Count your blessings, name them one by one. Well, November was a month of bountiful blessings. We had a Christian couple, Matthew and Amanda, come from Illinois to volunteer for 4 weeks. Before they left, they talked to their church about the needs the orphanage had for Spanish books. After their presentation, they collected an offering of $2,000.00. Matthew and Amanda along with David Alenskis, our long term volunteer, went out shopping for books. I am enclosing a short excerpt from the e-mail that I received from David.
“Lots of changes are happening, and things are really looking good. I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to buy books with Matthew and Amanda, as that has been a fairly involving process: we have a huge mass of books, and we haven’t even spent $1,000.00 yet while the sum is twice that (although we have bought tables and shelves and such as well). I would estimate $800 left to buy books. It’s a beautiful thing, and that Albergue workers such as Liz and Aracely and Alex are rejoicing in the bounty, although cursing their fate at the same time, as they have to cover each book (an incredibly tedious task, I have to say).”
The ranch is coming along well with eight teenage boys in the program. A Canadian supporter Paul Roy is trying to get funds for a technical school in the orphanage. The program objective is best phrased by Paul: “I was thinking that it might be possible with the help of CIDA to open a small trade school located directly on the grounds of the orphanage that would provide skill training such as welding, drafting, electrical training, woodworking, and computer skills for the teens that currently reside at Hogar de Esperanza. I also think that it would be wonderful to provide this skills training to not only the young teens within Hogar, but to provide the skills to many of the young teens in the immediate Salaverry area that cannot afford the costs associated with schooling.” Pray that God will work this out.
We want to thank all our supporters for the financial gifts and the Christmas gifts to the children of the orphanage. This year will be very special for them.
Chau,
Dave
