The Living Vine is an L-shaped building, approximately 10,000 square feet. The red brick structure occupies a large lot surrounded by tall long-needle pines, and landscaped with azaleas, crepe myrtle, and seasonal annuals.
Our oversized kitchen, dining room, living room and school serve as common areas for residents, staff, and guests alike. Additionally, we have five residential bedrooms, and three staff suites; enough space to house twelve girls and six staff members.
Our cozy living room has many purposes. Some of the most effective aspects of the ministry occur here, such as our house meetings and both individual and family counseling. At 3:00 each weekday afternoon, the staff meets together for an hour of prayer to bring the ministry’s needs to the Lord. Most often, this cozy room however, functions as the family room, where wholesome movies are watched, Bible studies are held, and guild meetings take place. It even becomes the gym, when tables are moved back and residents and staff workout together.
In the dining room, breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m. each weekday. After which morning devotions begin with residents reading aloud and discussing a chapter from the book of Proverbs. Lunchtime at noon is more casual with residents and staff usually taking time out for a quick game of cards before getting back to their daily routine. At dinner, staff joins the residents for a family meal. It’s a great time to catch up on the days events, while the cook for the week can show off her culinary skills.
Our dining room serves many purposes other than just for eating three meals a day. Staff and residents play board games, computer games, put together puzzles, and study with tutors.
It’s not unusual to throw a birthday party with cake, ice cream and balloons. We’ve even been known to don costumes and fake mustaches and turn the room into an Italian café.
Our large kitchen is equipped with an industrial gas range, three refrigerators and plenty of storage for the canned goods and paper products donated to us by our caring community. Residents are expected, as part of their chores and life-skills coursework, to take turns cooking. Like most homes, the kitchen is often the family hangout. The girls and staff laugh and play while making cookies, brownies, or the latest recipe. Everyone joins in to help unload the weekly groceries.
We have a beautiful Learning Center where the girls work to continue their education and spiritual growth in order to prepare for their futures. The Learning Center is equipped with computers, educational CD’s, textbooks, GED study programs, SAT study materials and an extensive collection of Bibles, concordances and Christian Literature. Morning hours from 9:00 until 12:00 are exclusively for spiritual growth. A curriculum has been designed to teach Biblical principals that we believe are key to a resident’s long term success. The curriculum includes videos, books, audio cassettes, and group Bible studies. Afternoon hours are designated for school. Residents who are registered in grades 6 through 12 are home schooled by a certified teacher. If the resident has not graduated from high school, she is assisted in obtaining her GED. But if a resident has already graduated from high school, she continues spiritual growth through an independent study which is tailored to her needs. Our library includes studies on everything from sexual abuse, eating disorders and codependency to name a few.One afternoon a week, the learning center is converted into a sewing room. We have had girls who have never sewn a stitch, learn to make beautiful pillows and quilts. Their self esteem soars once they realize their hidden gifts and talents.