Archive for September 14, 2007

Oregon Family Finds Hope in Uganda

14 Sep, 2007 

The Von FamilyWe would like to introduce you to Jerry, Cathi, Jess and Micah. They are from Oregon and they are taking a trip around the world, serving with various mission organizations for a month or so in each location. They are currently in Uganda helping at Hope Children’s Home and will be apart of the Show Mercy team that will arrive later on September 19th. You can read more about this families personal adventures around the world at www.vonrtw.blogspot.com .

September 11, 2007

The day started out with thunder and lighting, followed by a torrential rain storm. I rose to shower, to find out there was no hot water! Later in the morning I also learned our "hot water" is run by solar power… Hmmm… does the water get warm when there is no sun? I don’t think so!

We headed out to the Hope Children’s Home today. When the Land Cruiser finally made the potholed, rain rutted trip, we were greeted by dozens of small children. Each of them grasping for my hand and telling me their name.

The land is lush with vegetation, water was abounding more than usual because of the rains, and the property was a red clay lake. However, this didn’t distract the kids. They wanted to hold hands and play.

I was a little overwhelmed by the attention of so many little ones that I decided to quickly go to work. I surveyed the building, the elevations, the flows, and most of all, took careful inventory of all the eyes watching me.

As I spoke to one of the older boys, he informed me that the well was not operational. So, he and I and a dozen other children dashed to the well. I inspected the problem and determined that it was an easy fix… the only caveat is "we are in Africa", which means a simple 10 minute job will take you all day. One of the missionary boys (Ben) made a phone call to his dad and located tools, but the project will have to wait until Thursday. Then I set out on the task of measuring the home for rain gutters and pipe for a water storage tank. This took a little creativity in a sense, because I had several of the young men and boys congregating around me and the tape measure. They all helped in this "measuring and materials estimating" process! We measured the building, I wrote down the measurements in the dirt with a stick, and I had the boys adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. They were terrific! One young man (Frank) was an ace at mental math, calculating the answer as I was writing it down! And another young man Fahad (pictured on the right), did the measuring and calculations with me, showing a real aptitude for construction. Of course in the middle of all this estimating and measuring, we did have to stop for lunch. We ate a delicious lunch of rice and beans, followed by a cup of hot tea. Then we went back to work. We evaluated the rest of the property for drainage, assessed the possibilities for a water storage tank, located an appropriate place to install a hand-washing station for the latrines, and surveyed an area for a french drain. On Thursday… let the work begin!

"I have found hope in the eyes of small children, while wiping away my own tears."

Jerry

September 14, 2007

The children’s home is now a breeding ground for learning! My first adventure was to fix a broken well. Not having much luck with wells in the past…(see the post from our Mozambique trip), I was a little apprehensive to jump into this project. Two of the older boys from the home(and many little ones) came out to assist me in this endeavor. In this process, I would teach and learn as we started in. My first learning was a few Luganda words like, stick, move a little, well, and love. I told the boys to carefully watch and help as we tore apart the well, then put it back together. As in all my days in Africa, the process took longer, and was an exercise in trial and error. But in shortly over an hour, (I thought it would take five minutes! What was I thinking!), we successfully had an operational well, that pumped good fresh water! I deemed both older boys the "keepers of the well", giving them the responsibility to fix and maintain the well for the future.

In the photo, you may say, "Jerry, that is not a well!" I know, Cathi was busy with the children and only clicked a photo of me working with the boys to install a new water storage tank. This will bring much needed water to the laundry area, latrines, and to the kitchen. The boys and 10 shovels successfully dug two hundred feet of trench in just under an hour! I stood dumb-founded at their ability to work! I wish I had a work crew like this at home! We are teaching the boys different construction skills as well as integrating school subjects (i.e. math, science, and health) in the process.

As the projects get accomplished I am reminded of why I am here… I am here to serve, but first and foremost, I am here to love. There are many opportunities here in the children’s home to love.

Remember the children,

Jerry

To find out how you can get involved with Show Mercy International, visit our website at www.showmercy.org or call Mike or Lori Salley at 541-905-0791. You can also read other updates by visiting our website and clicking the "Uganda News and Field Reports" link on the right side of our home page.

Making a Difference with Salsa

14 Sep, 2007 

 Salsa with soul

By THERESA HOGUE
Corvallis Gazette-Times

Friends mix business with philanthropy

Rows of jade green tomatillos line the countertop of Robin Stover and Martha Mendez’s immaculate North Albany kitchen, ready for use. Mendez works on slicing up a line of avocados, while Stover guts some jalapeno peppers, all in preparation of their renowned salsa verde.

The long-time best friends share an elegantly decorated home, a counseling ministry and a thriving salsa business.

Perhaps more importantly, they share an outlook on life and business that includes a heart for philanthropy that takes them to Africa several times a year.

Currently, Mendez and Stover are active in two African projects, one in Uganda and one in Sierra Leone. They sit on the board of Show Mercy International and helped build an orphanage in Uganda that serves 80 children, personally helping with the interview process to allow children in. A school, medical center and smaller cottages are in the works.

Their home-grown salsa business, Heaven’s Garden of Oregon, is a popular destination at the Saturday Corvallis Farmer’s Market, as visitors gobble up samples of salsas ranging from the sweet Black Cherry Pinot Noir to the picante flavors of Salsa Zamora. The salsas are made by hand, almost exclusively from local ingredients.

“This is our test kitchen,” Mendez said as they whipped up a few salsa flavors. “All new recipes are created within this area.”

The women, who were both active in ministry in California, met and became friends based on their passion for helping others.

When Stover went through a divorce, Mendez moved in as a roommate to share expenses and friendship.

In 2003, they traveled to Romania along with some missionary friends. There, they visited orphanages and Roma camps, and were stirred by the poverty they found. They became determined to find a way to help.

“We said, ‘Let’s do something together.’ And what do we both love to do? We both love to cook,” Stover said.

They relocated to North Albany on the advice of a friend and began to operate their counseling ministry as well as launch the salsa business.

At first, they focused solely on the Farmer’s Market, but now sell to boutiques, wineries and other places around the West.

“We decided we need to go a little bit bigger if we really want to have an effect outside of our community,” Mendez said.

In October, they’ll be traveling to Sierra Leone to establish a “baby house,” or special place for infants whose mothers have died in childbirth, a common cause of death in that country. The home will provide caretakers and education through adulthood, including vocational training.

“We’re looking at this as a long-range goal,” Stover said. And the baby house is just the first step.

“We need to do a phase two to help prevent women from dying,” Mendez said.

The two are in the process of getting nonprofit status for their Heaven’s Garden ministry, so that donations directly to their Africa projects will be tax-deductible

Nurturing a thriving salsa business will also help further their goals.

“The more money we make,” Stover said, “the more we can do over there.”

For more information, go to www.heavensgardenoforegon.com.

 

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2007
Martha and Robin just returned from Sierra Leonne and opened their first infant baby house.  They are now raising funds to build a baby house and children’s cottages in Uganda.

Heavens Garden Baby House