Arandis, Namibia: I'm packed....or at least I was...

Thursday, January 11, 2007

I'm packed....or at least I was...

11 Jan 2007

So, I packed my carry on two nights ago; the one small suitcase that has 95% of my personal belongings. Actually, there are 2-3 items that I have yet to put in because I will be using them between now and the time I leave; and then there is the backpack that will be laden with not one...but three laptops. For the most part I am packed. What became unpacked, however, were the two pieces of checked luggage. The previous and now (possible) future contents of those suitcases are still sprawled across the dining room floor. Having come across items that Brenda requested recently, I am in the unpack / repack based upon necessity and "what are the most important things that I can bring down" mode.

Dear Lord, will You allow uninterrupted and uneventful travel for this smuggling mule?

A smuggler; that is what Mike Knight referred to me as this past Wednesday when I was chatting with him online. Between the medicines, supplements, toothbrushes and toothpaste, videos, DVD's, clothes, laptops and computer odds 'n ends that I am transporting, I guess I could be labeled as a smuggler. However, if questioned, I'll be going with the humanitarian aid angle. I know it sounds less exciting, but it's definitely closer to the truth.

So let me start telling you a little bit about Hope's Promise Orphan Ministries (HPOM).

Who is an HPOM child? A HPOM child is one who has been:

neglected,

deprived

abused

and / or orphaned.

Yes, there are likely many children who fall within this category and that is why I became involved, to help out where and when I can. It is HPOM's goal to place each of the children who come under their care into Christian families with the emphasis on love, care, affirmation, and social integration.

In Arandis alone, there are

Twenty-two (22) HPOM children who have been placed within three (3) loving and nurturing HPOM foster family settings.

These expenses incurred by these foster families are subsidized by HPOM.

The sponsorship of an HPOM child's living expenses is $1,200 per year (USD). At this level of sponsorship / subsidy, the child also attends public school.

To attend the Talitha Kumi Christian Academy (which will be opening for the first time on Jan 17th for 1st and 2nd grade) the sponsorship costs an additional $2,400 per year (USD).

Children in kindergarten or preschool can also attend Talitha Kumi Pre-School at a cost of $1,200 per year.

I've often thought about $1,200 per year for living expenses for a child in Namibia. Do you want to know what puts that into perspective for me?

A large coffee and two bagels, every day for the entire year, from Dunkin Donuts costs over $1,400 per year.

I pay over $1,200 per year for cable television and Internet access.

I don't smoke but one pack of cigarettes per day might run well over $2,000 per year to maintain that habit.

I do enjoy wine, however. Let's see, $1,200 a year at $10 per bottle (mid range) would yield about slightly more than 1 1/2 glasses of wine per week.

How easy it is to spend over $1,200 per year on music CD's, videos, DVDs that cost between $10 and $15 each?

How much do YOU spend on JUST Christmas presents each year?

I might easily spend over $1,200 in car expenses each year.

One might spend well over $1,200 per year in daycare costs alone here in the States.

How much do you spend on groceries alone for your family per year?

Unfortunately, not every child is sponsored 100% at this point in time so HPOM ends up subsidizing these children through their own efforts. If you would like to help, you could always send a check to Hope's Promise in Colorado and make a notation in the memo that it is for child sponsorship in Namibia. That way, they will get the entire donation. Here is the address:

Hope's Promise
209 Jerry Street
Castle Rock, CO 80104

Thanks!

posted by Don @ 6:39 PM

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