raise their own funds to live and work in Swaziland. I would encourage you, that if you have a heart for the work that is being done on the ground in Swazi and want to see it continue consider supporting the staff on the ground who make the wheels turn. If you are interested please feel free to contact myself or Scott Borg at scottborg@adventures.org

Well I am so looking forward to my time in Uganda. We have much to do there, but it will be so good to spend time with Joseph and David and plan and strategize how the ministry will run and opportunities to expand the services that we are providing at the CarePoints in Uganda.

If you see my wife and kids tell them I love them and miss them so much. I am looking forward to spending time with them.

I guess thats all for now.

-greg

Swazi girls with no education are 4X more likely to have sex before age 18

2010-02-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

Swazi girls with no education are 4X more likely to have sex before age 18

It's all in the headline today.

According to data provided by UNAIDS, the longer a girl in Swaziland stays in school, the less likely she is to have sex before age 18. How likely?

Girls who make it to university or "tertiary" education have less than 20% likelihood of having their first sexual encounter before age 18. For girls with no education: over 80%.

4 in 5 girls with no education are exposed to sex before age 18. Sadly, nearly 2-in-5 girls with no education will have sex before age 15. In a country with a 45% HIV rate, when you have sex and who you have it with is a very big deal.

Can you guess which Swazi kids are the most uneducated: orphans.

Statistics like these give even greater urgency to our $150,000 Scared Education Fund campaign. We've selected 30 orphans in Swaziland to participate in the final writing contest and receive the $5,000 scholarship to keep them in school.Want to help judge?

For a gift of $25 toward the Scared Education Fund campaign, you'll join our team of online judges who will read, evaluate, and judge each of the entries. The winners will receive a party for their carepoint. The $25 you give will go directly to the scholarship fund for these thirty kids. Plus, all judges will receive an early release copy of my new book "Priceless" when it releases this May. Click here to donate, and put "SCARED JUDGE" in the notes.

Once your transaction is complete, we'll contact you with the login information for the Judges exclusive Web site, and confirm your participation.

Knowing that keeping kids in school can delay their sexual activity and possibly rescue them from HIV/AIDS compels me to do as much as we can. We're starting with $150,000 to help 30 orphans. Give today to join our judges team, and email Hannah at hleman@hopechest.org about long-term opportunities to support these kids through monthly giving at only $80/month.

Swaziland so far

2010-02-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

My time in Swaziland has been eye opening. The beauty of this country is overshadowed by the enormous challenges that face the Swazi people. HIV/AIDS has decimated lives and is slowly killing a generation of people. It is a strange feeling to walk the streets of Manzini and to be older than most of those whom you walk by. My parent's generation is all but gone here in Swaziland. The pain and loss is evident everywhere you go, yet for some there is still a sense of hope.

Yesterday we went to the Nazarene Hospital. It is a private hospital and you have to pay to receive services there. To say that the resources were limited was an understatement. Rudimentary tools were being used as make shift traction. Beds were reclined by propping up the ends on stools. Drugs were not readily available, and children were dying.

There was a beautiful little girl who was three (almost four years old) who was in the hospital. She came in for a broken arm, but it was determined that she had TB as well. She had just arrived a few hours before we had and was laying in her bed waiting for treatment. Her mother told me that she had not had any pain killers and it was evident that she was suffering. My heart broke. I felt helpless as a I watched this little girl, Gracie's age, lie their in horrific pain and with every cough from her TB the jolts to her arm sent waves of pain through her tiny body. I cringed every time she coughed and all I could do was think of my little girl and how helpless I would feel if that was her lying in the bed.

We visited many other children but one will child in particular will stay engrained in our memories for every.

There was a thirteen year old boy who was at the hospital with a woman who appeared to be his grandmother. She asked if we could come and pray for him. We quickly realized her grandson had TB and full blown AIDS, he was severely malnourished and had open sores all over his body. One of the nurses on our team said that she believes based on the signs that he was showing that he may only have 1-2 weeks left. This was a terribly painful and difficult experience to cry with a grandmother who loves her grandson and is losing hope in a helpless situation.

For me, I have always struggled with hospital visits...I think it's human nature to want to protect ourselves from situations like these. I had a realization though today. We need to live in this tension. This is reality and is the reality that most of the world lives with daily.

-greg

Driving up the coast of the Indian Ocean

2010-02-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

Driving up the coast of South Africa

Be praying for us today as we will be driving from Durban, South Africa (on the Indian Ocean) up the coast to Swaziland.

For those of you who don’t know here is a little history on Swaziland:

This small country in Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, giving it the name, “Nation of Orphans”. Generations of people in this country have been decimated by AIDS leaving many children orphaned and alone, without anyone to call mom or dad. 12% of the total population are considered to be orphans. The average person in Swaziland only lives to be about 28 years old.

Because there are virtually no orphanages or children’s homes in Swaziland, these children are literally left to fend for themselves without any means of survival. Widely held myths and misunderstandings about AIDS have left many girls vulnerable to sexual abuse and infection of HIV. Young children throughout Swazi are often found to be the head of the household, caring for all their younger siblings and other children who have no one. Orphans are left susceptible to malnutrition, disease, and abuse. Children roam the streets unclothed and hungry looking for answers and for someone to care for them. Due to this harsh reality HopeChest has created a place for orphans to find refuge, a place to be loved and fed - a CarePoint.

I’m sure that it will be an interesting day and a great way to see a beautiful country.

Oh and by the way for as many times as I’ve been overseas and have travelled in countries where they drive on the left side of the road, I have never done it. Well that all comes to an end today. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks

-greg

Selflessness

2010-02-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

It’s a gut check for me as I witness the selfless acts done by people with little or no resources. Pastor Frank Hararwa and Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti are just two examples of people across the continent of Africa who see a need, recognize that something has to be done, and selflessly take up for the cause.

Pastor Frank is Malawian by birth but God moved him to South Africa to attend Bible College. Frank and his wife stayed and have a powerful church ministry that has also grown and replicated itself 7 times in a community of 600,000 people. Frank and his team have hundreds of kids in school and have worked with the government to place teachers in these schools and provide a sustainable education solution for these children. Frank has a vision to create a foster care system in the community that he lives in. They have the property, they have the homes, they have the playground and the garden, electricity and water. They currently have 6 children in Foster care and have capacity to move to 42…what they don’t have is funding. I believe that HopeChest and Focus Africa have an opportunity to partner with a strong existing ministry and see HIV/AIDS orphans cared for, loved and not discarded as they might otherwise be. I am already beginning to pray for the church that comes alongside Frank. We walked away and were encouraged by the ministry that Frank is doing. He truly is a man of vision and follow through.

Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti have grown children. They oldest would have been 40 this year but she passed away 4 years ago from HIV/AIDS. The live in the Valley of 1000 Hills, and yes the name is appropriate. Possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth, but it is riddled with poverty and disease. Mr. and Mrs Timbeti saw a need and have begun a feeding program that feeds 160 children with a goal of 1x daily. They literally have no money, the governmental grant that they were receiving has stopped but the need to feed the children hasn’t. They have property that is suitable but without sufficient funds and long term sponsorship cannot continue to minister. I was amazed by their daily routine. They have contacted a local pastor and have requested the use of the church for a feeding center. He agreed to let the Timbetis use the facility when it’s not being used for church meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti travel to town and go to all the local grocers and seek out any food that might be available for donation. They take it to their home and cook for 160 children over an open fire daily. They then take the food approx 2.5 miles down to church where they feed all the children that have come for the day.

Do the Timbetis get paid? No they do this out of their desire to see these children, most of who have been touched by HIV/AIDs (whether through the loss of their parents or directly by infection) fed and cared for. It’s a powerful ministry. I believe that they will be a partner of ours in the near future as well. God has exciting things in store for the Timbetis and the church that comes along side of them.

Lord continue to reveal my selfishness and challenge me through the witness of example of people like Frank and the Timbetis.

-greg

Knowledge is real...

2010-02-15T10:41:00.001-08:00

Who is Knowledge?

Is she a beautiful, bright eyed, articulate, 16 year old in the eleventh grade? Is she a an orphan who has lost her mother and her father to HIV/AIDS? Is she a child? Is she alone in the world? Is her only source of income renting out her government supplied 1 room brick house to two men for less than $10 a month? Has she been raped repeatedly over the course of two years by her step-father? Is she trapped?

The answer to all of these questions is YES.

Today I met Knowledge, and I will never forget her.

Who is Knowldege?

She is a child...a child without anyone to turn to. A child who lives in fear. A child who sleeps at her neighbors home for protection. A child who does not want to be alone.

Today was one of the most difficult, emotional days of my life. Knowledge's story is told time and time again in the "villages" of South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, and Ethiopia. I know that many will read this and will be saddened by thought of Knowledge and all those like her. I want you to know that to be saddened is not enough. It is time to effect change for children like Knowledge.

I walked into children's homes today and I saw and experienced pain and sadness unlike anything that most of us reading this will ever know. Children, as young as 13, who have lost their parents to a disease they don't understand, caring for siblings, who may die from the same disease that has taken their parents.

I typically don't cry, I tend to be non-emotional. Today I cried in every household that we visited. If you want to know where the heart of God is, I can you tell you, the heart of God is at Knowledge's home. He is in her community. This is where the Kingdom of God is. This is where He calls us to minister.

These are not light words. They're not intended to be. I want you to understand and feel the tension that exists. Today in the homes of children I felt trapped. I was over-whelmed. This is not make believe. This is non-fiction.

Knowledge is real.

-greg

So much stuff

2010-02-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

Well today is my last day in the office before I head out to South Africa, Swaziland and then Uganda. I am really excited about the trip and the opportunities that we have to minister and see the ministry that is happening daily in each of these countries.

I plan to spend tomorrow with the family here in Colorado Springs. Not sure what we are going to do yet but I can't wait.

There is so much to do here. I have been so busy that I haven't even had a chance to really think about the trip. I will be updating my blog with pictures and stories while I'm gone. The frequency of posts will really be dependent on the internet connection that we have. I expect good service in South Africa, minimal service in Swaziland and ok service in Uganda

Here is my itinerary, I would welcome your prayers:

Depart Denver 10:55 am Friday February 12th

Arrive Atlanta 3:45 pm Friday February 12th

Depart Atlanta 6:55 pm Friday February 12th

Arrive Johannesburg 5:05 pm Saturday February 13th

Depart Johannesburg 9:00 pm Saturday February 13th

Arrive Durban 10:10 pm Saturday February 13th

In South Africa from 13th to the 17th

Drive to Nsosko Swaziland February 17th 9:00 am

In Swaziland from 17th to the 24th

Depart Swaziland (Manzini) 11:30 am February 24th

Arrive Johannesburg 12:25 pm February 24th

Depart Johannesburg 2:00pm February 24th

Arrive Entebbe Uganda 7:10pm February 24th

In Uganda until the 28th

Depart Entebbe 7:15 am February 28h

Arrive Johannesburg 10:30 am February 28th

Depart Johannesburg 9:20pm on February 28th

Arrive Atlanta 7:00am on March 1st

Depart Atlanta 8:26am on March 1st

Arrive Denver 10:05 on March 1st

I know, it's a lot of flights...be praying for timely travel and exit rows

Talk to you soon Greg

PS I still need recommendations for books on Kindle

Getting ready to go

2010-02-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

Well, Brandi had a great birthday! She is enjoying her birthday present right now. She is out getting her hair done at a nice salon and then enjoying and evening doing whatever she wants all by herself. That's what she asked for, I tried to do something creative but I've learned over the years.

It has snowed here for the last few days...the kids have been begging for snow so they can play outside and use the sleds that Grandma and Grandpa got them for Christmas. Here are a few of the pics...

Friday I leave for Africa. I will be gone for quite a while. I will be in South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda. I am really excited about the trip. There is so much be done, and God continues to open doors for us to minister.

I am praying for Brandi, I will be gone from the 12th to the 1st. This will be the longest I've ever been gone from the family.

My prayers for them are:

-Peace

-Safety

-Patience

-A good time for growth

Anyway, I need to load up my Kindle, I would love some recommendations for books. I have about 50+ hours and 22,000 miles of flying ahead of me. So if you have read anything good lately let me know...

Greg

Brandi's Birthday

2010-02-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my wife's birthday, she will be 29. So I've decided that I will write 29 reason why I love her. Happy Birthday Brandi!

1. Her love for the Lord

2. Her ability to make everyone feel welcome

3. The way she pours into our kids

4. The life we've made together

5. Her willingness to jump head in when I hear the Lord speak

6. Her smile

7. She is hot!

8. Her passion

9. Her contagious personality

10. Her love for our children

11. Her wit

12. Her patience

13. Her example

14. Her ability to move people to action with her words

15. The way she challenges me

16. Her pursuit of truth

17. Her heart for worship

18. The way we fell in love

19. The faith journey that we are on together

20. The way she accepts me

21. Her non-judgemental nature

22. The way she hurts for others

23. The way she inspires me

24. The way she leads

25. She is blonde (ok one shallow one)

26. The fact that she has put up with me for over 10 years (almost 10 years of marriage)

27. Her ability to make me laugh

28. Her diligence

29. Her love for me

Brandi, I love you. Happy Birthday!!! Here is hoping that #30 is in Africa. (Let me clarify...Brandi would like to take a trip with her Warrior Girlfriends to Africa for her birthday)

Greg

Only two days left...Valentine's Day Gift with a Purpose

2010-01-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

We are almost to our goal of helping 400 orphans in Ethiopia receive new shoes through HopeChest. We will continue taking orders until February 1, 2010.

We want to help even more kids in Ethiopia--particularly the older boys who require more expensive shoes. The more shirts we sell, the more children we can help

HopeChest needs you to spread the word this week through Facebook. It's easy:

1. Go to the Megaphone front page and "Share" the update posted by Matthew Monberg:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=187656459085

2. Once you click "Share" you'll get a text box to put in your thoughts. Here is some language you can use to share with your networks:

What are you getting for Valentines Day this year? Buy a limited edition Simply Love/HopeChest T-Shirt for Valentines Day, and you'll provide a new pair of shoes for an orphan in Ethiopia. Watch Tom's video and go here http://bit.ly/chcvday2010 to buy your shirt today!

Please include the link to the store in your update. (Facebook may goof up that link, it is bit.ly/chcvday2010 to go directly to the storefront where people can buy their shirts)

And that's it.

Thanks so much for spreading the word. We're almost there and want to see every child blessed with a new pair of shoes.

Thank you for making an orphan your valentine this year.

Two mission trip opportunities with CHC

2010-01-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

HopeChest announces two upcoming mission trip opportunities in 2010. This is your chance to visit the "fields of the fatherless" and work alongside our international staff as they bring healing and hope to orphans.

These two trips will fill up very fast, so contact Vince Giordano (vince@hopechest.org) to get your application packet today. Space is limited and applications are required for both trips.

RUSSIA: APRIL 9-16, 2010 (APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 29, 2010)

Tom Davis, CEO of HopeChest, will personally lead this trip to Russia, visiting the orphanages, Ministry Centers, and transitional living programs on the front lines of preventing sex-trafficking amongst orphan girls. You will visit many of the places Tom writes about in his upcoming novel, "Priceless."

UGANDA: MAY 5-15, 2010 (APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 19, 2010)

Come with Greg McElheny and HopeChest into the heart of our carepoint ministry to orphan children in Uganda. You will minister directly to the children--providing food, clothing, water, and medical evaluations. This is a tremendous opportunity to allow God to use you to support and encourage vulnerable children.

If you're interested in more information, get in touch with Vince today at vince@hopechest.org. Space is limited. Let us know soon if you are interested.

Four days...me and the kids.

2010-01-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

Brandi is leaving in the morning for Atlanta, she is speaking Friday through Monday at four events. We are hoping to see close to 300 hundred children sponsored this weekend. The team has been working so hard. I pray that this weekend goes well and that God uses this weekend to bring much needed sponsorship to Adecar and Mangweneni.

Well, that leaves me with the three kids this weekend...It's always a mixed blessing to have 4 days with the kids. I really do enjoy the time that I get with them. The problem is that it's 4 days, and there is only so many things that you can do when its 25 degrees outside. We got a few things planned and have been invited to a couple new friends homes for dinner. We'll see how it goes.

I would love some ideas of things to do...remember easy and cheap!

On a separate note, I am preparing for a trip next month to Durban, South Africa and to Swaziland. My trip to Durban is pretty exciting, we (HopeChest) have received a grant from Focus on the Family USA to start an orphan care ministry in conjunction with Focus on the Family South Africa.

This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a organization that has had a presence on the ground in South Africa for many years. I will be spending several days with the Focus team and training them on the unique aspects of HopeChest's CarePoint ministry. We will be visiting several potential CarePoint sites and beginning the process of site development plans that will aid future church and connect community partners as they look to build out their CarePoints.

The team from Focus and I will be traveling to Swaziland to see some of our more mature CarePoints. HopeChest has a partnership with Adventures in Missions (AIM) in Swazi. They are a strong operations partner and the staff on the ground love the children of Swazi and work tirelessly to see the needs of the orphan met.

I am eager to see what's in store as we further our ministry in Swazi and begin this new partnership with Focus South Africa.

Greg

Hopefully the first of many

2010-01-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

There is so much that's new in my life... so much change in such a short period of time that I feel the need to write it down. I want to remember all that God is doing in our lives. I want the opportunity to count the blessings and share them along the way.

This is a first for me, I am going to give a serious effort to blogging. Just so you know this is not my first attempt at blogging...I've tried this before. I've commandeered Brandi's blog on several occasions and written glogs.

I'm looking forward to getting started, but for tonight I am going to try to customize this site.

Thanks

Greg