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| Tim and Dena |
We are so excited to introduce a new format for our newsletter. This is the work of our new Volunteer Support Team and we are so thankful for the skills they contribute on your behalf and on behalf of the children at the Homes of Life in Central America. The new format brings all the advantages of today's electronic newsletters, making it easier for you to access information that interests you. In fact just about anything printed on the sidebar is hot-linked to a website, video, story, wish list, prayer request, an email you can send back to us, or the ability to donate online. For us, the new format is easier to publish, so we'll be sending a single update to all our supporters every month with a comprehensive view of the entire Homes of Life in Central America. The rotating emphasis begins with something of general interest (late December), then the home in Costa Rica (February), and finally Guatemala in the third month. We hope you like it. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Another thing that the Volunteer Support Team has done for us is to convince us that we need to be more specific and forthcoming in expressing the needs at the Homes of Life. As friends, they know that asking is difficult for us, but as supporters themselves, they want to know and need to know how to pray, how to give, and when to give. So with their love and encouragement, we're going to try.
As you have probably guessed, there's a financial need right now that has the Volunteer Support Team prompting us to share with you. The past year has been very difficult at the home in Costa Rica - a perfect financial storm. The poor economy in the US and the falling value of the US Dollar, a new requirement from the government to have on-site staff nurses, replacing a retiring missionary pre-school teacher with a salaried teacher, the need to adjust staff pay scales to comply with Costa Rica requirements, and an urgent facility project have combined to wreak financial havoc on a mission that was financially stable a year ago.
In response, we have reduced staff to the bare minimum necessary for basic care of the children. Be assured that the children are well fed, clothed, sheltered, and loved, and receive good medical care when needed. But our hearts' desire is to send the children back to their families of origin or to their new adoptive families with the confidence that they will have experienced the transforming love of Jesus and received the necessary advantages enabling them to fulfill their God-given destinies. Right now we can't do that.
If you are fulfilling your obligation to your home church and if this situation is tugging at your heart, would you prayerfully consider a new financial commitment, or increase your existing commitment to Homes of Life in Costa Rica. Perhaps you would be able to make a generous one-time donation to quickly relieve some of the financial pressure. Or you could pledge or increase a monthly contribution to our Sponsorship Program to help restore financial stability for the long term. Whatever you decide to do, 100% of your donation goes directly to the Homes of Life. And please pray for the children and those who care for them.
In Jesus care,
Tim and Dena Stromstad
P.S. We are in the process of expanding the Sponsorship Program. New categories to sponsor have been determined. By next month, we'll have firmed up the responses that Sponsors can expect. Can you imagine sponsoring a day (your birthday) at the home, knowing that the staff and children prayed for you on your day, and then receiving news as to what happened at the home that day?
