One Year (plus a few days) Later...

As I sit and write this blog, this journey with Sozo officially began 380 days ago, which makes my first official day at Sozo January 12, 2012.
It's so funny to see how the Lord is continuously at work in our lives. How He prepares the way weeks, months and sometimes even years in advance. I was looking back on college assignments while cleaning out my room the other day and came upon a paper that I wrote about my life right before my senior year in college. Keep in mind, this was before I ever even knew Sozo existed, much less had any idea I would seek out an internship with them. I rest assured that the Lord was preparing my life--my heart, for what was to come in just a few short months.

(Written April 2011)
"It is so incredible to see this journey unfold before my eyes and to begin to see His purpose and hand over each area of my life. As I approach graduation one year from now, next May, I rest completely sure that my childhood years, high school years and now college years were so preciously and perfectly designed to launch me into what the Lord has so sweetly prepared for me. I do not have any specific idea of what I will do as far as a career goes, but I do know that He will see me through each day in placing me somewhere that brings Him glory. I was made to advocate for those without a voice, those who fight every day to stay alive and those holding on to a hope that one day something better will come. Whether that is in the States or in a foreign land, I press forward with full confidence and hope, that the Lord will be my provider, my comforter, my protector and my shelter. I have learned that my plans seem great for just a small time, but His plans will always be far greater and far more exciting than I could dream up or imagine. I hope to work alongside an organization who does orphanages or feeding programs in another country. This would be a short term goal of mine. One that I would love to see happen in the next year. A long term goal I would have would be to be in a position that would allow me to travel often to other countries and be a vessel to provide a better, more joyful life for those who are not blessed to have loving parents and a supportive environment backing them."

The Lord without a doubt gives us the desires of our hearts. He grants us our hopes and our dreams. He is beyond faithful.

Over these next few sentences and paragraphs, my hope is that I could scratch the surface as I unpack what this past year has held. I will forget things along the way, expand on things that touched a sweet spot in my spirit and give God all honor and glory as I unfold one year in one blog. It has been a season of growth, frustration, joy, pain, laughter, surprises, discipleship and love. A beautiful mixture of every feeling and emotion that I can assure you, as tough as it was, I simply would not change one thing.

And so it begins--January 2012...
What started as an internship for school to wrap up my college career turned into much, much more. I laugh now, but at the time, I remember wondering what I was thinking starting at a non-profit right smack in the dead heat of tax season. Was I crazy?! Eyes crossed from inputting numbers in excel files, licking envelopes and making multiple trips to the post office--tax returns were sent and I released a deep breath.



Church of the Highlands Tuscaloosa- Haiti 2012

                  

Haiti

In March of 2012, I had the opportunity to travel back to Haiti to work alongside an unbelievable group of servants from Church of the Highlands. This was my second time to visit Sister Bonite and her precious children that take part in her feeding program she runs. I thought this visit back over there would be a breeze since I had been there less than a year prior. However, it was so much different. Actually it was harder. At first I could not figure out why that was the case, but over the course of my time there, it clicked. I was forced to be still. To not fill my entire day with projects, ministry, and children. My human tendencies are to go, go, go. Don't slow down. Don't reflect. Don't process. Fill my days to be so jammed packed that time spent with the Lord pass me by. So while we were in Haiti this last time, our days did have a lot of down time attached to them. And that was uncomfortable for me. Reason for that you may ask--Discomfort came when I had no choice but to pause. To simply hear that sill small voice. To listen to where He was leading and what He was pressing upon my heart. I have mentioned it before, but for those of you just now starting to follow this journey of mine, this last trip to Haiti was when the Lord confirmed to stay at Sozo following graduation. I fought it. Fought it hard to be honest. It didn't make sense. But He simply put it, OBEY. Daily obedience is what He asked of me. The question was "Will you say Yes? Not just today, but everyday."

Mud Run- Spring 2012

The Mud Run was next on the list--which was a lot of work--or so I thought until fall rolled around and we were cracking down on getting two fundraisers put together that would be held just weeks apart. Here is my disclaimer. For those of you who are reading this who were apart of putting THREE fundraisers on in ONE weekend in the fall of 2011 for Sozo--You were crazy!! I realize that my stress level should not have been as high as it was, because for you, putting on another 5k was just a hop, skip and a jump.

Phiona and Shamira at the Birmingham Airport

Next on deck was getting ready for the Summer. Trips, interns and two new friends from Uganda. On May 25, 2012, we welcomed Shamira and Phiona at the Birmingham Airport as they would be here for a time seeking out medical treatment. The lessons I would learn from these two lives were not known to me at that time, but my life would forever be impacted from two girls who were eleven and twelve at the time they arrived.

Shamira and Phiona



Summer with Phiona

I had the opportunity to spend majority of the first couple of months with Phiona. Getting to know her. Learning from her. Watching her go from shy, quiet and fearful of mzungus(white people) to an energetic, fun yet reserving not one ounce of her being. Each day was a new day. New lessons for me to learn. New lessons I was able to teach. Mercy. Grace. I was beginning to learn what these look like in tangible ways. I realized Through her young life, I was starting to learn more specific characteristics of Christ. The ones that He continues to offer me. Daily. I was beginning to see, this life I refer to as a journey was about to forever alter the way I live. The way I saw things. The way I loved.

Annual Fundraiser Dinner

Adventure Race- Fall 2012

We made it through fall fundraisers but I can't say with confidence I would have personally had I not begged, pleaded and offered just about everything I owned to get my fellow Sozo staffers home from Uganda a week or so before originally planned. Thankful for their hearts that understand both sides of Sozo--Uganda and the States-- and appreciate the hard work that goes into each. Along with everyone making their way back to the States, they brought along yet another Ugandan friend, Daudi. Daud(as I call him) is our on-ground administrator for Sozo in Uganda. And he is phenomenal I might mention. He joined us in the States for two months until we both returned to Uganda in October. Some of my favorite moments with Daudi were when we would sit outside and he would tell me stories of the children in Uganda. Where they came from. What their lives looked like before Sozo. The good, the bad, the ugly. He wanted to me to see the work that The Lord had done in their lives. And I did. Those were special days.

Daudi at the North Carolina fundraiser

St. Petersburg Fundraiser

Sozo takes on Disney World

I was able to travel to both the North Carolina and St. Petersburg fundraisers and we even snuck in a quick trip to Disney World. Both dinners were wonderfully done and it was so incredible to see how much love there is for Sozo, and not just in Alabama. It is a blessing to see how people grasp a hold of the vision of Sozo and they love it the same way we do. Seeds are being planted across multiple states and fruit is beginning to be evident. Sherry and Jon, you are such a huge blessing to Sozo and we are beyond thankful for everything you both do in order to make Christ known. To Him be the glory.

Rays of Hope

Sozo Children House 1

I travelled to Uganda in October for the first time. To read more about this trip you can view this previous blog. (Uganda Trip) The days that I spent in Uganda were beautiful. Not just the physical appearance of the country, although it did not disappoint. The beauty came in the people I met. The joy of the children. The love of the staff. The open arms and acceptance from the people we passed on the streets each day. Uganda took my heart. But then again, I have yet to meet anyone in which this hasn't been the case. There is something special about this place. Something I can't figure out, but in the same breath, I just don't know if I want to figure it out. The mystery that lies in that truth makes it that much more special. It was something about the sunrises and sunsets. It was something about many voices joining together as one to bring fame to our Father. It was something about the fresh squeezed juice we occasionally drank. It was something about the smell of the garbage being burnt. It was something about the eagerness the children had to grab the first hand they saw or grab a hold of the first leg they could get their arms around. The sights, sounds, tastes, smells and feelings you experience are what stick. You don't get hung up on the brokenness that surrounds you because you take a look to the left of you during devotion and see Francis worshiping our magnificent Father with the sweetest air guitar moves you'll ever see.

(Francis has the blue shirt on. Watch carefully. You won't miss his sweet moves!)

 

And then you look to the right during a game of around-the-world and you lay eyes on Alex, but you are immediately drawn to a smile that represents such a joy in the Lord that it is simply indescribable.

Alex

And it is then, from one of our youngest children to the guy who we are privileged to call our van driver, that you begin see what beauty from ashes truly looks like. It's right there, unfolding before your eyes. Redemption. It's divine.

Shamira

After returning from Uganda in October, I began to weekly tutor Shamira. We worked together on her Math, Social Studies and English. I cannot begin to express how these days that we spent in the library touched my heart. Her hard-work, dedication and drive to truly learn impacted my life in ways that she has not a clue of. She is special. A true workmanship of the Lord. Her spirit is meek, but she is strong. I am beyond thankful and grateful for the opportunity to spend afternoons with this precious soul. Together, yet in different and unique ways, we are learning more with every day that passes that goes way beyond those four walls that make up that library.

Before I began tutoring Shamira, I began to weekly meet with Amiee(her mom) as she took on the role of mentoring me. This relationship that formed was the result of four very long years of asking (more like pleading with) the Lord to have someone step into my life and play this role. It was worth every prayer prayed in that time to have a sweet soul like hers in my life. I value the wisdom that can be poured into our lives if we are simply willing to receive it. I thank the Lord for her life each day and am honored that she takes the time to intentionally invest into my life. She is a strong example of pure love and grace. I am grateful.

Joan

Derrick

Along the way, I have had the great opportunity to get to know, grow to love and yet again learn from the whole gang. Joan has taught me to have joy. Derrick has taught me gentleness. Shamira has taught me strength. Laurel has taught me selflessness. Coleman has taught me what ambition looks like.

And here we are now--January 2013..

A few Sozo staffers-Snow Day 2013

The new year has begun. It has been a great one so far. The Lord has shown Himself faithful time and time again. We are expectant for what is to come throughout this year at Sozo. We cling tight to His promises which are true and we know that He is sure to carry out until the day of completion the good work that He has begun. It's a fun ride. Some days are hard. But it is on those days that we are reminded that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Praising the One from whom all blessings continuously flow.

Next stop...Uganda.
Please be in prayer as I prepare to travel back to Uganda on Sunday February 3rd to spend one month back in that special place that stole my heart just three months ago. I will be working alongside Andee and a few others to implement various educational programs into our homes that are currently running. We pray the Lord's blessing upon each day. May He grant to us patience, discernment and good graces as we follow what has been pressed upon each of our hearts.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Reminders.

Sometimes I sit back and shake my head at how faultless the Lord is in His timing of simple reminders. Reminders to keep marching forward. Reminders to continue to seek wisdom and discernment. Reminders to keep believing that no matter what you feel, He truly does have what is best for both you and I in mind.
As I was sitting in a chair in the midst of a group of people I did not know this past Sunday, a rush of nerves followed by a supernatural peace came over me. I stood up, walked to the front of the room and looked into the eyes of a group of people who all have their own unique story to tell, yet have one thing in common with me--We all have the same Father. My hands shook, not out of fear but out of an overwhelming excitement to have this opportunity to share. I truly did not know what words would come out. You see, when I get the opportunity to share my story, what this past year has looked like for me but most importantly get to tell the story of our precious children in Uganda to one more person, my soul leaps. One more person who hears where Sozo began, what this two and a half year journey has looked like and our hopes and dreams for what is to come in the near future, is one more person who gets to see God's grace, mercy and ultimately His beautiful picture of redemption for 68 plus precious lives in Uganda.



"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad." Psalm 126:3

As important as it is to share all that the Lord is doing within Sozo, and He always seems to be at work in both the small things and the not so small things, I can honestly say that I think the opportunity to go to speak in this class was more for me than anyone else. Why you ask? After briefly speaking, the typical Sunday morning routine carried on for them.

Topic of study: Jonah.

Jonah in a nut shell is a picture of how fear and pride can result in running from God's direction and calling on our lives. But a "belly of a whale" experience of repentance could lead you directly into the arms of a merciful God resulting in a time of growth with the Lord.

The lesson opened up with the following words:

"I am Jonah.
I want to serve God...
as long as it is convenient.
I desire to do His will...
Until it is a tad uncomfortable.
I want to hear His Word...
as long as its message is one I'm supposed to pass on to someone else.
I don't want to have my plans interrupted.
Oh yes. I am Jonah, and I suspect that in
one way or another, you are too."
(From: Master Work with credit to Priscilla Shirer)

....Think about it...

Oh how uncomfortably familiar those words felt as they echoed through my ears that morning. That is ME. I am Jonah way more often than I am proud to say. And in particular here recently.

"And he said: I called out to the Lord because of my trouble, and He answered me. I cried for help from the place of the dead, and You heard my voice." Jonah 2:2

As the end of the year closes and the new year brings a fresh start, it would be easy to cap my beautiful journey in this mission field off and move into finding a job with office hours, a stable income and benefits. But the Lord is keeping me right here, in the uncomfortable, for a very specific and particular reason. Is what I am doing a dream opportunity? You better believe it. But is it easy? Absolutely not. It's not easy because I do not have control from day to day. It is in my human nature to control every aspect of my life. When things get hard, ideally, I would love to shift to an easier path. Yet everyday when I wake up, I am in a position that forces me to say "Lord, strengthen my faith in You. For I know that You are in ALL things and I trust that You have and will always guide me in any and all situations, both great and small."
Making sense of what God has asked cannot be the prerequisite for choosing obedience.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

I present myself vulnerable today and admit more times than not, I have wanted to gracefully bow out. Problems arise within, and His grace trumps over them. I am learning to love, and truly love on days when that is not the first thing on my mind. I am grateful for the wisdom that has been poured into me. That I now am able view the rocky days, the tough times, and the not-so-pleasant people as sandpaper in my life. When you look the word "sandpaper" up in the dictionary, you find this: "Strong paper coated with a layer of sand or other abrasive, used for smoothing or polishing". This idea of sandpaper is ultimately to view these moments as the Lord refining me and teaching me about an area in my own life...or as the Lord smoothing and polishing me. He is a good God. He allows the rough days in order for me to be smoother on the other side. This is humbling.

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on to the heights" Habakkuk 3:19

I cling tight to the Lord. Trusting that this season is equipping me for the greatest of days which are ahead of me. I am thankful that as I make mistakes, I am also able to learn from them. And as I grow through life lessons that sometimes feel like a broken record, I am better for them. As I learn, I grow, and the next time I face a problem, I will never look at it the same because I have learned something essential from the last time I looked it in the face. This is what life is about. Learning to be still some moments and learning to take chances other times. But never ceasing to reflect on what the Lord is teaching and discerning what He wants from me each day.

It truly is about learning to daily be obedient to ALL the Lord is asking from me.
And I admit, I am still in the process of truly grasping what this truth is all about.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

A little holiday spirit...

Can you believe Christmas is just THIRTY-SIX short days away?! For that matter, Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK!! How fast the days of 2012 are passing by has simply amazed me. Such a beautiful ride this past year has been, and it is so evident how present He has been throughout it all as I reflect over blogs, journals, prayers and memories of the last eleven months and beyond.

 

Some may have heard, others may not have any idea....

But as the Lord has opened the door for me to return to Uganda in the Spring of 2013, I am selling Africa ornaments to help raise financial support that will go towards funding that trip.

 

I have set a goal to make and sell ONE HUNDRED ornaments over the next FIVE weeks leading up to Christmas.

In hopes to bring a little Africa to everyones home this holiday season, there are many unique things that involve Africa that makes up each ornament.

 

 

• First, they are filled with coffee beans(which smell fabulous I might add). About 2.8 MILLION people in Uganda rely on the coffee industry for their income. Coffee makes up 95% of Ugandan exports and is a native to the country. With this being one of Uganda's largest cash crop, you can see why it is viewed as very important to many Ugandans.

 

• Each ornament also has a cut out of Africa on the front of it to be a daily reminder to pray for the country, the people living in Africa, missionaries serving there and of course our sweet children and staff at Sozo Children. (www.sozochildren.org)

 

• Lastly, the ornaments have a small strand of paper beads that is personally my favorite part of the ornament. Paper bead making is a common trade that women in Uganda take part in. Strips of paper are rolled up tightly to form a bead and then dipped in a clear varnish to give it a sheen, durable look. Although this is a time consuming process, this trade is helping women support their families by providing an income that allows them to provide shelter, feed their families and in some cases, send their children to school to recieve an education. Each bead is unique and rarely do you find two beads that are exactly the same.

 

Pictured below are examples of the ornaments that you may pick from. Below each picture is a caption that contains the name of the ornament, which will make it easier to communicate which one you have picked.

Each ornament will sale for TWENTY($20) dollars a piece.

Payment may be made by CASH, CHECK or CREDIT CARD. Please just simply contact me by phone or by emailing me at kellyanne@sozochildren.org  These ornaments can be shipped upon purchase.

RED with WHITE POLKA DOTS

WHITE with COLORFUL POLKA DOTS

 

LIME GREEN, PINK and GRAY

 

LIME GREEN with SMALL POLKA DOTS

 

ORANGE/PINK

 

GRAY with DESIGN

 

FADED BLUE with LIME DESIGN

 

LIME with MULTI-SIZED POLKA DOTS

 

FADED BLUE

 

RED with BABY BLUE POLKA DOTS

 

PINK with ORANGE and WHITE PRINT

 

RED

 

CREAM

 

 

DARK BLUE with DESIGN

 

ORANGE with POLKA DOTS
 

Thank you so much for your continuous support. My gratitude for each of you extends further than you know. The love, support and prayers by each of you are constantly felt and extremely welcomed. I truly count my blessings each day as the Lord daily allows me to walk along this beautiful journey.

Little Moments..

It felt like home as soon as I arrived. It wasn't supposed to though. It was supposed to be a "quick two-week trip to visit the children" and it turned into a two-week journey that has forever marked my life. I celebrated with Daudi as I turned the corner getting off of the plane and gave him a big hug followed by the words "Welcome Home!" For the two months that he was here in the States and daily told me how much he missed home, the kids, the bumpy roads, the slower pace...I thought to myself "is it really that great?!" And before I even hugged the kneck of Aggie, was greeted by joyful shrieks when we pulled into the gate, or even got my visa to enter the country; I realized the answer to that question I had been wanting to ask Daudi was quickly answered with a resounding YES!!

You see, Uganda exceeded every expectaton I had built up in my mind.

I have been with Sozo for over 10 months now. I have watched over a hundred people leave America, come to Uganda, and return back to the States. Some people forever changed, some just another trip. I have seen interns devote an entire summer to serving in Uganda. Some forever changed, some just another summer to them. But for some reason in my mind, I thought I knew exactly how it was going to be. Thought is the correct word here, because everything I thought it would be like was blown out of the water by the end of the first full day.

 

Uganda is simplicity at its finest. and I love that. I long to grasp that mindset. It's how things are supposed to be--simple. We make things difficult and the Lord patiently awaits for us to realize it doesn't have to be.

The processing continues. I remember laying in the bed on one of my last nights in Uganda and telling Laura and Michelle the one thing that I was dreading about going home was being asked what I thought about my time in Uganda or what my favorite part was. My heart is on the verge of explosion to tell the world what these days and nights in Uganda meant to me. but I just dont know how to put it into words. I dont know how to articulate just how special this place is to me or how wonderful these people are. I can't do them justice and so then I hesitate even trying to in fear that you won't understand. But then again, you wouldnt understand until you go. Until you see it for yourself. Until you lavish in the beauty of Uganda. Until you take a deep breath of African air. For me, I thought I knew-but I didn't. I had no idea.

 

 

So what was my favorite moment? It would be impossible to narrow it down to just a single one. That would be doing my time there injustice. It was the little moments. The ones I never dreamed could be so good. so perfect.

 

 

Like meeting Brian for the first time. I've been priviliged with the opportunity to sponsor Brian for the last 6 months. I've seen his beautiful smile, recieved report cards from school, and have heard his story. But it wasn't until I gave him that first hug and kissed the top of his sweet head that I realized just how much I loved him. And the love continued to grow as I spent more time with him. As I watched him goof off with his friends. As I played badmitton with him. As he told me how much he wanted a remote control car for Christmas because he has never had one. As I told him each day to listen in school and learn something new that day. It continues to grow even though we are yet again seperated.

 

Little moments like doing homework in the afternoon with Vivian. She lays down that notebook and we begin with English. We keep a "rubber"(eraser) close by because she's still learning. She still is trying to figure out what a complete sentence looks like. She is still learning what modes of transporation are available. Or how to draw a priest baptising a baby. So we try, and then we "rub" and we try again until we get it just right. And then she flips the page. Luganda time. So then the tables tearn and I begin to learn. We both learn. I'm desperate to learn a new word everyday. They work so hard to improve their english. I must work hard to improve my luganda. My patience grows. It wasn't my "hurry up-get it right-I have no time" self those afternoons. It was where I thrived. Where I loved teaching. What does this mean God? What desires and gifts are you birthing in me? Allow me to be obedient every step of the way.

Little moments like going in to the girls room at night and seeing Sharon's feet dangle off the bed sideways and her whispering something. So as I go closer I see her bible flipped open. She's reading as much as she can before the lights go off. The bible has different colors highlighted throughout all of the pages. The pages are ragged. The front is torn. This is what a bible that is used everyday, multiple times a day looks like. They get it. She gets it. She is fully depending on her Father to get her through that day. And then I walk down to my room and their sits my bible on my bed. It looks like I just bought it yesterday. Where is that utter dependence for the Word in my life? She's mirroring Christ right before my eyes. Teach me Father.

Little moments capture your heart. Sometimes they happen and we soon forget, but sometimes they're not as easily forgotten.

 

 

The moment I saw Henry for the first time is one of those moments. Henry is Phiona's little brother, so for those of you who keep up with me and know my love for this little girl, you can only imagine how absolutely perfect the moment was when I bent down to swoop that little munchkin up as we walked through the gates of Rays of Hope. I knew exactly who he was in the midst of 300 kids running around the moment  I laid my eyes on him. Phiona and I had looked at pictures of him more times than I can count. And now, there he was. Right in front of me.

He had a navy blue fleece jacket on with colorful cars all over it. He was holding his cup and was ready to eat porridge. But first, like a proud mom or something, I whipped out a picture of me and Phiona that was in my bag. He lit up. A smile reckoned his face like a little kid on Christmas morning. It was special. It won't be easily forgotten. He clung tight to that picture. He held it close, then he held it where he could see it and would laugh and then draw it back close again. He looked at it each day that he saw me. He had no idea what kind of connection I had with Phiona, he just knew for a moment that he was able to see his big sister that he misses so much. The one who walked to school with him everyday. The one who defended for him. The one who took care of him more times than we care to know. I now have a very well worn picture that has become a constant reminder of what love looks like when I lay my eyes on it.

I can sit here, look back on my time in Uganda and think of hundreds of little moments that make my heart beat. Belly-laughing ones, gut-wrenching ones, sad ones and ones that can immediately bring a smile from ear to ear. You will continue to hear more of these over the following weeks in hopes to let you in on this journey that has taken a new turn.

When the Lord led me down this journey with Sozo, He made it very clear for me not to cap it with a time frame. This made me very uncomfortable because it would be very easy to have said I am doing this until December and commit 7 months of my life to it and then be done. But then I would be walking away from what I love-from what He has bestowed His blessings upon. But that wasn't His plan and that wasn't His calling. He simply asked that I daily be obedient to this next step in the journey. Only He is all-knowing and knows exactly what my future looks like. It was starting to become a life-style to me. Get up, go to the Sozo office, go home, go to bed and repeat it again the next day. It's all I knew. I knew names of 68 children, 10 names of our Ugandan staff and could tell you the name of where our children go to school. But now, I know the faces of 68 children. I know personalities and laughter and can tell you a story about each and how in some way, shape or form they have impacted my life.

 

 

 

 

I have been to the school to both drop-off and pick-up. I have entered the gates where they are blessed to daily better their education. And I have spent time with the most amazing staff known to man. I have watched them interact with our children, I have watched them daily do what the Lord has uniquely gifted them to do and I have seen love and joy radiate off them in such a way that the only way to describe it is they are walking in direct obedience to the Father.

 

 

 So today, I try to pick back up to the way things "normally" are for me. I will go back to the office for the first time since I have gotten back and I am earnestly praying that the Lord carry me through today because my heart is in Uganda. I fell in love with everything that makes up that wonderful place. But I trust in the Lord's timing. Today He has me here, tomorrow has yet to unfold. I know that I will return again. Not just once, but many more times.

HOUSE 1

HOUSE 2



HOUSE 3