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Almost There

Mike (and all his luggage) safely arrived in Rwanda last week. He has been busy working on getting TTI registered there. The shipping container should be arriving any day now, but he can not receive it (because of the extra fees and taxes it would cost) until TTI is registered as a charitable organization there. He has been exploring all options & we continue to pray for wisdom in this.
Tomorrow morning (Sunday) myself, the kids, Chris, & Jerid will fly out to meet Mike in Rwanda. Please keep us in your prayers for our safety, for all our luggage & supplies to arrive with us, and I will put in a special request for you to pray for grace for me as I travel half-way around the world with two kids! Nate (our 5 year old) has been especially wild lately- so I do not relish the thought of having to contain him in an airplane or airport for a few days.
Our latest newsletter is on it’s way to you. If you are not already signed up please do so here on our website. We’ve included information about our child sponsorship programs, a story from the November team, and a special request for you to pray for the ministry of TTI. That is what we need from you now more than ever- we need you to pray.
Thank You & God Bless You,
Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00February 14th, 2009|Uncategorized|

The container continues…

We have found out that the shipping container for Ten Talents has safely made it to Africa’s East coast, docking in Tanzania. Now the cotainer will be making the rest of it’s journey by truck, half way across the continent. Your prayers for the continued safe journey of the container & it’s contents are still needed & appreciated.

This Thursday morning, February 5th, Mike will be flying out on his way to Rwanda. Myself & the kids, along with Jerid & Chris, will be flying out Sunday morning, February 15th. Keep us in your prayers as we are packing & preparing for another three month stay in Rwanda. There is always so much to get done & there are always distractions & delays that try to mess with us.

We are also praying and believing for God to provide for the development of the Acres of Hope / Home of Innocence, as well as all of the ministry of TTI. Your agreement in prayer with us is essential to our success.

Thank you for being a part of this with us!
God Bless You,
Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00February 3rd, 2009|Uncategorized|

God at Work

We would like you to pray with us, for Ten Talents International and the ministry to street children. Right now we feel like the needs of the street children are too immediate for us to wait until the development on the Acres of Hope is completed. We have a rental house that we could bring children into, so they can begin their healing and living of a new and real life. This rental home could be used until the Home of Innocence is ready. The house is already located on the same property as the small home we rented for our office in Kigali, Rwanda (not too far from the TTI property where development will take place). This is the home:

Please join with us in praying for God to provide the $3500 (US) we need to furnish this home with beds, table, chairs, couch, linens, etc. As we review the applications we have for street children we are asking for God to guide us to those children that need to be helped by us right now.

We are also still believing & expecting for God’s provision for the remaining $80,000 for the phase I of the development of the Acres of Hope. When you stand with us in prayer that means the world to us & we thank you so much for that!

God Bless You!

Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00January 15th, 2009|Uncategorized|

Welcome 2009

Several people have asked us what our travel dates are for our next trip. Our container is still in route to Africa, hopefully arriving in Rwanda by February 13th. Mike is going to fly out from the US on Feb. 5th. The kids & I will be leaving on Feb. 15th, along with our two team members who will help with beginning the development on the Acres of Hope: Jerid & Chris. We will again be staying in Rwanda for 3 months, so we will return to Portland on May 17th.

The last we heard the shipping container was in Shanghai (China). Yes, our container was “Shanghai’d”. (smile) We appreciate your prayers for the container to make it swiftly & safely to Rwanda. Mike is also still working on getting the government of Rwanda what they require for us to be registered as an NGO (charity) there. Big “ugh!” from Mike as the process keeps taking longer & longer! Please pray for that to be completed- it is essential that it be completed before the container arrives.

We are still raising funds for the Home of Innocence and we pray & believe that God is going to make that happen. Thank you for standing in prayer & faith with us!

God Bless You,
Lisa

Update, 1/5/09: Mike just sent me a link to a photo of the TTI container from Google Earth (you can see the ship – very cool). On 12.29.08 it was at a dock off the coast of Oman (think: in the Arabian Sea, half way between India & Africa). Making progress- that’s good!

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00January 4th, 2009|Uncategorized|

Back Home

Our last 3 team members made it back into Portland before the “Arctic Blast”- although they did have to fly through Chicago and ended up with a 6 hour delay there due to inclement weather. Before they left Rwanda they participated in a graduation ceremony for older street children who had been trained in a carpentry training program (takes place at the same facility as the feeding program for the street children). Here is Jill’s account:

“The class of 14 had been going to the carpentry school for the last 2 years. Many of them we had met last spring. You have never seen a more proud class and proud families. Of course many of them did not even have families to share the moment with so we were stand-ins in the picture taking. I really don’t think they cared as long as they had someone cheering for them. I think Mike will have lots of help when it comes to the construction on the Home of Innocence. They just love Mike! Ten Talents gave them each a bag of tools- in it was a tool belt, hammer, square, tape measure, ear plugs, 3 carpenter pencils, some got a box knife while 2 had to get a watch. The carpenters REALLY like all that they got include the attention but they deserved it with all their hard work. I took almost 300 pictures and it was just of the street program and festivities of graduation. Another team from Portland bought meat to go in their lunch along with bananas. They had sodas but ran out before everyone got one. The important thing is that everyone got fed the lunch. Then after graduation the Portland team gave out sandals to most all of the street kids.”

I wanted to show you this picture one of our team members took last spring. It was after we had found Gilbert on the streets (see that post from May). Gilbert told us that drainage ditches just like this one are where he is able to sleep (and find limited protection).

It breaks your heart to think of kids living like this- and all that goes with it- subsisting on what little food they can find, and the sickness that accompanies poor hygiene & weak bodies. But it doesn’t have to stay that way for a lot of these kids. We can help them, and we want to start as soon as we can!

As Christmas nears, please remember the children living on the streets. Our team was able to get interviews with quite a few children and we are soon going to be looking at recommendations for which children TTI can help. We would love to have you be a part of this work to make a real difference in impoverished children and families. Will you consider making a donation today to help us reach out to more children? And will you pray for these street children as well as for us? We pray for God to keep those children safe & to give them hope. And we want to follow God’s leading in the decisions we make and we are asking God to provide the funds needed for this work.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas & are truly grateful for the many blessings you have. In spite of what you may read in the newspaper or hear on the TV, we really are blessed in so many ways. And most of all- let’s remember that at Christmas we celebrate the fact that, “God so loved the world, that he sent his only son…” God became flesh- it is an amazing thing- he stepped down from his heavenly throne all because of his love for us- to reach us & redeem us. Truly something to be thankful for!

Merry Christmas & God Bless You,

Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00December 20th, 2008|Uncategorized|

Finding the boys

Mike & John made it home safely (along with their luggage) Wednesday night & we are very grateful for that. The team of Darcee, Jill, and Karen are continuing to work with Ngoga in Rwanda. Here is an excerpt from an email Darcee sent out:

“The 3 [street children] that we picked up were Emanuel, Valence, and Jean Baptist. Baptist and Valence will be forever embedded in my heart. We met many boys… it is so cool to be going out into the village and seeing TTI shirts!!! That is basically how we are finding boys to interview. Our first house was Emanuel, we interviewed him and his family. There are 9 of them living in a house that they rent for 5000 RF [$10 US] per month. The dad is not at home but I think that he tries and support them the best that he can.

Next we tried to get Valence to take us to his home but he kept giving us a story that he couldn’t go home dressed and dirty like he was…. but after talking to him for quite a while he started crying and told us that he didn’t want to go home. We told him to just point out the house and we would go talk to his household and we would not even let them know that he was in the car. So he did after much conversation!!!! Ngoga and myself were the only ones that walked up the road to his house. He hasn’t been home for about a month. Oh by the way Valence is 13, Emanuel is 14 and Baptist is 10. It is heart wrenching to see these boys breakdown.

We walked up the road and found that his mom was not home but we found his brother (who was probably 8 or 9 and his sister who was probably 1). We took pictures of them and went back to the car. We showed the pictures to Shimni (Valence) and his face lit up. Ok so we kept Shimni is the car with us since no one was home and I wouldn’t be surprised that the reason he didn’t want to go home because he was abused. This situation is really common here.

Next we went to find the house of Baptist. This is the saddest story so far. In going to Baptist house we found his 18 yr old brother home. His name is Hasani. And Baptist’s Mom and Dad are deceased due to HIV. Baptist is one of 3 brothers but on this day he learned that one of his brothers has also died because of HIV/AIDS. Baptist lives with his Grandmother (who was not home at the time). Hasani goes to school in Northern Province and was just visiting his grandmother and brother while he is on holiday. Hasani told us that his grandmothers house is not good because she does not care about them and she doesn’t love them. So it is hard to stay with her and that is part of the reason that Baptist doesn’t stay at home. So today Baptist learned that his brother has died, he learned how his parents died and that his brother has HIV and more than likely Baptist also has HIV. Need less to say Baptist broke down to tears with us. Actually we were all in tears… It was so sad… THIS IS THE REASON THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE BUILT.”

Please continue to keep this team in your prayers as they interview more children, and pray for God to lead us to those who need the help and are ready for the help. Please also pray for God to cause people to give towards the Home of Innocence so we can build it & we will be ready to help these children.

Your prayers are so appreciated.
God Bless You,
Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00December 8th, 2008|Uncategorized|

A Sea of Orange

Our team made it safely to Kigali, as did all of their luggage- thank God! Among other things, they brought with them TTI t-shirts to give away. At the feeding program they lined the kids up & allowed them to go through & each child got their own new t-shirt. I will let Jill, one of the team members, tell you about it:

“We had 385 of varying sizes. Upon one glance in we continued to pray the “loaves and fishes” prayer, but to be honest we were all skeptical after seeing the many boys there of varying sizes. We told them that if they wanted a shirt they must be in the church. This way we believed we would have better control so one boy wouldn’t get more than one shirt. We ran out of the youth smaller size very quickly. Even though all did not fit correctly, as the last person came out of the church we gave out the last shirt …… Why do we doubt God will provide when it is for His glory of what we are giving? We took pictures of all the boys that we gave the shirt to, first it was single pictures but as it was taking so long we would put 2 together, then 3. We did get a picture of everyone.

On this day we got to see a little boy, who entertained us last Spring with his dancing at church. He had not been there on Tuesday, not sure why. We saw so many of them because their face had made such an impression on us before. As they came through to have us put on their shirts they were bare chested as they had taken off their own shirts. It showed the many scars of their lifestyle, many were very shy about no shirt but all seem to like the fact of a new shirt and that it was being put on by someone who cares. I got lots of thank you’s (some in French), God bless you’s, but the smiles were irreplaceable. It gave us also a chance to give each one an added pat or touch just for them.”

Thanks Jill! I am amazed there are so many children at the feeding program now- when we were there over the summer there was only about 200 tops! Mike said when all those kids got out into the yard it looked like a sea of orange!

Mike is still working on the paperwork for getting TTI registered, it is still slow going & can be frustrating at such a slow pace. We pray for God to help get that paperwork done.

The team also visited the Acres of Hope property. Here is what Jill said about that:

“We looked for the trees that we had planted but only found a few out of the many we had planted in the Spring. Some had even had their places changed which is not helping for their survival. They are lacking in water too. The villagers have planted almost the entire plot of land but their crop too is having difficulty without water. Several of the villagers came out to see what we were doing. Kids and women were cutting grass with small scythes in order to feed their cattle. Such a hard working people every day just to survive.”

I asked Mike about it & he told me that he is not sure how many trees are still alive, because Bosco (person who lives there on the property) has planted crops all around them. The avocado trees are all still there and he thinks they will survive. The rainy season is just ending, but apparently it has not rained enough. That is what the neighbor said. He said he and others planted several crops on our property, but they do not think they will be able to harvest much if anything. It did rain a lot yesterday and last night, so hopefully that will make a difference.

Mike and John will be leaving Rwanda December 2nd, while Darcee, Jill, & Karen stay on, working with Ngoga to get more information on children in the feeding program. Thank you for your prayers for both parts of our team- for Mike & John as they return and for the rest of the team as they continue on. We pray for each to be able to be productive & accomplish much. And I should not need to tell you that I am very excited to finally have Mike back- and the kids can’t wait too!

God is faithful, and we trust him to continue to bless & provide for this- His work. The Home of Innocence, the Acres of Hope, Ten Talents International- it is all His. Thank you for believing & praying with us.

God Bless You,

Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00November 30th, 2008|Uncategorized|

Our newest team left the Portland airport yesterday & is on their way to Rwanda right now. Jill, Darcee, and Karen are going to join John & Mike who have been having a good time there already. You can pray for this team to have a very successful trip as they will be attempting to get information about the street kids in the feeding program, including any extended family members or living situations. This team is also brining a gift to the kids- those who are in the Kanombe Home, Faith Home, as well as all the children in the feeding program. They are some of the first to receive our new TTI shirts! Huge thanks goes out to the very talented Sarah of Credo Creative for creating these shirts for us! (www.credocreative.com)

In addition to this team’s success, we also pray for their health and for all of their luggage to make it to Rwanda safely & on time. (We are also sending several bulbs and filters for our water purifiers there.) Thank you for your continued prayers for Mike to be able to get the NGO paperwork completed for TTI’s registration in Rwanda. Please also remember to pray for the TTI container making it’s way over (through?) the sea right now- for everything to make it there safely & swiftly.

We also remember to pray for the children on the streets for their safety and ask God to enable us to provide them with the Home of Innocence soon- that we will be able to show them there is a reason for hope.

Thank you for being a part of this with us!
God Bless You,
Lisa

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:47-08:00November 22nd, 2008|Uncategorized|

Mike & John are now in Rwanda. They were in Ethiopia from Nov. 1st to 7th, working with a great team on a construction project there. They had a great time & although the work was not easy (as it never is in a third world country) they feel good about what they accomplished there.

We are very thankful that Mike & John had all their luggage arrive with them both times, and they are both healthy. Next on Mike’s agenda is getting the NGO paperwork through, your prayers for that would be appreciated!

The container of construction supplies left this morning for Rwanda. Please pray for it to have a safe & smooth ride, as it rides the ocean(s) to Africa, and also pray for it to get there on time. (The time estimate we were last given was 77 days, which would put it there around January 24th- just in time for our next team.)

On a personal note- myself & the kids are doing well. I can tell that people are praying for us, as things have gone pretty smoothly for us on our own so far.

We continue to pray for God to provide for the Home of Innocence, particularly the amounts needed for phase 1 of construction. I was thinking about some of the kids in our homes tonight, how they all have had such difficult circumstances that led them to the streets. For most of them I only know sketchy details of their past- one or both parents died, they either had no one to care for them, or those that were supposed to be caretakers were instead abusers, and then the streets became their only option. It is very painful for them to discuss it. One of our boys was talking to me about people who cry, and he said, “I can’t cry anymore. I cried too much when I was younger.” I thank God that this boy is now flourishing in one of our homes & God had done amazing things in his heart. We believe that God would like to bring hope to many more children on the streets, and the Home of Innocence is the next step in that process. These kids are important to God, and that is why they are important to us.

Thank you for giving, for praying, and for believing with us.

God Bless You,

Lisa

(Jill with one of the street children)

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:48-08:00November 8th, 2008|Uncategorized|

Ready to Go

A miracle has happened! Mike (and friends) were actually able to fit *everything* into the shipping container! If you saw all the stuff he had to put in there (including a tractor, attachments, an ATV, rolls of water piping, and soooo much more!) you would not believe it. When I saw all the stuff I said, “This is going to have to be like Jesus with the loaves & fishes, except in reverse- he is going to have make everything shrink!” Well, God did it! Praise God!

The container is locked & ready to go- which is great because Mike leaves for Africa tomorrow morning! He is traveling with one team member, John from Woodland. They will spend their frist week in Ethiopia- working with All God’s Children International on an “extreme makeover” project for a daycare there (along with our church’s assistant pastor & his wife and other AGCI team members). Then Mike & John will continue on to Rwanda and be there until December 2nd. Mike’s main goal is to get TTI’s paperwork finished so we are registered as an NGO (non-governmental organization, same as being registered as a charity). We need this completed before the container gets there (the container will leave soon & should take about 77 days to get there).

We have three more team members joining them Nov. 21st- Darcee, Jill, Karen. They will be there til December 15th. The team’s main project is going to be working along with Ngoga to create profiles of the street children who attend the feeding program. They will find out more about them, including if they have living relatives, a possible home, where they stay, etc. We are needing this so that once the Home of Innocence is complete we will be able to identify which children are ready to be helped.

Mike will return to Rwanda January 5th so he can be there before the container arrives & get things ready. Our family, along with two other team members- Chris & Jerid will join him January 25th. The team members will stay for two weeks, but our family will be staying for 3 months.

Please pray for the container- for it to arrive on time, with no delays, no extra fees imposed, and for all the items inside to arrive safely (after traveling over the ocean!). Please also be in prayer for Mike & John as they prepare to leave early Saturday morning. Pray for safe travels, for their luggage & supplies to all arrive when they do, and for health. Pray that they will be able to get a lot accomplished on this daycare in Ethiopia. Please also pray for this NGO paperwork to be completed & for God to bless their time in Rwanda.

If you are wanting to help one of the team members go, please visit our “giving” page. Going in January is a possiblity for you too- you can find an application on our website! We are still half way to our goal for the amount needed for the Home of Innocence/Acres of Hope phase I. The construction will begin in January and we continue to pray for God to provide all that’s needed for completion, including leading us to the street children He wants us to help. Thank you for your partnership in reaching out to “the least of these”. We thank God for you!

In Christ,
Lisa

P.S. Pray for me as I am a single mom for the month of November! And most of January! We will miss Mike very much!

By Lisa McColm|2017-02-06T19:53:48-08:00October 31st, 2008|Uncategorized|