Friday, May 27, 2016

Fatima
Fatima spent Thanksgiving 2014 with us.
Fatima is the second young women to move into the Hope House.  She came to us in October of 2014.   Fatima has a love and passion for Christ that shines through everything.  Because of some intense family issues, Fatima wasn’t able to live at her home.  She was desperate for help, and she was trusting that God had a plan.  When we met her, we knew that she was the next one that we were to invite into our home.  Over the course of the last ten years, Fati has been working and struggling to graduate from university with a degree in social work.  She is tenacious.  She has a desire to use her knowledge as a ministry tool to reach families and youth in El Salvador with the hope and love of God. 
She is now in her last year of studies and we anticipate watching her graduate soon!  She has been a great help to us in our ministry, as well.
With our dear friend, Rachel Dimond and Lupita
  She knows enough English to help do some translating when we have a delicate issue that requires precise understanding, which sometimes we lack.  But, wait, there’s more!  Because of her years of experience with the university system here, she has taken on the role of “education assistant’ in our women’s home.  When a new gal comes, Fati helps walk them through the process of deciding on a university, enrolling, using a computer, and basically shows them how to navigate the confusing world of scholarly studies.  This has been INVALUABLE!  Working with Fatima, we have begun two other projects under our foundation, Hope for Families.  One, in a small village where we have various ministry connections, called, Nuevo Renacer. 
In Nuevo Renecer 
Working in relationship with a couple from Oregon who has served in that specific community for about 9 years, we have begun a youth education project.  This project reflects a desire to help the youth of El Salvador to rise up and bound over the hurdles in their lives.  Fatima has begun to work with the at risk youth of this community to give them the motivation and support they need to stay in school and graduate, and to go on to pursue their dreams.  Our desire is that they would believe that they can change the course of their lives with God’s strength and with hard work.  Then, along with Fatima, we have begun a very exciting arm of our ministry called, The Daughter Project Girls Clubs, which you will be hearing a lot about in coming blogs! 
Fati leading a girls club 
 Suffice it to say, we are keeping Fati very busy!  She is overjoyed to see how God has given her these opportunities already to begin putting her knowledge and gifts to work for His kingdom.  Fatima is always a lot of fun, and can usually be found right in the center of the mischief! She has become like a big sister to Jonah and Maddie here in El Salvador, which has blessed our hearts so much!  

  
Christmas and Bella!
Fatima and her sisters



Our 'office' in Nuevo Renecer with Gerry Freisen and Maggie
Oar fighting with Ginny at the lake

When Krysta and Bobby came to visit we had a lovely day at the lake...with Ginny, too!



Fati leading our girls club leaders training (with her new hair-do!)

Christmas 2014

Goofin' with Natalie, Jonah, Amy and Kelsey at Christmas

I will never get a serious picture with these two!

No comments:

Post a Comment