In the spirit of Thanksgiving and an on-going commitment to love and serve our neighbors we have begun a new Community Outreach Program for the community of Barriada Las Flores, Boquete Panama.
The intent of this program is to identify families with a variety of needs for their homes. These needs would include but not be limited to basic home repairs, plumbing, electrical, painting, sidewalk installation/repairs, bathroom/kitchen repairs, etc….
This project will use the idea of “Paying it Forward”. Our ministry along with any donations from you our faithful friends; we will provide the materials needed for the projects and the families or their neighbors will provide the labor. We were surprised to find that this is not a common cultural process. Excitement is just beginning to build as the first home improvements are becoming very obvious to the neighbors. Our first home is in the main photo of this blog and houses approximately 24 people, half children under the age of 13. This is a very blended although somewhat fractured family. The needs of this household are many; and the ones being addressed now are new sidewalks and porch across the dirt yard and in front of the house, some plumbing repairs and completion of a new bathroom along with painting the home.
The second home is next door and also shares some family members… This home houses approximately 10 people, 2 small children and 3 elderly (grandma, grandpa, aunt). Their needs are to plaster the exterior side walls of the home that are currently exposed cinder block and mortar that allows for rain penetration and mold issues. They also need to raise and extend their sidewalk that is under water during each rainfall. After the repairs are done they will get to choose a new color paint for their home!
Other family homes are under review for assistance. One of a wheelchair bound man who now has a ramp from his porch but could use a widened and extended sidewalk to allow him to spend time in his yard and not solely inside or on his porch. We would also like to identify any drains that need to be repaired or replaced as they are a hazard to children and the elderly.
There are dozens of families in Barriada Las Flores but we expect no more than 20 will have as large a need as the initial two homes but only time will tell. Our expenditures to date for the two homes has just exceeded $1000. Our initial hope was that with free labor we could provide a wonderful blessing to each family for under $500 each home.
We are very excited at what the Lord has put on our hearts for our local neighborhood and see the opportunity to bring many families together in serving one another and all to be done giving glory to God.
As we began a new ‘God formed’ partnership with Emmanuel Ministries https://emmanuelministries.net/ this year a dear friend who made this suggestion encouraged us to think beyond ourselves, beyond our own ability, outside any fears of our own limitations…. This project is the stretching the Lord has placed before us!! Included in this project we are in the process of getting final approval to build a gazebo type structure in our local park to protect our families as they spend time here. We use this park for our weekly children’s ministry and tutoring as well which is often cancelled or postponed due to rain. The cost for the building is $3200. This structure will be a huge blessing to the community.
We are looking now for people with a heart to provide this type of love and support to those in need for financial support and prayers for discernment regarding the identification of families in need and the softening of hearts of their neighbors that the labor will be provided within the community.
We see an immediate need for $5000 and for the coming year 2017 we would like to gain financial support of approximately an additional $8-9,000. If you are lead to support these efforts we are very grateful. Please See the information below for the best way to donate.
God bless you for your on-going prayers and financial support!
Our love,
Bill and Gina Brick
Here are directions for providing financial contributions through Emmanuel Ministries:
Mail:
Write check out to Emmanuel Ministries
PUT: BRICKS on the Memo Line.
Address for mailing is
Care of Kimberly Ten Pas Bell
4201 S. 31st Apt 615
Arlington, Virginia
22206
OR:
Direct Deposit through your banks:
You can set up monthly donations on your bank.
Bank information is Mountain America. (PUT Emmanuel Ministries/Bricks on the MEMO line)
Routing number: 324079555
Account number: 10293114
Address to set up on direct deposit: (If your bank doesn’t use the routing number)
Mountain America Credit Union
PO Box 9001
West Jordan, UT 84084
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