Tapestry Homes--Not As We Thought
A week before our arrival, our new prototype "Tapestry Home" had successfully made it to South Africa in one piece. Actually it arrived in several pieces ready for assembly as a replacement form of housing to the deplorable living conditions in Kayamandi where 30,000 squatters reside in makeshift, dirt-floor shacks within a one square mile area.Meticulous plans had been organized well in advance to build the Tapestry Home as a demonstration project adjacent to the Kuyasa Center, the headquarters of our local ministry partners. It was a safe location within the secured boundaries of the property with good visibility to the community, albeit from a distance. These plans had been confirmed and reconfirmed prior to our arrival, but then "this is Africa", and God had a much bigger plan.
When we arrived in Kayamandi several days in advance of our main team, we learned the site for building the home had changed. Pumla, a social worker for our ministry partner and someone we had come to love on our previous trip, had a friend who lost her shack in a recent fire. But she had lost much more than her home. She also lost her young son. Pumla wanted to demonstrate God's love by giving her friend her existing shack and purchasing the Tapestry Home for her and her 18-year-old son, Monde. Could this be a God-send?To pull this off meant Pumla's existing shack would have to be disassembled within two days and the site would have to be cleared. As God would have it, the dimensions of her existing shack were almost identical to our 11' by 15' Tapestry Home. But the site was uneven and sloping, and it meant we would have to surgically build perimeter walls on two sides within inches of adjacent shacks. It would put construction of the prototype to the ultimate test. Could we do this? Was there adequate time? Why not play it safe? God had us right where He wanted, in what Floyd McClung describes as "God's-Space"--that place between our own abilities and where God is calling us. To say, "yes" meant we would have to surrender all.
We had not traveled half way around the world to play it safe. If this was God's plan then our job was to be obedient. Casting caution to the Holy-wind, we agreed to move forward. On Sunday, Pumla's existing shack had been removed by a team of neighbors, and by mid-day on Monday, the site was prepped and ready to receive the first Tapestry Home. By the end of day, the elevated foundation and floor panels had been assembled and we were ready to "go vertical" the next morning.
A HopeBuilders Team led by Steve Guzowski, Paul Skowronski and Nap Price had completely assembled the Tapestry Home by sundown Tuesday, including electrical service. All that remained were cosmetic interior improvements.
In approximately two days God had taken us from an existing shack to a new Tapestry Home, a home that was insulated, fireproof, weatherproof and which allowed for proper drainage under its elevated floor. Pumla's friend was no longer homeless, and she had new hope. Pumla and her son were now protected from the wind and rain, and they no longer had to live in fear that their shack would be blown away or destroyed in the next fire. God had shown-up in a mighty way.
Word spread quickly through the community, and we were overwhelmed by the interest and enthusiasm of the local residents. "How do I get one? How much does it cost? Can I make a deposit to get on the list?" Priced at R12000 ($2,000) to local families (total cost of $5,000 and a $3,000 "Housing Sponsorship"), God had clearly hit a homerun. But what would the community leaders and local government officials have to say? By Thursday we had our answer.On Thursday morning, we held a Community Town Hall Meeting with community leaders and the local Community Counselors, which included a tour of the Tapestry Home. Unanimous support was enthusiastic and instantaneous. Lead Counselor, Oliphant, who is also an elected Town Counselmember for the encompassing City of Stellenbosch, summed it up best when he shared, "I am very impressed. The Tapestry Home is beautiful, and I would like to purchase one for myself. I can't describe the feeling I had when I entered the home, it was overwhelming. I felt a sense of pride, a sense of 'home'".
We pitched the Counsel on allowing us to build a 50-home demonstration project as the next step. If they agree, selecting who will receive these homes will be a challenge, but one we welcome with God-sized arms. We are grateful for your continuing prayers as we see where God decides to take us on this faith-filled journey.
Computer Room Makeover
Steve Guzowski had just spent 28 hours flying halfway around the world to CapeTown, South Africa. It was 8:00 am and while the rest of the HopeBuilders Advance Team was on its way to its hotel for a hot shower and much-needed rest, Steve had rented a van and was driving to Kayamandi. Steve was a "man on a mission".Steve's mission was to head a Makeover Team and in one's week time transform a vacant room of the Kuyasa Center into a fully-functioning and state-of-the-art Computer Lab for the kids of Kayamandi. Steve was intent on making sure all the necessary tools and materials were in place so the team could hit the ground running upon their later arrival.
It was amazing to witness the transformation as Steve, his right-hand-man, Paul Skowronski, and the rest of his team worked tirelessly to build what would become the first-of-its-kind in Kayamandi. When all was said and done, 13 work stations (with new computers, monitors, keyboards and mouses) had been networked to printers with up to date software packages and overhead projection.
Jenny Carstens, Director of the Kuyasa Center, commented, "What a blessing this new lab will be to the children of Kayamandi, giving them so much hope and the needed skills to make a dramatic difference in their future". And to the adults that will be offered skills training through the center. Well done, Steve and Paul, for heading a great team!
Blessings,
Cliff and Rose Ratkovich
HopeBuilders Global cy_policy.html">Privacy Policy |