The love of Jesus compels us to cry out for Him to work through us to touch multitudes (shouldn’t that be a common characteristic among all His people?), so the vision and expectation is large. At this time, HOPE is in a 2,000 square foot building with 32 children, and feeding many widows daily, and helping a few other people from the Neighborhood Fund. A little over a quarter acre of land has been purchased as a new site for the orphanage (over 11,000 sq. ft - photo below). More adjoining land is available, but RHM has committed to not purchase any more land until HOPE is situated in a new building on the land already purchased. If someone has the desire to designate funds for more land, then it will be set aside or used for that purpose, but RHM will not invest more non-designated money into land until the HOPE family has relocated.
Lord willing, we’d like to build a facility large enough to be able to take in a few more children, and possibly house some of the more desperate widows. HOPE could take in several widows now, but they are already having drainage problems because of being overcrowded. Some of the widows are staying on verandahs (porches) at night because of not having a home, and some live under the weight of always being treated as a burden. HOPE’s stopped taking children, but it’s difficult when a parent, relative or a local pastor brings a child in a desperate situation. The last child, Sunil (4 year old boy) was brought in January 2006, so many have been turned away since that time. Obviously, no matter where they are living, a limit must be set, especially since they desire to preserve a family atmosphere for the home. But what a joy it is to be able to rescue another child from darkness and sorrow! Lord willing, as He increases the funds of RHM, there will be more orphanages in the future. It’s easy to envision some of the HOPE children also having the desire to care for needy children when they are grown. Only our God knows how many branches could extend from this HOPE ministry in future days. Also, a good Christian orphanage seems to be the perfect place to feed and care for widows. Most of the widows love the joy and fellowship to replace the loneliness and rejection; some of them also are able to help with some of the work of the home, which gives them a sense of purpose. It also gives the children a wonderful opportunity to learn how to serve others, putting into practice what they are learning about Christ.
When the 2nd floor of the current HOPE home was constructed in 2004-05, the cost was about $13 a square foot. We have another friend in Bapatla who recently began a home for handicapped children, and the costs for their building was much the same. A one story 3,000 square foot building would cost roughly $40,000, and we can add a 2nd floor as the Lord provides, which would give plenty of space for about 40 children, some widows, school for all the children, kitchen, etc.. The land level needs to be raised at least 2 feet to avoid problems during the rainy season, and a wall needs to be built around the property for their protection.
So PHASE 1 is to do the land work (an estimated 650 tractor loads of sand - this should be completed in June '07), build the compound wall and an an approx. 3,000 square foot building. Lord willing, this can be done for around $50-60,000, depending a lot on the exchange rate from dollars to rupees, which fluctuates greatly. PHASE 2 will be to add a 2nd floor to the building, which may run another $40,000. After that, we’ll see what else the Lord may have in mind. Growing some of their own crops, having their own tailoring shop (to provide jobs for the grown children and earn income for HOPE) and a medical clinic are some of the possibilities.
For some, this may sound like a lot of money. Please put these figures into perspective with the costs of things in the western world. What would a new 3,000 square foot building cost in the west? A 6,000 square foot building? Along with the wall, etc.? In the west, it’s common for 2 to 5 people to live in a 2,000 square foot home for well over $100,000. We’re talking about a 3,000 sq ft building for half that amount (along with the wall)! A 6,000 sq ft building for around $100,000 (including the wall and land work), and instead of housing 2 to 5 people, there would be at least 40 children, some widows, workers, etc..
Please pray with us about this. We don’t believe in hard sell tactics here at RHM. No one will try to put pressure or guilt on anyone so that they will give to this ministry. Andrew Murray once said, “God in HIS time will do HIS work.” We have the conviction that we don’t have to beg or make direct appeals for funds. Our responsibility (and privilege) is to give the information, present the opportunity, and then leave the rest into His Hands. As “workers together with Him” (2 Corinthians 6:1), we will be able to do great things for His glory, and for the eternal blessing of the orphans, destitute children and widows.
“You have been the Helper of the orphan...O Lord, You have heard the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your Ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed” -- Ps. 10:14,17-18
Make a donation to the HOPE Building Fund.
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