First Tapestry Orphan Home Girls Are Thriving
It has been three months since Esethu, Aphindiwe, Nomzamo, Sizophila, Phumza and Portia moved into their new Tapestry Orphan Home with their housemother, Noma, and the girls are thriving. Having each lost one or both of their parents to AIDS, the girls bounced from house to house in search of a place to call home and were often subjected to the worst kinds of physical and emotional abuse imaginable.For these first six girls, the Tapestry Orphan Home has given them a safe and reliable place to live where they can experience what it means to be a part of a real family with a caring mother. It is a place where they can find encouragement, they can dare to dream of a purposeful life, and they can find and share the love of Jesus.
The girls are sharing daily meals and praying together and forming eternal bonds. Through private sponsorships, each girl is able to complete their high school education, receive medical attention, and have their basic transportation, clothing and food needs met.
In July as part of a Threads Africa Mission Trip to Kayamandi, South Africa, a Tapestry Homes team built and furnished the 3-bedroom, 1-bath home in less than five days. The fireproof, weatherproof, and insulated home has a fully functional kitchen, dining area and living room, electricity and solar heated hot water.
Hear what Nomzamo had to say after just one month in her new home: "To me it is really nice to be here because I have family and we treat each other in a good way. There is no fighting against another one. Sisi Noma is a real mother to me. We eat healthy food. Sometimes it was difficult to get food where I was staying because my cousin is unemployed. Nothing and nobody will disturb me now when I want to read my books and do my homework. God answered my prayer. I can see that Jesus put me here for a purpose and I will put more effort on my studies. One day I want to help other children. I don't want to see people struggling. I want to see them with healthy lives for it is not nice to grow up without parents. Now I am no longer thinking about my parents because I am happy now and am no longer crying. I thank God."Sponsorships Are Needed
Physically providing a Tapestry Orphan Home is only half the equation. Sponsorships are needed to provide for the basic needs of each young girl, including food, clothing, schooling, medical needs, transportation and counseling. It costs $120 per month per girl to pay for these basic items which is broken-down into four private sponsorships of $30 per month. Sponsors can elect to provide from one to four sponsorships per girl.
Tapestry Orphan Homes has provided the sponsorship dollars necessary to fund the first six months of the girls' basic needs, and we are seeking sponsorships to fund the ongoing requirements of each girl until they graduate from the 12th grade. This is a very tangible way to join with us and make it possible for each of these girls to reach their God-given potential and to reinforce that Jesus loves them and cares for them.
Tapestry Homes and Threads Africa have partnered with our local Kuyasa Team and World Help to provide and administer private sponsorships for these first six girls and the future girls that will live in the five additional Tapestry Orphan Homes that will comprise the Kayamandi Orphan Village. World Help is a Christ-centered, non-profit organization that has over 30,000 child sponsorships in 22 countries. 90% of your donation goes directly to the girls with 10% allocated to World Help's administration costs.
If you would like to sponsor one of these first six girls or a future girl, either visit our Tapestry Homes website or email Rose Ratkovich directly with your questions or request to sponsor a girl. After World Help receives your first montly gift, you will receive your girl's photograph and personal description. We will show you how to develop a special relationship with your girl by corresponding one-on-one with them. You will stay informed of your girl's progress through periodic updates, and you may decide to join us on a future missions trip and meet your girl personally.
Please prayerfully consider if sponsorship is a way God is calling you to make an eternal difference in the lives of these beautiful girls. We are now accepting sponsorships for the second Tapestry Orphan Home to be built in July 2010. Consider sponsoring a girl and joining us on the July Missions Trip where you can be a part of the construction team and personally welcome your girl to her new Tapestry Orphan Home. For more information about the July trip, contact Dave Coen.
"Children are the most vulnerable citizens in any society and the greatest of our treasures."
--Nelson Mandela
Tapestry Homes Launches New Website and Video
Check-out our new Tapestry Homes Website which includes a link to child sponsorships, a new donation page, and a video of our first Tapestry Orphan Home. Click here on TOHO Video to view just the 4-minute video.July 2010 Missions Trip
Tapestry Homes will be partnering with Threads Africa to lead the next team to Kayamandi, South Africa to build the second Tapestry Orphan Home. The 2010 trip will depart on July 15th and return on July 29th. The turn-key cost of the trip (airfare, transportation, lodging, meals and safari debrief) is $4,200 per person.
Team members typically raise $3,600 of the cost of the trip (excluding the safari debrief) through sponsors, and we will help you write your sponsorship letter and coach you on how to raise the required funds. This is a great way to invite family members, friends, co-workers and others to join with you on this life-changing faith adventure.
Join us and be a part of: building and furnishing a Tapestry Orphan Home in just five days; the community celebration and dedication; welcoming six orphaned girls into their new home; and laying hands and praying over them. Other activities include: the photo legacy project; child feeding program; vacation bible school training; prayer walks; AIDS counselors outing; and the pastor wives' dinner. It's about touching hearts and changing lives forever.
And to top it all off, we will have a special time debriefing on safari at Ngala Lodge, a private game reserve adjacent to Krugar National Park where we will spend two nights and go on four game runs. Team training begins in January. For more information about the trip, contact Dave Coen, leader of the Threads Africa team.Blessings,
Cliff and Rose Ratkovich
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