Dear Family & Friends,

Here we are mid-April and struggling to get the March Newsletter in your hands. I need a secretary! Oh, that’s right I married one. Hehe. But she says I never let her get close to the computer. Some truth in that as it takes an inordinate amount of time addressing all the ministry needs. So with that said, I promised Faye I would get her a computer when we are in the states in July.  (But I bet I will still do the Newsletter) Hehe.

Well, let us catch you up on who and what has been happening.

Casa Hogar Orphanage

First week: I bet you all remember Carl & Peggy (from Texas) who have been helping us teach on and off for 5 years. What dedicated volunteers whom the children just adore. But as Peggy & Carl attest, it is they who come away more blessed by the interaction with the children. They are not the first to say that either. They arrived on the 1st of March and helped on and off during their stay.

Of course Bonny (from Canada) was still with us and came everyday of her vacation and sometimes bringing her husband David. And of course Freda (from Texas) who is a retired teacher and always there for us. These two ladies were so loved by the children I sometimes had no one for me to teach. But that is good because then I could have time to take wonder pictures which are or will be included in our Photo Gallery. Then Judy & Bonnie also joined us almost every day.

Then a church team from Des Moines arrived to assist us at Casa Hogar. The Team Leaders Clayton & Carole brought 5 of 6 young adult girls & boys with them and just blessed the socks off the kids. They played games, read to them and just plain loved them to pieces. I know each one of the church team went home with special memories while leaving behind fond memories for our orphanage children as well.

Then on March 19th another church team from Olympia arrived and helped at Casa Hogar as well, then moved on to dig a foundation that the last team started. And of course our dear friend, Fire Captain David Zude from Colorado was here as always to lend a helping hand. Pastor Wayne also deliver into our hands Pastor Dan & his family who were a great help loving and playing with the children.

At the present time there is a lot of remodeling construction going on at Casa Hogar which will make it possible to house more children. I will place a few photos of the work in the Photo Gallery. Because of the construction some of the children have been taken to another facility for safety reasons. When this work is done the fountain and purification system will be installed as we await its delivery from Guadalajara.

We are down to about 15 school age children and about 20 Kinders & infants at Casa Hogar. But the need for daily volunteers is great. We have found that with every extra volunteer teacher the children just blossom exponentially. So much so that I have put out a fleece to our Lord for more teachers at our church and among the many visitors and it is paying off.

Agape Abused Home for Girls

We are now teaching English 4 days a week at AGAPE. Oh, what a difference between the two facilities. These wonderful girls’ ages 13 to 18 years old are so sweet & polite. They welcome us with smiles and hugs and are very eager to learn English. Because it is a Christian facility we are also allowed to teach them Christian songs and bible verses. They now know “Jesus Loves Me” & “Joy, Joy, Joy”. While I am teaching English to the cooks two little girls (5 & 8) they are constantly singing either “Jesus Love Me” or “Joy, Joy, Joy”. What a blessing & gift that is to me. We are also giving them little gifts for memorizing scriptures.

This facility is very well maintained and each child has chores to complete daily. All their beds are made, floors swept & mopped, dishes washed, clothes washed etc.