Tapestry Homes

Tapestry Orphan Home Team Builds First Orphanage

A Tapestry Orphan Home ("TOHO") team of 12, in partnership with Threads Africa, returned from Kayamandi, South Africa after building its first orphanage as part of a six-home "Orphan Village". The three bedroom, one bath home with a living room, dining area, fully-equipped kitchen, electricity and plumbing is now a safe home to six teenage girls who have been living in desperate situations having been either orphaned or abandoned by their parents.

Kayamandi is a squatter community outside Cape Town that has been ravaged by the HIV-AIDS pandemic with over 40% of its 30,000 residents HIV positive. In South Africa alone, over 1.2 million children and teenagers have been orphaned by AIDS contributing to the more than 20 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Left to fend for themselves, each of the six girls have bounced from house to house in search of shelter and a place to call home, only to find themselves outcast and exposed to the harsh realities of physical and emotional abuse. Imagine laying yourself to sleep on the dirt floor of a dilapidated two-room shack wondering if tonight will be different than the other nights you've been sexually assaulted, or desperately choosing to live with an abusive male companion just to have a roof over your head.

Fortunately, for Esethu, Phumza, Portia, Sizophila and the two other girls that will be joining them they now have a safe haven where they are protected and have the caring guidance of their House Mother, Noma. This is a place where they can be restored, where dreams can emerge, where hope can be found, where they can be encouraged, and where they can find the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.

Built and Dedicated in Five Days

When the team arrived on Monday morning, it found the site prepped, the elevated foundation piers in place and the frame of the floor structure ready to "go vertical". After gathering to pray on site with our local Kuyasa partners, prominent community members and local pastors, the first walls were erected. The factory-built, pre-panelized walls by local manufacturer "Flexi-Homes" are insulated, fireproof, durable, weatherproof, have "green", recycled insulation and allow for rapid construction. By the end of Day 1, all of the interior and exterior walls had been erected.

Day 2 saw the roof go on, the exterior walls painted, and the electrical and plumbing started. By the end of Day 3, the interior walls had been painted, the electrical and plumbing nearly completed and the laminated floor in place. Day 4 was landscaping and moving day. After installing the kitchen cabinets and completing the electrical and plumbing, including a solar-heated water system, the brand new furniture and furnishings were moved into the home. Nicki, a member of our Kuyasa team, had received donations for all the furnishings by working with a local Christian radio station who got the word out.

The morning of Day 5 was an exhilarating last minute scramble as the team worked feverishly to complete the vegetable garden, touch-up paint, lay the pavers under the veranda, clean and detail the inside, and attend to the finishing touches before the community celebration and dedication at 11 am. William, our dedicated and capable local project manager, continually reminded the team of the time remaining as we entered countdown mode.

Community Takes Ownership

At 11 am "Africa Time", the Kayamandi community gathered on site to celebrate and dedicate the first Tapestry Orphan Home.Community leaders, local pastors, government officials, business leaders, the Kuyasa Kids Dance Troupe, and the press joined with our team members and Kuyasa partners in prayer, song, dance and food as we presented the home to the community and welcomed the girls.

Laying Hands

The team had an intimate time with the girls and their House Mother, Noma, following the community celebration where we welcomed them into their new home, presented them with gifts and laid hands on and prayed over them. Tears of joy flowed freely as we witnessed the girls enter through the front door and lay eyes for the first time on their new home. No words were spoken by the girls as they gazed in amazement, but each of them broke-down and began to weep. We could only imagine what they were thinking and the emotions running through them. Perhaps for the first time in a very long time they felt safe and loved, cared for?

We ended our time with the girls by speaking words of encouragement and explaining to them that this was a home built by God's love, that He had hand picked each one of them because He loves them and has plans to prosper each of them. As we laid hands and prepared to pray over them, Katie invited them to open their hearts and accept Jesus into their lives. It was the perfect ending to an amazing week and the weeks and months of preparation.

God had showed up in a powerful way to demonstrate His love for the "least of these". We all felt privileged to be used as His hands and feet to touch hearts and eternally change lives. It is to Him that we give all the glory, honor and praise. Amen.

Join With Us

Through our Kuyasa partners, the girls will receive food, finish their high school education, receive counseling, transportation, tutoring, mentorship and discipleship. This holistic care, including the salary of the house mother and home operating expenses (utilities and repair and maintenance), is dependent upon tax deductible child sponsorships at $35 per month. If you would like to sponsor one of these or future girls or would like additional information, please email Dave Coen at: [email protected]

We are dependent on private donations to fund the cost of a Tapestry Orphan Home. The cost is $25,000 per home, or approximately $4,000 per child. 100% of donations goes to the Tapestry Orphan Home Initiative without any administrative expenses. If you would like to make a tax-deductible charitable donation, visit the "Donation" tab on our website at: tapestryhomes.org.

If you would like to consider joining us and the Threads Africa Team on a future mission trip to Kayamandi to build a TOHO, please email Dave Coen at the above address. You may also visit the Threads Africa website at:threadsafrica.org.

Blessings,
Cliff and Rose Ratkovich
Founders

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins, and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings"
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