Vision
Not Exactly a Building Project
It was the winter of my senior year in college when I first heard about coming to Colombia. The idea of starting an orphanage excited me and I envisioned myself raising money for a house, playing with the kids, and being like a big brother to the children in the orphanage. After the first month of being in Colombia I realized there was a lot (understatement) that needs to happen before the fun of playing with kids is an option. I wasn't completely ignorant of the hard work it would take before I came; however, I think I came in with a short term mission mentality (the same mentality that one might have as they go to build a house in Tijuana, Mexico). It's not necessarily a bad mindset, and if your goal is to construct a building in a week, it’s the right mentality to have. However, starting an orphanage is hardly a building project or even a soup kitchen. What hit me first was the amount of money that one needs to start and operate an orphanage. The first couple months were sort of depressing when I would look at the excel spreadsheet of costs. I felt like a little kid again, shaking my piggy bank to guess how much was inside. However, this time it’s not the cap gun I had my eye on, its more like the brand new Porsche 911 with insurance and licensing that I would need to pay for. Shake, shake....yeah just a little shy of $100,000.
The other thing that hit me was the responsibility I was taking on. It wasn't like I was showing up and putting on a vacation bible school, playing soccer with some kids and then taking a lot of pictures of them. I am involved in building an institution, a home where kids will come and live, expecting and needing food, love, and care. In January, when Henry Bedford showed up with his friend Phil, I started to get a taste of the influence this ministry could have. Being a 23 year old, I don’t have a tendency to think 15 or 20 years into the future, in fact it’s really hard to think that far ahead. However, Henry has had experience with things similar to this and was able to project what the orphanage could be in 15 years and how it will go beyond just providing food and shelter. Thus began the thought process of what this might be some day and how it would impact lives.
Future, Near and Far
During the past few days God has really been showing me the extent of the orphanage through the process of developing a website. In a short while, we will have a website that will be linked to the church’s website, that will describe in detail the process a child will go through, starting in the drop off center and then in the orphanage. Half way through a meeting with Aida and Elsa (the child psychologist who is helping lead this) I was amazed an the enormity of the project. However, unlike previous feelings of being overwhelmed, I was amazed at the potential of the ripple effect this will have on generations to come. When I told Aida that it was difficult for me to think 20 years down the road, she replied "Jacob, this isn't some little two year project that we are doing, we are answering Christ's call to be light to those who don't know him, and just a little candle won't work". She said it as only Aida could, passionate and with clear resolve in her voice. She went on to say that the Church around the world is used to doing one or two year projects. However, to make a real difference we need to establish projects that don’t have end dates, ministries that don’t stop but are passed down to following generations, sustained by nationals, supported by volunteers and businessmen alike, and driven by Christ's love for those in need.
Like I said earlier, we have been working on a website where people can directly find out everything that’s happening with the orphanage (in English and Spanish). This site will hopefully link more people to our orphanage, giving them an idea of the great need there is here, as well as providing them an opportunity to get involved (by donating and volunteering). Other than that, two weeks ago a house came on the market that is just 2 houses down from the church. The house needs a little bit of work done to it, but on the whole, would serve our needs more than the other house we were interested in. It’s also $25,000 less than the other house (for $115,000) and bigger. The owner is selling it so cheap because he just wants to get his money and get out, so there are several interested people in the house. We have some funds but are still waiting and praying that God would lead some serious donors to help us buy this house. As for the drop off center, we just received our corrected application from Bienstar (the social arm of the gov't) and with a few modifications we should have our license to open the drop off center in 15-20 days. Please be praying for a good spot we could rent for the drop off center.
Thanks for reading this and taking time out of your day to learn about how God is working around the world. It’s easy to discount this as just another program that has needs in a world full of needs, but there are plenty of money and resources to meet these needs, especially when well applied. I pray that each one of you reads this and is moved to act in any way to simplify your life so that you might be able to help share and greatly impact another life. I am always ready to help and hear how you are doing, so please contact me at grady.jacob@gmail.com .
Jacob
It was the winter of my senior year in college when I first heard about coming to Colombia. The idea of starting an orphanage excited me and I envisioned myself raising money for a house, playing with the kids, and being like a big brother to the children in the orphanage. After the first month of being in Colombia I realized there was a lot (understatement) that needs to happen before the fun of playing with kids is an option. I wasn't completely ignorant of the hard work it would take before I came; however, I think I came in with a short term mission mentality (the same mentality that one might have as they go to build a house in Tijuana, Mexico). It's not necessarily a bad mindset, and if your goal is to construct a building in a week, it’s the right mentality to have. However, starting an orphanage is hardly a building project or even a soup kitchen. What hit me first was the amount of money that one needs to start and operate an orphanage. The first couple months were sort of depressing when I would look at the excel spreadsheet of costs. I felt like a little kid again, shaking my piggy bank to guess how much was inside. However, this time it’s not the cap gun I had my eye on, its more like the brand new Porsche 911 with insurance and licensing that I would need to pay for. Shake, shake....yeah just a little shy of $100,000.
The other thing that hit me was the responsibility I was taking on. It wasn't like I was showing up and putting on a vacation bible school, playing soccer with some kids and then taking a lot of pictures of them. I am involved in building an institution, a home where kids will come and live, expecting and needing food, love, and care. In January, when Henry Bedford showed up with his friend Phil, I started to get a taste of the influence this ministry could have. Being a 23 year old, I don’t have a tendency to think 15 or 20 years into the future, in fact it’s really hard to think that far ahead. However, Henry has had experience with things similar to this and was able to project what the orphanage could be in 15 years and how it will go beyond just providing food and shelter. Thus began the thought process of what this might be some day and how it would impact lives.
Future, Near and Far
During the past few days God has really been showing me the extent of the orphanage through the process of developing a website. In a short while, we will have a website that will be linked to the church’s website, that will describe in detail the process a child will go through, starting in the drop off center and then in the orphanage. Half way through a meeting with Aida and Elsa (the child psychologist who is helping lead this) I was amazed an the enormity of the project. However, unlike previous feelings of being overwhelmed, I was amazed at the potential of the ripple effect this will have on generations to come. When I told Aida that it was difficult for me to think 20 years down the road, she replied "Jacob, this isn't some little two year project that we are doing, we are answering Christ's call to be light to those who don't know him, and just a little candle won't work". She said it as only Aida could, passionate and with clear resolve in her voice. She went on to say that the Church around the world is used to doing one or two year projects. However, to make a real difference we need to establish projects that don’t have end dates, ministries that don’t stop but are passed down to following generations, sustained by nationals, supported by volunteers and businessmen alike, and driven by Christ's love for those in need.
Like I said earlier, we have been working on a website where people can directly find out everything that’s happening with the orphanage (in English and Spanish). This site will hopefully link more people to our orphanage, giving them an idea of the great need there is here, as well as providing them an opportunity to get involved (by donating and volunteering). Other than that, two weeks ago a house came on the market that is just 2 houses down from the church. The house needs a little bit of work done to it, but on the whole, would serve our needs more than the other house we were interested in. It’s also $25,000 less than the other house (for $115,000) and bigger. The owner is selling it so cheap because he just wants to get his money and get out, so there are several interested people in the house. We have some funds but are still waiting and praying that God would lead some serious donors to help us buy this house. As for the drop off center, we just received our corrected application from Bienstar (the social arm of the gov't) and with a few modifications we should have our license to open the drop off center in 15-20 days. Please be praying for a good spot we could rent for the drop off center.
Thanks for reading this and taking time out of your day to learn about how God is working around the world. It’s easy to discount this as just another program that has needs in a world full of needs, but there are plenty of money and resources to meet these needs, especially when well applied. I pray that each one of you reads this and is moved to act in any way to simplify your life so that you might be able to help share and greatly impact another life. I am always ready to help and hear how you are doing, so please contact me at grady.jacob@gmail.com .
Jacob
posted by Jacob Grady | 12:34 PM
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