A special request from Founder and Director Sheri Bitzan

Has the Lord ever laid something on your heart that you just know you must act on? Although this was many years ago, I remember the day like it was yesterday. My trip to Paraguay that year had been stressful and heartbreaking. A fire had destroyed a good portion of the neighborhood where 30 PPP families lived. Not knowing how I was going to do it or where the funds were going to come from, I dreamed the possibilities of a housing program.

Much like the beginnings of the Koeju daycare the building of the medical/dental facility, the start of the sponsorship program and the five airlifted shipments to Paraguay, this housing project became another successful leap of faith.
 

Relying on faith, PPP had accomplished many things. And so, three years ago I found myself visiting with GAeorge Herda, my friend and PPP volunteer and sharing with him another vision. AThe Dignity Program. A short time later the dream of a Dignity House…then hope of a Digity Village came true.

In the past year I have felt the call of a new challenge and opportunity for service.  I've noticed the same elderly woman walking the streets of Asuncion rummaging through the garbage looking for plastic to recycle.  She looks the same each time...same clothing, same tired, sad expression, no teeth.  I can only imagine what her living conditions must be like if she is living alone with no family support to care for her.  How should we respond?

Aging men and women in Paraguay who have lived a life of generational poverty have no pension program, no social secuity, and no governmental social service organizations to provide financial or medical assistance for them.

Soooo...you probably already know what the latest vision is that the Lord has laid on my heart.  Yes, it is a home for aging women that will assist residents to grow old with dignity, safety, and comfort!

Initially, the home will have the capacity to have 7 women in Phase 1.  As support and interest in the home is established, we envision expanding into a larger home that will be constructed at Dignity Village.

How can we accomplish this mission?  To begin this beautiful new program for the elderly, the PPP is asking people like you to

Beginning operating budget for the Dignity Retirement Home is approximately $5,000 per month.  This includes rent, utilities, staff salaries, medical/dental, medicine, food, transportation and other misc. expenses.

The start up expenses to prepare the home for opening will be approximately $8,000 (paint, labor, purchase beds, linens, kitchen appliances and furniture).

How can I help?

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Last modified: December 01, 2001