Restoring Hope International
Donations can be sent to the following address:
Restoring Hope International
PO Box 372
Ankeny, IA 50021
515-597-3447
www.restoringhopeint.org
Please include a note along with the donation specifying your intent. For instance,
“O’Tool support” or “Building project” or “Child Sponsorship”. Also, please ensure
your contact information is included.
Our monthly support level is currently set at $4,200.00 per month.
If you would like to join our ministry on a monthly basis, please notify us at louisotool@gmail.com.
If you prefer to make a one-time donation and would like those funds designated
to a specific project, please contact us at louisotool@gmail.com.
We always have a variety of special needs or projects going on and we would love to share those with you.
If you have something specific in mind please share that with us as well.
With a ministry like this comes great expense. Most of the expenses are covered
through our child sponsorship program. If you are considering this means of eternal investment
contact us at amberotool@gmail.com. We can provide you with the details. Along with our sponsorship
program we provide quarterly updates and additional communication. Many of the children love to
correspond directly with their sponsors and are forever giving us letters, cards, and photos they
want us to send. We would love for you to get to know the children here in that way.
Teams are a vital part of our ministry. They frequently assist with building or work projects,
ministry opportunities, and outreach events. In addition they get to know the work firsthand. Our ministry
is people, and without a doubt, you will grow to love the children here deeply. Many of our former team
members become sponsors to the children, and frequently they make return visits to South Africa. I promise
you that a trip here will change your life. Check out the following links for a few stories direct from
the team members themselves:
I visited the work in South Africa in October of 2008 with Team 8 from Point of Grace.
It was the experience of a lifetime to say the least! I'm not the best traveller, typically car rides
one state away for a weekend trip with my family can get me out of whack for days in advance. So as
you can imagine, getting on a plane to go halfway around the world with seven complete strangers was
not something I ever thought I would do. That's how I knew it was God working through me and not of
my own doing. I was completely out of my regular comfort zone, but I was pleasantly surprised how
naturally it all came once I was on the plane and on my way. My goal in going on this trip was to do whatever I could to help out. I had no idea what shape it would take once we got there. As it turned out, no project or outreach I did could compare to meeting the kids and seeing their joy for life and their love for God. It made the entire trip worthwhile and it taught me so much about my own faith (or lack there of sometimes) and what is important in life.
When I came home from South Africa I felt like a new person. I bonded with seven complete strangers. I loved 24 little children who lived halfway around the world. I was concerned about four South African high school boys and how they were going to get their chance to go to college. I admired Louis, Amber, Brian, and Lois so much that it's made me think every single day about what I can do to make a difference in the world and how I can spread God's love. And it gave me a new perspective on who God is and what Jesus is all about. It was a trip I will always remember. Every day I think about South Africa and needs there and every day I try to figure out a way to get back there as soon as possible.
Jamey Deen
Point of Grace
Team 8
www.thepinesteam8.blogspot.com
Bill Raine
Team 9 had a great time in South Africa. Mark and Sara McDowell,
Gene Russell, and Bill Raine made up this subcompact team. We were all
excited to get started in helping out at the Pines and did many things
while we were there. Moved a 10x6 safe full of books from one area to
another was a start, then building a 100 ft clothes line was the start
of our adventure. After that we hunted bees, replaced a water gutter,
and painted an entire church both inside and out. I think I can speak
for our team in saying it was among the most rewarding two weeks of our
lives. I would highly recommend others to take the trip or sponsor
someone to take the trip that can truly show what humans can do, with
Gods help, to help others and build a special oasis in the middle of
nowhere. Thank you Brian and Lois and Louis and Amber for being such
special and fun people and doing God’s work.Bill Raine
Team 9