Monday, October 21, 2013

The Bridge Transition Home

We told you about our new gals, Silvia and Estrella, who moved into the Bridge in May. There have been a few bumps in the road, but, overall, they are adjusting well, and growing. Both of them are on target to graduate from high school in November, and hope to go on to study at local universities. Silvia, 19, wants to be a pre-school teacher. She is a lovely young woman that loves to read and is a hopeless romantic. If I mention that David and I are going on a date, she throws her hands to her face and lets out a little scream of joy…then, sighs with dreamy eyes. She is so funny! In the photo, she is second from the right, flanked by her brother, Francisco, and her sister, Karla, who also live at the Bridge. Estrella, 20, wants to be an interior designer. She has an electric personality, and she loves to laugh. School is very difficult for her, and she needs lots of prayer to be able to graduate in November. Estrella’s mother is in prison, and her brother is a gangster. She longs to go to University and be able to have a good job so that when her mother gets out of prison, she can help her make a new life. I would ask you to pray for Estrella as she really struggles with victory over her past. We have had to have some serious talks with her, and she has to decide if she really wants to be at the Bridge. I’m praying for a break-through for her. Pray that she would put her trust in her Heavenly Father, and let Him heal her. Then, pray for wisdom for me as I lead these precious young people in the jump from dependent childhood to independent adult life. It is a BIG jump when you leave a children’s home, with no family to fall back on and a big, scary world to face. I need ALL the wisdom, creativity and resources that I can get to do this job well. Side note: Our next big project at the ranch, Lord willing, will be to build a young men’s transition home. As of now, both sexes live in the Bridge Transition Home…but, it's not ideal, as you can imagine. So, pray that God opens the doors for funding and permits to begin work on this home early 2014. We have a slough of young men getting ready to leave La Casa and transition, so this men’s home is very important!


Silvia

Kathy with Estrella