Clarity is powerful!

"If you have a clear picture of what it is you want to do, then the resources are drawn to you."

This, in essence (I reworded), was the comment made to me after a very exciting impromptu meeting/conversation I had with a couple.

Last Thursday, I had a divine encounter. That's the best way to sum it up. I was requested to visit with a couple with whom my husband had recently met. They were impressed with him, heard a bit about me and wanted to get to know me. Well, what I thought was a casual schmoozing kind of meeting, turned into the beginnings of a dream come true!

Essentially, the couple were VERY interested in the Homes of Hope idea and committed to partnering.

•  Their first commitment was through networking for expertise. They have access to individuals who have first hand knowledge of creating and running "orphanages" and other child-based non-profits and thought it would be a great idea to connect me to them for mentoring and networking purposes.  
• Secondly, they committed to provide me access  to individuals who have unlimited check books, who may be interested in financially supporting an organization of this nature. (insert happy dance here). Networking for financial support.
• Thirdly, they were willing to put their money where their mouth was and provide financial assistance necessary to get the organization legally created. Unlike in other parts of the world, starting a non-profit in The Bahamas, is very expensive...well, at least to lil ole me. Also, in comparison to starting a business, it is significantly more costly. Business < $300 while a non-profit > $3,000.
• Finally, and the one that most impressed me, was their commitment to partner with us. As I mentioned, they have offered their own financial resources, their personal and professional contacts...but also their time.  Both are very interested in taking a hands-on approach, however they can.

Typing about it now (days later), still gives me chills. goose bumps. Can you say my wildest dreams- Someone (or some people) with resources and connections have partnered with me? Only could be God. Did I mention that hubby only met them once and spent less than 2 hours with them before they took this interest? Did I also mention that through this, the only thing they have asked for is: 1. our transparency in the process (fair enough) and 2. that we pay it forward (awesome).

The wife and I spent most of the visit talking because we are really kindred spirits in passions and purpose and her closing statement to me was what I started this blog with.  I have read and repeated multiple times the scripture from Habakkuk 2:2

"And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by..."

Do you know how long I've had the dream of Mercy House but kept feeling it was...unfinished. Wanting to move forward but just stuck for so many reasons. The most obvious reason was that couple thousand dollars needed to get it established as a non-profit. Now that the vision is "complete"..and Mercy House has found its place within the structure of Homes of Hope, now at this time...the resources and connections are beginning to pour in.  sweet.

So I'm on the run to thoroughly write out this vision. To gain even more clarity as it relates to the components of Homes of Hope and I'm beyond excited!!!  check out the overall structure...Homes of Hope.

Oh! by the way, do you feel stuck? vision is unclear? check out my good friend, Kaylus who is a life coach specializing in clarity coaching.

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Ari pushed through the gate (Lessons from Ari)

Funny yet true story...remember my previous post on Ari and the gate??

Well,  less than 4 hours after writing the post, I'm sitting in the room with hubby and was visited by the little black blob.  I peak out to the hallway and this is what I found...:))

Apparently, the weekend's situation (when the gate fell down after he accidentally fell on it), really did stick with him and when it mattered, he pushed the limits.

Moreover, since he figured it out that one time, he's pushed through it numerous other times in the past week. He respects it when it matters most, i.e. at night, but if we are in the room and he feels he should be a part of the family time, most likely, he will scratch and push until the gate relents and he has an opening to squeeze through!

So Ari's adventures offers us another lesson: don't forget the instances of the past when you may have broken through. You know, the one time when you may have pushed and gotten a break or a hole (no matter how small)? Or even if it didn't happen to you, but you have 1st-hand knowledge of someone else who pushed through until something happened?

Yes, allow those stories and/or memories to encourage you and propel you to challenge the new(est) "barrier" set before you.

Listen, I know you always hear it...Life is too short. But for real, when you sit to really think through the potential that each of us have... the dreams, the talents and then consider that we don't even have the current moment we are experiencing promised to us- yea, you'll decide to make each moment count. To not settle when you know there is more. To live full and free.

Now...whatchu gonna do?

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Ari and the gate (Lessons from Ari)

So....we've been trying to put more structure in the Jones' house. The first of which is reminding Ari that he is a dog and not a small human.  This required getting a baby gate and putting it up to keep him from certain parts of the house.

I'll be honest, the true incentive was to keep him from  pee'ing on our bedroom carpet again. He was sick a couple weeks ago and had some accidents around the house. The bedroom was the only place, that was carpeted, where he had an accident and being a dog,  the carpet is now "marked", making him feel more inclined to revisit. I've tried vinegar and baking soda but if you have any suggestions- do share them! :/

Anyway, I digress. I was in the room sorting laundry and looked out to see the sad face behind the gate.  (black blob is him). The funny thing is, the gate has been up for a week or two but Ari has never challenged it. He has wimpered, cried, sat with "sad face" but never once pushed on it to see if it would give way. Ironically, most times the gate isn't secure. A simple push with his 14 pounds and most likely it will give way.

It got me thinking...how many times have I (we) looked at what is seemingly a "barrier" and just sat behind it. I'm not talking about being rebellious, because rules have a valid place in society. I'm talking about things that could be ours, maybe should be ours...but we settle to accept less. Even if we don't aggressively take down gates, sometimes a simple bit of asking questions or doing research would reveal that what seems to be a secure gate, is really only an appearance and whatever is behind the "gate" is accessible to whoever would challenge it.

Note again: I'm not suggesting rebellion, but more of critical assessment of the information and status quo's that we are fed. Yes, ignorance is bliss..but the ignorant are usually poor, unfulfilled and taken advantage of. I would take rich, fulfilled and empowered over blissful living anyday!

The biggest "gate" right now for me is home ownership. There are tons of "rules"...but I can't help wonder, if I get creative, if I ask questions differently, if I challenge the status quo- will I find another means to get the home that I want without having to go through the long drawn out process that I've been fed to believe is standard or required?

Things that make you go hmmmm....

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Back to the vision

I have alluded to the fact that I felt there was more work to be done as it relates to Mercy House Bahamas. I feel like God has expanded and tweaked what was the original design...

The expansion of this vision is nothing unique, in fact it looks a lot like a model that I've seen in S. Florida, however, the cool thing is that the model is fairly new to the Bahamas and furthermore, the specificity of the houses will fill great gaps that currently exist in our social welfare system.

In a nutshell, I see a group of homes that address needs of orphaned and homeless children and youth.  There is an introduction of levels of care which will ensure that kids who have greater needs are not just lumped together with those who may not need as much. This is for the protection of everyone involved, as we know some kids with greater challenges are likely to become perpetrators themselves.

At the crux of this vision is one word:

So for the past month or so, I've been just envisioning this place and I finally decided to draw it out. I couldn't draw...so I decided to use one of my fave presentation tools- Prezi.  If you click the work prezi, it should take you to the vision.

It's huge. I'm definitely looking for partners, sponsors, visionaries because some of the homes are without a "parent". That is, they need someone or a team of individuals to fully develop and take ownership within what it turning into a collective effort. I'm excited.

If you have any suggestions, comments or anything..please do share!

Grace peace and love,
Gia