Build a small group home for orphans in Ukraine

Whew, the wheels turn slowly here in Ukraine but that's not unexpected given our circumstances.

We had hoped to have Blossom Cottage ground-broken and under construction by now but we're still waiting.

We've spend more than $50,000 in June and July and the project is underway. Part of the construction plan for Blossom Cottage is that the much of the wooden frame will be pre-assembled at a factory. We've been told by the construction company that the components are cut and assembled and ready for shipping, awaiting the completion of a concrete foundation. That's the part we thought would be finished by now but hasn't started yet.

We met with our construction team last week and they said they will begin as soon as possible. From the time the concrete is poured until it is cured should take about a month. Our builders assure us that the warm shell (frame, exterior facade, roof, and doors and windows) will be completed within 40 days after the foundation is ready.

During our meeting last week we selected roof and window colors (brown) and metal siding colors. Blossom Cottage will be a soothing Salad Green, while two small cottages also on the property will be a pale lemonade and a rose pink, giving the little community a nice pastel/flowery/blossomy look.

We still don't have electricity on-site but the builders can work without it. We're negotiating with a crew that can build a fence that will go up while the concrete is curing. Construction could begin any day now. 

We're grateful for our many partners- together we've raised nearly $250,000, more than enough to complete the warm shells on three structures, the fences, electricity, septic systems and water wells. We are hopeful fundraising will get a boost once we can start showing actual construction pictures. Our total budget is about $450,000 to complete the project.