Home Based Orphan Care

Haven I, now Eleanor's House, is FULL.
Haven II, now Kelly's House, is FULL.
So overflow is splashing into Eric's house. Again.
Gary is the first drip, so to speak.
First drip in the coming flood.

Kathi says:
We have three homes going now. It's time to add a fourth.

Eric's House has 25 older kids and teens.
Kelly's House has 25 toddlers,14 months to 3 years.
Eleanor's House has 37 itty bitties -- newborn to 13 months.
That's 87 children who live here.
We also provide infant formula to other babies kept by their relatives.

We now have Five HIV positive babies.
Two are already "stage 3" and on antiretrovirals. One of these is also hydrocephalic.
One baby is "stage 2".
Two test positive but don't have symptoms yet.

Eight other babies show positive on one test and negative on another. We will re-test them in 3 months.

Last time we tested for syphilis, 10 out of 10 babies were positive. We now treat all new babies for syphilis.

Three days ago a little girl died. Yesterday I drove sick little Paul four hours over terrible roads to Macha Mission Hospital.


I am saying all this because many babies are coming sick--very sick. This new house we want to build will be a child hospice. I want :
• music 24 hours a day
• gaudy colours
• lots of nannies to pamper and cuddle the babies as they die.

Here he is! Gary
Entertainer. Babbler. Tease.

gary
gary2
gary3

Sand, gravel and bricks arrive bit by bit. So far we have spent $1,500 for bricks. Local women deliver gravel they've hammered out of the landscape. I will eventually pay 70 cents per five-gallon bucket. Ladies come every day begging me to buy--even though I offer long-distance promises. "It may be June before I can pay. Maybe July . . . Maybe when?" They bring it now so they won't miss out later. Not much demand around here for homemade crushed stone.

We need significant funds to start the new house.

The plan is to build the hospice a bit bigger than Kelly's house -- 24 metres by 28.
Larger rooms. Lots of windows and light. Less play area.
Its foundation and reinforced slab should be in the $25,000 to $30,000 range.

Next, the walls. 150,000 bricks at 10 cents each, plus loading, transportation, and unloading--$20,000.

This house needs 32 metal door frames, 36 metal window frames (these go in with the brickwork), "air blocks", and brick reinforcement wire; around $15,000. Cement mortar and plaster; plus or minus $10,000. So, to put walls on the foundation we anticipate a cost around $45,000.
kelly houseKelly's House with unfinished walls and roof

Third step is a roof. Kelly's House beams, purlins and iron sheets cost $30,000. This one will be more like $35,000.

Then there is electricity, plumbing, tiling, cabinets, a ceiling, painting, glass, appliances . . .

Is an artist reading this? Or maybe a whole art class? Why not fly over here in a year or so, and paint bright murals in every room?

If you can help, please make your gift to College Church of Christ, mark it, "for the Haven Hospice", and send it to Doris Garner, 801 South Benton Street, Apartment 5300, Searcy, AR 72143.

 

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