Hi Everyone,

We have news! Last time I wrote I shared that we were unable to go Africa with Orphans Overseas and that we had contacted Right Now (a ministry with a database of missions opportunities) to try and find a new group to go with. Soon after we contacted Right Now, we were speaking to a friend who was planning on leaving for Africa with a mission organization called Bridges of Hope International. After speaking with her we decided to contact Bridges of Hope. When we contacted them they asked us to fill out an application. The application was 10 pages long!! It took us a few days, but it was well worth it.

Just this last week we had our phone interview and it was amazing. Dennis and Susan Wadley are the couple who started Bridges of Hope about 4 or 5 years ago and they are the ones who did our phone interview. We learned so much, Bridges of Hope has three programs going on in South Africa. One of the programs is a health ministry to the community of Philipi which addresses AIDS and other health concerns. A second program is an after school program for Orphans. In this program they disciple (teach the Orphans about God and living life for Him) the kids and give them a safe place to play. The third program is the one we would be involved in. This program is a Academy and Retreat center. Bridges of Hope has purchased a bed and breakfast with 12 acers just outside of Philipi for the Academy/Retreat Center. The hope is to be able to provide a boarding school for Orphans where they can receive a good education and to provide a retreat center for Pastors, Orphans, and other community members.

Our role is to help develop this program!! We will work along side other Americans and Natives to develop the School/Retreat center. Matthew will be able to use his degree in business to write a business plan for the new program and his skills in the outdoors to build a challenge course. I will have the opportunity to provide counseling to the youth, and to help develop a horse program. We are so excited that the gifts and skills the Lord has given us will fit so perfectly with the need this program has.
This program requires a two week trip for anyone looking into participating in this program for longer term. They provide this opportunity to make sure the people know what they are getting themselves into before committing for the minimum 18 months. We are excited to leave for our two week trip sometime in Oct. or Nov. Please keep us in your prayers. We will begin raising our support this next week and our monthly need is around $3,000 dollars with $8,300 in one time start up expenses (plane tickets, visas, equipment. Many of you expressed a desire to support us in this adventure and if you are still interested we would love include you in our support team.
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and we hope that you are all well.

Love,

Matthew and Leslie