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December, 1999 Newsletter
Sponsored families have begun the screening process for the relocation and housing project. This process is under the direction of Evan Covington-Chavez and the Habitat for Humanity International Paraguay affiliate. This screening process involves many hours of classes for the prospective families as well as evaluations regarding the family situation. PPP partnership with Habitat International Paraguay works this way: All sponsored families can apply first to Habitat Paraguay. Habitat has a selection process which all the families must pass to be accepted into the program. This process tries to find the families with the greatest need for an adequate house, and at the same time able to make the monthly payments without taking away from their income for food, school, etc. Therefore, as with all other families who pass through this process, the PPP sponsored families must also pass through this process. In the case that some sponsored families are rejected or, more likely, postponed to the next group, PPP will take on those families under its' own program and Habitat would provide all the plans and advise as necessary so that all the families will have a new house. The houses are built by the families in groups of between 3 to 5 families and the materials, plans, technical advice and payment plan are provided by Habitat. Once they have finished building all the houses for all the families in the group, the families begin making the monthly payment of $25.00 for a period of 10 years. these payments enter into the Fund of Humanity which uses them to build more houses. Any home that Habitat builds for a sponsored family under their program, PPP will donate $3,500.00 to the Habitat fund. This donation will amplify the Habitat budget to provide housing opportunities for other Paraguayan families not on the sponsorship program. PPP plans on relocating all 55 sponsored families in the Puerto Pablo, Lambare area. Each family will purchase a small piece of property that is part of the PPP Housing Project. Included in the Housing Project is a playground, laundry facility, community recreation building, large garden plot, large barn for livestock and. chicken production, office/training and volunteer headquarters. The families will make small monthly payments back to PPP for their property which will go into a fund to provide monies for the community center, etc. PPP would like to see the construction of all 55 homes completed in two years. Several PPP sponsored families lost their homes due to a fire that swept through the Chacarita in April of 1997. There is an urgency to relocate these families immediately. These families will fall under the PPP program which means PPP adopts all the same Habitat structure with the direction from Habitat. These families will make the same $25.00 monthly payment for 10 years, to PPP which will be directed towards other community projects. PPP wants to insure all of you who donate to this Housing Project that 100% of your donation goes directly to this project with no administration costs taken out. Also, as you can see, your dollars will multiply over the years to help in the development of other projects throughout Paraguay. PPP hopes that with your generosity during this holiday season, construction of 10 houses can begin in January 1999. Many donations of material goods have already come into the warehouse in Avon, MN. Dennis Temple from southern Minnesota donated and delivered 186 assorted new interior and exterior doors. A plumbing company from MpIs. donated all the plumbing fixtures and materials for 10 houses. Lumber One from Avon, MN has secured new vinyl windows at a drastically reduced price for all 55 houses. All of this will be air freighted to Paraguay the early part of 1999 along with tons of donated clothing and medical equipment. PPP has been happy to receive donations from businesses and individuals to cover expenses to complete a house. One donor sent a donation for 3 houses. As of 6/99 $85,000 has been donated.
Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" In September PPP Director Sheri Bitzan and volunteer Deb Anderson traveled to Paraguay. Among the many tasks to be accomplished was the annual Christmas gift project. We spent several days shopping for gifts, organizing and wrapping them and planning for their distribution. It was a huge but gratifying undertaking. Thanks to PPP's recently hired secretary and translator, Lydia, a native Paraguayan, we were able to purchase quality gifts at the local market for very reasonable prices. Examples of gifts for the children include toy cars, airplanes, drawing boards, doll sets, hair dryers, cassette players and soccer balls. Family gifts included tableware (plates, cups, eating utensils) and kitchen towels. We purchased over 200 children’s' gifts and 70 family gifts! Thanks to all the sponsors who make this project possible each year. Because of your continued support the children and their families will be able to celebrate Christmas with treasured gifts.
In the first hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, a translator named Lydia. in the second hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me two hundred gifts. In the third hour of Christmas PPP gave to me, three hundred utensils. In the fourth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, four trips to the market. In the fifth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, FIVE KILOS OF ENERGY! in the sixth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, six folks for wrapping. in the seventh hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, seven hair dryers. In the eighth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, eight sets of toy cars. In the ninth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, nine magic drawing boards. In the tenth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, ten sets of blocks. In the eleventh hour of Christmas, gave to me, eleven cassette radios. In the twelveth hour of Christmas, PPP gave to me, twelve cool keyoards. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
PPP knows there are many people who would love to be a part of this Housing Project. Is that person YOU??? Please join us in our efforts to help many families in Paraguay see their dream of a house come true. SEND YOU GENEROUS DONATION TODAY. First and foremost I would like to thank all the volunteers and donors across the United States who have made PPP what it is today. Our success over the past seven years has been made possible through all your efforts. Many of you, I have had the privilege to meet during your volunteer efforts, some I've talked to over the phone, fax or e-mail. However, there are hundreds of you that silently do your work for us without me being able to thank you. I pray all of you will receive a special blessing in recognition of your service to the poor of Paraguay. I appreciate the many letters with suggestions and feedback I receive from sponsors and donors. Together we have addressed many problems that are crippling the poor of Paraguay. With your continued support we have provided something that these poor have not had in the past, and that is "HOPE." This hope has enabled our families to become excited about a better future. It is the way of the Paraguayan culture to live "for the day"-not look back, nor look to the future. The hope that you have instilled in them has them planning for their children’s' future using the lessons of the past to improve their lives. I wish all of you a beautiful holiday season with good care procedures for all the children. health, joy and prosperity in the new year.
Volunteers Needed for the January Houing Project PPP invites you to join Director Sheri Bitzan and volunteer. Deb Anderson on a building trip to Paraguay. Tentative dates for this trip are January 15-30, 1999.
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