Progress & Patience: May Newsletter

Progress & Patience

Staff gathered at our Hilltop Youth Home in early May and gave it a spring cleaning! We appreciate all their hard work.

There is a tension between celebrating progress while practicing patience when things move more slowly than we might want.

Progress has been seen

In Malawi in our land development
Locally with generous donors and businesses who have chosen to partner with our work
Internally, with our newest youth home welcoming it’s first resident this week!

Patience is practiced when

we watch our kids struggle to step away from old patterns of coping
when we feel ourselves weighed down by the vast needs of foster kids across our state
We work to keep the homes staffed with good employees in the midst of the ebb & flow of this career path.

Both are happening at the same time and we are learning to hold space for both.

Progress; A Fundraiser Hosted by For The Love of God Brewing

For the Love of God Brewing owner Steve Moss generously hosted a fundraiser for our Basketball court project at Birch Meadows. The event was well-attended and brought in $640.

Chris Knowlton stopped in and enjoyed some pizza & beer for the cause. Not only did this event raise money, but it also brought progress in raising our visibility in the community. One couple came in and heard about our work and thanked us for helping foster kids as they grew up in the system themselves. They also contributed toward getting our Birch Meadows boys a basketball court.

It was a great time to hang out with staff and friends! Stop in Tuesday -Sunday at For The Love of God Brewing & Pizzeria and enjoy the delicious flavors, great staff and cozy atmosphere! 2617 W Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA.

Progress: Moss Woodshop Donates Their Crew for The Land Prep and Concrete Pour!

Justin Moss, owner of Moss Woodshop has decided to help us with this project. He and his crew will be pouring the court for us. He has also contacted several other supply companies including Interstate Concrete, Deer Mountain Equipment & Diamond Building Supply- all of which are donating or discounting the needed supplies!

Despite all of this generosity and connections with local business, we are still shy of the goal. This is where we press onward with patience trusting that the pieces will fall into place when the timing is right. Our hope is to pour the slab in June.

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Progress: We have a Vehicle for Our Malawi Team!

Chris spent 10 days in Malawi and saw the Lord open so many amazing opportunities!

“Our new property is a bit off the highway and our kids and parents have needed a car for a long time. With all the projects happening at the same time, money was running low. As we were shopping for a vehicle we couldn’t find a quality, 4wd, 8- passenger ride to purchase. Our driver, Edward said ‘perhaps my boss has a car to sell you’. Edward called his boss, Jeffery with (Best Car Hire) and told him our situation.”

“Jeffery said he was willing to sell the Toyota 4wd, 8 passenger that we wanted for 18,000,000 Kwacha. The problem was, Charlie and I were 6,000,000 Kwacha shy. Jeffery agreed to meet us and we started talking. I offered him the 12,000,000 Kwacha (8,000 USD) that we had. Jeffery said, ‘I see what God is doing and how can I not support that? You guys are doing a good thing here in Malawi’ So he took our offer, well below blue book and now The Source Malawi has transportation!

“A huge thank you to all who helped us make this a reality. Your prayers and financial support make it possible! I am so grateful for all God is doing.”

- Chris Knowlton

More Progress: Our Malawi Campus Now Has a Well and Multiple Other Projects Started!

Not only are we seeing our vision for this land being realized, but we are able to provide income for those in need. Their effort and gratitude is deeply confronting and reminds us to do all that we do as unto the Lord.

“Everything is done by hand with zero power tools. The men build, the ladies bring in buckets of water. They labor so hard. Our security house and toilet walls are almost done. They have 1/2 of the foundation bricks laid for the house.”

“As we were departing the property for the day I asked what they were having for dinner, the workers staying for security said ‘we do not have anything to eat’. Meaning they have nothing (not the American “there’s nothing to eat”), nothing means no food. Worked hard all day and planning to go to bed hungry.”

“We decided to gather some kwacha ($) for food for them, like $3 worth and they were so excited. Grateful hearts, joyful spirits and work ethic to be admired.”

“Their work ethic and grateful hearts are amazing. No complaining, no ‘woe-is-me’ attitude just thankful to have a job and some money in the future.” - Chris Knowlton

We will be returning to Malawi in September with a team and more supplies. If it’s on your heart to contribute to the furthering of this work, please click the donate button below.

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Land developement, building projects, well drilling, community support, feeding programs, sharing love & hope; this year’s outreach to Malawi will be a packed two-weeks of assisting our Source Malawi team in the work they are faithfully doing day after day. It is an honor to join them in caring for the people of the land and we are excited for what is sure to be a joyful reunion with the whole team!

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