Project HOPEFUL has been informed of a cutie that has an opportunity to be hosted. You have the opportunity to make a HUGE difference in the life of a child. Every child deserves to know what the love of a family feels like. We don’t have much time left to find Vlad a host family! Please inquire quickly if you are interested in showing this handsome guy the love of Jesus!

Ten year old Vladyslav is a very diligent student and his favorite subjects are math and PE. His director describes him as very active, polite and kind. He thinks logically and likes to analize things. Very friendly and likes to socialize with friends. Vlad attends an art studio where he likes to draw, paint, and work with clay. On his free time he plays soccer and loves to read and watch cartoons. His greatest and most cherished dream – life! Vlad is HIV positive.

Vlad is being offered for hosting via New Horizons for Children (www.newhorizonsforchildren.org) for 5 weeks this summer anywhere in the U.S. Please contact Stacey at smaljian@newhorizonsforchildren.org for more information!

Want to help purchase a playground?

At this orphanage? in Awassa, Ethiopia?

For these children? (and many more)

The plans are for a slide, a swing, and a seated merry go round. A designer has drawn up the plans for it and is ready to go. We just need the funds!!  The estimate is for $1,200 and something that would give fun playtime for the children who live there.  (can’t you just hear the shouts, screams and giggles?) 

Many of these children have lived here since they were tiny infants and are still here. We really want to add some laughter and fun to their lives!

Our goal is to have this funded by my April trip! Sooner is just fine too!

If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to this please donate HERE and put PLAYGROUND in the message.  If you would like to send a check—message me at charisa@projecthopeful.org and I can give the address.

Thank you!!

The HOPE+ ET program seeks to alleviate the need for HIV+ mothers to relinquish their children and was born out of a desire to honor the birth mothers of Project HOPEFUL children. The goal of the Project HOPEFUL HOPE+Sisterhood program is to Help Others Perform Excellently through a determination to provide HOLISTIC care for infected mothers and their families in order to prevent unnecessary loss. These goals will be achieved by emotionally, spiritually and physically supporting families with HIV+ persons (primarily mothers) by providing them access to vital medical care, helping them obtain self –sustainability, and linking mothers to “sisters” in the US who will develop relationships for support and friendship.

Our goal is that Mothers won’t have to place their children in orphanages because of inability to provide for her family. Women will NOT be vilified because of their HIV status. We want these women to know that THEY MATTER! Project HOPEFUL wishes to provide HOPE to mothers in Ethiopia and connect them to women in the U.S.

The Program is broken down into 3 phases:

Phase one: Rehabilitation program in the recovery center. This “in-house” phase includes counseling, nutritional education, sanitation education, as well as medical evaluation and treatment for the women and their children. It lasts approximately 2 months. While in phase one, the women also identify possible job skill training opportunities. A home visit is performed to assess whether or not the occupation they choose is appropriate for their living situation. We also provide 3 meals a day as well as a snack for the mothers and their children during their time in the program in additional to covering transportation charges and any needed clothing.

Phase two: Economic empowerment program (job skills training according to each woman’s interest). During this phase, the women move back into their individual homes (but still meet weekly with the other women in the program). They undergo training in an occupation of their choosing. They also choose a “group income producing project” which they partake in with other members of their group. This project will continue to tie the women together long after they leave the program. “To educate a man is to educate his family; to educate a woman is to educate the world”

Phase three: Monitoring, Evaluation and documentation program (follow-up care). A micro-financing loan is also provided in order to launch her small business.

Recently one of our sponsors had the opportunity to meet the sisters in the the rehab center. She writes:

I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting the Project HOPEFUL Bete-Se’ida program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a few weeks ago. I was welcomed by Yafalem, the program director, who took me into the room where the sisters were focused and happy learning how to cross stitch a beautiful sitting mat. A graduate from the 2 month program was teaching the other women. The energy in the room was happy and filled with children’s laughter with babies running around, some hiding behind their mothers’ dresses and others curiously coming up to me and playfully pushing their little hands out to share a high 5.

The women were anxious to share their work with me. I then had the opportunity to interview the women and ask questions such as how the program had changed their lives. One woman said that the program had given her a new confidence on life and while she was very depressed before she joined the program, she now feels good about herself and confident that she can go out and begin a business, help support her family and keep her family. They asked me to stay for lunch and we sat in a small circle and had a beautiful meal of beef stew and of course, injera. It was magical watching the women roll the injera up filled with stew and feeding their hungry children. After lunch, coffee was served, of course, and I participated…as always.

Afterwards, I went to visit the orphanage right next door. I always enjoy this visit. I held the babies, played with the school children and talked with the helpers to find out what extra things needed for their daily care, thinking about how we could help them.

The highlight of the visit was visiting Tsion, a graduate of the 2 month program for women. Yafalem drove me to her place of work and as we walked in I saw 4 women with chef hats on with HUGE smiles selling lentils and spices. They also had a coffee ceremony going on continuously for anyone who wanted to partake. The market was bustling for the coming of the Christmas holiday, which is January 7th in Ethiopia. Tsion joined the program as a very desperate women: depressed, unstable, sick and unable to take good care of her children. You would never know that this was the same Tsion when I was introduced to her that day. Her smile was infectious and she was so proud, rightfully so, of her business. She and I and Yafalem then drove to her home and visited her family. They are building a new beautiful home and I met her darling daughter.

It seems that in this day and age, many think that HIV and AIDS equal to not having a life filled with any productivity or happiness. Project Hopeful however has not given up on these women and the project is truly changing women’s’ lives…a few at a time. And isn’t this how the world is changed….caring, loving, helping, friendship..no matter what color, what sickness, no matter how rich or poor. Girlfriends helping girlfriends…Tsion took my hand as we walked back to the car and my life, once again, was changed forever.

-Marla

We are currently in need of 15 more US Sisters to sponsor our Ethiopian Sisters. If you would like more information, please contact me at nancy@projecthopeful.org

When I accepted the position of Director for the HOPE+ sisterhood, Uganda, it wasn’t probably 10 minutes later that I thought “what have I gotten myself into?” I was comforted slightly by the fact that there wasn’t an immediate need to get the program up and running and there was much grace extended on the timing due to our adoption.

When I returned from Uganda and started thinking more about the responsibility and my “skills” (or lack thereof), I panicked. Enter the voice of doubt. I quickly called Deb and said “look, I am not cut out for this. I don’t have the skills to do this. I MAKE JEWELRY. That is what I’m good at. I don’t “direct” anything. Deb was kind, patient, wise & encouraging. She said 2 things that really stuck. The first was “I tell everyone to not make any major decisions until 6 months post adoption” and the second was “and for the record…you are cut out for this. You are exactly who God wants for this”. Enter the voice of truth.

It didn’t take 6 months….only about 4 when I heard God say “go…the time is now”. God perfected every detail, funds were raised almost effortlessly and we were on our way to Uganda. And I felt a tremendous amount of peace.

When I left the U.S. I was under the impression that there were 18 sisters. So, when I asked “how many sisters do we have” and the response was “about 35”…..I panicked. Again. But this time it lasted all of about 30 minutes. God had perfected every detail of this trip and I knew He had this. Peace came over me as I heard the words “Trust me, Dawn”. I’m quite sure I was even wearing my “It’s not about me shirt”. That really should have been my first clue ;o)

And so I trusted Him.

I have been home for 11 days and there are only 2 women left who need sisters. TWO. And by the time you read this blog post….there will probably only be 1. He truly paved the way. He did the work. All He needed from me was obedience. There is no special skill set you need for obedience. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:17

I am so encouraged by the plans I believe He has for these women. One of them is Faith. She is beautiful, amazing and talented. Faith is a trained tailor, but she lacks the funds for a sewing machine. She’s going to use the funds she receives to purchase a sewing machine so she can make more awesome creations like this! This is one of the bags Faith made…..and this was her first attempt! Aren’t they adorable??

Please join me in praying for these beautiful women and that God will make perfect His will for their lives.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Project HOPEFUL has wanted to have a presence in Uganda for some time
but simply didn’t know where to start, but because our God is such an
awesome God….He paved the way.

The first phase of the HOPE+ Sisterhood, Uganda will begin with 34
“Sisters”. Each woman is HIV+, on the proper medications and is in
need of a “hand up”. With your support, these sisters will begin
small business, expand their existing business or become educated in a
trade they wish to pursue.

We had the honor and privilege of meeting each and every one of these
sisters in early January. We were even able to visit many of them in
their homes and see their precious children. Their stories were
heartbreaking and touching. Some were still grieving and some were
exclaiming “I am HIV+ and I have no shame”.

The sisterhood program costs $40 a month for 6 months. We are calling
this phase 1 because we want to leave the door open for God to
determine the next step.

At Project HOPEFUL we believe in the beautiful gift of adoption but
recognize this isn’t always the answer. This is a wonderful
opportunity to walk along side a precious woman and help her preserve
the family that God has blessed her with.

If you are interested in becoming a sister or if you have any
questions about this program please email me at
dawn@projecthopeful.org

To God be the Glory…..ALWAYS!

The best laid plans are plans at best. I’ve heard this quote many times. It’s held true so often in my life. This trip to Uganda was no different. I went there with a plan…many plans in fact. But one of my plans took a turn, a radical turn.

The HOPE+ sisterhood has always been about enabling HIV+ women to live longer, fuller lives through a Jesus centered relationship with a sister here in the US. But, because there is so much shame & stigma surrounding HIV, many of these women wanted….and needed….to remain private. Although Project HOPEFUL stands by the TRUTH “No shame in our game”….we needed to respect this. It’s so important for these women to understand that they have a disease….but they are NOT the disease! But, to help them….we need to understand them first.

I went to Uganda fully expecting each woman to want their “status” to remain private to everyone except to their sister.

I can joyfully tell you, that was not the case. AT ALL. Were there women who had not shared their status publicly? Yes. And we will respect that. But there are women who are joyfully sharing their stories and I would be doing them a disservice if I did not share them with you.

Take for instance Lazia. I met Lazia 2 years ago for the first time when I traveled to Uganda with my friend Cathy. She was one of our home visits. She was not strong, she was not physically well and had a relatively new relationship with Jesus. Lazia was a muslim and after her husband died from AIDS, she discovered she was HIV+. A few years later, a local pastor heard about this very sick woman and ministered to her. Through that relationship, she accepted Jesus. But because of her illness, she was very weak and wasn’t able to attend church often. It was around this time that we met her.

I met with Lazia several times on this trip and joy literally seeps out of this woman. She never stops smiling and continually praises Jesus. We had a standard format of questions that we would ask each woman and one of them was “have you shared your status with family and friends”. I wasn’t prepared for her response. With a huge smile on her face, she threw her hands up in the air and joyfully shouted “The whole town knows I have HIV! I have no shame.” You know that moment when your favorite team scores the winning touchdown and you jump in the air and shout “yes”. Well, that perfectly described how I felt AND how I reacted.

There is still so much stigma surrounding HIV. There is still much ignorance and fear. But for a small group of women, in a little town in Africa….there is no shame. They are proud. They are living positively. They are in love with Jesus. And I believe they will be the game changers.

The HOPE+ sisterhood Uganda is a 6 month commitment to be a “sister” to one of these precious women. You will encourage her, pray for her and financially assist her through a $40 per month donation. This donation will be used by your sister to start a small business so that she can obtain proper nutrition (which is absolutely essential for their ARV’s to work) and care for her children.

To learn more about this amazing ministry, please email me @ dawn@projecthopeful.org

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another – Proverbs 27:17

Last June, our church, Grace Covenant of Austin Texas raised funds to build a much needed medical clinic in Mukono, Uganda. When we adopted our son this past summer, we broke ground.

Yesterday we visited the almost completed clinic. It’s been amazing the progress that has taken place.

Why am I sharing this and what does it have to do with the HOPE + sisterhood? The board members of the medical clinic have decided that every sister will receive a card that entitles them to free health care!

The blessings just keep coming and I look forward to sharing what God does for the HOPE+ sisterhood, Uganda over the next few months.

I am en route heading back home to beautiful Austin, Texas. I’ve received several emails asking about becoming a sister. I PROMISE that as soon as I am home, rested and have my brain on straight…..I will email each and every one of you.

If you are interested in becoming a sister, please email me at dawn@projecthopeful.org.

To God be the Glory…..ALWAYS!

I have been so inspired by these women. Each and every woman has hopes and dreams. Every woman prays for “health and long life”. They want to have work so they can take care of the children God has blessed them with. Even the ones who have small business that provide just what they need desire to grow their business. Not because they want nicer “things” but because they want to leave a legacy for their children. Every mama wants what is best for their children….the sisters of HOPE+ are no different.

Some women are trained to be tailors….but lack a sewing machine. Some women know how to rear pigs…but lack the funds to purchase piglets. Some women have homes in perfect locations to set up small stores…but lack the funds to purchase inventory. One woman is a trained baker….but lackes the funds to purchase baking supplies.

Every woman we met WANTS to work. None of them expects anyone to “fix” their situation or desires someone to take care of them. The one thing I heard over and over was “no capital”. Most people have just what they need to “survive” so trying to plan for any future is impossible. Most of these women do not husbands. They have either passed away, abandoned them or are very sick themselves.

They just need a hand up. That’s where YOU come in. You can partner with a sister and help to make a difference in her life. Be the change these women so desperately need. For 6 months you can walk with your sister, encourage her and offer the financial support she needs to better her life.

The sisterhood program lasts 6 months and costs $40 a month. Not sure you can cover $40 by your self? Considering pairing up with a friend and do $20 each. I am faithful that God will provide each and every woman with a sister.

While I can’t guarantee every story will have a happy ending, I know this. If you are reading this post and are feeling our heart stir then you are probably being called to do something. You know that feeling. The one when your heart pounds and you just KNOW you are supposed to act? Maybe it’s not about what you are going to do for your sister. Maybe it’s about what your sister is going to do for you. Or maybe it’s just about obedience to the Lord. Either way, I believe with my whole heart that you won’t regret it.

“The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for me or the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

To learn more about the HOPE+Sisterhood in Uganda, contact Dawn at dawn@projecthopeful.org.

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