Get involved in the Portland office Renovation!

So Lahash was recently given an old home to use for our offices and hospitality space in Portland. We are so excited about the possibilities of this new home! We will be moving in on August 7th, after completing a serious interior makeover. The home will then be used for the following:

• Portland offices
• Hospitality space to house interns, staff, advocates, & East African partners
• A central space to connect with community members and invite people from Portland to get to know our team better
• Also - a space to store supplies we will be shipping to Africa, and a space to use for our online store.

Our operations here in Portland will finally have some room to stretch! Thanks to all of you who've been praying with us for this next stage.

We will need to raise $5,000 for the renovation process. As you can see in the photos above, there is some significant damage and wear-and-tear on the home. We need to replace locks, windows, and install lights. We also are cleaning, sanding, priming, and painting. Would you be willing to help with this project? You can donate online by visiting the link below and selecting "Lahash Office/Home Renovation" under the "Special Projects" option:

Also, we need hands and expertise to help with several work days on the home. Please email us at info@lahash.net or call 503-348-7265 to get plugged in on one of these dates:

• July 2 - 6-9 PM
• July 11 - All day
• July 16 - 6-9 PM
• July 18 - All day
• July 22 - 6-9 PM
• July 28 - 6-9 PM
• August 4 - 6-9 PM
• August 6 - All day
• August 7 - All day

And here is our latest walkthrough hosted by me (Dan Holcomb) and Nickson.

TITLE DEED

We are so grateful that tenderfeet now fully owns the land as per the law of Kenya. this is what the Title deed reads.
"This is to certify that Tenderfeet community based organization is (are) now registered as the absolute proprietor(s) of the land comprised in the above mentioned Title, subject to the entries in the register relating to the land and to such of the the overriding interests set out in the section 30 of the registered land act as may for the time being subsist and affect the land"
At the moment they are waiting for the building plan to be approved by the Nairobi City council which will take some time then they will be free to put up a building.

Briquette training a success!

In March, Jim Anderson of Portland, Oregon brought some new technology of creating a simple machine to make briquettes out of biomass (leaves, charcoal dust, woodchips and so on). Our partners in Tanzania eagerly adopted the press, and recently had an additional training seminar to get the business in motion. Our volunteer Emily in Tanzania just wrote this update:

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From Emily Deichsel (see her blog here)

The briquette training was completed the first week I arrived in Dodoma. The first three days were spent learning the process of making the briquettes.

First they learned the proper preparation of the materials, then using the press to make the briquettes and finally drying and cooking with them. There were demonstrations, seminars and lots of hands-on practice. Then there were two days of seminars covering the preparation of the materials, press of the briquettes and then also about business and marketing of the product. The last day they went to town to begin marketing the product. The idea was to let people know about the briquettes as a new product just to get the idea out there and see what customers might be interested. They went to places that cook for a large number of people like restaurants and hotels and talked to the cooks. They had samples to give prospective customers that were interested.

Friday they ended with a closing ceremony giving certificates of completion of the training. Now two weeks later a group of the youth are at the church making briquettes.

There is loud music playing and they have a pretty good system worked out. I think they have orders lined up of people wanting to try to cook with the briquettes.

From TZ Fuel Briquettes!

For more from Emily on her service with Grace & Healing Ministry - check out her blog here. Also, make sure you head over to MotoMpya.Wordpress.com. Jim Anderson is chronicling the process of the briquettes in Tanzania on that blogsite.

THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD 2009

The Day of the African child is commemorated on 16th June each year. This is in memory of the black children killed in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 while protesting over the poor quality of Education offered by the Apartheid regime. The African Union decides on the theme of each year. This year’s theme is, “Africa Fit for Children: Call for Accelerated Action towards their Survival”.
This theme is based on a declaration made by African heads of state in 2001 on what needs to be done to make the continent fit for her children. They agreed on priority areas as: Enhancing life chances; overcoming HIV/AIDS; realizing the right to education; realizing the right to protection including legal, and protection against violence, abuse and exploitation; and participation of youth and children. As a follow up to the declaration the leaders in 2008 met and made a call for accelerated action to make the Africa Fit for Child a reality.
Most of the schools today, came together to celebrate this day. Each school has a chance to present. Below is Tenderfeet school presenting a song and a poem.

During the celebration there was a lot of fun for the children to enjoy

This two beautiful faces are Emaculate and Shally who are sisters and they attend the Tenderfeet School. There mother is a widow and they live in the Kibera Slums.Sometimes it is very difficult for their mother to meet all their needs.At Tenderfeet, they are able to get two meals a day and Education for free.They also get the School uniform form Tenderfeet.Thanks to all the donors who are making this possible.

Emily Travel.

Emily Deishsel arrived safely yesterday in Nairobi. She spent a day with us before her next connection flight to Tanzania.

Emily Deichsel heads to Tanzania

This morning I stopped at the Portland Airport to say Kwaheri to Emily Deichsel, a friend that will be serving with our partners in Tanzania this summer. Emily is studying medicine in Portland and will be working with our partners in the HIV/AIDS care program. You can follow her on her blog during the next 3 months! Her mom Elle was also there to see her off. Please pray for Emily as she travels and adjust to a new culture and language.

From Summer 09 Travelers!

Lahash and Berean sign into a new partnership

I dropped into the church offices of Berean yesterday to sign our contract. Pastor Bill, Dave, and Hozie were all there and we made it official. Lahash now has a new home, and we've begun a deeper partnership with the Berean community. We are really grateful for the space to grow over the next few years.

This past week the Lahash community has also been hosting India Main and her family. The Mains sponsor a child at Amazing Grace orphanage named Sebur. It's great to get to know members of our extended Lahash family!

The Mains stopped in at our new office space - before the renovations began!

From New Office Upgrade!

We have the key...

Lahash community - we've just been given the key to the new home for Lahash. We are really excited! Nickson, Leisha, Mandi, and I went over to home to check it out today. We'll need a lot of help this weekend and in the upcoming days. Email Leisha for more details on how to get plugged in!