POP May 6 - UPDATE

POLAND
The trip is on. Airline tickets have been purchased. Grant check from FRUA has been received. In the process of ordering equipment. There is a possibility that we won't get the equipment from KOMPAN to the site in time. Looking at some alternatives.

NEPAL
Our contacts in Nepal requested yet another set of documents. This time, changing the name of the organization that is actually donating the equipment (i.e. from Big Toys to LSCC and POP). Also, the original invoice was about $30 USD below the most recent invoice we sent in the amount of $7,500 USD. The Nepalese government is actually concerned about $30 USD, can you believe it?! Unbelievable! Of course alot of this could have been avoided if communications and a clear understanding of what was needed between POP and Hope Home would have been better over the past 6 months. The social and political situation in Nepal is getting worse and the entire Country is basically shutdown due to strikes by the Maoists who are demanding the current government leaders step down. Our little playground equipment problem is very small in light of the turmoil going on in Nepal. Even our contacts now admit we need to get the US State Department and Embassy involved again.

KIDS AROUND THE WORLD
Talked to Jim at KATW about me traveling to their headquarters to meet with the rest of the KATW team. I'd like to particpate in one of their upcoming build trips.

POP April Update

Poland.
Waiting for grant check from FRUA. No word on matching grant from KOMPAN. The price of airline tickets has gone up for our team.

Nepal.
Things are still stalled in Nepal. Even with the modified documents that the various ministry office required, nothing is happening with our playground equipment. Even Uttam is now a little frustrated about the situation. He was even open to having the US State Department get involved again.

Kids Around the World.
No word from KATW. I think Jim and his crew are in Haiti right now so I probably won't talk to him about working together until at least May. I sure would like to on a build with them and learn about their use of "flannelgraphs" to share the Gospel.

Cambodia.
I still sense a calling to go to Cambodia to build a playground but no response from Safe Haven Village or the sponsoring organization as well as Hope for the Nations.

POP News

It seems like all I do lately is wait for playground equipment. I thought I had all the paperwork submitted that was necessary to process our grant check from FRUA but our friend Adele stilled what is called an "EIN#." I thought that the documents from LSCC had that on them but I guess not. Anyway, Mike at LSCC came through again and got the number for us. We need to order equipment right away! Hopefully KOMPAN will consider matching the grant. This would be huge! A great way to finish our work at Dom Dziecka "Droga."

I spoke at a networking luncheon yesturday and someone offered to donate a high quality (white cedar) playground set worth about $4,000. I've got a couple of ideas for it.

POP Promotions

Playgrounds Of Peace continues to get some attention from the community. On March 1st, I spoke at my daughter's school for their "Diversity Fair." I was so well received that the school is planning a fund-raiser for current and future POP projects. I showed the Hope for Nepal Video and had a booth with photos from both our Poland and Nepal projects. Lisa Smith, wife of Nepal Team member Duane Smith, informed that this years' VBS (Vacation Bible School) at Lee's Summit Community Church (summer 2010) will include an emphasis on missions and a fund-raiser for POP. What a blessing!

Please pray for me and the future of POP. We are at a crossroads. POP either becomes it's own non-profit organization or merge with another group. Thank you for your continued support. 11 weeks until the Poland trip!

Hope for Nepal Video

Updates from Nepal & Poland

During the past couple of weeks Uttam contacted me via Skype and asked for another equipment donation letter and invoice from BigToys, Inc. and POP. The "new" letter and the invoice listed the official name of the children's home which is "Hope for the Nations, Nepal - Hope for Nepal Children's Home." Still no word as to when the equipment will be released so it can be picked up and delivered to the site. It appears now that the first opportunity to take another team over to Nepal to install the equipment would be October of 2010.

In the meantime, POP is going to Poland in June. My friend Adele with FRUA requested a couple of documents from POP and the Church. The Church was super fast in getting the documents ready and emailed for me! Adele is going to put a cover letter on the documents and submit the package to the FRUA Board and/or Treasurer for the grant check to be issued. I spoke with Joel Roddell of PG Playgrounds (KOMPAN Rep. for this area) and he made some suggestions as to what equipment to put in at the Dom Dziecka. Also, the King David School in Poznan looks like it is going to stay at it's current location. This more "permanent" arrangement gives us another opportunity to add to the their playground. Therefore, since the "Cowboy Bible Camp" and horse clinic is not going to happen this trip, working at King David School gives us another ministry opportunity.

I am preparing a presentation for the Administration of King David School, interested persons from 5N Baptist Church and various missionaries on "adopting" a concept like the Hope for Nepal model for a children's home, but make it more applicable to Poland. Using called, committed and trained Christian Foster Parents and funneling these homes into a central center of activity like Pawel's horse ranch to develop family, community, love and support, etc. would be the general idea. Providing a good education through King David School would also be an important part of the plan. We'll see what happens. Regardless, the Poles must step up and take ownership.

Poland Trip is On - for now....

Playgrounds Of Peace will be going to Poland for another playground build in June. This is assuming we get the grant from FRUA for the equipment. More details to follow.