Kairos International Ministry, Inc.

Angelica Ramos has her work cut out for her at Kairos Mission International in Swaziland–supporting 350 children, 1-6-years-old, with six “Little Schools” in six communities. Her schools are the hub of the children’s lives, where they eat breakfast and lunch, are educated, and daily hear the word of God. Our SEEDS grant is providing help in adding one extra classroom per school; a kitchen with a brick stove and eating area for all the kids; fencing to keep the animals away; a rain-collection tank; and toilets, one per school. Yay for toilets!

Green Oak Ranch Recovery Center

Understanding that “women with substance use disorder are less likely than men to seek and complete treatment,” SEEDS is partnering with Chico Goff and Green Oak Ranch to create a SEEDS Grant Fund called Project Invite exclusively for women! Project Invite sponsors under-resourced women who want to enter recovery; assist in the payment of medical needs of the women and their dependent children; help with temporary transportation needs (e.g. bus passes); help with cost of necessary support of their minor children; and encourage the education and training of the women. According to the Ranch, “Less than 8% of the recovery facilities in the US provides childcare options, so finding a way to support women with children so they can get the help they need is critical.” We love this!

OMUTO UGANDA and Emmaus School, our international grant winner, is the first “installment” of what will hopefully be many such schools throughout Uganda — schools that provide food, clean water, education, and opportunities for local children; that transmit Christian values for developing character and minds; that help the expansion of their villages; and that are ultimately self-sustainable. OMUTO’s requested project funded by SEEDS is electricity for the school, and to power a dormitory for well-paying boarders, whose fees will enable the continued sustenance of the school. And, in the future, the electricity provided by OMUTO will benefit the entire community.

From Moses Muwanguzi, Executive Director: “Your vision must be bigger than you, otherwise it will die with you. We are marching like the Israelites marched around Jericho. We are claiming this community for the Lord and inviting God’s Spirit to cast out the evil spirits that have dwelt here. This school is a picture of God’s kingdom and His blessing in this place.”

Our local SEEDS grant went to Soul Survivor Outdoor, an adventure organization aimed specifically at providing active duty military experiences that challenge their bodies while helping them wrestle with the deep issues of faith, life and death, and meaning. In 2018, SSO hosted more than 400 active duty military at their outdoor events. Another 4,500 attended their suicide prevention, resiliency, and spiritual fitness talks.

At a recent visit to a sky diving field, our hearts were grabbed by the earnest attention these young servicemen/women gave to founder Rick Wolf and his representative as they shared their faith during lunch.

Rick saw to it that we had delicious tacos for lunch that day and welcomed Lauren, one of our members, to go for her own jump!

SAFE Families for Children (parent nonprofit is Olive Crest) is at work in San Diego recruiting more and more families to come alongside parents who need special care for their children for a short amount of time. They’re filling the gap for families who don’t want to be broken apart but need a little respite now and then. The Safe Family and the biological family work together to make decisions that are best for the child and the family. A remarkable 85-95% of families in this movement come back together, often to the most stable environments they’ve ever known. Our grant is making it possible for 18 new SFFC host families to be trained, and 18 new churches to come on line.

The first story we heard about Seeds of Hope Costa Rica from founder Penny Williams was her encounter with a couple of American men talking excitedly about their upcoming “sexcation” in Costa Rica! That struck her as did a visit to a neighborhood where 30-50 teenage girls were being sold for sex by their mothers. In concert with several government agencies, Penny and her team help feed these families only if they come to Bible and English classes and make jewelry that she can sell to finance the costs. Classes on healthy relationships and year-long Bible classes are required for access to some of the funner aspects of the program. All the classes and activities take a toll on their vehicles and that’s where SEEDS San Diego came in, with a good-sized grant for a newer vehicle.

Update: Our gifts were sent in April, and in June we hear that there was enough for a 15-passenger Hyundai van, and a 5-passenger Hyundai Tucson!

Helping Hands in GREECE — Nikos Stefanidis, the man behind this 16-yr-old, thriving refugee center, sent us this great photo of some of some of the many people they’ve been able to assist over the years. Their center meets everyday needs of these traveling families, from laundry facilities, to meals, to filling out papers, to directions for centers in other countries, etc. Some stay for a few months, other pass through more quickly. Our SEEDS grant funded a heating/air conditioning system that they have needed all these years to keep the heavily trafficked center comfortable. AND, because of our faithful members, our gift was large enough to provide a new washer/dryer!

College Area Pregnancy Services (CAPS) won our local gift, to help in the purchase of an ultrasound machine for their third clinic, this one in the underserved downtown area of San Diego. There are approximately 11 abortion providers in the central corridor of the city (La Mesa to the Beaches). CAPS now has a presence stretching the length of that corridor. All their clinics are close to bus and freeway systems and the colleges they serve. They provide free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, and free counseling and follow-up.

Can another year have already gone by? Through site visits and our International Ministry Brunch, our hearts were touched by several amazing ministries.

The Anchor, run by wounded warrior, ex-military, Levi Moran gives servicemen/women a home away from home, and a place to explore and expand their faith. “Pastor” Levi and team needed a kitchen overhaul and some site improvements to aid in their outreach. Of course we love make-overs and we’re looking forward to seeing the new and improved Anchor!

Nann Gonzalez leads a long-time ministry in Romania called Father’s Care Ministry. Our gift will ensure that FCM will be able to reach out to more orphans and foster children through their summer Vacation Bible School Program this summer because of the connection they made with our members who voted to give them the International Grant.

We are thrilled for our winners, and our members who are also winners for taking the time to care and give of themselves and their treasure. We have no idea the trickle down effect God will use to touch many more through these organizations.

Far Reaching Ministry’s ARMY of Chaplains

Our SEEDS international gift clothed and shod these heroic nationals, and gifted them with sermons and Bible passages to fill their minds with hope and direction. “Never before in the history of Far Reaching Ministries have we had a new class of chaplains funded fully for their uniforms and iPods!” After a year of training, these chaplain armies are deployed to the front lines, providing spiritual strength to the troups and protecting any women and children who need them. What a privilege to be behind them in some small way.

Willie Briscoe and SEEDS at Hope Leadership Foundation ~ “Today’s Hope for Tomorrow’s Leaders”

We spent an afternoon with Willie Briscoe at Hope Leadership Foundation in Barrio Logan. He has taken his fatherless childhood and turned it into motivation to help youths in similar situations. Beginning with grade 3, he has constructed an after-school program that provides a safe environment, homework assistance, spiritual training, and field trips–SEEDS bought HLF a van. “We desire to help youth realize and actualize their potential by providing spiritual mentorship, educational and athletic support along with exposure to the arts, while helping them meet their most basic needs. We desire to see San Diego changed one kid at a time.”