In addition to providing a transparent financial view of our organization, the GAAP audit also provides support for our partnership with USAID.

In April 2012, we were awarded the opportunity to participate in USAID's Limited Excess Properties Program. This program allows us to receive excess property from the US government. This will include things like medical equipment, school equipment, computers, and much more.

Click on this link to read Circle of Hope International's Financial Statements for 2012.

Two weeks ago, we contacted a donor about giving to the mill. He and his wife offered a matching gift of $15,000! Circle of Hope took up the challenge. We prayed, called donors, talked about it on Facebook and prayed some more! In two short weeks, the matching $15,000 was raised! Imagine our excitement as the last pledge came in. We have been celebrating!

But the real celebration begins when the mill is finally in place and the first bag of corn is ground. 

And even greater joy comes as the Grace Center begins to help cover the costs of paying workers and future developments on the campus through the profits made from the mill. 

The Process for Preparing Corn to Eat:The corn is harvested and stored in sacks.

 When there is no mill in the community, corn is ground with a mortar and pestle.

Our Mill House at the Grace Center. A picture of a mill

Aida was left to care for her siblings for a year after their mother died. They now reside in Timothy's Home.

Today will be a good day, she decides. Today she will get work, and tonight the family might actually have food. What does dreaming hurt, after all?

I wake up to my iHome blasting country music. I stretch, not wanting to get out of my comfortable, pillow top bed. I go into the kitchen and pour my coffee and grab my breakfast bar. I flip on the news as I finish my coffee and start doing my makeup and hair. I have to look my best after all. The news is depressing, so much negativity. Why can’t we talk about the good things?

 I tune out the monotonous blare of the television as I think about the day to come. I have a political science quiz this morning, classes all day and tonight I am going to a concert.  Facebook status time, “So excited for the concert tonight, I am so blessed to have such a great life!” Then it hits me, if I am so blessed, what am I doing to spread those blessings? How much am I taking for granted? What will today be like for other people around the world?

Kaitlyn True, Summer Intern 2012This contrasts a typical morning of a Malawian girl with one of mine, a typical American 21-year-old. When looking at the basics it is hard to believe we live on the same planet; worlds apart does not adequately describe the differences in our daily routines. But what can be done?

This summer I will be traveling to Malawi, Africa on a research and mission trip. I had been looking for an agricultural mission opportunity for months, I am an agricultural student and wanted to serve in a capacity which I had something to offer. Finally, after nothing seemed to fit I emailed my advisor. Not long afterwards he told me he was sending me to Malawi. Texas Tech University Department of Animal and Food Sciences had partnered with Circle of Hope International and they needed me to go to Africa. The research is centered on iron deficiency research in the children and mothers of Malawi.

I will be traveling to Malawi as a Circle of Hope intern and a Texas Tech student, but more importantly a Christian.  It is each of our duties to go out into the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ. This is not a task to be taken lightly or to sit on the back burner until college is complete.

I think of my sister in the situation of the girl I first mentioned and reality hits me, this is not just a different side of the world; it is our world and our responsibility. It is time we take action as a global community and reach out to our brothers and sisters across the oceans. If many hands make light work then let’s enlist everyone we know.

It may not be your personal calling to travel to Africa. Some of us are called locally, some internationally; the point is to take action. Love is a verb that is characterized by selfless action. Find someone to love today; a child who needs help in your community, a single parent struggling to see God’s plan, a business man who does not realize there is more to life or donate to an organization such as Circle of Hope.

In partnership with the Levelland Rotary Club and Rotary International, this project began in November 2009. Rotary raised funds and in November 2010 those funds were sent to Malawi. Regretfully, the funds arrived just as the economy in Malawi was nose-diving to disaster. Fuel became almost impossible to obtain and prices sky-rocketed on everything. But the Bwaila Rotary was not silent or discouraged. They persevered on our behalf and formed a partnership with Water Missions International.

On Saturday, May 5th, drilling began and soon water was bursting from the drilling pipes!

This week, workers are busy setting the casing for the well, installing a solar pump, digging ditches to lay underground pipes to two large tanks, and plumbing 4 taps: one at the clinic, one at Timothy's Home, one for the Orphan Kitchen and one for the local village!

One extra bonus that came as a part of this project was the purchase of an additional 25 acres of land for the Grace Center. The best spot of land for setting the tanks was on the property adjacent to the Grace Center. Thanks to a generous donation, we were able to purchase the land this week. Room for the water tanks and for the future!

Yellow and Purple are the original Grace Center site. Green is the land we purchased in December. Red is the new land purchase.

We want to express our thanks to the Levelland Breakfast Rotary Club, Rotary International, The Bwaila Rotary Club, Water Missions International, Caprock Springs Church (Post, TX) and private donors who have made this well possible! Thank you so much!

This summer we want to take t-shirts to all the children in Circle of Hope Programs.

You can order a shirt for your child for $5 at the COH Store!

If you want to purchase t-shirts for more children, just add more to your cart!

While you are shopping, get a t-shirt for yourself, too and perhaps a hat or a rug! We will be adding more items to the store in the days to come. Especially as we bring back items produced at Hands of Grace Textiles.

All proceeds from the sale of items in the store will benefit the children in our Circle of Hope programs. Sales from the Textile center provide fair wages for our ladies who are employed through the textile center as well as helping to develop the projects at the Grace Center!

Thank you for supporting Circle of Hope! Happy Shopping for the children and for you!

You're Invited to a party for Circle of Hope International

April 14 at 10:00 am (brunch will be served)

615 Bohicket Road, Wilmore KY 40390

RSVP: info@cohcommunity.org

Learn about the latest happenings at the Grace Center. Get ready for Spring with a Spring Make-over.

Best of all 50% of all proceeds from sales from April 1 through April 14 will help build our new Guest House at the Grace Center. For example: purchase $100 of merchandise, $50 is donated to COH!

Can't make it to the party? You can place your order online: http://www.marykay.com/dawnwalker/

Already beautiful and don't need a makeover? Make your donation for the guest house on our website, our mail your check to Circle of Hope International, 615 Bohicket Road, Wilmore KY 40390.

Check out the plans for the guest house!

NEW CHILDREN IN TIMOTHY'S HOME!

  Our three newest children to come to Timothy's Home. Waiting for Pastor Phiri outside of Dowa District Social Welfare Office.

THE NEW CLINIC BUILDING ALMOST COMPLETE!

This buildiing will house our Clinic and Community Health Education programs.

OPENING DATE FOR THE CLINIC IS JUNE 2012! 

  The new Clinic building almost finished from the back corner.WALK ACROSS OUR BRIDGE TO THE NEW PROPERTY! 

Walk across this bridge with me to the site of our new Guest House! We hope to break ground soon!

Also in the News:

The Grace Alliance Praise Team will release their first album soon. It is already playing over the airwaves in Malawi!

Feed the Children is partnering with Circle of Hope to help provide food for the preschool!

Alissa Trost joins the COH team as Administrative Assistant!

More than 40 people will travel to Malawi this summer as Interns and on Summer Teams!

Check this link for our latest fundraising projects!

To view photos of the loading click here.

Just because the container is loaded and ready to go doesn’t mean your help is not needed. We still need to raise the $16,000 in shipping costs. If you, your church, small group, or workplace would like to contribute, please contact Karen@cohcommunity.org and see how you can pitch in!

Here is the short list of what is still needed:

Donations for:

Exam Bed: $300

Exam light: $100

Sterilizer: $550

Oto/Ophalmascope: $125

Lab Kit: $5825

Shipping Costs: $16,000

To make a donation, send your check to: Circle of Hope International, 615 Bohicket Road, Wilmore KY 40390. All donations are tax deductible. Or give online on our Give Page

Donations of:

Preschool tables

Preschool chairs: 28 donated, still need about 150 more!

Hard-board Toddler Books

Please make sure your donated items arrive at Max Meyer, 2784 W 500 N, North Manchester IN 46962, by February 24th.

Thank you so much! Read this link to see how much has already been donated!

Shipment to Malawi Scheduled for February 29!Pastors Phiri and Andrew driving a tractor in Texas. They are going to be so excited to have a tractor of their own!

Circle of Hope has been given a TRACTOR and we're sending it to Malawi. You can imagine Pastor Phiri and Pastor Andrew dancing over this one, can't you? Now, how can you help? 

• Purchase Medical Supplies to go in the container. All medical equipment is being purchased from International Aid. Their technicians ensure that the items are working properly and are calibrated for 220v electricity. Please make your donation online at www.cohcommunity.org/give/ 

1. Nebulizer (for doing breathing treatments for Asthma patients) $75 DONATED
2. Blood Pressure Cuffs $35 DONATED
3. Exam Table $300
4. Pallet of Medical Supplies (bandages, antibiotic ointment, etc) $700 DONATED
5. Lab-in-a-Suitcase (a complete lab with power source) $5825
6. For the complete shopping list click here.

• Be on hand to get books and other supplies loaded onto pallets.

The loading will be done in Indiana.

Contact Austin@cohcommunity.org if you can help load!

• Other Items Needed: All items should either be new or gently used. If you would like an in-kind donation receipt for the donation of your item, please let us know. 

1. Preschool tables and chairs (Check with local churches/daycares)
2. Hard-board toddler books
3. A comfortable reclining chair for Pastor Phiri  DONATED
4. 2 or 3 Electric Stoves (please ensure that all elements are working and knobs are intact) DONATED
5. Electric Sewing Machines DONATED
6. 110 to 220 power transformer (for the sewing machines) DONATED

All items must be shipped to: Max Meyer, 2784 W 500 N, North Manchester IN 46962, by February 24th.

• Help with Shipping Costs. It will cost $16,000 to send the container to Malawi. We need your help to get this container out of Indiana by the 29th and on the way to Malawi. Expected arrival date is June 4th. Just in time for our medical team arriving in Malawi on June 19th.

ANY QUESTIONS? Have an idea we didn't think of? Just email: Karen@cohcommunity.org or Austin@cohcommunity.org

NOTE: Shipping used clothing requires extra processes and time. We will not be shipping clothing on this container.