June 2002 - Hilary Price

It seems every month gets busier - and June has certainly been NO exception!! What a joyous, victorious, momentous month it's been!!

Heralded in with the arrival of five chooks given to take up residence in the palatial 'chook house'. The month was clearly focused toward finishing the home for the opening on the 29 June. Thankfully we had four students on practicum placement for the final two weeks. What a Godsend!

The indoor painting was finally finished - yippee!! Plastering was done followed by beautifying the interior, water blasting and painting the exterior followed by a final burst to level, rake and seed the field! The week before the opening the velocity increased to force 9 as carpet and lino layers, awnings and sun sails technicians worked at a frenetic pace to finish renovations.

To promote our Homes of Hope we have also been flat out making a short video. This has entailed getting all the personal together to take part, as well as conceptualizing and editing the script. Hannah, the daughter of Colleen (co-founder of Homes of Hope) has written the most beautiful song called "Hope had found a home" to be used on the video, we'll also put it on an Interactive CD to be distributed for a Dinner Dance Promotion. Yes! That's also on the boil!!

June has seen us developing the promotional concept for the Dinner Dance - "Dreams are Made of This" to be held at Baypark Stadium on 30 August 2003. PLEASE COME!! Email me hilary@homesofhope.org.nz. We've got Tom Sharplin performing so we should have an absolute ball! $85 a ticket and it all goes towards helping a Kiwi kid on their way!!

This month has also seen the continued process of recruiting and assessing House Parents. Three assessments, one panel interview and a final specialist panel deliberation have seen us arrive at a decision in favor of the applicants. We now have 14 children for consideration - an incredible and amazing privilege and honor. We can't wait to begin the process of caring for them.

Which brings us to the opening!! THE OPENING!!! The day dawned overcast but at least not raining. We had decided to hire a large marquee in the event that the weather did not hold - what a good thing we did!! It was very damp and drizzly most of the day. But hearts were warmed and spirits flew as 180 people came to celebrate with us. The service began with a beautiful powhiri and waiata, Rev Keith Hooker and Pastor David Dishroon officiated at the service, Janet Ness read from the Bible a beautiful promise for the children of Homes of Hope, and Hannah sang her gorgeous song. Larry Baldock MP cut the ribbon and we celebrated with afternoon tea as folk viewed the home. We were delighted to have Judy Turner MP attend as well, a very overwhelming and awesome day. We are now ready to roll....

Hilary

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