Giving Away Beds!!

Last week we got a call from a hotel. They had 46 beds they wanted to donate to the refugees. So, we got our hands on a moving truck and started hauling queen-size mattresses, box springs and bed frames to 46 apartments!

There were several families that had needed new beds because of severe infestations of bed bugs. They were delighted when we brought new beds so they could throw out the mattresses that were infested.

Some of the families also were trying to sleep six people in two or three twin beds and a couch. One woman’s eyes filled up with tears when we brought in the new mattresses. It was amazing to see how much a bed could mean to someone. There is so much that we can take for granted without realizing how blessed we are with the things we have. Working with Hope Rise reminds me daily that simple things in my life are gifts, and that I always have something to give away!

Hope Rise Website Launched

We launched our Website today! Go check it out when you get a chance! www.hoperise.org

Also, tonight is our first fundraising event: The Hope Rise Birthday Bash! If you can come out and are in the Nashville area, we would love to see you! We will be telling a bit about Hope Rise International and the refugees that we support. Also, we will be selling scarves that the refugees have been making! It will be a great night! It starts at 7p.m. at Wallace Chapel at 15354 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37211! Come celebrate with us!

VBS

This year we had about 55 refugee children come to VBS! We had amazing donors supply funds for each child to be sponsored so that they would have the opportunity to be there. The week was incredible for the kids! They played games, made new friends, sang songs and learned more about Jesus and His word!

Camps like these were not available in the countries where they are from, so it was truly a new and exciting experience for them. They became adjusted so quickly and by the second day they were doing hand motions to each song, laughing and playing with new friends. I was so touched and proud to see how much of an impact something like VBS can have on a child. Here are some pictures to show you their faces and some of the activities they did!

To see more pictures, go to the Hope Rise International Facebook Page!!

"Scarving": Making a Difference in A Woman's Life

Many of you have read the blog and seen the pictures of the farming project. Now, we are starting a new project for the economic development of 18 women in the refugee community. The idea is to take the skills and talents they have, and help them develop an income. Our new project is handmade scarves and hats.

These women are able to knit and crochet beautifully handmade items. These scarves are something that the women really spend time on and we have seen their excitement grow as they are creating something beautiful for others to enjoy. Now we are looking for proactive ways to get the word out about these women and their scarves.

So, Hope Rise invested the first few batches of yarn, needles and other items needed for the women to get started. When we got the first 20 items back, we were pleasantly surprised how unique and beautiful each scarf was. They were beyond our expectations. The women make each scarf with unique color and style, which takes about two days to finish. Our goal is to try and get these scarves out into the public, so that the profits go directly to the woman that made it so that they may help pay their rent, utilities and other needs for their family.

We really believe in these women, and we believe that this is the next step God has for us. We are giving each woman a sense of purpose as she creates beautiful things to add to the world around her, and they are finding joy in that. Many of them sit in apartments all day with no job and little activity. The cook, clean and watch their children. One woman, Narayani, told me that she would like to just help her husband pay for the electricity bill, so that she could be a part of providing for her family.

Right now, our first step is to start a website and scarf store, which will be up within the next month or so. Until then, we will be selling them at Hope Rise sponsored events, and other church events where we have been asked to speak.

Besides the unique handmade scarves, the website will include a story about the woman who made each individual scarf. These stories are touching and filled with true hope.

We really are trying to get the word out, and we know once people see these scarves and the purpose behind them. People will love them!

Today, we are asking if anyone has extra yarn, needles, or additional items we can use! Please continue to stay updated as this opportunity for these women continues to grow. Our hope is we will get the scarves into local shops and boutiques around the city. We are so excited to use our resources and the talents of the women in this way!

Have a great day! We love that you are a part of this mission. Thank you so much for reading and being involved. We love you!

Check out our new Logo for Hope Rise!!

Just the Clothes on their Backs....

We met with a new family today! The Gautam family of seven was just flown in four days ago. The airline lost the family’s entire luggage! We were called early enough, so we went over to speak with them and see what they needed.

When we got to the apartment, four adorable faces were staring at us in uncontrollable smiles. The children who opened the door for us were from ages 6 to 14. The oldest boy spoke English the most fluently, and we were able to talk to him about how everything was going since the move.

A few minutes later, some neighbors in the community (fellow refugees) came over to help translate. The family sadly had hardly anything at all. In fact, they only had the clothes they wore off the plane, and a few amenities donated by World Relief. The two-bedroom apartment housing seven only had two beds! The main room had a worn out area rug, three old couches and a single picture of Winnie the Pooh on the wall. They also had a small Samsung TV held up by two small wooden dresser drawers.

Without fail, every time we meet a new Nepali family, it hits us just how blessed and favored we are. Even the impoverished areas in the U.S. have more than these families. It’s just beautiful to see how these families have next to nothing, and they are the most humbled and satisfied people we have ever met.

We were able to give the family some much needed cleaning supplies, clothes, and toys for the beautiful children. It made their day, and ours! We continue to serve not just because it’s what we’re supposed to do, but because it shows us appreciation every time we walk into a new family’s life. On days like these, we are more thankful for the refugees than they are of us.

Planting the first Seeds

Saturday was a day to mark in the books for Hope Rise International! We launched the new farming project! The day was sunny and beautiful- a perfect day to spend outside.

The farming project is a vision that I have had since August. You see, about 80% of the Bhutanese-Nepali refugees were farmers in Nepal. They had worked land all their lives, seen growth, been outside and fed their families. Many of them since being in America, have spent days inside apartments with nothing to do, nowhere to go and no way to get anywhere. But this day, they were outside where they feel alive and their faces showed it! With smiles spread across their faces and dressed in their typical saris, dresses and nice pants, they got down in the dirt to plant onions, potatoes and beets. They could not have been more pleased.

We have worked on pulling together the necessary elements to get them started to plant and grow vegetables, fruits and herbs. Epworth United Methodist Church found out about the refugees and the congregation has been a vital part in getting the farming started. One man from the church donated three acres of land in College Grove, Tennessee, for them to begin to plant and harvest. He bought the seeds and got them started on Saturday. Other members of the church have been helping with equipment, seed calendars and many other things to ensure we get this started and set it up for success.

We are hoping to feed most of the families in the refugee community with the things that are grown and we also want to start selling the crops at Farmer’s Markets around Nashville. Now we need to find some trucks to load up and drive to the markets! This will give the farmers an income! This is particularly a great opportunity because many of the farmers are elderly people and women who do not speak English. It has been a challenge for them to get a job in America. Now they are getting to do what they have always known, be outside instead of cooped up in an apartment all day and sell product for an income.

Hope was planted in their hearts today as we planted the seeds for the harvest to come in a few months!

Blankets are like Gold

2/19/2010

Greetings!

Earlier this week, we had a hotel donate about 75 blankets to us. Today was as good a day as any to hand them out to the refugees. It was the first sunny day without snow Nashville has seen in weeks!

It’s a special thing on days we have mass donations. How it usually works is we park the van in one area of the neighborhood, and within five minutes almost every one of the 300+ families are surrounding us, there to receive. Kids were getting off their school buses, and parents were running trying to see what we were giving out today. It still blows me away, the amount of culture we miss out on in America. Just the fashion of the Nepali was a sight.

The Nepali’s were dressed in bright hats and colorful sweaters. Some just had t-shirts. It was hard passing out blankets, knowing they had survived the worst of the winter without one. Many of the family just pile sweatshirts on top of themselves for warmth at night. It’s hard knowing that, but not being able to have enough resources yet to fix it.

Days like these keep us fighting. The joy of knowing our efforts are actually helping makes this worth all the emails and late night phone calls, trying to get anything from donations to volunteers. The grateful bow and thank you from one single mother means we’re doing what we know is right.

A special thanks to our friends at Mercy Ministries! They donated some really nice hoodies that we gave out as well.

We met some new families who have just come into the neighborhood from World Relief. We are excited to get to know their stories and they’re dreams in America. We are trying to get them a TV and some beds for their six-person family. It’s a start.

As this spring approaches, we’re really trying to get more activities to raise money and awareness. Can you say Culture Festival? It among many others is in the works for outreach and support possibilities. Keep praying for us, and believe in the miracles God is blessing these people with. Keep hope alive! See you soon!

Tricycles!!

We took about 25 tricycles and riding toys for the little refugee kids yesterday!! Here are some pictures! Sorry they aren't the best quality, I took them on my phone!

It was such a joy to see them all riding around the apartment complex yesterday!