Village of Eden Book

Published on January 2017 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 36 | Comments: 0 | Views: 1035
of 24
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

Has there ever been a time in your life when your heart was over-flowing with good news and you couldn’t wait to share your news with your family and friends -well, that is how we feel right now! God has given us such an awesome and incredible vision for Africa and we’re about to burst out shouting with the great news! We encourage you to take your time as you read the details...the stories...the reasons...life...the children....the plans...the tears...the sadness...the joy...the love...and the hope. We know that you are not reading this by accident God has a plan and design for your life as well as ours and for all the children and the people whose lives will be changed by the Village of Eden. We encourage you to read the “end of the story,” which in this case, is all that God has shown us about the Village of Eden. We truly believe it will change your life. “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said, ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.’” Habakkuk 2:1-2 (NKJV)

A place of love, growing up with a Christian mentor, learning that Jesus loves you, making your mark on the world, living with hope, learning to rise above poverty, taking responsibility, sharing what you have learned, treating your neighbors as yourself, working, having a bed to sleep in, waking up in the same place every morning, being honest even when others are not, being someone whom Jesus smiles upon....and leaving behind your legacy!

The Village of Eden will be a testimony to the power of Christ a miracle that unfolds before our eyesa miracle which can transform lives, villages, countries, continents, and the world!

1

“The Village of Eden” will be an offensive attack against Satan!!
God has given Helping Hands a vision for the country of Uganda and for the continent of Africa - “the fields are ripe for the harvest!” This is a God-sized vision which can only be accomplished through His power! We want to build the first “model” Christian village, which will be a lighthouse for the country of Uganda, and a place which will represent what the body of Christ should look like----where everyone is working together for the glory of God. This is The Village of Eden..... Who will live at the property? Our first priority will be orphaned children who have no place to call home; next will be widows and widowers. As space allows, we will also house orphans living with an unmarried guardian who is struggling to provide for the child. There will also be staff who live and work at the property; however, as time goes on, the children themselves will operate, manage, and care for the Village.

THE VILLAGE DETAILS
500 acres Church as focal point Primary and Secondary Schools Library Technical School Bible College Housing for 2200+ orphans Housing for 160 widows/widowers Medical Clinic Crops for food Chicken Farming Cattle, goats, sheep Small businesses Media Center Office Complex Staff housing Sports Fields

2

Life is complicated in America. We have so many things to keep up with - our jobs, our money, our careers, our friends, our church, our stuff. Life is not so complicated in Africa, because there is not much “stuff.” For most people, life consists of working each day to make sure they have food to eat. If they eat today, they have a good day. Many children are abandoned on the streets - maybe their parents actually did love them at one time, but they could not bear to see their child hungry. Maybe somewhere along the way, the harshness of life simply snuffed out the love and concern that should come naturally for a parent.

Can we fix everything in life for a native African? No. Can we repair the ravages of poverty, corruption, and disease? No. Can we assure them that life will be better tomorrow? No. What can we offer them? Only eternal hope if they trust Jesus as their Savior. For most people, this is enough. The Village of Eden will be a shining example of the love of Christ

in a community. It will shine as brightly as the bright and morning star which is Jesus. It will shine as did the star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men to Jesus. It will shine as a lighthouse to point people to Christ. As we travel the road to make the village of Eden a reality, it will take many people at all steps of the way. It will be hundreds, even thousands of us working together to show that Jesus Christ is alive and He is working in our world. He has not forgotten us and He is still controlling our world.

· Is the poorest and least developed continent · Has a population of 990 million people · Has 15 million AIDS orphans · Nearly 2 million children under the age of 14 have HIV · 20% of children die before the age of five · 200,000 child slaves are sold every year

· Only 57% of children are enrolled in primary education · Average life expectancy in some countries is about 33 years · Millions of people go to bed hungry at night · Average income for many people is $1 per day

Christians spend 99.9% of Christian income on themselves..

“Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 NIV

3

Church buildings take many shapes, forms, and sizes - large, small, brick, wood, white, red, with a steeple, without a steeple, solemn, friendly - however, it is important to remember: The church of God is not a building, it is not a pastor or a deacon or a choir director. The church of God is all the people all over the world who have accepted Christ as their Savior. It is the believers - those who have trusted Christ as their Savior - who make up the body of Christ that we call the “church.” The Village of Eden will be based around the church building; all offices will be headquartered in the Village of Eden office complex, located next door to the church. Any meetings or functions will take place within the proximity of the church, providing an umbrella of Biblical principles. The church building itself will be a place of worship and teaching of the Bible, with a 1250-seat auditorium (we will need multiple services on Sunday), baptismal pool, fellowship hall (the auditorium will double as the fellowship hall), and Sunday school classrooms. We anticipate that many eventsweddings, concerts, training events, retreats, and more...will take place at the church. With the church at the forefront of the Village of Eden, we will openly attack poverty; help orphans, widows, and the poor taking the Word of God to the people and showing them the love of Christ in daily living –

giving them- “Help

for today, Hope for tomorrow, and Heaven for Eternity.”

4

And Jesus said, let the children come unto me...
Maybe the task is too overwhelming. There are too many children and not enough money, not enough time, not enough workers. This is how it seems in Africa sometimes. There is a sea of children without a home, most of them hungry, many of them with diseases such as AIDS, malaria, and typhoid fever. Their bellies are big, but they don’t seem to notice. They still greet you with big smiles and chants of “Muzungu (white man), how are you?” The children will steal your heart when you meet them. They are lovely, many not aware of their desperate plight. They are always happy to see white people, because we come bearing gifts- candy,

“The Village of Eden will be a place of hope, a place where the children can be safe and loved and learn about a friend who loves them - Jesus Christ.” Carol and Larry Crewey, Directors of Helping Hands Africa Child Sponsorship

balloons, and small toys- things which they could never afford. They hug you, unaware that you may have a fear of “catching” something. They trust you without ever knowing your name. They sing praises to Jesus because He is truly their only hope. They have heard His name and they believe one day they will have a better life. This is life for a child in Uganda, in Kenya, in Tanzania, in most countries in Africa. They want to trust Jesus because there is no one else. Isn’t this how we all should be? As a little child, trusting Jesus.

You can be a part of this

hope.

HOUSING PLANS
· 180 Homes for 2200+ children · 12 children (same sex) per home · Guardian will be widow/widower trained in child care · Children will be taught Biblical principles of accountability, responsibility, and community · Daily Bible study and devotional

On the left is a typical Uganda hut - adobe (mud) walls, dirt floor, thatched roof. Our homes will be built of brick; with tin roof; cement floor; and will have electricity!

5

Feeding over 2500 people every day! (Children + Staff) Can we really do this? With God’s help - Absolutely!
It just takes a little “figuring out!” We will have 5 kitchen/dining halls, each 5000 square feet. Four of these will serve the children, eating in shifts; one will serve the staff and workers. The most common

cooking method in the local villages is with open fires and wood; however, we will use propane systems which will be more efficient and less expensive (wood in Uganda is scarce.) The buildings will be multi-functional - they can be used not only at meal-times but also for meetings, assemblies, indoor sports and games, and if necessary, as sleeping quarters for the children.

A BLESSING? KNOWING WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM

6

WATER
A clean water supply is vital for the Village of Eden and drilled wells will provide the safest and cleanest water supply. It will require several wells to supply water for all the bath houses, bathrooms, kitchen facilities, and for farming. All well water will be tested at a certified lab to ensure that the water is drinkable. We will also have water purifiers at the kitchen locations. We plan to have water stands in each of the homes, as well as at work buildings, the church, school, offices, play areas.

With clean, safe, and readily available water supplies we will be able to fight Most huts in Uganda do not have an many of the illnesses and disease’s in-door bathroom or septic system. that plague most of Africa. One of our primary emphases at the Village of Eden will be hygiene and sanitation. Rather than individual bathrooms for each home (which would be very expensive), we will have one bathhouse for every five homes. Each bathhouse will have ten toilets, ten sinks fifteen showers, and its own septic system, and thus can support sixty children and five adults. We are keeping bath houses small so they will be more accessible to the children, resulting in fewer hygiene and sanitary problems.

BATH HOUSES

ELECTRICITY

Shining

Very few huts/homes in Uganda have electricity; however, it will be vital for the Village of Eden. Every building, including all 180 homes, will have electricity. The other good news is that once we have run the power lines from a near-by village (1-5 miles), it will be much easier for people to access the power lines, and thus electricity will be available for many people around the Village- sounds like a practical way to reach out to our neighbors, doesn’t it? In fact, based on our previous experience, we expect a community to spring up around the Village, giving us ample opportunities to share the true

“Light of Life,” -

Jesus Christ.

7

So what will we do with 2200 kids?
Well, of course they have school and their chores, but it’s not going to be ALL work and no play at the Village of Eden. There will be lots of fun things to do. Sports and games are an important part of teaching children how to work together as a team; how to share; and the importance of discipline and training. And let’s not forget that sports are just plain fun! Sports are also a great avenue for evangelism as well. We are planning Sports Camps with evangelism as the true focus for these events, bringing in mission teams to help cultivate relationships between the Village of Eden and groups outside our community. This will also help promote sports programs with other schools and groups in the surrounding villages, which provides even more opportunities to share the Good News! The Village of Eden will have:

As you can see, we need several sports fields; in addition there will be two playgrounds for smaller children.

RECREATION CENTER
There will be one main recreation center with the dining rooms functioning as secondary recreation centers as well. The main recreation center will house the offices of the director of athletics for the entire complex. This main center will be 50’ x 100’ (5000 sq. ft.) and will be the site for many special events.

8

Isa is one reason why the Village of Eden is needed; (read his story below). Not only will the orphans live in a safe haven-they will also receive timely and appropriate medical care. The Village of Eden medical clinic will be staffed by a native health care worker, who will provide acute medical care for the children and staff. He or she will also maintain current medical records for the children; establish an immunization program; and provide

preventive health care training for the children, guardians, and community. The clinic will function under the guidance Dr. Brenda Kowalske, in conjunction with local health authorities. As opportunities arise, medical volunteers will work at the clinic, and also provide free community medical clinics. This will be beneficial for the native people, while providing an open door to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

“Isa is 10 years old but has suffered enough for a lifetime. In the spring of 2008, he was attacked on the streets of his village, sustaining serious injuries, including 3 fractures of his left leg. One of these did not heal and he developed a chronic bone infection; doctors in Uganda told him his leg needed to be amputated. We began efforts to bring Isa to the U.S. for treatment and in June 2009, Isa arrived in Georgia! He will require several surgeries but we are optimistic that he will not lose his leg...” Dr. Brenda Kowalske, Medical Director, Helping Hands.

w 65’ x 70’ = 4550 square feet w Pharmacy w Wound Care w 3 treatment rooms w Minor surgery suite w Waiting room w X-ray w Laboratory w Reception/file room w Bathrooms w Overnight stay w Supply Room

9

OFFICE COMPLEX
Our office complex will consist of the following buildings:

Building 3: Administration Building
· Offices of HHFM President; Medical Director; Africa/Uganda Director; International Education Director · Conference room · Secretary/Receptionist/Waiting Area · Offices for Directors of Security; Children; House Parents; Social/Welfare Programs; Athletics; After-School Programs; Agriculture/Farming; Husbandry; Property Maintenance. · Five offices for future growth The Village of Eden Library will be located on the first floor of the Village of Eden Administration building and will serve the church and all of the schools located within the complex.

Building 1:Church offices and headquarters for GCCM (Grace Calvary Christian Ministries)
· Conference room · Receptionist/Waiting area · Six pastor’s offices · Four GCCM offices · Four General offices

Building 2: Education Building
· Conference Room · Receptionist/Waiting Area · Records Room · Offices: Directors of Education; Nursery/PreKindergarten; Primary School; High School; Vocational School; and supply room · Four rooms for future growth

Dr. Brenda Kowalske is shown with 8th grade students in front of the current office for the school.

The Village of Eden will be a large complex, requiring regular maintenance of all facilities as well as grounds. A Maintenance Shop will provide a place for storage of equipment and for repairs as necessary. We also anticipate that we will buy various supplies in bulk (for better pricing) and additional items can also be stored at the Maintenance building. We will have a tool building, auto/truck/machine shop, wood-working, repair building, and a general storage area for supplies.

10

11

12

It is said that if you have a vision for one year, plant wheat; if you have a vision for ten years, plant trees; and if you have a vision for a lifetime, plant people. We want to add to this by saying that if you have a vision for eternity - plant Christians and Christian churches.
The vision for "The Village of Eden" is to do exactly that. We want to raise up a Christian army of young men and women who will change their village; change their country; and change the world!

The Village of Eden School will consist of Nursery School, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Primary grades 1-7, and senior grades 8-11. The children will be in a safe and loving environment. In addition to providing quality education for the children, we can monitor the students from a medical standpoint and also establish relationships with guardians that the children may have. Many people in Uganda cannot read; however, they will be able to read the message of the love of Christ as it is demonstrated in the lives of those who live, work, and minister at the Village.
These photos show current classrooms; there are from 50-100 students in a 20’ x 15’ room. Some children sit on the floor due to lack of benches; there are no desks.

Drs. Richard and Brenda Kowalske, founders of Helping Hands Foreign Missions

Jesus is the sweetest name I know!
13

The Technical School will train only the orphans at the Village of Eden and will not be open to the community. Children may choose to enroll in the Technical School or enroll in an outside college or university. The technical programs will include: Carpentry/building cabinetry/furniture woodworking (crafts) masonry automotive/mechanics welding computers agriculture/farming husbandry/animals for food business marketing cosmetology baking butcher health care provider · sewing/clothes production The programs will help the children learn a trade and to produce items so that the complex can be self-sustaining. We will have full-time teachers but will also enlist the services of trained technical personnel who will volunteer to teach for limited periods of time.

God gave Jericho to Joshua because he was faithful and did the work. Yes, there were barriers to defeat. God helps, however we must still obey God. He has commanded us to expand --- to go forth to all people everywhere; YES, there will be barriers but we must still GO! The challenges will be there but with prayer and work we will see God’s plan become reality.

14

Free market trade will be one of the concepts taught at the schools. In conjunction with this, we will have a “Village of Eden Market Place” that will be on the outskirts of our property to allow the orphans to sell the items that are produced within the complex and to utilize the skills they learn in school.

Our goal is to witness to the community while at the same time, providing a practical way for the children and widows to support themselves, through services and the sale of various products that are produced on-site. The village shops will help support the complex and develop a free market concept for the village.

Here are typical markets along the streets in small villages in Uganda. People grow vegetables to eat and also sell some for money - the concept is good and we do not want to “westernize” the people. We will take the basics of the business world that currently exists in the village and apply Biblical principles - illustrating in a practical way what is taught in such Bible passages as Proverbs 14:23

15

From just one church which began under a mango tree in 1995, there are 60 churches (as of August 2009) in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya that are part of Grace Calvary Christian Ministries Association. By the end of 2010, as God provides, our goal is to have 100 churches. With so many young churches, we realize the importance of training the pastors to ensure that Biblical truths are being taught. Our vision is to start a Bible College to train and educate current pastors and future pastors. The village churches aren’t large “mega-churches” that one may be accustomed to seeing in some countries; rather, they are small “bush” churches, usually with 50-200 members, which serve as beacons of hope for people in remote villages who have no way to travel 20 or 30 miles to the next village.

, hobby ng tastes e word i y of shift th e fragilit tuations stands easure nd th Beyo in the tr rket fluc s and ma olute and rooted rass withers horse rd, res “The g of the Lo of the universe. word of our God d e of the Go wers fall, but th 40:8 NIV) lo and the f s forever” (Isaiah stand

We will not stop at 100 churches, but will continue on to reach the continent of Africa. Grace Calvary Christian Ministries (by the Grace of God and what Jesus did at Calvary we are Christians intent on doing Ministry) is an association consisting of all the pastors of these churches, along with Dr. Richard F. Kowalske; the purpose is to guide and support the churches under Biblical principles. The association will be headquartered at the church offices of the Village of Eden. A Bible College will ensure that the churches flourish and grow stronger as native people of Africa reach their own people.

16

Perhaps you have skipped a meal, maybe during a diet or a fast. Your stomach starts to make funny sounds, then feels hollow and empty; you feel a little queasy and start to think of food; your head aches and you feel weak. These symptoms are a way of life for many children and adults in Africa. Thousands will go to bed hungry; lucky ones have one meal daily - perhaps porridge (a thin paste of flour and water) or a bowl of rice. We can’t stamp out poverty in the world, but the Village of Eden is a start.

Dr. Richard Kowalske

Psalm 104:14 NKJV

17

There will be lots of mouths to feed at the Village of Eden! In addition to agriculture, we will have animal husbandry along with chicken farming. These programs will enable us to provide sufficient food to feed everyone at the Village, as well as ensuring a better protein source, something that is lacking in most diets in Africa. The children, under supervision from trained workers, will help to care for the animals; these programs will also be a part of our vocational school training. In addition, we will be able to sell animal products to provide additional source of revenue for the Village. We will seek expert advice from different fields in our planning process, to enable us to establish costefficient and effective programs.

ü

18

Who will operate the Center?
Helping Hands ministries will oversee all operations at the Center, and we will utilize volunteers as well as some paid full time staff. We will involve all the Churches within the Grace Calvary Christian Ministries, as well as the orphans themselves will have daily jobs to perform.

will show us the way. We need to be His hands and feet and help others become aware of what God is doing through “The Village of Eden.” We will be faithful to Him and watch His miracle unfold as he provides.

We believe!

How will the Center operate financially?
Donations from churches in many countries of the world, mission organizations, businesses, and individuals will be solicited. Grants will be pursued. As the program matures some funding will come from sales of products produced on site. We at Helping Hands believe that God has called us to this task. We understand that it is most definitely a God-sized vision, however we also believe and have FAITH (James said to let our works show our faith) that He

The Village will have a satellite system which will provide internet access. This will allow for video conference classes from the United States and other countries for the various schools on site. Although we plan to have in-house teachers, the video conferences will be a great blessing for the Bible College. Another goal is to work through a university in the U.S. to help establish a quality curriculum. The Media Center will also be one of the vocational training centers, with computer/media classes along with the technical training to operate such a center.

19

“May we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance...May we shed tears of repentance for those we have failed to bring out of darkness.” Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, martyred January 8, 1956

We know that the “Village of Eden” vision is an extremely large undertaking. It is a “God sized” project and that is why we know that only God can do it. But we also know that God uses His people to accomplish his work. So the question is, “Are you one of those people, and will you help?” This is an exciting time to be involved in the ground floor of a project that will change thousands of lives, your’s included with God at the center of it all.

We are asking that you become part of the ACTION! Be the “CONQUEROR,” and a “TREASURE SEEKER!”

How can you help?
· Make a general financial donation to help build “The Village of

Eden”.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created.” (James 1:17-18).
· Make a donation toward a specific project at the complex, such as equipment, sports fields, orphan housing, kitchen/cafeteria, Bible College, church, or any of the many projects. Donate construction supplies and equipment. Be a volunteer to help-short term, long-term, or “any-term!”

·

·

20

We need hundreds (thousands) of people who will be with us from the beginning - our foundation as we begin work on the Village of Eden. We anticipate that it will take 5 years to see this vision come to fruition. YOU CAN BE A PART OF THIS INNOVATIVE ADVENTURE WHICH WILL REACH ACROSS CULTURAL, LANGUAGE, FINANCIAL, AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. Here are ways to help:

I will help by donating $_____________ specifically for The Village of Eden Every _____Month _____Quarter _____6 Months _____Year SOLDIER

I will help in the following way(s): AMBASSADOR .
Donation for land Donation for Specific building (please designate) Donation for Specific program (please designate)

CENTURION

I would like more information on how to go to Uganda and help I will pray for the vision of the Village of Eden

FIRST NAME_____________________________________LAST NAME______________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________________ CITY___________________________________STATE_______________________________________ZIP__________________ PHONE NUMBER_________________________ EMAIL__________________________________________________________ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE BY CREDIT CARD PLEASE FILL OUT INFORMATION BELOW
American Express Visa MasterCard Discover

ACCOUNT NO.___________________________EXP. DATE_______________SECURITY CODE_______________________ Please fill out the following only if different from information above: FIRST NAME____________________________________LAST NAME______________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________________________________ CITY___________________________________STATE_______________________________________ZIP_________________ PHONE NUMBER_________________________EMAIL__________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE (REQUIRED FOR CREDIT CARD DONATIONS)____________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Helping Hands Foreign Missions and mail this form to: Helping Hands Foreign Missions 1715 Cleveland Highway Gainesville, GA 30501

21

The Village of Eden IS an impossible task - for man. But we know that God has a plan for the children in Africa and all over the world. He created them and loves them. He knows the names of the ones who are sleeping on the ground and the ones who go to sleep hungry. The Village of Eden will be a place where the children will know that there is a God who loves them, that He sent His only Son to die so they might live, and that they have not been forgotten.

22

Helping Hands Foreign Missions
1715 Cleveland Highway Gainesville, GA 30501 www.helpinghandsmissions.org [email protected]
For more information, please contact: Dr. Brenda Kowalske at 404-276-7358 or Stan Bell at 770-560-4555 or Joel Cobb at 678-525-4228

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close