Help us make Casa de Esperanza
OURS!
Last May we signed a contract to purchase our present house in San Pedro Las Huertas, a small community outside of Antigua, Guatemala. We moved in Oct. 26 with the help of a team from all Nations Church, having made a down-payment of $40,000. We have been renting the house as we continue to raise funds to cover the balance of $130,000.
In the ensuing months, we have raised and paid and another $13,000, bringing our current balance to $117.000.
We're loving it . . .
This house has proven to suit our ministry needs in almost every way. While the condominium struggles to accept our young men (there is still much discrimination against the disabled in Guatemala) the town itself has received our guys with open arms and they are enjoying the freedom and peaceful environment we have in this smaller town. Moises and Osmi have started studying in a private school here (the only which would accept them) and are well accepted by the staff and students. We a small connection group, members of our church in Antigua who live in San Pedro, who meet here each Friday evening. God has just begun to use this house for his purposes and to reach San Pedro.
Our final payment is due next month,
and we are still short about $100,000
balance due.
We have met with the attorney for the owner, asking for an extension. We should have the answer soon. There is a possibility that we will have to nullify the original contract and find somewhere else to live, but we are earnestly praying that the owner will work with us to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Do I believe we have made a mistake in moving to purchase this house?
Absolutely not!
I believed in April that this was the house God had led us to, and continue to believe this. I have counseled with fellow missionaries who have many more years of experience in ministry and fund-raising and they, too, agreed we should move ahead with the purchase in April, and still believe we should expect God to do a great thing. I can do no more than believe Him and be obedient to his leading, even when it feels like foolishness.
Foolishness to the world . . .
And I do feel foolish right now, if I'm completely honest. I am someone who likes to have their ducks in a row and craves security. God is again teaching me to relinquish control of every aspect of my life and ministry to Him, and Him alone. He is teaching me more firmly that my only security is found in Him, and in my obedience to His will as I understand it. This is humbling and scary. I have asked His forgiveness for anything I man have done to impede His movement.
I continue to trust His goodness and great love for us.
Want to get involved?
We have a number of suggestions for you.
There is nothing more powerful than when the people of God join together in placing a need before God and surrendering it to him.
Contact one of the many restaurants that partner with non-profits to have fund-raising nights where a portion of the profits are donated to the organization. In the Omaha area there are a variety of establishments which do this, including Texas Steak House, Chik-fil-a, and Le Peep. Check out this list to see if your favorite restaurant is one of these.
Contact the individual restaurants for their requirements, and get in touch with me to let me know what we need to do to empower you to host the evening, and serve as a liaison between the restaurant and the Josiah Foundation to assure the funds are received and credited to our ministry.
Host a Missions and a Movie Night
Is there a new release out on video that you believe everyone has got to see? Host a "Missions and a Movie Night" at your home. Invite your small group, even your neighbors, to join you for a movie and give folks the opportunity to make a donation to our ministry. You can even "sell" candy for donations if you choose. It's a great way to build community and help us at the same time. Contact me at guatemalagrandma@gmail.com for more information and possible movie recommendations.
Spread the Word
Tell others what God is doing in the lives of the disabled through Causa de Esperanza. Share with them how they, too, can partner with us in prayer, encouragement and financial support.
Not sure how to do this? Visit our blog and website to become more familiar with what is happening here in our ministry. Talk about this with family and friends as God leads you to share.
I'll be in the US in April. Invite over a few friends and let me tell them about our ministries and our residents. Talk to your pastor or small group leader about allowing me a few minutes to share our ministry with your church and/or group members. Know someone who would be interested in what we are doing? Invite us to lunch--I might even pick up the tab!
This is NOT about asking for money. It is about celebrating God's work in Guatemala, in spite of significant obstacles. The Israelites joined together regularly to celebrate the great works of our God. So should we!
A Week of Sacrificial Eating
Talk with your family about foregoing your usual weekly menu and eating only beans, rice and tortillas for one of more meals a day. Remember us in prayer as you are eating this simple food, which is the typical diet of the people of Guatemala. Many cannot afford the beans and rice and subsist only on tortillas, and are grateful when there are a few beans to eat with them.
If you choose, you can take the money you have saved and donate it to our building fund. Again, the money is secondary to the prayer and increased awareness in your family of the needs of those living in poverty.
Volunteer
We are in need of a team of "Ambassadors" to keep our ministry in the minds of those living in the US. With the daily rush and pressures of life, it is hard to remember that there are those in desperate need, not far from the borders of our own country.
We need people to help with organizing our annual Taste of Guatemala dinner, managing our silent auction, cooking and serving the food, and helping with clean up.
We need others with expertise in graphic design and communications to help us improve our presence on the internet and in print.
We need people willing to send out mailings twice a year, updating our ministry partners on what has been happening here in Guatemala.
We need people to represent us at missions' conferences and churches on their "missions Sunday" activity when we are not in the US
We need. . .you tell me! What are your ideas about how we can better spread the word about the work of Causa de Esperanza, to the glory of God!
Write me for more information. Or call my Skype number: 402-557-0353 (this is a Nebraska number which relays toll-free to Guatemala) and share you ideas with me. If I don't answer, leave a voicemail message and I'll call you back!
Invest
From experience, I know God will call some of you to invest financially in what we are doing, either through a one time gift to our building fund, or on a regular basis to cover our general ministry needs. We are grateful to those of you who take of this challenge. You may think you can't offer much, but your small donation is honored by God. He puts together many "widow's mites" to provide for us daily.
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