Mission Update - Summer 2010
We want to thank all our faithful friends and supporters for sticking with us and believing in the vision to reach Nicaragua. Your partnership is absolutely integral to the success of the outreach endeavor of House of Hope. May the Lord bless you and yours during these summer months!
House of Hope
So far 2010 has been a great year for House of Hope. We started out with a huge medical team in January and several construction teams in February and March. We are building an extension to the dining hall to accommodate all the new women coming on Tuesdays and several new duplexes.
Oscar and his family continue to do an outstanding job of directing the residential center but we have lost our wonderful dorm mom, Brittany Luzader. We were sad to see her go. We now have two young Nicaraguan women filling in until the Lord raises up a permanent person. We are seeing the Lord answer our prayers for ways to market our cards and earrings as various people step forward to help. We do not have a new marketing director as such but many hands helping in big ways and small. We also have missionary volunteers who have stepped forward to help with earring models and production. God is so faithful.
We are believing the Lord to help us overcome the various attacks we have faced this year including the elder sister syndrome and a time of the enemy stealing our fruit both in the natural and in the spiritual. We have seen severe attack on our most faithful women. We have had clothing stolen from the clothesline. We even had 2 sheep and 35 chickens stolen.
New Houses of Hope
This year I have been mentoring some leaders who would like to start ministries like House of Hope in other cities and countries of Latin America. In Jan, Erica Sanchez from Santa Cruz, Bolivia stayed with us and shadowed me to get insight into how to start a sister ministry. Two young Americans came up for 2 days from Costa Rica where they are working on the border with Nicaraguan girls who are prostituted to the truck and bus drivers. They currently have an outreach several times a year and Oscar and I plan to help them out some from time to time. In January, a new ministry from up in the mountains of Nicaragua called on us to be the speakers at a retreat of 20 women in sexual commerce in that area. A German woman came to visit also who is working to get a safe house started in Costa Rica for victims of sexual tourism.
New Girls
One of the most heart wrenching events that often occurs at House of Hope is the arrival of new girls. Their stories are all unique as the girls are themselves. Here are a few of the new girls' stories.
Alma
Alma is 11 years old. She was adopted by a family who always treated her more like a slave than a daughter. Although their home was not a recognizable brothel, men clients called all hours of the night. Because Alma refused to service clients, she was chained like a dog to the back of the house and forced to work as a prostitute.
She is so grateful to have escaped that nightmare and to live at House of Hope. She is not only safe, but surrounded by people who love her. She appreciates the opportunity to be in school (she loves math!) and the chance to be a child. Playing on the swing set, watching TV and listening to music are among her favorite activities. She likes pizza and fruit, especially apples and grapes.
Sisny
Sisny is a precious 10 years old girl. She was sexually abused by her father who also pimped her out to his drinking buddies. A few weeks before she moved to House of Hope, her arm was shattered when one of her clients threw her to the floor. She has a very special smile, but it is not often seen because of all her pain and anger. She allows no one to come close to her. She is happy to be living at House of Hope where she is safe and able to go to school, and already Jesus is beginning to heal her heart. She likes running and sports, especially soccer. She also enjoys drawing, coloring and playing on the swing set. She loves eating pizza, chicken and many types of fruit.
Havlin Family News
April and I are doing well - just trying to stay healthy among so much work that the Lord has us involved with. Living in Nicaragua is always a challenge. Just paying simple bills like water and electricity can take days at a time but at least the offices of the utility companies are air conditioned. Often I have to wait a long time at these places (paying House of Hope bills and ours, too) so I take advantage of the air conditioning and do my office work.
We want to apologize for the recent email snafu that took place on our Yahoo account. For those of you dear folks that received that email about me being in London, England and asking for money . . . it was a cyber-scam hack job and has since been remedied. I wasn't anywhere near London (though I would like to be) and thanks to so many for your concerned calls and emails.
Our little granddaughter, Addison, is doing extremely well. The proud parents (Jeremy and Jessica) and grandparents are enjoying our little Nicaraguan born gem. Jeremy and Jessica's mission outreach here in Nicaragua is doing extremely well and growing.
Hope is living in the U.S. continuing her studies and this summer will be involved with helping in a photography studio in Greenville, SC. Please pray for our continued strength, the necessary financial support for the House of Hope ministry and for God's grace as we face the challenges of serving God in the country of Nicaragua
Again, we thank you so much for your support and prayers. If you desire to send monthly support or a onetime gift, please send your tax deductible contribution to:
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A NEW ADDRESS
HARVEST CHURCH2020 W. 15th St
Washington, NC 27889
Please make your check out to Harvest Church and memo it either to the Havlins for personal support or to House of Hope.
Bendiciónes en el nombre de Cristo!,
April, Mike and Hope Havlin
