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| Greetings! |  Here we are, once again, in the midst of the Christmas season. It's hard to believe that another year has passed. And this season is an especially meaningful one for my family and me for a couple of reasons.
The first is that we spent last Christmas and New Year's in an ICU ward with Joshua due to complications from a major back surgery. Our season was radically rearranged and many traditions were scrapped as we worshiped the the Lord and His Gift in very different ways.
The second reason is this will be our last Christmas in America. Our family moves to Guatemala on January 25th, and many of the normal associations with the holidays will no longer be a part of our lives. (Snow will definitely be out of the picture!) So, we are trying to enjoy this time, even in the midst of our frantic work to prepare for the move.
We have learned so much about Christmas through these times as we have been forced to live out what we have known in our heads for so long...Christmas is not about traditions, decorations, gifts, or music. It has nothing to do with parties and caroling. It is about family.
Now, before you jump on me for that statement, let me explain. It is not about the cheesy messages you see on television of families coming together and exchanging gifts and loving on one another. That is not at all what I am saying. If it were, Christmas would be meaningless to everyone who faces this season without a family, including the children for which we advocate. And that is not the case.
No. Christmas is about a Father and a Son who did whatever was necessary to include us in their family. And, as a result, none of us who have chosen to receive their gift of adoption are without a home. So, whether you celebrate the birth of our Jesus in a home crowded with family or alone in an empty house, I pray that you will experience the loving arms of your Father that has adopted you as His own. Merry Christmas!
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New Director for Our Pastor Training Program!
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 We are pleased to announce that God has provided us with a wonderful man of God to direct our pastor training program in Guatemala! Rev. Ron Ecklebarger is an ordained minister in the Missionary Church and has served as a pastor for nearly 20 years. He has a passion to equip men of God to make disciples and plant churches. He and his wife, Melanie have been married for 25 years and have 8 children: Kate (23), Bob (19), Ken (18), Stephen (15), Immaculate (12), Joshua (7), Joy (6), and James (5). Their oldest, Kate, is married to Scott and they have a one-year-old daughter named Stephanie. So Ron and Melanie are also grandparents, and they are loving it!
In 2006, through the ministry of the Fulps and others, God began opening Ron and Melanie's eyes to the plight of orphans around the world. In 2008, they adopted Joshua, Joy, and James from Uganda, Africa. In 2009, they brought home Stephen and Immaculate, both of whom have special needs. So in two years God grew their number of children from 3 to 8, but most importantly, He grew their hearts so they began to break with what breaks the heart of God.
 Now God is calling them to leave their ministry at HeartLand Church, of which Ron was the founding pastor, and to join the Hope for Home team by heading up the pastor training division of Ministerios de Esperanza. This branch of our ministry will be called Encarga, which is Spanish for "entrust" and will be based upon the principal of 2 Timothy 2:2, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Ron and his family will be speaking on behalf of Hope for Home and raising support for their new ministry in coming months. They hope to make the move to Guatemala in October 2011. If you would like to learn more about our Encarga program, click here. If you are interested in scheduling the Ecklebargers for a presentation at your church, click here.
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Hogar de la Esperanza Has A Home!
|  In early November Daryl and Wanda traveled to Guatemala to make arrangements for their upcoming move. Among their tasks was to rent a home for their family that would also serve as Hogar de la Esperanza (Hope Home) and a headquarters for Ministerios de Esperanza (our overarching Guatemala ministry). In addition, they were keeping their eyes open for a facility that could be rented as a guest house for our ministry teams. They had no idea that they would find a home that met all those needs in one place.
But, as often happens, God far exceeded their expectations by providing a wonderful house in the town of San Antonio Aguas Calientes that is fully furnished and has over 6000 square feet with eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a beautiful courtyard. The layout of the home will allow the Fulp family to live on the first floor and accommodate up to 12 children with special needs while the second floor can house teams of up to 20 members. In addition, the home has a built-in chapel just off the courtyard that will serve nicely as office space for our Guatemalan ministries. The lodging income that we receive from groups ($15 a person per night) will pay at least half the rent, making the total cost to our ministry for the home less than $500 per month.
We praise God for His wonderful provision! We are excited to see how He fills it for his glory in the months and years ahead, and look forward to hosting you as a part of one of our ministry teams!
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Hope for Home Web Site Redesign
|  During the last two years the size and scope of our miinistry has grown significantly while our Web site has remained basically the same. As our ministry continues to expand into Guatemala, we have found it necessary to redesign our site for better communication.
When you visit our main page you are offered a choice between our US and Guatemalan ministries. If you choose the Hope for Home option you will be taken to a page that looks much like our old site, but has some updated options and information. Choosing the Ministerios de Esperanza side of our site will lead you to a new page from which you can investigate our Guatemalan ministries including Hogar de la Esperanza, Encarga, and Wheels of Hope.
Please take time to visit and familiarize yourself with our new Web site. Also, feel free to contact us with suggestions regarding how we can improve our site. Click here to check it out.
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Giving A Gift That Saves Lives
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 Are you looking for a Christmas present for someone for whom it is hard to shop? We have a perfect gift suggestion for you! Consider making a donation to Hope for Home Ministries in their name. You will receive a beautiful glossy donation certificate that has a Christmas theme and includes their name and the amount. And, unlike other presents that quickly wear-out or go out of style, a changed life never gets old. Simply make a donation via mail or through PayPal by December 20th to assure that you received the donation certificate before Christmas. Please make sure to note that your gift is in honor of someone and include their name as you wish it to appear on the certificate. Please take a moment to click here and donate today! |
Make A Difference While Christmas Shopping
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 When Christmas shopping this season, don't forget to use GoodShop. Simply go to www.goodsearch.com and register to search and shop for Hope for Home Ministries. Then install their browser toolbar and shop away. You will receive valuable coupons for your online shopping and our ministry will receive a percentage of the profits. Avoid the crowds and make a difference by using GoodShop! |
Pray for This Little Guy
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Name: Undisclosed
Age: 5 years
Country: Uganda
Special need(s): Severe Burns
This darling boy has burn scarring on his head, chest, and right arm; he has lost fingers on his right hand and toes on his right foot, as well as his right ear, due to burns. Some of his scarring is in urgent need of revision through plastic surgery.
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| Ministry Blogs | |
 Keep up with the details of our transition to Guatemala and other Hope for Home happenings on Daryl's blog at www.hopeforhome.blogspot.com.
While you are there, don't forget to check out some of the blogs that he follows and pray for those faithful workers in God's harvest!
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Daryl Fulp,
Director
Hope for Home Ministries
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