We look forward to seeing you!

–By Matt Capo, Woodmen Valley Chapel

Mstyora, Russia Trip Report from Woodmen Valley Chapel on Vimeo.

I have had the chance to observe poverty on all 5 major continents and now Haiti. Long considered one of the world’s poorest nations, Haiti has been ravaged by years of political corruption, exploitation,illiteracy, and now natural disaster. One of the common threads of all the people I have encountered living in extreme poverty is the lack of purpose and vision beyond “survival mode.” There is a desperation in the “here and now” but there is no foresight beyond that. This is destructive on many levels because it forces communities of people into a dependency mode and a beggar mindset. They cannot get past there immediate circumstances because they are focused on meeting their needs in the moment and not beyond.This is problematic because it stifles creativity, productivity and the ability for those trapped in this viscous cycle to break free. We definitely want to avoid imposing a western mindset on cultures that are not Western but how can we foster a spirit of purpose, and motivation that would be culturally appropriate for people groups that are trapped in myopic destructive thinking.We spent the yesterday and we will spend part of today at the Son of God orphanage in Haiti. The most immediate need beyond the survival needs of food and water are nurturing for the children and vision for future. We will try to motivate the leadership to begin thinking beyond the “here and now” but I don’t expect to break the years of survival thinking in just a couple of days. But, we will pose the question and challenge them to discover their strengths and uncover the God-given gifts that will help them to THRIVE and SUCCEED (as defined by their culture not ours).I am thankful for the team from Timberline - Reza Zadeh, Sean and Tiffany Cherry, and Kari Stewart and their commitment to the children of the Son of God orphanage. This is going to be a long journey and does not have any quick fixes but they are committed for the long haul and for the best possible outcome.  Scripture tells us that God has scattered His gifts abroad for the poor and it is good to know that He has scattered His gifts for Son of God Orphanage in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Timberline Church.

–By Vince Giordano, Outreach Director

This note will provide you with all the details you need to apply for this scholarship, if you are interested. Please read through this information and then contact Vince Giordano at vince@hopechest.org if you are interested.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Pastor scholarships are available for pastors who are serious and significantly interested in having their church sponsor a Children’s HopeChest orphanage or CarePoint. If you are ready to commit your church to sponsor an orphanage, but need first-hand experience with our ministry on the field, then you are a good fit for this program. Accepting a scholarship does not automatically require your church to sponsor. However we ask that you only accept this offer if you are more than 80% certain that your church will proceed with sponsorship through HopeChest.

WHAT DOES IT COVER?
Pastor scholarships will cover full ground fees for the September 2010 Ethiopia Misison & Vision Trip. Recipients are responsible for airfare, incidentals, and any souvenirs they would purchase. The value of this scholarship is $1,300.

WHEN IS THE TRIP?
September 19-29, 2010. Interested pastors must confirm their scholarship by August 15, 2010 with Children’s HopeChest.

WHERE IS THE TRIP GOING?
We will begin in Addis Ababa–the capital city of Ethiopia–and visit several of our sponsored orphanages in and around this region. Then, we will head south to Awassa, where pastors can evaluate several unsponsored orphanages. We will spend time with the children and staff of the orphanages, allowing you time to process how your church can best connect to the needs of the community. We will see many sponsored and unsponsored locations. Additionally, we will spend time in Addis Ababa learning about the history, culture, and food of the country.

WHY DOES HOPECHEST OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS?
Over the years, scholarships have proved very effective in encouraging pastors and churches to make site visits to our orphanages. This is a good faith gesture from HopeChest as we start our partnership together. By removing the financial obstacle, many churches can proceed with a trip. This means that children get sponsored FASTER. The more quickly we can connect your church and its members to the children of your orphanage, the faster we can deliver life saving services such as food, clean water, education, healthcare, and Christian discipleship.

HOW DO I APPLY?
First, review your eligibility. Are you a pastor of a church that is more than 80% sure that you’d like to start a long-term sponsorship relationship of an orphanage through Children’s HopeChest? If the answer is “YES”, then send an e-mail to Vince Giordano (vince@hopechest.org) to proceed to the application. Vince will set up a short phone call to talk in more detail about our church sponsorship program, and how you can connect your church to a community of orphans in Ethiopia.

LAST QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES?
If you are interested in sponsorship in any of our ministry countries (Russia, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, Moldova, Haiti, India, or Guatemala), then contact Vince Giordano today at vince@hopechest.org. He can make sure you are advised of all your opportunities.

If you have any questions, get in touch with Vince Giordano today: vince@hopechest.org

Working with HopeChest in Soroti, Uganda, Joseph Elotu has a passion for helping the poor, along with the practical skills and experience to make a difference.  With a degree in agriculture from Makerere University in Kampala, Joseph has twelve years’ experience in assisting the poor in improving agricultural production and livelihoods. With a deep understanding of government policies on poverty and experience working with local partners and government, Joseph has a proven track record of strategic planning and project implementation.  He coordinates both local and international mission to Soroti.  Joseph and his wife, Anne, have four children:
10-year-old Mercy, 8-year-old Tim, 2 ½-year-old Zoe and one-year-old David.

We have set a travel restriction in Uganda from September 2010 - April 2011. Travel is a key to our ministry and it is not our desire to hinder or stifle it in any way. But, as stewards of kingdom resources and your partners, we WILL exercise extreme caution. If you need further information, please contact Vince Giordano by e-mail at vince@hopechest.org.

Please continue to pray for the victims of this horrible attack and that those responsible are held to account.

HopeChest programs for older orphans in Russia are helping thousands of young adults make a successful transition into independent life.  For this, we credit our Nadezhda Fund President, Katya Celenina.

Katya has been championing the cause of orphans for 14 years.  She brings a prolific education and hands-on “street card” to her position with HopeChest. After earning a Master’s degree in Education from Moscow State Linguistic University, Katya was invited by Buckner International Children’s Services to study foster are and take on a three-year internship in the Management and Administration of Family Settings for Orphans in the U.S.

She translated, adjusted, and adapted the materials and experience from her studies to Russian realities.  Her inital efforts have grown into today’s programs for older orphans.  In 2000, Katya was invited to enter post-graduate school to work on her PhD in Psychology.

Always developing and sharpening programs, Katya says, “For 2010, we would like to strengthen programs addressing more specific target groups such as young mothers, young families, and new orphanage graduates.”

Katya has three children, and she may be found swimming or cooking different world cuisine in her spare time.

The scope of this tournament defies explanation.

We were in just one of ten stadiums around the country. If you filled them all at the same time, you would have over 500,000 soccer fans.

It is amazing to feel a part of something so big on the worldwide stage. Bigger than anything I have experienced before. There are literally people from all over the world (every tribe, tongue, and nation) jamming into these stadiums to show crazy support for the teams and players.

People–including me–were cheering from countries they weren’t even from.

This is the Kingdom.

Imagine what would happen if we were all as crazy about the kingdom of God as these people are about the World Cup?

Download the “Beyond The Game Devotional”. We developed this 5-Day Devotional Experience to walk you through the “Kingdom Issues” surrounding the game. Each day, you’ll confront another facet of the World Cup that impacts children and orphans–but that you’ll never hear about in the news.

If you are a pastor or church leader, I want to invite you to come back to South Africa with Children’s HopeChest this October.

When I get to more reliable Internet, I’ve got some videos and photos to share with you. Here is a shot of the game and field from our seats today. When we left, we almost got caught in a stampede of people trying to board the buses. No one is allowed to drive to the stadiums for security reasons. I’ll post up some shots later.

No matter your feelings regarding the world’s true “football,” I want to challenge to keep up with my blog while we are in South Africa. I’ll do my best to bring you into the experience. Yes, we’re taking in three games, but we are also doing quite a bit of ministry with orphans and the poor, and I’m meeting with some great potential partners who are helping girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.

Apprehensions? I’ve never been to an event like this so I don’t know what to expect. Also, while I’m watching a WC soccer game, there will be thousands of people dying of AIDS and suffering from malnutrition just minutes away. That’s a struggle. The sex trafficking piece is heartbreaking to me. I’m anxious to help but I know this is a dangerous issue to be involved in. Your prayers are appreciated.

Our first stop will be in England where we’ll have a six hour lay over. We’re planning on going into London and I’ll send a video from there.

Love to all of you. Watch this video and Catch the Fever!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.