Hi Friend, it's been a while since we last shared with you what has been going on with What Color Is Hope. The last two years have been challenging for all of us but I wanted to give you an update on the current activities and projects happening within the Dominican Republic.
On May 7th, 2022, Les and I were able to travel to the Dominican Republic and visit the three families we built homes for over the last two years. All I can say is it felt like a homecoming.
The families were so grateful and full of smiles. We laughed and cried over some of the hardships these families endured over the last few years. Life is not always fair but our Heavenly Father is faithful to bring comfort, healing, peace, and joy back into our hearts when we turn to Him in our need.
Let me share with you briefly the three families we served and their situations.
Project 1) Alexandria's Home
Alexandria had become a widow. In 2019 her husband passed away in a fishing accident leaving her and her two teenage daughters living in a collapsing home that was compromised by termites.
Even though we could not travel to the D.R. with our team here on the West Coast. Our team in the Dominican was able to complete the house from top to bottom. The house is beautiful and Alexandria was so full of smiles when met with her.
Project 2) Yulenni's Home
Yulenni is a single mother with two 14-year-old twins. She lived in a small 7 x14 ft shelter. No kitchen, no bathroom, no bedrooms. The conditions were horrible. Our team in the D.R. were able to build out a 16 by 24 brick home with a new roof, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
Unfortunately, when the building was completed Yulenni was not even able to live in the home until 5 weeks after completion. The reason being is her 14-year son had a reaction to the vaccine within hours of being inoculated.
The young man was hospitalized and he never made it home. 5 weeks later he passed away. All of our hearts were completely broken with grief and empathy for this 33 yr old mother.
The good news is that when we met with Yulenni this May, she was so vibrant, so positive, and so appreciative of the new home she received. I personally was so taken aback by her cheerful, upbeat personality.
Yulenni is a strong woman of faith and shared with us an idea she had to make a living to support her family. We believed in her so much that we created a Micro Business Loan to fund her new venture.
In the picture above you can see her standing with Pastor Luis and Les and her new refrigerator. We also bought a bed for her daughter since we found out she and her daughter were sleeping in the same bed even though they had a second bed frame she had no mattress.
Project 3) Pastor Luis's Home
We have worked with Pastor Luis in the past. As a matter of fact, in 2019 we replaced the roof on his church, put in electricity, and had new ceiling fans installed. In previous years we provided water filtration kits and ran medical clinics out of his church into his neighborhood.
What I did not know was that Pastor Luis, his wife, children, and grandchildren were living in the concrete shell of a building with no beds, no electricity, no doors, no windows, no plumbing, no bathrooms, and no kitchen.
Our team in the Dominican went to work with Pastor Luis and his sons and completed the house build.
Within 6 weeks this family had running water, electricity, a bathroom, kitchen, beds, windows, doors, and painted walls and tile flooring.
What Is The Cost of Building a Home In The Dominican Republic
When we first started building homes in the Dominican 6 years ago it cost us $5500.00 USD to build a 20 x 24 brick building. That cost is now $7500.00.
That includes the labor by the way... our mission has always been to find ways we can do acts of kindness and share the love of God with others.
There isn't enough time to share everything that is going on in this update.
I am putting together some videos that will tell the story of the families we serve and the work we do in the Dominican.
We believe real love is demonstrated through acts of kindness. We want to inspire people to put their trust in a Heavenly Father who sees their needs and will make a way to provide for them.
We have a responsibility to share our abundance with those who have little in life. Not out of compulsion or grudging obligation but willingly and joyfully care for others.
Watch for some further updates and videos coming your way.
None of what we do in the Dominican Republic is possible without your partnership, donations, and prayers. I want to personally thank you for your support. We are changing lives, and putting smiles on people who live in harsh conditions.
Again thank you so much. You are appreciated and your continued support is what gives us the strength to keep doing what we feel God has called us to do.
Look out for our next news update. We have some exciting news.
Co-Founder of What Color Is Hope
P.S. If you have any questions or would like to know more about What Color Is Hope feel free to email me at info@whatcolorishope.org
