Adoption Grant Applications Available

The Foundation for Hope and Grace is pleased to announce that our adoption grant applications are now available. If you are in the process of adopting and would like to apply for a $1000 grant please contact us and we will send you an application. Application deadlines are January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October 15th.

Contact us:

billteresalegere@gmail.com

207-312-0339

Words of Wisdom...

St. Benedict tells me to run to Christ. If I stop for a moment and consider what is being asked of me here, and what is involved in the act of running, I think of how when I run I place first one foot and then the other on the ground, that I let go of my balance for a second and then immediately recover it again. It is risky, this matter of running. By daring to lose my balance I keep it.

- Esther de Waal, from her book Living with Contradiction: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality

words of wisdom...

We declare how we value God as much by our actions, by the way we treat other people, by the manner in which we do our work, as by anything we say. If my actions are wrong or wrongly motivated prayer cannot make them right. If however, despite my failures and inconsistencies, I do on the whole want to put God above all things then prayer will help to purify my motives and clarify my judgment.

- Christopher Bryant, from his book The River Within

What an interesting day.  I awoke in Ecuador after a very restful night sleep and had a great breakfast.  We went to mapisinge and spent the morning at the church where the outreach program is being held.  It was great to go back and see some amazing people.  I was reminded why I was so comfortable supporting this program. There is a passion here to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a real and active manner.  What an encouragement to be with them. 

Pastor Darios is the pastor of the church where the outreach program is held.  He never graduated from high school.  He recalled growing up in this area as a child who ended up living on the streets. He shared with us the story of how he believed that he should build a church in this community.  The spot that he found to build was the dump.  It was full of garbage and debris.  People would go to this area to do drugs and get drunk.  It was so despised that crimes such as rape and assault would happen because no one would go into the "pit".

He told us that they were able to by this because no one believed that it was worth anything.  He remember walking into the middle of this plot of land and stamping his feet while saying, "God will have a church here".    No one believed him but over the past five years God has placed a church here.  This site has a large building and they have utilized every inch of property.  It is no longer a dump.  It is a church now.

There are people there all the time.  Pastor introduced me to a young man who used to be called "crazy bull".  His reputation was of a thief and thug.  He was part of the local drug gang.  He was feared and dangerous.  Pastor said that he used to assault people in this very spot before the church was built.  He now knows Jesus and ministers to people here.  He is here helping with the children's program today.  He is no longer feared and despised but rather loved by those in his community because the change has been real.

This whole story left me amazed and humbled.  This represents so much of what we hope to do through our work.  It tells the story of hope born out of ruin.  It is a story repeated in so many of us.  We were worthless and despised as this piece of land yet we have been raised up and made new through the saving work of Jesus.  This is true in our own lives and it is the motivation for bringing the message of Jesus to others.  It is the only true hope.  Only God could take a land of rape and fear and raise it to be a place of love, compassion and mercy.  It was in this same place that we spent the afternoon with kids who would otherwise be on the streets.  They were in this place to eat a meal, hear the words of Jesus and work on there homework....in the very same spot that once hid rape and abuse.

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to see this amazing work.  It is hard to believe that we are a small part of seeing this work come to reality.  I am thankful for all who support our Foundation so that we can make a difference in the life of a child.  We are making a difference for these kids.  I am excited to share the stories and faces that make this program so full of hope.  I hope you will join us as we share.  Thanks for listening.  Bill

Runny noses...

Recently Bill has written a lot about changing the focus of Foundation for Hope and Grace to a more action oriented organization.  One of the questions that we frequently get is,  "What can I do to help?".   I am pondering this question right now as I sit in the Miami International Airport getting ready to head to Guayaquil, Ecuador.  We have the awesome opportunity to be able to partner with Foundation Restoration in launching an after school program for vulnerable kids.

 

I have to admit that as I sit here I am filled with an extreme mix of emotions. Even though I have traveled quite a bit and I have complete confidence that Bill would never take me anywhere that is dangerous,  I am feeling stretched and way out of my comfort zone.  I find myself questioning God.  Why would He ask more of me?  Haven't I given enough? 

 

Of course, I know that the answer to those questions pales in the light of what He gave up and how much He was out of His comfort zone when He sent His Son to die on the cross for me.  When I remember that and look around I feel compelled to "do more".  I don't know what "do more" will look like for you. I don't even know what that will look like for our family a year from now.  I just know that we are all called to minister to the "least of these" and there is a lot of opportunity.

 

The area in Ecuador that we are going to is called Mapisinge. We have been told that the translation for that means "runny nose."  As I stop and think about a kid with a runny nose I have to admit that my stomach turns.  It is nasty and disgusting.  The mother in me immediately wants to grab a tissue, or better yet, a warm cloth and clean that runny nose.  It will make me feel better, but as any mother knows the child could care less about that runny nose.  He especially doesn't care about it if he is also hungry, cold or sick. 

 

A runny nose is seldom unaccompanied by deeper symptoms; the nose is just the manifestation of the underlying illness.  If you can treat the underlying problem, hopefully the runny nose will subside.  So, as I enter the "runny nose" of Guayaquil I wonder if I'll be able to make a difference.  I hope that I can see past the outward signs of malnourishment, neglect, fear, anger and loneliness and give comfort, hope and love to the least of these.  I don't know what that will look like. I don't know how it will be received.  But, I know that I am called to do this and I am being obedient. 

 

One of our goals with this program is that we can help Americans develop relationships with these children so that they will feel loved by someone (even if they are 2000 miles away).  This can be as simple as writing letters, sending pictures and praying or it can be as involved as joining us on trips to visit and meet this kids firsthand.  We pray that some of you will feel the call and walk beside us as we strive to make a difference in the lives of these forgotten people "one runny nose at a time".

 

We look forward to some of you partnering with us on this journey.  I understand it is scary and that you have fears.  I do too! But if we do this together then it seems a little less overwhelming.  We look forward to hearing from those of you who are interested in helping this project grow.

 

God Bless, Teresa

--
Bill

cell~207.312.0339
blog~http://life-with-grace.blogspot.com/

"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,  
and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

Donations needed!

Bill and I will be heading to Guyaquil, Ecuador in a week and a half. We are very excited to be partnering with Foundation Restoration in establishing an after school program for the poorest of that community.  Emily Goss de Quimbi is working as our liaison and has launched this very exciting program, which offers a meal, tutoring and discipleship.  We will be going down to encourage Emily, meet these amazing kids, and to see where the Foundation for Hope & Grace can continue to help.


In preparation for the trip we are collecting some supplies that Emily has requested.  If you are interested in donating supplies we would need them by September 21st.  Here is a list of items needed.  The program is designed for between 30-45 students.  


table cloths
hand and face towels
washcloths
tooth brushes
toothpaste
dental floss
hand soap
pencils
pens
colored pencils
erasers
storage boxes (to keep school supplies in)
lice removed shampoo
manilla folders
folders (for school)
highlighters
rulers
notebooks
stickers
toys for kids ages 4 to 11 girls and boys (preferably not battery operated)
shampoo
shoes or sneakers (not flips flops)
kids books
combs/brushes
cups


Thank you for your continued interest in serving the neediest of our world.  

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of 

the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'  Matt. 25:40.

Fearless by Max Lucado

After our daughter Grace died I found myself wallowing deep in a pit of fear and anxiety. I couldn't have my other two children out of my sight without worrying about them and wondering if they were allright.  It was the same with my husband.  I demanded that he get a cell phone to ensure that I could get in touch with him at a moment's notice.  I "needed" to know where they were and if they were safe.  I never again wanted the helpless feeling of being disconnected like I did on the night of Grace's  accident.

I don't think that I am alone.  Fear and anxiety abound in our society; fear of sickness, fear of death, anxiety over finances, relationships, jobs.  If we were to break down the areas that cause us to fear and to be anxious it would ultimately fall into one greater category...things we cannot control!  In his latest book, "Fearless", Max Lucado addresses the issues surrounding fear in today's society.  He helps to identify areas that cause fear, but more importantly, helps to then turn those fears into faith building, in order that faith becomes our immediate reaction in all circumstances and not fear and anxiety. 

He in no way says that life will be smooth sailing, but instead offers helpful ways to identify the areas that cause us to become fearful in order to turn them over to God. As a matter of fact, Lucado reminds us that as followers of Christ we pretty much are promised trials and troubles.  But he also does an excellent job of quoting multiple scripture verses that command us to "take courage" and "do not fear".  God did not only promise us trials,  He promised us His complete control over those trials.  Knowing that He is in control should alleviate any fears that we may have.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different area of fearfulness.  In the final chapter we are reminded that there is one healthy fear that we should entertain...the fear of reducing the Almighty God into what fits our needs at the moment.  He states that fear of the Lord is the one fear that is not harmful to us.  "Fear of the Lord is the deeply sane recognition that we are not God."  Lucado says that when we have the proper perspective of who God is and we fear Him for His awesomeness, then all other fears fade in comparison. 

Thankfully, over the past 15 months God has replaced my fears and anxieties with a marvelous understanding that He is an awesome God who is in control of all things.  If I claim to believe this to be true, then I must relinquish all fears over to Him.  By continuing to worry and fret over things that I cannot control I am ultimately saying that I don't believe that He has control.  I am putting God in a box and my greatest fear is now that I will reduce the Almighty Creator into a limited concept of a created being.

I would recommend "Fearless" to anyone struggling with fear and anxiety in his life.  In typical Max Lucado style,  I found this book to be an easy read with straight forward concepts that most people should find simple to understand and grasp.  It may also be helpful if someone you know is struggling with fears that you cannot identify with. I believe it will give you a greater perspective of other people's struggles with fears and anxieties in order to better help them.

 

Teresa Legere

Words of Wisdom

The God of life summons us to life; more, to be lifegivers, especially
toward those who lie under the heel of the powers.

- Daniel Berrigan,

Jesuit priest, poet, and peace activist

Words of wisdom...

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing
that you have received ... but only what you have given: a full heart,
enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.

- St. Francis of Assisi

LIVE life with grace

"Live life beyond self" has become a constant reminder to define what we hope to accomplish. This idea has become a way of life. In many ways it is a battle cry. It certainly carries the weight of a calling and bears a sense of urgency. The difficulty for me has been to understand how to take this concept and use it within the Foundation for Hope and Grace.

Whenever people hear the word "foundation" there is a perception that what we do is give money. It is a reasonable conclusion and at its core it is an accurate assumption. Foundations give money. We are a foundation and we give money. There is no confusion here. The problem is we do not have such large coffers that we can live the life of the traditional foundation. I do not want to spend my time being tied to the role of a fundraiser.

What we want to do is more than that. We want to engage people in taking a greater share of ownership in the crisis facing orphans and vulnerable children globally. I appreciate the checks and the generosity of donations will always overwhelm me. We have worked hard to use those funds directly on kids with little or no overhead. I can attest to you where your gift has gone and what it is doing. In many cases I can show you pictures of the kids that it is affecting because I took their pictures.

What I want more is to hear your impassioned cry that raises a voice for these little ones.

I want to see your hand holding the hand of a vulnerable child.

I want to see people learning to live beyond themselves for the sake of others.

This is a call to live sacrificially in order that others may have hope in their lives.

This is the distinction between the Foundation for Hope and Grace and what we hope for. This is a defining moment for us. This is when we go from being passive to active. This is when we switch from being a foundation to being a movement. The foundation will always have a place but we have moved beyond it in so many ways.

We will be launching a new initiative that will focus on engaging people to live life beyond themselves. This concept will be expressed through an organization called, "LIVE life with grace". The slogan is "live life beyond self". This will be the action arm. It is the "can-do" part of who we are. It is a call to encourage people to be engaged rather than being an observer. It will walk hand in hand with the foundation but will take the lead in bringing hope and grace to the those who need it.

Through "LIVE life with grace" we will travel, raise awareness and engage people in doing the work needed to impact kids all over the world. It is an opportunity to do many things and we will not held back by the perception of a foundation. This concept has become the focus of our budget for the coming year. I hope to write over the coming days about where we put your gifts. It has been an exciting time for us to develop a plan that we could live with. A plan that we believe supports the essence of what we hope to accomplish.

thanks for listening,

Bill