2022 Year-end Update
Psalms 41:1 Blessed Is he who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in times of trouble.
Hello Friends,
The year is almost spent, and as we look back at what the Lord has allowed us to do, it has been an incredible year! We had the opportunity to build five homes for families, as well as remodeling two feeding centers. These two feeding centers are ministries that we certainly can't do, but it is a pleasure to come alongside them and support them. We had some strange weather this year, and had some monsoon rains late summer. One of the buildings at the feeding center was flooded. We had the opportunity to help take the roof off, and rebuild the roof structure. We also replaced and repaired the drywall in the room that serves as a Sunday school room. It is truly a blessing to help these ministries reach out and help the needy. They could not do it alone.
We saw an opportunity to help a husband and wife that do prison ministry. They visited the prison where they both had served time, and saw the need of the believers that attend the prison church. The inmates must supply almost all their own basic living needs. They said many came to the chapel with no or very poor shoes. They must supply their own toilet paper, and hygiene products. The couple doing the prison ministry said they were in need of 120 pairs of shoes to give to the men in the church. We were able to supply them with the funds to buy the shoes, socks, and bags upon bags of personal hygiene products. Last week the same couple were given 26 pairs of boots to deliver to the workers at the city dump. That is a part of their ministry, to reach out to these workers as well.
We had several graduates from the student ministry, and they are now working in the profession they studied. One of the ladies is working for the city. Another is working in a psychologist's office, and another is teaching school, as well as English classes. Plus, we had the opportunity to add three new students this year.
This last month, God has shown us another place that needs help. It is a nursing home in the city. The need in this facility is HUGE. We have several people, as well as businesses who have come alongside us with financial help and supplies. My hope is to see them move to a new location that would better serve the needs of the elderly, and the family running the home. We have looked at a different house, but the financial commitment is huge. It is huge for us, but not for God.
Has the year been all great? No.
We have had some huge obstacles set in front of us. Some of them to the point of bringing us to total discouragement. I shared this with a friend of ours. She said over the years, they have had the same thing happen to them. So much so, that her husband sat and wrote a resignation letter to God. She said it never got read, because they continued on through the good and the bad times. She said these obstacles are like stones in our path, some are big, some are small. She looked at me and said, “Pick the stones up and build a bigger altar to God. For He will never leave you.” Her husband, who is now in heaven, and this woman, have been two of the greatest mentors a person could ever have.
Would you consider a year end gift to Homes of Hope this year? There are plenty of needs that can be met, with the help of many. We appreciate your generosity year after year, as we continue to do what God has called us to do in San Luis, Mexico. Thank you for your consideration, and may God bless you and your family as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, and the upcoming New Year.
Curt and Kelly Van Ekeren