First Time Sledding - African Style

My plane touched down in Minneapolis only a few hours ago but my mind is still processing all the information, ideas and inspiration shared during the last few days at the Africa Partner's Conference in Colorado, developed by Children's HopeChest.

Africa country directors, Tesfa (Ethiopia), Joseph (Uganda) and Jumbo (Swaziland), were here in the USA to meet with the HopeChest staff and CarePoint managers from across the country.  Together, we spent the last few days, deep in conversation and meetings, sharing future vision and development projects, and engaging in a peer-to-peer learning program.  Truly inspirational and motivational!  Much has been accomplished and there is much more to be done!!

A blizzard hit Colorado on Wednesday night as many CarePoint managers/Sponsor coordinators were in transit to Colorado.  With a fresh blanket of snow, our guests from Africa got the opportunity to go sledding for the first time!

Tesfa (in the video) is our HopeChest Country Director for Ethiopia!  First time in the USA, first experience with snow, first time sledding!  Enjoy the video...


APC2013: Sledding from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

If you cannot view the video above - please click on this link  https://vimeo.com/60249006

Here are a few photos from the conference ...with just a few of the people that advocate tirelessly for orphaned and vulnerable children around the world and develop incredibly effective programs that transform the lives of so many kids.  Presently in Ethiopia, over 3000 kids attend a HopeChest CarePoint with over 15 NEW CarePoints partnering with HopeChest in 2013!!!

At Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory, we now have nearly 400 children attending and sponsored - receiving nutritious food, clean water, clothing, medical care, education and Christian discipleship.  With basic survival needs being met, we are focused on helping these children THRIVE and SUCCEED as they become young adults.  Equipping them to become the future leaders of their community, country and to be able to provide for their families!

 Kids thriving at Kind Hearts!

Kids thriving at Trees of Glory!

 HopeChest President and CEO, Tom Davis, giving the opening remarks and casting the vision.

 With Tom Davis ...

Part of the talented HopeChest team with the live twitter feed in the background. 

One of several break-out teams led by Ethiopia country director, Tesfa,
and HopeChest program manager Sarah Byrd.  Sharing the development plan and vision
for impacting even more orphaned and vulnerable children in Ethiopia,
and equipping CarePoint managers to advocate effectively.  (Survive, Thrive and Succeed!)

 Part of the HopeChest team that I work with to develop programs for our
CarePoints (Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory) and to communicate that vision
(Juree Wilson, Partner Relations Coordinator, Ethiopia
and Matthew Monberg, Communications Manager).

Tesfa (Ethiopia country Director) and Juree Wilson (Partner Relations Coordinator - Ethiopia)