Monthly ministry update August 2022

August 2022

Dear Supporter of Hogar de Esperanza!

Recently we had to recompose our entire contact list as we abandoned Google. They were requiring us to agree to some terms we didn’t feel right as a Christ centered organization. So, we have just joined a private server which meant having to collect and transition our entire database. We hope and pray that this was for the best. If you are getting this news for the first time, we consider it a blessing to reiterate our love and gratitude to you and all for standing behind Hogar de Esperanza with your prayers and sacrificial giving.

As we went back to the last 3 years to collect pertinent information, we also did a quick summary of adoptions that took place at Hogar de Esperanza since January 2019. Peru, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the USA were the nations where 13 adopted children found permanent families. Our recent one was just completed at the end of August when we said goodbye to Moises and Fatima.

What follows is a summary of the more striking highlights in the daily lives with the children at Hogar de Esperanza since our last update.

• On August 8, our resident Dani (7) was taken to Belen Hospital for intensive medical check-ups. He was born with a severe case of pulmonary fibrosis. This time around they needed to rule out any signs of TB. By God’s grace his results came back all negative and his chronic illness hasn’t worsened. There is still one more test pending with a child neurologist. Pray that goes well.
• On August 9, our resident Cesia received her Peruvian ID that certifies that her official home is Hogar de Esperanza. For the short 8 years of her life there hasn’t been a stable place to call home until now. We praise the Lord for giving her much needed stability and ask Him that her next home would be a permanent home with dad and mom. Now she can be officially enrolled in the school system where the rest of our children attend school.
• On August 18, we handed out comprehensive reports on the status of brothers Gustavo (13), Alejandro (10), and Patrick (5) to the adoption authorities. Their mom, despite her precarious mental and material state, is hoping to have all 3 children back. The oldest, Gustavo, managed to escape our compound a day after he was brought to us. Surprisingly, two days later he came back with a changed heart. He never attempted to leave again… that was 2 years ago. In his words: “they love me here and always have food to eat.”
• Also on August 18, fresh reports were sent to our local adoption office on behalf of Analuz (11). We thank the Lord that she is willing to find a new family after her adoption was frustrated a couple of months ago. There is a strong chance she will be paired with a new family by the end of this year. Please remember her in your prayers and her new opportunity for a permanent family.
• On August 23, we said goodbye to Fatima and Moises! Their adoptive parents came from Europe eager to love them and take them home. We presented the Gospel to them and entrusted them to remember, or better yet, believe in the Lord Jesus as much as their children Fatima and Moises trusted while with us. We were still dealing with Moises and Fatima’s departure when we learned official news that our resident Cristian (12) had been paired with an adopted family and that he’d be leaving us before the end of September. This will be a challenging adoption as he is the third child in a group of 4 siblings. The authorities decided that out of the four he alone is adoptable. We brace ourselves to cope with the preparation leading to the adoption and the aftermath. Pray for our staff! 
• On August 26, the local school where most of the children attend, urged our social worker to come and resolve a case of physical violence involving Cesia. She had just started school a couple of weeks back. The school officials and some parents were asking us to bring her in only twice a week. We thought that was not right and appealed their decision. After some deliberation we came to a compromise: Cesia’s house mom will have to accompany her at school for at least a month. Though this decision depletes our manpower back in our compound, we know that sacrifices will have to be made to provide for the basic needs of these children. Pray that this arrangement will not be prolonged past September.
• On September 7, we welcomed Yorth (7) into the Hogar de Esperanza family. His innocent and quiet demeanor suggested he would be an immediate match to our entire population. Not so. After 5 days and having poured great amounts of attention and energy, he’s still second guessing everyone and everything. He didn’t like the social worker nor the psychologist. The only one that has made some significant progress so far was our director and his Bible, sitting down with him. It can be understandable hard for a child to process and adapt when they first arrive. Pray that he integrates sooner rather than later!

We thank you for taking the time to read and to pray for Hogar de Esperanza in the name of Jesus.

Till next time!

Pablo CT

Orphanage Board