Thanksgiving

Thank You, Thank You, Generous God!
Thank You, thank You, thank You, generous God!
You have injected life with joy, thus we know laughter.
You have dabbed creation with color, thus we enjoy beauty.
You have whistled a divine tune into the rhythm of life, thus we hear music.
You have filled our minds with questions, thus we appreciate mystery.
You have entered our hearts with compassion, thus we experience faith.
Thank You, God, Thank You. Thank You! -
C. Welton Gaddy

Just Do It!

There are two predominant encouragements clinging to the nooks and crannies of my mind these days. The first, a reflection from leaders of Hope House of Colorado; their recent newsletter stated, "Our guiding question this year has been, What are you doing with what God has already given you". The second was spoken regarding the ministry of Chloe's Place. "Just do it", was the message I received from a ministry leader I admire.

I have spent the past 16 months pouring my heart and resources into establishing a ministry that will serve young single moms and their children; equipping fragile families with what they need to grow strong and independent. The time invested has allowed the development of an abundance of documents including forms, program components, and training materials. We have also broadened our support base. While great progress has been made, it seemed like little could be done until we had secured our house...then these two encouragements came...as unexpected gifts.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU?
We have been given:
Passion for facilitating health and wholeness in young moms
Years of experience in a variety of leadership and caring roles
Equipment adequate to set up a small office and classroom
A modest bank account for ministry
Curriculum for some life skill courses
Ever growing number of friends of the ministry

JUST DO IT!...This is what we can do now:
The foundation is laid, strong and ready... keep building
The search is underway for just the right house...keep searching
Plans are underway to set up our Learning Center at a local church or community
building. (it can be moved into the house or to a nearby place in the future)

It seems within the realm of possibility to launch a pilot of our GED Learning Lab in early 2010. The initial idea is to invite 8-10 young single moms (as referred by community organizations) to enroll in our program. We are researching what we need in order to provide leadership, mentors, materials, transportation, lunch, and child care.

EXPECTED BENEFITS:
We will be able to collect experience and hone expertise in specific program
areas.
We may bolster confidence in those who are waiting in the wings to support our
work.
We will be able to gather needed 'measurable outcomes' necessary for grant
applications.
We will equip a number of young single moms toward a better future, some who
may not qualify for our future residential program.

October Ponderings

My recent choice in reading material has directed my focus to the plight of women and children across the world. The book Three Cups of Tea…offers the account of Greg Mortenson’s passion for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His astounding humanitarian efforts to educate children, especially girls, is remarkable. My current read, Uwem Akpan’s Say Your’re One Of Them is a collection of five stories that portray the extremes of human depravity inflicted on children living in Africa, wrenches my gut and brings ache to my soul.

So what does that have to do with Chloe’s Place? What does the tragic dilemma of women and children thousands of miles away have to do with our passion to establish a self-sufficiency home for young single moms and their children?

While reading these accounts my mind often flipped back to families I served in Columbus, Ohio working as a community health nurse. I recall having to knock a mass of roaches from a counter, so I could place my baby scale. I remember stepping on slippery, nasty carpet and trying to see how long I could hold my breath… so as not to inhale the stench of animal and human waste embedded in carpet and furniture. I recoil as recall walking into a home ravaged by violence, the mom trembling in fear, the man macho and full of himself...cordial to me. (Later he or another like him murdered that young mom of three). Another sorrowful the memory is of holding a near lifeless infant in my arms… ignorance and neglect having taken him to the brink.

I am in no way trying to diminish the plight of those living in absolute poverty in inhospitable areas of the world . Lord have mercy. Bless the ones bringing light to the dark and destitute places. My crisis of heart is knowing unimaginable hardship and dissoluteness is ordinary in our land; in my community! At least in this region schools, churches, hospitals, clinics, libraries abound. There are, of course, ebbs and flows of funding to meet the need, but over all and comparitively speaking, we are privileged.

Strip away geography, physical features, and cultural traditions, we ‘humans’ are more alike than different. Abraham Maslow’s influential paper writtien in 1943 demonstrates five fundamental human needs and their hierarchical nature.
• Physiological needs are to do with the maintenance of the human body. If our basic physical needs are unmet, then little else matters.
• Safety needs have to do with freedom from hurt, injury, danger, or risk.
• Belonging needs are emotionally based relationships… friends, family, intimacy.
• Esteem needs is the normal human desire to be accepted and valued by others.
• Self-actualization needs when met allow us to ‘become what we are capable of becoming', which would be our greatest achievement.

I cannot climb a mountain in Khablu to bring books and classrooms to the children there. If one day I have the privilege to travel to Africa, it will be for a brief mission venture or for pleasure; to accompany my daughter and her husband to welcome their adopted baby from Ethiopia. I can, and do, offer financial gifts, as I am able, to support the work in far away places. I admire those doing the hard work of day to day, engagement, reconciliation, and justice seeking.

Meanwhile on the home front…
Through the work of caring persons supporting and staffing Chloe’s Place we will be able to provide an environment that will:
• Provide for ‘physical needs’ of young moms and their children. Moms will be equipped with knowledge to be effective advocates for healthy families .
• Keep moms and their children ‘safe’. Expecting that most of the moms we serve will have experienced some form of abuse, ( 25% of all girls do…25% of abused girls become pregnant as teens ) we will operate somewhat like a safe-house. Moms will gain knowledge in child development and parenting skills that will promote safety in the lives of their children.
• The families residing at Chloe’s Place will indeed experience ‘belonging’ in a structured, supportive, caring community.
• Critical spirits and judgmental attitudes are not welcome at Chloe’s Place. The moms and kids will experience ‘acceptance’. They will know they are valued and will learn to extend grace to others whose journey has been different.
• ‘Self actualization’ is the icing on the cake. When our moms complete their GED, enroll in college, or become prepared for a positive career, it is then we will celebrate with them as they inch closer to becoming what they are capable of becoming.

The one issue that is not clearly addressed in the Maslow work is that value of faith. Chloe’s Place has at its heart a desire to conduct business, engage in relationships, and serve others as demonstrated by Jesus in scriptural accounts. Our families will be exposed to Christian literature and liturgy. They are not mandated to vow allegiance to any particular tradition of faith, only to explore the mercy, grace and holistic implications of Christian faith.

Do you see the potential in this? It is not just one mom or one child that will benefit… there will be entire families impacted. The cycle of poverty and all of its dastardly implications will be broken in the lives of some; in the lives of generations for others!

So be it.

Autumn

There is a nip in the air; seems like autumn is here for sure. It is my favorite season, with one reservation... it ushers in winter! The reminder of seasons and inevitable change directs my thoughts to transformation in my own life... and how raising up Chloe's Place in this particular season of my life makes sense. I have enjoyed lots of seasons. A few of my favorites include: "Baby, Baby, Baby" (the parenting years), "Borders Expanded" (geography & faith), "Onerous Obligations" (engrossed in the lives of the poor & needy) and "They Call Me Gram" (self-explanatory). The seasons vary in time, intensity and comfort, but these (and others) have brought me to the season I currently enjoy. I think I will label it, "Not Because I Must;But Because I May".

If I had to divide my life's seasons differently, to coincide with the familiar lunar calendar, I think I would consider myself in the autumn of my life. Just think about it... long periods of growing and maturing, complete with pruning... and fertilizer! It is time now for me to bring to harvest what has been invested and what I have learned through the years. It is the time to glean from the rich experiences and sow in the lives of others.

I fully recognize there are not enough seasons of life to make all dreams come true or to bring healing to enough wounds. I am however, determined to give my best effort to breaking the cycle of poverty, abuse, and disparity for young single moms and their children.
My days are filled with dreams, projects and schedules all intentionally set to meet the goal of establishing Chloe's Place. Recent progress includes:
...Compiling a contact list of 300 family units
.. Finalizing plans for a monthly E-note
...Reviewing hundreds of real estate offerings (Knowing full well our Development
Director has the search in her capable hands)
...Receiving our first "Impact Partner" donation (one time donation of more than
$1,000.00)
...Meeting outstanding ministry leaders throughout our area and learning from them

Renewed and Ready!

This summer has passed more quickly than any I can remember! From the time of my last post I have enjoyed a couple months chocked full of family visits, a bit of travel and hopefully, some answers to health issues that will be resolved! I felt odd, not having back to back meetings, trainings to prepare and a tight schedule to maintain. Because major fatigue had taken a toll, I realized that a bit of R&R was in order. I am very thankful for the love of my family and time with them while I adjusted to changing gears!

This is, however a new day. I am feeling renewed and focused on the work at hand of getting Chloe's Place established. During my first week of full-time focus on Chloe's Place I have met some wonderful men & women who are excited about our work and are making great connections for us. I have meetings set up to learn from more area ministry leaders and to share our vision for Chloe's Place.

I have been reading books and attending classes that will be helpful as we create our volunteer training materials as well as some health and safety classes planned for the young women we will serve.

We do need to find a 'home' for Chloe's Place. We have been hesitant to do much promotion because without a 'Place' the self-sufficiency home might seem a mere 'concept', though we are way beyond the concept point! If you have been following this blog for any amount of time you are aware that we are establishing a self-sufficiency home for young single moms and their children. This residential program will provide save haven, educational support, Christian nurture, and life skill training for up to 6 moms and their little ones. The program is very structured and requires a 2-year commitment from the moms we will serve. We need a house with adequate space for the families and staff. We need office and classroom space, as well. It's kind of like a chicken and egg scenario. We hesitate to promote Chloe's Place because we do not have an established location ...but... how can we secure a house without expressing the need to the community!

We expect to find just the right place in NE Franklin County...Ohio (we are focused on the Westerville/Gahanna area but not locked in). We expect to work with zoning folks, community leaders and diverse churches and social service organizations as our plans unfold. We expect to share our expertise with others and to benefit from the work that has been established before our own.

If you are reading this and have an idea or connection that might benefit Chloe's Place, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me a personal email at connie@chloeinc.org If you know of a church or organization that is interested in being a part of this work...let me know! If you would like to meet with me or have me speak to your group about Chloe's Place...my calendar has a spot reserved!

Blessings and Peace!

A New Day

Friday was my last 'official' day at Nationwide Children's Hospital. On Wednesday I was touched by the well wishes and thoughtful interest expressed in the work of Chloe's Place by my colleagues in the Education Department. We enjoyed yummy cake and punch and said our good-byes. It has been a great learning experience to be apart of the Healthy Child Care Ohio network for nearly 4 years, as well. I have met some wonderful people and been stretched in new directions professionally.

I am now excited to have the opportunity to focus my full attention to getting Chloe's Place established!

This week also held the first 'big' disappointment in the work. I have been in conversation with
leaders of a local church who had interest in housing Chloe's Place. It seemed ideal, as far as location, association, and opportunities. I think the initial discussions began in June of 2008! Well, the decision was not what we wanted to hear... the location will not be available to us.

Disappointment is a strange emotion when one bank's their life on faith in God, who is the profound provider! I have full trust that we will acquire a great location and facility for our work. The people I conversed with regarding the potential collaboration have been excited, affirming and 'on board' with the vision. They were simply not able to get full support from those that would need to commit a large financial investment to restoration of buildings, etc. Why then was I so disappointed to have an unexpected bend in the road? I was disappointed that I was so disappointed! Later that day I read that disappointment is like cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies but never distroys. That statement renewed my resolve.

This week I will meet with our Development Director and we will get to work on a new plan for the location of Chloe's Place. I am excited to to see where we will be and how the plan will unfold.

A Necessary Step

I am ready to take a Big Step! For the past several years I have served as a Child Care Health Consultant in the Healthy Child Care Ohio program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. It has been a wonderful opportunity! I am very thankful for friendships made, skills acquired and insights gained. For the past few months I have sensed that I need to put all my time and effort toward Chloe's Place. I'll be making that transition mid-June.

I did not make the decision lightly or without careful planning. My husband supports this step of faith, I know that is a blessing in itself. We are trusting that we will be able to raise adequate support for Chloe's Place by the end of the year enabling us to have salaried staff. At that time I will have an income again.

Today I ran into a dear friend from my 'community health nurse' days. I was so encouraged by her response to my brief description of Chloe's Place! She interacts with young single moms daily in her work ... she knows the impact we will be able to make.