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July 10-17
Sarasota Calvary Chapel will be conducting our VBS Program.

July 25-30
Group from Lubbock, TX to help with repairs and hang out with the kids.

July 27
Wheelchair Distribution with Bethal Ministries

So…. A few updates on the ministry:
It is such a blessing to have all the workers join together for Bible study 3 mornings a week. Saturday night, the youth meet at 5pm and adults at 6pm. Then we do a little more in depth study on Sunday mornings. Now and then, we enjoy a meal together afterwards. The children have their own Sunday School and everyone seems to be enjoying our Sunday morning worship format.

As most of you know, we are not a typical ministry. We don’t have a stateside organization generating funds for us. We have a board that serves us well, but we rely 100% on God working through you all to meet these tangible needs. You can find our latest requests by going to our ‘NEEDS’ tab on this site, (or click here) to review these requests.

We also ask that you pray about how you may be led to join in God’s work down here. We appreciate all of your prayers and support. Without you, this project would not be. Feel free to contact us directly for more specific information or to even schedule a trip down. We love seeing new faces at the ranch!

Kid’s Cement Swimming Pool
The little swimming pool is also a hit but will not last much longer, it is rubber and can not hold up to all of them playing in it. For now it has been a life saver, it has been extremely hot and dry for the last month or so. It is our desire to build a cement pool that would last for a long time. Estimated need to fulfill: $1,000

Vehicle Repairs
The rainy season is coming. As it is now I have to pull the van up the driveway 2 out of 3 times. When the rains do come, it will no longer be possible to get up the driveway. Because of this, we are in real need of help repairing the van. Estimated need to fulfill: $3,000

We also need tires for the truck. We got 30,000 miles from this set, however, now, they are like slicks. We were able to replace the rear tires on the van but will need fronts soon also. Estimated need to fulfill: $1,000

Additional Living Quarters
We have been praying about the direction and timing of the next house. It is started but we have not done any construction for a long time. Estimated need to fulfill: $20,000

And…. A humble request for your continued support
Monthly gifts are what keeps us afloat with food, clothing, and daily items. Any amount helps, but the general fund has dwindled a bit with the economy. If it fits in your budget, we would greatly appreciate your monthly support. Hopefully it would also serve as an opportunity for you to check our website to see what’s new here at the ranch. Would you prayerfully consider $25/$50/$100/month?

We would ask that you pray about how you may be led to join in God’s work down here. We appreciate all of your prayers and support; without you this project would not be.

God is blessing us here at Rancho Esperanza in so many ways. I love how He uses different people and organizations in various ways to provide for His project and to touch all of our lives. He gives us all different gifts and abilities and urges us to use them in His service. We want to thank you all for being there when and where we need you most and for affording us the privilege of being here with the children and our community.

Because of the things you do, the children feel loved and cared about by you, and they often speak of those of you who have visited, usually asking when you will return. To them, and us, there is no such thing as a casual friendship or acquaintance. We are one big “familia loca”. The children are growing and continue to move forward in the healing process.

Danny just turned 8 years old and has been participating more in his bathing and dressing routines for a while now. He also enjoys and even demands the company of others. He is no longer stuck in his own private world. Danny hasn’t had any seizure activity for over two years and his Tourette symptoms are a little milder. Praise God! He is our own little “Bob the Builder”; drawing, building, and talking houses constantly. In the past Danny was so afraid of water, even in the bathtub. But now he is a fearless little fish in the pool. He is very intelligent but school is another chapter so please continue to pray.

Michael (6yrs.) really doesn’t like kindergarten, but puts up with it and does his work and homework. He’s in it for the social outlet, recess, and snack-time. He has mysterious illnesses on school days sometimes but never on a weekend. I remember that from my childhood too, therefore, it doesn’t play out very well for him. He loves to dress up in home-made costumes and become Zorro or a super hero or a cowboy. One time he ran out of the bedroom yelling UNDERWEAR-MAN! We were all laughing so hard because he had a pair on his head and of course one in the normal place, socks on his hands and feet and nothing else.

Esperanza turned 12 this month and is still pretty quiet but always has a smile for everyone. She is doing very well in school and loves to spend a lot of time in the swimming pool. Esperanza is our “dog whisperer” and is in charge of the pack (4). They love her and she loves them very much. It is important for her to care for them and have a special role that is hers alone. She is very creative and surprised me with an embroidered servieta (tea towel or tortilla wrap) for Mother’s Day. It is beautiful!

Pedro (11 yrs.) is doing well and is much more responsive. We no longer see the deer-in-the-headlights expression on his face. He doesn’t freeze up under the slightest pressure at home or at school anymore. He is learning new coping skills. He continues to be my shadow and will do anything that I am doing in order to be with me. I won’t complain about that! Okay, well, occasionally I have to ask him to remove his head from my close-work . Just so you know, in Guatemala it is traditional for boys and men to sew and embroider. Pedro also embroidered a beautiful servieta for me. He pays attention to everything and soaks up information like a sponge. This only gets him in trouble with the other children when he shares his comments and opinions on everything, at the table during meals and they call him “chute” (busy-body). This only serves to encourage his commentaries.

Lucia (14yrs.) recently had a school assignment regarding world peace. It started with writing something about whether or not there was peace at home for her. She wrote, “We have peace in our home because Jesus is the center of our family.” I was so blessed by reading her work, especially the beginning. She finds it difficult to express her emotions, although she has a dry wit and can be very funny. She has found a safe outlet of expression in her art, crafts, and writing. She is extremely talented at whatever she puts her hands to.

Francisca (16yrs.) is doing very well in school and she is doing double-duty. Last year she was in a 4th & 5th grade combo course through a private school in order to catch up with the other three girls her age. We thought she could be in 6th grade with them this year but the public elementary school system will not recognize the private school combo diploma. So we unofficially put her in public school with the other girls (thanks to the principal) and also had to enroll her in the private school to receive a 6th grade diploma. Supposedly the junior-high school will accept it. Chivete is tutoring her in math and she just took her mid-term exams in San Luis Saturday. She felt very good about them and was grinning ear to ear when we walked out of the office. It is so good to see her self-confidence soar!

Angelica (16yrs.) is also doing very well in school and has been an honor guard (for flag) in the acto civico at school. Only the children with the highest grades are given this honor. Lucia, Esperanza and Suleidy have also been honor guards this year. Angelica is very close to Michael and is his mother-hen. She is very thoughtful and is interested in natural science and communication. She always costs us the most at the paper store for school projects. She goes the extra mile to have the prettiest whatever-the-project. She is our take-charge girl at home and away. Who would have dreamed of this three years ago? God is great!

Suleidy (16yrs.) is doing well and has really been concentrating on her school work for the first time. It is such a blessing to see her study more and actually be proud of her achievements. And being the one to say to me that she couldn’t learn to crochet, she now crochets purses without so much as a pattern! Which is a lot more than the teacher (I) can do! Suleidy has had some hard knocks this year regarding her status in the system, broken dreams and disappointments. We are working through them and she continues to make progress. While we are not her blood-relations, or her fantasy-only-child-perfect adoptive family, I feel that she is beginning to understand that the love offered her here need only be accepted in order to be complete. Jesus explains this to us in so many ways. It is up to us to accept His love too.

We changed elementary schools this year for all the children and it has been very good for everyone. The new school is much more formal and more challenging. I have to transport them but its worth it. And with Jairon in junior-high, Ilda in college, Michael in kindergarten, and the rest in elementary, I spend a lot of time in the van Monday through Friday. We give thanks every day for the van and those who bought it.

We give thanks and remember you all because we have a beautiful roof over our heads, good food on the table, clean clothes to wear, good safe transportation, good equipment for building and maintenance, a computer for the children and two for us, sewing machines, craft supplies, toys, fruit trees, dogs, cows and horses, all of which help to create the environment in which the children are thriving. Your love and support is priceless. We are forever grateful and we thank God for you each and every day.

Love always,
Karen (Mike & Family)
Yee-hah!!!

I was welcomed with open arms and joyful faces. Right when I walked out of the car, I was embraced by a child I have never seen before. I was overwhelmed with love! A love that has no boundaries. A love that is driven by Christ and not by the world. When I felt this abiding love, my heart was seized by a family; a family with no pre-assumed judgments or possible grudges, but a family that accepted me because I am a child of God.

I had felt at home in a culture that only looks to oneself for satisfaction and comfort. This home, however, has been knit together by the love of Christ. It was started with children who were burdened with the terrors of the world, but now they have a new life. The two people that have accepted their mission from Christ (Mike and Karen) are making it possible for these children to accept, and also, to give love. I have not only been embraced by the children, but also by Mike and Karen. They have shown me perfect humility and patience in times where both almost seemed unattainable. It is incredible how Christ works. He provides love for us so we can then give that same love to others.

Thanks Mike and Karen for opening up your lives to me and sharing God’s love with me! I’ve enjoyed my stay and cannot wait to be in contact with your lives again!

Please Note: You may have to refresh your browser to bring in the video on screen. If you are unable to view the presentation from this site, you can view it directly on YouTube by clicking here.

LISTED BELOW ARE OUR CURRENT NEEDS FOR RAYO.
Thank you for considering how you might help us keep the project moving forward!

Regular Monthly Expenses (This list shown PER MONTH)
Livestock food and meds $100
Employees pay $2,435
Electricity $450
Propane $150-$160 (per 2 months)
Food $800 (one week per child $25×8 = $200×4)

One-Time Expenses
2 pairs of shoes for all 12 kids (1 for school, 1 for regular) $600 ($20-$25 each)
Dryer repair $100
Large capacity dryer
Ceiling fans (4) $400
Driveway repair $1,200
20 gallons of paint $300
Tires for pick up $800
Refrigerator for Leti
Tables and chairs for Sunday school
Shelving $100
Bedroom air conditioning $100

House Construction:
To finish the walls:
Block $1,350
Cement $1,250
Sand and Gravel $770
Steel $1,500
TOTAL: $4,870

We hope you will be able to take some time and browse our new website’s features and updates. We have just added a ‘Needs’ tab that will keep you posted with any current prayer and financial needs. Right now, you can view our educational needs for Silvia. Please don’t forget to visit our Friends and Supporters links as well. And for your convenience, we have our Facebook link on our blogroll. It means a lot to us that you are visiting us through this means…and don’t forget, you can sign our new Guestbook, too! We will be updating regularly now that we have a platform to do so. Again, thank you for all that you have done for RDE to this point. We are excited to see where God takes us!

Enrollment, once a year=Q320 $42.66
Tuition for 10 months=Q5400 $720
Books, 1st year = Q880 $117.33
Uniforms, 1st year = Q550 $77.30

Funds can now be received online through our donation page. An optional memo line is available during the checkout process.

Thank you!