A PROGRESS REPORT

 A "MIRACLE" HAPPENING BEFORE OUR EYES

If you have been following this blog, you know that I have been working on a new home for a deserving single-parent Catholic family in the country of Tanzania in east Africa. For just under $20,000 in United States currency, myself and six other donors are building a new small three-bedroom home with two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a front and back porch, fully-furnished on a lot with an area for growing vegetables. 

As Ruby Thomas, newly retired from our local The Record newspaper, said to me recently, "This is not just about a house. This is about changing the future direction of a family that looks like me on the other side of the world!" 

         

Jesca Maurus Nyou standing in front of her rented one-room residence where she and her daughter, Jackline, live. Her son, Filbert, is away at the seminary. She cooks on that little round hibachi right outside the door. There are no windows in this one-room residence, just a door and a vent for air circulation. Her young son, Filbert, will now have a room to come home to, during seminary breaks, and finally be able to join his mother and sister as a family.   

      

The drawings of her new home on a lot big enough for a vegetable garden. 

That is Bishop Filbert Mhasi standing in front of the new house rising from the ground. He is over-seeing the project and protecting our donations. The project, starting on September 1, is now moving along quite quickly. Bishop Mhasi predicts it will be move-in-ready by the end of October. At that time, he will bless the house and hand Jesca the keys. She will personally own the house and the lot! 

I couldn't be more happy for Jesca, Jacklin and young seminarian Filbert! It just feels good to know that seven generous people can help at least one family out of grinding poverty who just happen to be Catholic!  

It is also inspiring to me to know there are still so many good and generous people in this world! I have never come right out and asked people for money for these projects. I just write about the projects, tell people what I am doing and why I am doing them, and invite them to contact me if they want to help. It still works! 

If any more gifts come in, they will go toward adding to the "house furniture fund."