Lovin’ The Journey - Place of Hope

Just Thinking Lovin’ The Journey Place of Hope You can rescue a local child

By Mark Holloway

...Kaylyn’s father crammed 10 pounds of meth into his daughter’s diaper bag when deputies showed up... This actually happened in this area.

If you have ever wanted to make a difference, now is your chance.

There’s a small gap in time that can be brutally painful, disruptive, and even worse... emotionally devastating. This gap is now getting filled with hope.

When parents make poor life choices, children pay a very high price. The process of rescuing children out of extremely dangerous and unhealthy environments is complicated and delicate.

The amazing group of folks charged with rescue and placement of victims into safe settings have so many challenges. The most immediate need, often in the middle of the night, is finding a safe, warm, welcoming and hope-filled temporary home. This is that critical gap. Rabun county is blessed with a lot of innovation.

Joey Thompson had a vision to make a huge difference in the lives of little boys and girls. Although he doesn’t serve on the Place of Hope Board of Directors, he quickly saw an historic home next to Clayton Baptist as the future setting to take in desperate children. His vision set into motion a thriving organization, complete with 501(c)3 status.

This month, Place of Hope will go live, offering our unsung heroes, DFCS case workers, a 48 hour window to locate foster care for our rescued children. Until now, children arrived to a foster home with medical and hygiene needs and few possessions. Sometimes they’ve spent their first night of rescue sleeping at the DFCS office.

Elizabeth Adams guides the Place of Hope as Executive Director. She’s been on the frontlines and gave me a tour. “The children leave here feeling tended to and loved on, the foster family feels like they’re being helped and loved on and the case worker feels like they have space to work and they feel loved on. And we get to share Jesus with them.” The children will be bathed, served home cooked meals, sleep in clean beds, and tenderly cared for by the Impact Team of trained and screened volunteers who answer the call to rush to the Place of Hope. “This is a new approach. We’re minimizing trauma and loving on the child and minimizing trauma on the foster parents,” says board member Van Fletcher. Under the old system, a foster mom “puts the child in a buggy at Walmart and desperately shops for the child’s needs...and has to figure out daycare and school. Now there will be a 48 hour window where we can assess the child’s triggers, health needs, and physical needs,” Elizabeth explains.

This just could be the first home of its kind in Georgia. Pastor Joey, you may be onto something.

Joey’s parents adopted their first child and his mom then had Joey. Their home would also foster children too. So he gets it.

The 6 Gap Century (out of Dahlonega) showing the elevation terrain for the race I will be on doing Sept 25th.

Everything is new about Place of Hope, but “we’re flying the plane as we build it.” Elizabeth’s heart is in this. You can just feel her compassion when you visit with her. She’s perfect for her calling. She’s also surrounded by a board of leaders who actually volunteer instead of meet monthly and just drink coffee.

Then there’s Joey, the Place of Hope’s very own Obi-Wan Kenobi, the advisor - visionary leader from the shadows - Jedi master. Well done, Joey.

So...

I’m glad you just asked, “What can I do to help?”

I’ve been riding for months on my road bike, ascending our high mountains, training for an epic and historic race, Six Gap...where athletes and their bikes climb six of Georgia’s highest peaks. The grueling 104 mile race is later next month. When I do endurance events, I often go looking for a charity to support.

Please sponsor me. Please donate directly at www.placeofhopenga.com and put “Mark/6Gap” in the comment box.

I’ll carry your name in my cycling jersey and pray as I pedal for nearly eight hours. Thank you for giving.

See you on the trail.

Mark and Carol Holloway are outdoor adventurers and love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. They own PropertyStewards.com and are passionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients. For more information call 706-949-5937