The Stages of the House of Hope
Dear Friends,
Here is another newsletter from the Mehaffey family, Global Ministries’ missionaries to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the Republic of the Congo. We have been doing several things, but the most exciting part of our work recently has been with the “House of Hope” orphanage. We would like to inform you of the plans we have been making for the orphanage. We will tell you of our other “doings” in our next newsletter.
Here is another newsletter from the Mehaffey family, Global Ministries’ missionaries to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to the Republic of the Congo. We have been doing several things, but the most exciting part of our work recently has been with the “House of Hope” orphanage. We would like to inform you of the plans we have been making for the orphanage. We will tell you of our other “doings” in our next newsletter.
The Mehaffeys have been working hard on caring for the 16 orphans already in place and making plans for a larger “House of Hope” orphanage. A plan for the orphanage has been designed in six stages. This is intended as a guide and plan for implementing the establishment of an orphanage in the Kinshasa area. It is not intended as a final detailed design for such an orphanage. A parcel of land of approximately 10 hectares has been purchased for the construction of the orphanage buildings and to establish a farm for growing produce and animals to feed the orphans and to sell the surplus and for teaching the orphans how to grow food. Perhaps other programs could also be established on these 10 hectares as the orphanage expands. (See the attached diagram of the site.)
The main orphanage will be constructed on the parcel. It will consist of four large buildings—a dining hall, an elementary school, a multi-purpose building, and a director’s residence—and several smaller orphan living units. There will be about 25 orphan living units of about 12 orphans in each unit. (See A-Z on accompanying diagram.) These 12 orphans will constitute a “family,” so that the “House of Hope” should be more of a home than an institution, with a matron for each living unit. Sets of three living units will be attached to each other with toilets and showers at each end—one end for boys and one end for girls. There will also be a trade school of 18 units and staff housing of 36 units built on the site, as well as the farm.
During stage one, a wall with gates will enclose the orphanage site and electricity and water will be obtained for the orphanage complex. Electricity will probably come from solar panels with batteries and have a generator as a back-up source. The most probable source of water will be a well dug on the terrain. A farm fence will be built as well as a director’s residence. This needs to be done first so that the director will be on hand for supervising the construction of the remaining parts of the orphanage. The farm will begin on a small scale to provide some of the food for the 16 orphans already in place. While the director’s residence is being constructed, the current 16 orphans will continue to be cared for in the rented building in Kinshasa.
The second stage will consist of the construction of 18 of the orphan living units as well as a multi-purpose building that will contain an apartment, offices, storerooms, meeting room, etc. The third stage will consist of the construction of six more orphan living units, a large dining hall, and six trade school units. The fourth stage will consist of construction of the elementary school, the trade school and staff housing walls, gates, and electricity, and the staff housing well. The fifth stage will consist of the construction of the final three orphan living units, the final 12 trade school units, and 18 staff housing units. The sixth and final stage will consist of the final 18 staff housing units, the play areas (soccer field, basketball court, playground, etc.), and farm construction (buildings, fish ponds, etc.).
Preliminary diagrams of the buildings of the orphanage, along with the trade school and staff housing are available. Because they are plans, they are subject to change. Also items in the stages might be moved around, mainly depending on funding. For example, if funding specifically for fish ponds becomes available immediately, the fish ponds will become part of stage one instead of part of stage six.
Hopefully, this will give you some idea as to what we envision the “House of Hope” orphanage will become in the future. Any help that we receive will be greatly appreciated. We already appreciate the help that we have gotten thus far. It has enabled us to purchase the orphanage site and to care for the 16 orphans that are already in place. Thanks for everything.
In Christian service,
The Mehaffeys – Art, Madeleine, Marie, Michael, and Vanessa
Art & Mapuka Mehaffey are missionaries with the Disciples of Christ in the Congo. Art serves in Kinshasa, and provides theological, educational, health and logistical support services. Mapuka serves in Brazzaville, and provides community education for the Disciples of Christ in Brazzaville, Congo.