Ten Thousand Homes

Some people I know live in South Africa, just outside of White River, in a special place called University Village. They are a beautiful bunch with lots of variety in background and specialties. All that variety mixes together to make up Ten Thousand Homes. This is what they say:

Ten Thousand Homes is a movement of ordinary people actively building HOPE and creating HOMES for Africa's orphans and vulnerable children.

They call themselves ordinary, but if you have spent any time with them and watched them love and minister and disciple you know really fast that they are not ordinary.

At this time Ten Thousand Homes is working on University Village Phase 1: Three year campaign to finish the purchase of the 14 acre property. As this phase ends and Phase 2 begins, TTH will begin renovating all existing buildings to suit the needs of the campus as well as upgrade the property’s security in light of the crime problem in South Africa.

Three years will be up at the end of January. If you can, please help wrap up this part of the campaign. It's a very simple and safe process.

You can learn more about the people of Ten Thousand Homes at the following:
KNOWN
Saving The Lost
Zachary + Anneke - The artwork on this site is by Anneke.
The McMillian Tribe

or find the all of them on this page.

South Africa

Wish I had a lot of time to spend on this. South Africa has gotten under my skin. I figured it would, but not so fast. Yesterday was our first Discipleship Training session. I taught on True Leadership. Usually I'm a bundle of nerves before I speak. I really don't like doing it. My stomach is churning before, during, and after. The team started praying for me Monday night and continued all day on Tuesday. The peace God poured out on me was so pure. Today I'm going with 5 other women to help cook for the orphan feeding station. Pray for me. I'm hoping not to be a blubbering idiot.

Giving when it hurts

I've been reading up on Ten Thousand Homes over the last couple of days and let's just say that I've been extremely impressed and extremely moved.

For a few years now I've known about Ten Thousand Homes because I know a family on the ground with them in South Africa. Their faith family in the States strongly supports the ministry with funds and volunteers.

Over the last couple of days there has been a tug in my soul to visit there, so that's when I started doing more intense research about TTH.

I came across this in their blog.

10K Tuesday: A Sacrificial Gift

Last week, a local volunteer at our Kabokweni Care Center was seen counting her money. When asked why, the volunteer replied that she had seen that one of the orphaned children needed new school clothes and she wanted to help. This volunteer is a single mother with several children of her own and she struggles everyday to put food on her table, but despite all of her own trials she gave from her heart even though it must have hurt.

Creative Action:

This is a challenge for all of us this week. Find a way to give even when it hurts. Whether that means sacrificing your money, time, or emotions, find your own way to give sacrificially, which means ESPECIALLY when it hurts.

WOW!

TTH 2 from Ten Thousand Homes on Vimeo.

"Warrior for the Right"

Sometimes we receive news that simply takes our breath away. We met the Rhea family on our adoption road. Our lives were intertwined before we even met. They paved our adoption road in prayer before we knew we were on that road. We grieve for them. I ask for your prayers for them. Adrain Odell Porier

June 24, 1982 – May 31, 2008 “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5 Our Sweet “Bubba” was tragically taken from us early Saturday morning by one he knew “needed to be redeemed”. Adrain was kind to the despised and reached out to the outcast. He was our precious, gentle, soft-spoken, tender, thoughtful son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. Truly a gift from our gracious Heavenly Father. Providentially, he was named after his great-grandfather, grandfather and father. His first name means “Warrior for the Right”. He was son to Randy Porier and Akemi Rhea and stepson to Bill Rhea. Brother to 13 siblings. His biological brothers, Shaun Porier, Kevin Porier and Robert Powers miss him dearly. He was step-brother to Josh Rhea and wife Evan Moore and step-brother to Adrienne Rhea. Adrain was instrumental in encouraging Bill and Akemi Rhea to adopt and will be deeply missed by his adopted brother John, and his adopted sisters, Elizabeth, Maly, Maggie, Serah, Catherine, Monichea and Frances. We praise our Great God and Savior, the Mighty Sovereign, our Deliver and Redeemer, the only Living and True God, Creator of all things, Comforter, Healer, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords for gifting Adrain to us for 25 years—just a breath. We look forward to our future embrace in Heaven where we will celebrate together, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. We now rejoice in Him for his saving work in Adrain’s life and in ours. Thanks be to God! Amen. Because of Adrain’s heart for orphans, we ask that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the: Adrain Odell Porier Memorial Fund set up by Asian Hope, a ministry to Cambodian orphans. http://www.asianhope.org

Ministry Expands

An Expansion of Care Arises - “Building a Bridge of Change”

Mesquite, TX – Operation Care – Dallas, Inc. is a successful care program in full action since 1993 for the homeless community in the DFW Metroplex. So much so that Operation Care - Dallas has recently expanded a bridge of care to the Philippines.

Operation Care - Dallas, Inc. caters to the physical and spiritual needs of the homeless in the DFW Metroplex by facilitating services and sharing the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. This ministry, birthed from a widow's grief, has enlarged as the mission has ventured to Iloilo City. Now adding another name to the organization, Operation Care Philippines: Changing the World, Changing Lives, an evangelistic movement will allow children in America to assist the homeless children, orphans, and street kids in Iloilo City through the project, Operation Adopt A Friend.

This is not another outreach were the adult community will come to the rescue, but rather our young heroes, our children will become responsible philanthropist as they will be Changing Lives, Changing the World. Imagine our American children stepping out to be missionaries for other children in a foreign country by raising only $15.00 to support their Philippine counterpart; their Adopted Friend across the waters of our world as Operation Care Philippines builds bridges for unity, hope and integrity amongst our youth.

Various churches are educating their children and members. Soles for Kidz and Buckner International are participating in the construction of this bridge by donating shoes. Operation Care Philippines' goal of catering to 1,000 homeless children subjected to living in cemeteries, railroad stations and garbage sites can be met as we lace up to walk together over this magnificent evangelical bridge.

Become a supporter of Operation Care - Dallas, in conjunction with Operation Care Philippines "Adopt-A-Friend" program by filling up the 20 ft. truck shipment of care kits, toys, Bibles, and provision for these less fortunate children. This shipment must be a float in the first part of April 2008 to make the official launch celebration by July 5, 2008. The day will hold a foot washing ceremony, evangelism, prayer, medical support, food, and entertainment for the adults and children along with the gifts from our children to theirs.

For more information please log onto www.OperationCareDallas.org. We are Changing Lives while Changing the World.