Genesis
House
Our first home,
Genesis House, opened in 1993. This is the rescue center for the
home. Here we take in infants and small children -
children that live in boxes underneath bridges; children that
not only endure birth defects, but are victims of neglect and
abuse. Most children that we receive into our home suffer from
chronic malnutrition, bronchitis, parasites, severe diarrhea, as
well other intestinal diseases. They are children whose parents
are drug addicts, prostitutes, delinquents, or victims of war
who were forced to leave their homeland and are unable to
provide and care for them. Genesis House can care for up
to forty children ranging in age from birth to age eight.
In Colombia, when a
child is born, s/he is not automatically registered at the
hospital. Registration must be done later at a notary provided the
parent has the proper documentation. Many children received into
our care do not have a birth certificate. Therefore, they have
been given a title in Spanish "desechable" meaning disposable. Many
times, when we have taken a child into our home, we are asked why we
are trying to save a life that is worthless. Treasures or trash?
To us each child is a treasure and each life is worth saving.
Genesis House is
equipped with a nurse's station which provides basic first aid.
Here the children begin to receive the medical attention they need
to physically recover from what they have undergone. This is also
the location of our professional team, which includes a
psychologist, social worker, speech, physical, and occupational
therapists, and nutritionist. It is here
that they begin the healing process from wounds not visible to the
human eye. It is here where their destiny begins to change.
Exodus House
Our
second home, Exodus House, was purchased in 1998. Teams came
from all over to help with construction. After a lot of hard
work, it opened on August 7, 2000. Originally, it housed
50 children ages eight to eighteen. In 2006, it was
converted to a boys' home and houses approximately 30 boys ages
eight to
seventeen. It is designed to provide an environment
where the children begin to develop their independence and
individuality. Exodus House is place where
character, conduct, responsibility, and self-respect are developed
in the children.
Numbers House
We purchased our third
home, Numbers House, in 2005. The doors officially opened
January 27, 2006, and we currently have approximately 25 girls
from ages eight to seventeen living at the home. The
children in both our boys' and girls' homes are responsible for
their own cooking, cleaning, and laundry. They are excited
about learning how to plan menus and take care of their homes.
CVII Medical Unit
The first floor of the
Numbers House is the location of our medical unit. With this
facility, we are able to provide basic medical and hospital
services to those who cannot afford medical care. Annual
health brigades have been successfully completed through the use
of the medical unit and have served thousands of people since
being opened. The use of this facility has blessed our
children, their parents, our neighborhood, the city, and beyond!
Leviticus Property
(Temporary School Location)
Currently, the
Leviticus property is used for our Beginning of Wisdom School.
However, we are constructing a new school, and when that is
completed,
we will be able to move the school and change the Leviticus property
to a cafeteria, play space, and small boys' home as finances are
available.
New School
Property - Beginning of Wisdom School
The official opening
and dedication of our new school building is scheduled on February 7, 2009. We will
be able to educate approximately 300 students, both internal and
external. The classrooms and other teaching areas are spacious
and beautiful, and the top floor has a ceiling made of glass so
clouds can be seen passing by throughout the day! Our school is certified
to give a child an entire education from pre-school through high
school. Many lives are being changed by giving the children a
quality education.
Bethel House
Our Bethel house was purchased in 2001 and serves multiple
purposes. Any short-term missionaries and teams that come
to assist CVII in
Colombia stay at "Bethel". Many people have passed through
the doorway, and many more will visit in the future.
There are two rooms in which couples can stay together, one team
room with four bunk beds, one team/short-term missionary room
with two bunk beds, and a large team room on the top floor with
nine bunks.
As our children become adults, we are providing them with
continued care until they can make it on their own. The
Bethel House provides a safe place to have more
responsibilities, more freedom, and more maturity. There
is a single occupancy room in which our children can live and
experience independence for the first time. CVII
provides areas for the young adults to intern and receive a
wage. We feel that the best staff will always be those who
have achieved and succeeded.
