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Teams
We would love to take this time to thank our teams! We have recently had several teams pouring concrete, painting murals, re-enforcing security on the outer fence, getting dirty and sweaty, and as always spending time with kids.
We poured concrete from the old entrance drive right down to the main kitchen. This was done by hand with buckets, shovels and wheelbarrows (we did have an electric concrete mixer). It's icky and dirty work and very sweaty! Thank you.
Also we have a wonderful new mural painted on the fence close to house 3. It's a wonderful project that included letting the children dip their hands in paint and then putting their handprint on a painted heart on the wall. How fun!
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Hogar de Vida
on Hoover's Daily Broadcast
Hoover has also taken the time to record and broadcast interviews with Tim and a couple of our recent teams. If you have never been on a team and want to hear a little more about it, or if you just want to hear more about Hogar de Vida, you can find these ½ hour recorded interviews at:
Tim Interview
Team Interview (Lee University)
Team Interview (Lifegate Church)
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Tias
Can we say enough great things about the Tia's at Hogar de Vida? We don't think so. For those of you that may not know "Tia" means "aunt" in Spanish. These women fill the role well. They pour themselves into the lives of these children. The love, protection and service they provide speaks for itself. So many of you have been here on teams and know full well that these women are Tias to everyone, not just the children. Such calmness, perseverance and charity can only come from a heart that GOD has built. So we want to honor and thank each of the wonderful ladies who serve as Tias here at Hogar de Vida.
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Hogar de Vida on Social Media
Along with newsletters like this, Hoover has been hard at work to improve our communication by posting regularly on FACEBOOK, Twitter and Instagram. Our goal is to help you feel connected to what God is doing here through your prayers and finances. If you haven't already please join us in opening, maintaining, and broadening our lines of communication by "Subscribing", "liking" and "following" us!
www.facebook.com/HogardeVidaCR
https://twitter.com/Hogardevidacr
Instagram - hogardevidapr
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Changes Changes Changes
Thank you to all of our prayer warriors who have been covering the children at Hogar de Vida. God has been moving mightily in the area of adoptions in response to those prayers. This past year we have seen many children who have been at the home for years be placed with their heart family. This is a reflection of God's desire to have each child in a home. We can make Hogar de Vida a wonderful place, but it cannot fill the place of a family in the heart of a child. As most of you know, Hogar de Vida Costa Rica is a transitional home. Our greatest prayer is to see parents healed and know their Lord and Savior so they can be reunified with their children. When that doesn't happen we pray for the Lord to bring the heart family He has for each child. Sometimes this process moves quickly (months) and sometimes very slowly (several years) but on average children are here at the home around 1 to 1 ½ years. The good news is through the hard work of Karla our psychologist and God moving in response to prayer, children are being placed with families faster. What a blessing! This is especially meaningful when we see a child who has been at the home for over 6 years finally placed with a heart family through adoption. Two things have come to light as a result of this change. First we ask for prayer for the few children who have been here an extended time but have not yet been placed with a family. These children have seen many of their friends adopted and can struggle because God doesn't appear to be answering their prayer. Please pray for hope and peace to remain strong in their hearts and that God would bring the heart family He has for each one of these children. The second thing that has come to light is the need to change our Sponsorship Program. With an ever changing population of children it would require an immense amount of administrative time to maintain individualized communication between the sponsor and child or about the child. After much prayer and discussion we have come to understand that this is not feasible and it would be better to invest our time in our calling to the children here in Costa Rica. Please know, Hogar de Vida Guatemala will continue their current sponsorship program. HdV Guatemala is able to do this for two reasons: first, with a more stable population there is less administrative time required, and second, God has wonderfully provided Norm and Vickie Sutton who have the time and talent to continue that communication. We want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of our faithful Costa Rican sponsors. Without your consistent support we would not be able to continue this ministry. We also want to apologize for our lack of communication to everyone who has supported the sponsorship program and for failing to follow through with the commitment that was made with sponsors when the program began. So what does this mean going forward? Our desire is to continue to communicate our gratitude to our sponsors and keep you updated on fun stories around the home. We plan to send out quarterly emails to thank you and tell a short story from around the home. If you donated in December, January or February (and we have your correct email) you should have already received an email of thanks with a little about our new mural at Hogar de Vida. If you donated to Hogar de Vida Costa Rica in one of those three months and you didn't get a thank you email, please let us know so we can improve our records. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and financial support. You are all an amazing blessing and key partner in this ministry. |
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Tell Your Friends
One of the most valuable things you can do as a partner in our ministry is to tell your friends about the Homes of Life. It's easy to just to to a friend and share your own thoughts.
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Disclaimer
Children of Promise International (COPI) does not provide goods or services in consideration, in whole or in part except where noted, for contributions received. COPI is organized exclusively for religious purposes and the only benefit provided to you is an intangible religious benefit. Upon receipt of a donation, a receipt letter is sent and should be retained for income tax purposes. COPI may direct contributions where deemed necessary for ministry purposes. All contributions are income tax deductible in the United States and are made with the understanding that COPI has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds.
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