Sunday, August 26, 2007
Three New Children
This was an exciting week as three new children were added to the Hacienda of Hope family. Gloria (12), Angel (9), and Luis (5) Cacuango all come from the same family. They were orphaned earlier in the year, and since that time have had little adult supervision. They all seem to be adjusting well to life at the Hacienda and are enjoying the friendship of their new brothers and sisters. For children who have had to grow up far too quickly, they have also been relieved of the responsibility of providing for themselves and are truly enjoying being children again. It will certainly take time for them to fully adapt, and there are many emotional scars that they carry. Please be in prayer for these children, and for the other Hacienda of Hope children, as they adjust to each other and as the new children adjust to their fresh surroundings.
At 12 years old, Gloria is quite a bit older than the children that we typically bring into the Hacienda of Hope. The extended family asked if she could stay a few days to help the younger boys get adjusted. They would also like for us to take her full-time and we are all praying about this possibility. So far she fits like a "hand inside a glove" with Leo and Patty. She and her brother, Angel are (as the family described their closeness) "like mud on a boot". Gloria is quiet, willing to work at any household job, and enjoys singing at our devotionals. She fills a maternal role with her brothers. Please pray that God will direct all of us concerning her future.
When Angel’s extended family came with him yesterday, he turned his back on all of us and stood there crying for about an hour. Cristian tried to get him to play ball and several of us attempted to speak words of encouragement to him. However, it was Jorge who began to change things for Angel. After his aunt left, Jorge and Jhon began to put their arms around him and got him to go with them to see their bedroom and toys. He quickly began to talk with us and act like he might enjoy the Hacienda of Hope after all. Angel has helped with household chores, slept in a room with all the other boys (in his own new bed), and is eating well! I have also noticed he and Jorge walking around with their arms around each other and pushing each other in play. He seems to really have adjusted quickly!
Luis is 5 years old and is very close to Gloria and Angel. Like the others, he has experienced far too much turmoil in his short life. As a result, Luis seldom smiles. We pray that laughter and smiling will become natural things for Luis as he learns about the love of God at the Hacienda of Hope.
Posted for Jerry Snyder
At 12 years old, Gloria is quite a bit older than the children that we typically bring into the Hacienda of Hope. The extended family asked if she could stay a few days to help the younger boys get adjusted. They would also like for us to take her full-time and we are all praying about this possibility. So far she fits like a "hand inside a glove" with Leo and Patty. She and her brother, Angel are (as the family described their closeness) "like mud on a boot". Gloria is quiet, willing to work at any household job, and enjoys singing at our devotionals. She fills a maternal role with her brothers. Please pray that God will direct all of us concerning her future.
When Angel’s extended family came with him yesterday, he turned his back on all of us and stood there crying for about an hour. Cristian tried to get him to play ball and several of us attempted to speak words of encouragement to him. However, it was Jorge who began to change things for Angel. After his aunt left, Jorge and Jhon began to put their arms around him and got him to go with them to see their bedroom and toys. He quickly began to talk with us and act like he might enjoy the Hacienda of Hope after all. Angel has helped with household chores, slept in a room with all the other boys (in his own new bed), and is eating well! I have also noticed he and Jorge walking around with their arms around each other and pushing each other in play. He seems to really have adjusted quickly!
Luis is 5 years old and is very close to Gloria and Angel. Like the others, he has experienced far too much turmoil in his short life. As a result, Luis seldom smiles. We pray that laughter and smiling will become natural things for Luis as he learns about the love of God at the Hacienda of Hope.
Posted for Jerry Snyder
School of Hope Teacher Training Workshop
Over the last two weeks, we were blessed with a training workshop for our School of Hope teachers. The training was provided by Justin Snyder to provide extensive training in what to expect at the School of Hope, introduction to the Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) curriculum (http://www.aceministries.org/), and presentation of the daily teaching schedules. We were also treated with a special visit from one of the A.C.E. staff members. All of the children attended the first training session in order to meet their new teachers and to demonstrate some of the things they learned last year to our visitor. Please pray for our teachers and students as we prepare to begin the fall school semester.
Posted for Jerry Snyder
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Appointed to Build
Construction continues on casa number three at a steady pace and brings promises to another group of abandoned children when completed sometime around the first of the year. As the third building emerges, it is exciting to see more clearly the design of the entire complex or hacienda. When the final casa and corner apartment is complete, then the two playgrounds will be finished and the center courtyard will be constructed. The finished hacienda will be a beautiful group of structures providing a small village of great activity (like these boys shelling peas).The most beautiful aspect of the completed project will be the 40 or so children and groups of caregivers who live there. It is a vision I see many times as I walk around the site working with the construction crew. It is exciting to read in the Old Testament how God gave many construction jobs to His people that clearly intended to fill future needs (i.e. the huge ark, the massive temple, etc.). Our responsibility to Him is the same as was theirs …to see the job complete! That is my motivation on site here as well as you who are reading this …as God’s financial allies. God will be faithful in sending those He chooses to labor in His work here as He was in all those O.T. examples. He blesses us richly in His master plan to help those who are helpless. Please pray with excitement that God will help us help Him each day to accomplish all He has put into our hearts to do!
Posted For: Jerry Snyder
