Update from Duy Beck, Hugs for T.UG.

Project Update: Significant Accomplishments in 2012

A report from Duy Beck.  Duy is supported by Good Shepherd through our Mission budget.  Please pray for him.

· By God’s grace and despite many obstacles, the Lord blessed us this year with significant traction in-country – all on a shoestring budget:

· Completed detailed structural engineering drawings for orphanage w/ site plans, cross sections, elevations, etc.

· Obtained construction permitting from local municipalities and individuals: District Land, Engineer, Health, and Town Planning officers

· Established in-country dedicated banking accounts in both USD and the local currency

· Established firm relationships with rural village leader/committee, local volunteer organizations, and necessary suppliers for purchasing construction materials

· Completed perimeter fencing, gate, store, temp latrine

· Completed foundation (98 feet x 25 feet for Girls dormitory and 75 feet x 25 feet for kitchen/dining).  This foundation will also support a 2^nd story dedicated towards volunteer & staff housing needs.

· Built 4 rain water wells/catchment tanks, harvesting over 30,000 liters of water

· Obtained 2 year resident permit (lasting until May 2014)

· Utilized soil bricks (made by our construction team) to make 2 room house for local village mama

· Completed hydrological water survey to determine feasibility and optimal placement for 500 foot deep bore hole (clean water well)

· Overcame significant hurdles of no water, electricity, or consistent transportation to development site

· Completed a majority of baseline health evaluations for physical and targeted emotional development needs

· Created initial database of children for future child sponsor program

· Identified COSOTA requirements for copy writing music in-country

· Built-out greater perimeter security for Daycare & Mama’s/older children’s home

· And learned a bit of guitar to compose some Holy Spirit inspired music and enough Kiswahili to try and stay out of trouble (and pass an oral exam for Thunderbird!)

Although our goals are primarily focused on the development and building, we also want to implement sustainability through a focus on education for the children (through college if possible), social entrepreneurship (ideally, beyond subsistence farming), better financial controls (electronic bookkeeping vs. paper based ledgers for greater transparency and reporting for donors), baseline health surveys (annual physicals and initial screenings on children’s backgrounds and emotional positions – utilizing WHO (World Health Organization) software and child development tools used by psychologists and pediatricians), micro-funding (we’ve given our first micro-gift to a pastor that supports over 5 churches and his immediate/extended family of 10 - He is working on a chicken project), and most importantly, ministry and spiritual growth of our beneficiaries.  Our desire is for complete healing: spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and financial.  As the Word of God states, you cannot neglect any of them.  Jesus always compassionately healed those that came humbly seeking His healing.  Lord willing, we’ll be able to take a similar model of social entrepreneurship, development, health, etc. to other markets – tailored of course towards localized standards and needs.

The Virtua Foundation’s Vision for 2013 in E. Africa

· Complete the development of a sustainable orphanage & community center with small clinic, computer center, arts/music rooms, and library, housing up to 100 children and volunteers

· Drill a deep bore hole (water well) of 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) that will provide clean water for the orphanage and up to 7,000 rural villagers.  This is GSLC’s “Love Well.”

· Establish a social enterprise with the assistance of Thunderbird School of Global Management, beyond subsistence farming, that will provide small business training for the older children and staff, operating revenues and educational tuition assistance for the  orphanage

· Implement simple, yet modern financial systems that will provide better financial controls, reporting, and transparency for in-country NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) partners and international donors

· Assist with school tuition for 100 children

· Identify parameters for adoption through local social services

· Develop continuity plan for the orphanage in the event of an absence by their primary caregiver

· Complete initial baseline health evaluations for all children, utilizing free software provided by the WHO (World Health Organization)

· Provide micro-funding opportunities for very select, impoverished families that are supporting the ministry

· Encourage music/arts with our children through instrument and vocal development.....and record at least 1 more music album with their beautiful voices!

· Encourage deeper relationship with Jesus (and the prophetic and apostolic ministry) and assist our children to operate in their spiritual gifts

Thunderbird – School of Global Management:  A Social Enterprise & Field Experiment

It is the mission of the Virtua Foundation to come alongside NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) and non-profits and empower them into more sustainable practices.  It is our desire to collaborate best practices – both learning from them and sharing a few ideas that we’ve learned.  African mindsets, like many, shift incrementally.

It is our desire to build a life-long friendship & relationship with our beneficiaries – a relationship as family, but to financially support for only a limited time period.  Ideally, that time period is during the two year development/construction period.  So how does the orphanage support itself beyond that time? 

This January, by God’s wonderful grace, my Alma mater, Thunderbird (#1 Int’l business school in the world), is sending a team of Executive MBA students to Tanzania to help identify the feasibility of an orphanage run social enterprise – beyond subsistence farming.  Mama has been fairly effective with utilizing every aspect of land possible for beans, corn, etc.  She has rented 2 acres of land where she grows corn.  She grows beans on the other half of our land development that will eventually house the boys’ dormitory.  She has a cow that is milked 2x per day that provides nourishment to our little, little ones.

The executive field team will identify and explore opportunities this fall and deploy a small team this January for their in-country field work.  They will then provide a business plan with pro-forma’s, implementation and break-even schedules, and even research additional opportunities for grants/funding possibilities.  After much prayer and deliberation, we’re excited about their presence with us in-country and look forward to possible future collaborations in emerging markets. 

Residency & Financial Update - a need for assistance

By God’s grace, my residency in Tanzania was finally approved!  My residency VISA is good until May 2014.  It allows me to legally operate within the country on behalf of Tuleeni and gives me a bit more freedom and some discounts on a few things locally.  Combined with a little bit of Swahili, it’s a big step in the right direction.  The apostle Paul would typically spend 2 years in a market – providing a model that works well, especially when trying to establish and implement multiple aspects of sustainability.

“…for the worker is worthy of his support.  Matthew 10:10”

On behalf of the Virtua Foundation, we have been very grateful for the many donations towards the project and our efforts in Africa.  We could not do it without you.  Up until August 2012 this year, I have personally supported myself with funds that I donated to the Foundation or generous assistance from close family and friends.  After nine months in the field, I was no longer able to personally support myself.  The board of directors of the Foundation approved a small budget for me of $400 per month (which includes 2 flights per year, basically leaving $100 per month (before taxes!) for me to live off of).

After spending more time in prayer, we feel led to ask for more financial support.  I’ve been trying to model myself after the apostle Paul when he used to be a tentmaker.  After further study in the book of Acts, Paul stopped making tents and devoted himself fully to his ministry at the appropriate time.  “…Paul began devoting himself completely to the word.  Acts 18: 4, 5”.  The word also states that Jesus and his disciples relied on the support of ‘many others’.  On my short trip back to the states, the Lord encouraged me to go back to work while I’m here (which is such a blessing to be able to do).  Unfortunately, with my absence and lack of funds, we have a small delay on our efforts directly in Africa.  It would also seem that my time is best spent in the field, where I can continue to help meet the various needs of those we are ministering to – whether it be identifying needs for our children with schooling or building.  I am returning shortly and, Lord willing, should be able to re-engage our construction team to continue the project.