Our "someday" dream
Joe and I have a common dream, one that he dreamed and I dreamed separately before we ever met, a dream that has been refined into something very clear now that we're together. This is a "someday" dream, one that we know will happen someday...but not tomorrow or next week or even next year. Maybe in the next decade. Our dream is to open a resort. But we don't just want to open a resort. We want to open a resort as a ministry. Let me paint the picture for you.
Someday Joe and I would like to have a resort where guests stay in individual cabins (think cottage, not rustic) that are set around a large main house. The main floor of the main house will include the check-in desk, a large dining room, a large commercial kitchen, laundry facilities, and a gift store. Our family living quarters will be on the second story of the main house. Guests will join us for breakfast as part of their stay at the resort and will have the option to join us for lunch or dinner upon request. The gift shop will be full of unique craft items and art pieces they wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. This will truly be a one-of-a-kind resort experience.
This all sounds pretty good, you say, but how is this a ministry? We plan to have six or eight young women who are about to age out of the foster care system living with us. The girls will live with us like a family and we will help them navigate the transition to independent adult life while helping them stay motivated to finish at least an associate's degree. They will work part-time in the resort to make an income -- learning invaluable life skills in the process. Through housekeeping duties and working in the kitchen, they will learn how to take care of themselves when they live on their own. They will learn job skills and they'll learn how to manage their money. They will also learn what a healthy, happy family looks like. The girls will also learn skills in creating art and craft items to sell in the gift shop to earn extra income. These skills can be used on their own if they wish to make extra income through something like Etsy. The girls will live with us starting at age 16 or 17 and they can remain with us until they complete their bachelor's degree, if they wish. All of the girls will be encouraged to complete at least a two-year degree and we will help them get established in their first apartment when the time comes to live on their own.
Since I was about 18, I have had a dream of starting a business that helps people better their situation. Joe has had a similar dream for many years. This seems like a God-sized dream -- especially since I have no idea how we would ever afford a resort like this! At some point we're going to be looking for donors who want to be part of helping save young women from the vulnerabilities so common to this particular population. Once they leave foster care they too often become the statistics of drug use, unwanted pregnancies, abusive relationships, and/or prison -- generally a life spent repeating the dysfunction that they saw in their own biological home as children. We would love to have you join us in changing the world, a few young women at a time. Keep posted in a decade or so to see how you can be part of our ministry.
Someday Joe and I would like to have a resort where guests stay in individual cabins (think cottage, not rustic) that are set around a large main house. The main floor of the main house will include the check-in desk, a large dining room, a large commercial kitchen, laundry facilities, and a gift store. Our family living quarters will be on the second story of the main house. Guests will join us for breakfast as part of their stay at the resort and will have the option to join us for lunch or dinner upon request. The gift shop will be full of unique craft items and art pieces they wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. This will truly be a one-of-a-kind resort experience.
This all sounds pretty good, you say, but how is this a ministry? We plan to have six or eight young women who are about to age out of the foster care system living with us. The girls will live with us like a family and we will help them navigate the transition to independent adult life while helping them stay motivated to finish at least an associate's degree. They will work part-time in the resort to make an income -- learning invaluable life skills in the process. Through housekeeping duties and working in the kitchen, they will learn how to take care of themselves when they live on their own. They will learn job skills and they'll learn how to manage their money. They will also learn what a healthy, happy family looks like. The girls will also learn skills in creating art and craft items to sell in the gift shop to earn extra income. These skills can be used on their own if they wish to make extra income through something like Etsy. The girls will live with us starting at age 16 or 17 and they can remain with us until they complete their bachelor's degree, if they wish. All of the girls will be encouraged to complete at least a two-year degree and we will help them get established in their first apartment when the time comes to live on their own.
Since I was about 18, I have had a dream of starting a business that helps people better their situation. Joe has had a similar dream for many years. This seems like a God-sized dream -- especially since I have no idea how we would ever afford a resort like this! At some point we're going to be looking for donors who want to be part of helping save young women from the vulnerabilities so common to this particular population. Once they leave foster care they too often become the statistics of drug use, unwanted pregnancies, abusive relationships, and/or prison -- generally a life spent repeating the dysfunction that they saw in their own biological home as children. We would love to have you join us in changing the world, a few young women at a time. Keep posted in a decade or so to see how you can be part of our ministry.
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