Dear Friends of El Hogar Projects,
 
After serving as Executive Director of El Hogar Projects for over six years, I have accepted an invitation to be Rector of Grace Church/ La Gracia in White Plains, NY.  I will be stepping down as ED in October, and will begin at Grace on November 1.
 
Although I have felt the tug of returning to parish ministry for a while, it was not an easy decision to leave El Hogar.  This is a unique and wonderful ministry, and I am honored and blessed to have been part of it.  The blessings come in many ways.  The Honduran staff are some of the most visionary, tough, funny, faith-filled people I have ever met.  Their love for the kids is genuine and deep.  They manage to retain their passion for this work no matter how hard the circumstances become.    My faith has been immensely enriched by being able to work with them.  Liz Kinchen and the members of the El Hogar Ministries board are also a blessing.  These folks work countless hours  for the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping  250 children and teenagers have a safe and loving home.  Working with the El Hogar staff, they help envision what the next steps should be, and miraculously find the resources to take those steps.  
 
The people of Honduras are also a rich source of blessing.  So many of them face challenges on a daily basis that would leave most of us crushed.  And yet, they go about their business with dignity and grace, and gladly share the little they have.  No one ever tells them what a good job they are doing, and yet they are full of thanksgiving to God for the ability to love and serve each other.  I will miss them tremendously.
 
 All of you are also a source of blessing.  El Hogar Projects could not exist without your continuing support.  I have had the opportunity to meet many of you during this past six years.  The kind of person who is willing to notice and help poor children in a country that is struggling with all sorts of problems, tends to be imaginative, engaged, generous, and resilient.  So it has been fun to spend time with a community of people who fit that description!  Besides that, many of you pray for El Hogar on a regular basis.  We feel that prayer support in an almost palpable way.  Please do not stop!
 
And, of course, the chief source of blessing is the children and young people who live at our three projects.    I have often said that living here is like witnessing the Beatitudes in action.  These children are those who have been poor, and hungry, and thirsty, and abused, and who have mourned real losses in their lives.  But anyone who has spent time with them can see how clearly they are Blessed!  To be the recipient of their affection and attention, to see them reach out to each other and to our visitors, to watch them grow into the people God created them to be, is a rare privilege.
 
During these last six years we have endured a lot together, and accomplished a lot also.  As the staff here is fond of saying, "El Hogar is God's ministry, not ours!"  I believe that is true.  I am confident that El Hogar will continue to grow, and to serve the children Jesus is so eager to bless.  Thank you for all your support and care and prayers during my time as director!  Que Dios les bendiga!
 
                                                                          -Rich Kunz

Dear Friends of El Hogar,
 
Greetings from El Hogar Ministries!  We hope this letter finds you well.
 
In the above letter from the Rev. Rich Kunz, Executive Director of El Hogar Projects, you can learn of some bittersweet news from El Hogar.  Rich has announced that he is leaving to serve as rector of Grace Church, White Plains, NY, as of 31 October 2010.  While we are excited for Rich and wish him the very best in his new ministry, we are very sad to see him leave.  He has been with us for six years and has been an excellent and much-beloved Executive Director.
Rich reminded the board of El Hogar Ministries in January of 2010 that when he joined El Hogar Projects as Executive Director, he would commit to serving in that capacity for five to seven years.  For practical reasons, it is time for him and his wife Dr. Barbra McCune to return to the United States.

After our January board meeting, we formed a search committee and our search is now underway.  During this transition period, we will be working very closely with the Directors of El Hogar Projects, particularly Lazaro Juarez, Sub-Executive Director of El Hogar Projects.  Lazaro has been with El Hogar for over 30 years is highly competent and passionate about the work of El Hogar.  He will be working closely with Liz Kinchen, Executive Director of El Hogar Ministries in North America and with the EHMI board.  We are soliciting the help of some of our clergy friends as well as former Executive Director the Rev. Dr. David Winsor, to do some preaching in North American parishes so that El Hogar remains in the hearts and minds of those who so generously support us. If you are in a position to invite a representative from El Hogar to preach or speak to a group, please contact us.

We are confident that we have talented people on board who will make this transition period a smooth one and that to you it will look like business as usual.  We do ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time as we work diligently to identify the right person to serve as our next Executive Director of El Hogar Projects.

Thank you for supporting the important work that is being done in Honduras!