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!

Surely it is Better to Give

In the past few weeks, my time has been blessed with smiles, hugs and grateful tears. It has all been from giving. We have been giving out clothes, toys, furniture, coats, blankets, household items to the refugees. All the donations were given by generous people. We have received beds, couches, chairs, coats, all kinds of clothes, cleaning supplies, microwaves, toasters, silverware, plates, cups etc, etc. It has been amazing. But more importantly, it has made an impact on the lives of people who do not have much.

One story that stuck out to me was when we met with a young family. They have a 4 year old boy and the mother is expecting another child. The little boy only had 2 stuffed animals in the whole apartment. There was no extra toys. The apartment only had a broken kitchen table, a bed, a dirty couch and two metal chairs. When we got out of the truck, the little boy was jumping up and down and clapping his hands. He saw the fire truck, the ninja turtle and the toy soldier and started screaming. It was pure joy. His face was glowing with delight and I had to fight back the tears. I realized why we are doing this. It is for little boys just like this! That day we got to share God's heart with that family. That He will provide and that He truly loves them.

Yesterday, we gave a king size bed to a family of 7 (2 parents and 5 kids). They only had three beds in the apartment. The mother spoke no English but her smile was priceless. She hugged me and slipped a necklace over my head that she had made. It was her way to give back in some way. I will always cherish that moment with her and remember her when I forget to be thankful for all that I have. Sometimes we don't even realize that we are blessed because we have beds, sheets, blankets.

It is a humbling experience to be a part of giving to others. Every item we give, I see how much I am receiving.

The Journey Continues

So, Hope Rise is exactly one month old today. It was August 21st, I walked into the Secretary of State's office to be officially incorporated in Tennessee. Getting through security for the building was probably the most difficult part. After taking a scan of my face and my driver's license, I went up the elevator to a room filled with cubicles. A lady at the desk took my charter and a $100 check. They went back to a secret room and after about 10 minutes, I received a letter congratulating me on Hope Rise International status of incorporation with an official seal from the Secretary of State. Even though it didn't seem to be that great of a thing, to me it was surreal! It made Hope Rise official to me.

The next Monday, I got online and filled out a form for the Tax ID number with the federal government. As soon as I filled out the online form and submitted it, I received an official tax ID number. It was becoming all so real. Here I was this 27 year old, and I was the official president and founder for an organization.

Now, the real paperwork has begun. I'm working now on filling out the 1023. This is about at 15 page application for the 501(c)3 status, this is the status you must have with the government to be a non-profit entity. It is truly a daunting task. It asks for a full budget, a historical outline of the organization's start and a lot of other questions about the reason for this organization to be formed. I'll let you know how the status continues. Tomorrow I'm going to post the new logo for the Hope Rise.

Thanks!