Hoover and Nonny

Hello you wonderful folks who support Hogar De Vida! We are Hoover and Nonny (Steve and Angel Hoover.) We are new at Hogar De Vida and of course the children, staff and work of God have captured our hearts!

Have you met these folks? Incredible is the best word to describe Hogar De Vida's staff. In my 40+ years of serving the LORD I have met many great Christian folks doing great Christian work, but rarely have I met people so fully sold out to the call of God on their lives.

Having been here three days, I was disobeying the Lord making excuses as to why Nonny and I should move slowly in starting to work here. If you know Tim, you understand you do NOT have to pry his feelings from him. LOL! Tim rolled up and said, "Hoover, read Hebrews 3!" When I got home I turned to Hebrews 3 to find: "7 Wherefore as the Holy ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice, 8 harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, 9 when your father tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years."

The Spirit convicted me. My Pastor had taught me that wherever I go my job was to find THE man of God and place myself under his authority. Tim is absolutely that guy. My wife, of course, had already listened to the Spirit and was waiting and praying for me to catch up! So after more conversation with the Holy Spirit, my wife, Tim, and Pastor Chuck, I told Tim what he already knew. So here we are trying to figure out what volunteering full time at Hogar De Vida means. Tim knows but he won't tell us. He is a good and patient teacher.

I was a Southern Baptist Preacher for 10 years with the Northwest Arkansas Baptist Association. For 4 years we led a church for people with "Special Needs" (Autism, Down Syndrome, etc.). Nonny has 28 years of Emergency Room experience as an RN. We have 5 sons and 7 grand-children back in the states.

So how do new eyes see Hogar De Vida? One word: Overwhelming!

• The hearts of the employees (think family) are incredible. I have yet to see an employee in the usual meaning of the word. Their hearts live here? These Tias (Spanish for "aunts") challenge our hearts. Everyone from cleaners to car washers, to maintenance to cooks love this place and love the children!
• The work is overwhelming. As with many Christian works, they are overworked and underpaid. They move quickly and work hard. I thought I saw Dena meet herself in the hall the other day!!!
• You are overwhelming!!! I sat down and read the last 7 or 8 newsletters and the supporters of this place have just overwhelmed me! I have read about you folks meeting need after need - buildings, medical, financial, security and more. Amazing teams coming to work here. WOW!! I have worked with missions in Haiti, Peru, and Texas and never have I seen love from supporters like his!

Of course the work continues and grows and so we all continue to work and grow as well.

A new gate? A new gate and area for trash has been commissioned along with some new concrete for parking (I wonder if my truck getting stuck had something to do with that?) The work is in full swing. Oscar and Cesar have put our newest "gringo" Jeremy (volunteer for 2 months) to work helping with that project.

The essence of Hogar work - I was able to witness Hogar at work when one of the children was placed into the care of some relatives with tears of joy and many prayers. The child had come under bad circumstances but due to the love and the wonderful work of God that child is now in a safe, loving environment. The tears on every face were a great testimony that no one here considers this a "job."

In closing I am sure that we are in for an incredible journey with Hogar De Vida! I know the Lord has not revealed HIS full plan (He probably knows I would try to go to Nineveh!) We look forward to our life here with these wonderful folks and we invite you to partner with this mission in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads you.