Today we received 2 siblings into the folds. Richard and Sandra are energetic and full of life. They are in the process of being declared abandoned by the government. Please pray that they will adapt to life at the project until the time they can leave with their very own family.
Ministry News
Greetings from a very rainy Costa Rica. Rainy season started with a dud, but is finishing with a vengeance. However, it does produce a very beautiful, tropical paradise. As most of you know, we are quickly putting the finishing touches on the roof of the multipurpose building This will bring Phase I to a close. It is hard to put into words how excited we are to be closing a chapter, after almost 13 years. It has been quite the ride as we have been witnesses to God’s supernatural provision. For anyone who would like to come, we will be celebrating the inauguration of the new building on Nov. 28, 2015.
Finishing Phase I has now put us in a place where we can concentrate all of our efforts on developing Phase II. This new phase will include an additional four children’s homes, office space, a bridge, and new parking.
We have spent the majority of this year working on securing building permits. This has turned out to be a monumental task as it has required us to complete a series of studies and evaluations. This past week, we were able to submit the entire package of studies to the Environmental Agency for their approval. We are hoping and praying that we will have an answer from them in 4-6 weeks.
To have building permits in hand, we are looking at a pretty hefty sum of money. We still owe $8,000 to the architect and approximately another $5K-$10K to cover the costs charged by the different governmental agencies for the permits.
Please pray and ask if God would have you participate financially. We are confident that He will reveal exactly what you need to do. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly. Thank you for believing in what God has called us to do. We pray that He blesses your faithfulness to Him!
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
We are so pleased to announce that Isaac, Roberto, Sharon, and Sol now have a new adoptive family! At the beginning of August, the case worker came out to share the good news with the kids. They were stunned to find out that there was a family for them from the States. Needless to say, the children were elated! During the following weeks, the case worker continued working with the children to prepare them for their adoption. The kids did great handling the news, despite their ages and possible concerns about leaving. Isaac mentioned one day that he was super happy about the news, but that he was also sad to leave the project, since this is where he had spent a good deal of his childhood. We were all grappling with mixed feelings! It’s what we’ve worked for. These siblings had been here the longest ...7 years, and very soon they would be leaving us. In September, the children finally met their new family. Milton and Lisa are super parents! They have 4 grown biological children, they have adopted 3 kids in the U.S., and are now adopting our four kids. The first encounter between the parents and children was sweet, as they huddled together and prayed over their new family. The kids spent several days getting to know Mom & Dad and on Monday, September 14th, they left the children’s home. The following weeks were spent creating memories and forming bonds with each other. October 2nd was the big day, the hearing with the judge, where the adoption was made legal and binding!
We wanted to share this testimony since so many of you have met the siblings personally or have known of their story. Everyone recognizes (even the Costa Rican government) that this adoption is special. For 2 pre-adolescent (the girls) and 2 adolescent (the boys) siblings to be adopted is nothing short of a miracle! We are so thankful to everyone who has prayed for these kids from the very beginning. Most importantly, we praise the Lord for taking care of them during this long journey and never letting go! His faithfulness is amazing! It is a reminder of His stubborn love and zeal for each and every person, no matter their situation.
New Arrival!
Today we received a rambunctious five year old! Lupe is full of energy and definitely knows what she wants. She has been declared abandoned and we will be working earnestly to prepare her for an upcoming adoption. Pray that she would adapt quickly to the children's home and daycare setting, and that she will be open to a new family in the very near future.
Ministry News
Please continue praying for possible upcoming adoptions of the Pilarte siblings (4) and Anthony and Aislinn (brother/sister). Everything is proceeding as it should, just slowly. It really does teach us the art of being longsuffering, because if we had things our way, we’d speed things along! We rest in the fact that God’s timing is always perfect and right on time! Over the past month, the kids have enjoyed a nice two week mid-year break. They have been busy with special activities in the daycare and with our teams. This year, we had a team skilled in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo, all black belts, give a presentation to the kids in the homes. Needless to say, we had to remind the children that this was not something they needed to try out on each other! But nonetheless, it was lots of fun!
Every month, we have a sit down session with the house parents and the psychologist to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of each one of the children placed in our care. This is a very necessary step, one in which provides us, as directors, a glimpse into the everyday lives of our house parents and their interactions with the children. There are times that our hearts are pained at the mere fact of their storied past, a past that reveals the many hurts perpetrated against them. Sometimes these wounds are actual physical conditions, but so many are things that leave a lasting scar internally. It is not that difficult to change an unhappy face into one with a huge smile, but to repair a broken spirit is a much more challenging task. This is where we find ourselves many times. Each case and each child is so different, each one requiring a very specific plan of action to bring restoration. This process can last for a few months, and sometimes even years. Is it frustrating...absolutely it is, both for the child and equally for the caregivers (house parents, directors, psychologist, and even teachers). It is a process which requires God to divinely intervene. We need His wisdom throughout the process, giving us answers from above. Without Him walking alongside of us, we are absolutely and utterly lost. It should be noted that the victory has already been won at the Cross of Calvary. We are in need of being reminded of this very fact every single day. He awaits us (children & caregivers) with open arms, freely accepting the help that God unreservedly offers. This is where the Holy Spirit comes into play as He gently nudges and encourages us child in the perfect plan that God has for us.
In the daily grind of working with children, it is so encouraging to be reminded of the fact that God promised He would be a Father to the fatherless, a perfect Father nonetheless. We rest in this assurance that He will do what He needs to do, when He needs to do it, and how He needs to do it. Therein lies our hope eternal, Almighty God, who has already secured the victory for us, even though we are undeserving. Thank you Lord! Our discouragement in the long, arduous journey can be changed into a life of encouragement as we keep our eyes centered on Him and His promises. The problems do not just disappear, as this is just part of life where one problem is replaced by another or one child leaves the homes, only to be replaced by another child, but with a different set of promises. No, the problems do not disappear, but rather they fade into the distant in comparison to God Almighty, our Creator, our Beginning and End, our Provider, our Comforter, and like so many other roles, our Savior.
In closing, there is an encouraging story that we would like to share with you. During our last monthly meeting, tio Aaron (house daddy) showed us a video that he had taken of the children singing, dancing, and doing hand motions as unto the Lord. One of the boys in particular, one with whom we have had a very trying 3 months with his behavior, was dancing and praising the Lord. What a joy it brought to our hearts to see him in a totally different light, not the little boy that has brought so much grief, but the little boy who was joyful and content in praising His Creator. Is this not what we should be about, praising our Father God, despite all of our shortcomings and imperfections? God awaits us, awaits our expression of love. The question is how will we respond?
Ministry News
As mentioned before, we continue praying for good news with regards to the Pilarte siblings (4) and Anthony and Aislinn (brother/sister). One of the home studies was completed, but has been delayed by U.S. immigrations pending additional information. Meanwhile, the bulk of the file has arrived and is being translated into Spanish as we speak. The additional information will be sent during the next week or so. The second family is still in process. They had a slight delay when they had to expand the age range of the children they are wanting to adopt, however, things are marching along nicely and we are hopeful that all 6 children will be adopted by the end of the year. Sometimes these things seem to linger, but God’s timing is always perfect! Last month, we received the case study of Derik, a 10 year old by from the Caribbean province of Limón. He is a boy who has largely been neglected by his biological mother. He was adopted by a national family, but was returned when they couldn’t manage him and their biological child. Regrettably, that happens all too often. While we were in the process of signing the necessary documents for Derik’s arrival into the homes, the social worker received a call that a 6 month old baby she was transporting to a different children’s home would not be received due to her age. They had already traveled 7 hours from the coast and would have to take Susana back to the public institution she came from. We quickly talked to house parents, Aaron and Candace, and we decided to take her on the spot! Susana was removed from her biological mother who suffers from alcoholism and bouts of depression. She is the youngest of 5 siblings. The others are in another institution in the process of being declared abandoned. The PANI intervened on the baby’s behalf, removing her from her mother at just 2 months, because her mother had been known to sexually exploit the other children. The plan is to legally separate her from her siblings and declare her abandoned. Susana sleeps through the night and is adorable! With all that said, we couldn’t be happier that both Derik and Susana are here with us!
Psalm 27:10:
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”
You are instrumental to God’s Kingdom work here in Costa Rica. God uses you and us to take care of the needs of these little ones. Thank you for your unconditional love and support over the years. God Bless!
Two New Kids Join the Ranks!
Today we were prepared to receive Derik, a 10 year old by from the Caribbean province of Limón. He is a boy who has largely been neglected by his biological mother. While we were in the process of signing the necessary documents for his arrival into the homes, the social worker received a call that a 6 month old baby she was transporting to a different children’s home would not be received due to her age. They had already traveled 7 hours from the coast and they would have to take Susana back to the public institution she was from. We quickly talked to our house parents and we decided to take her on the spot! So, today we received two for one! We couldn’t be happier that both Derik and Susana are here with us!
Sebastián Leaves the A.P.
Today Sebastián left the Abraham Project after being here for 11 months. His case is one that mover rather quickly through the judicial system.
Last Thursday, his parents Javier and Cindy visited him for the first time. He made and instant connection with them! The following morning, he got up looking for, “Mi mamá (my mommy).” His attachment and bonding period was one of the smoothest, easiest experiences to date. It was a joy to see this family fall in love with one another.
We will miss our lil’ buddy dearly, but we know he is far happier enjoying life with his new mommy & daddy!
Testimony Time
Roberto was asked to share his testimony in church today. He agreed. We are so proud of him. He used to be incredibly fearful due to experiences in his past, but today he is a stable teenager. He has grown spiritually and loves the Lord. Roberto recognizes God's hand in his life. He is no longer his brother's shadow. As he shared his testimony, he choked up when he talked about the life lesson he has learned from his past.
He said: "Even though my parents were the worst parents I could ever have, if given the opportunity to forgive them, I would forgive them."
New Arrivals!
On Friday, April 10th we received brother and sister, Daniel (7 yrs.) and Brithany (5 yrs.). They are victims of reoccurring physical abuse by their parents. Their father recently served time for not paying child support to another woman he has a child with. PANI has moved to suspend visitation with their parents. We are so happy to have the siblings with us here are the A.P. We trust that God will heal their wounded hearts and that they will come to know Him in a personal way.
Ministry News!
The quote on this page from Oswald Chambers rings true, “The life of faith … is a life of walking and not fainting.” The life of faith is not glamorous, but a steady step-by step walk with the Lord. You have been a part of what God has done here. As we move forward in this ministry, you become even more important to what we are trying to accomplish. Over the past 17 years, you have been the ones to pray for us and to give financially to the work. God has been faithful in providing and He has done this through you. We are currently finishing up the work of installing the multipurpose building roof. The projected completion date is slated for November 2015, which is also the time we will dedicate the new facilities.
We can now divert our attention to the development of Phase II. This new phase will include an additional four children’s homes, office space, and new parking. We will need approximately $1.1 million dollars to complete Phase II. The cost breakdown is as follows: $860K (4 homes at $215K each), $190K (infrastructure - road, sidewalks, parking, clearing of land) and $50K (bridge).
In addition, we need $50K to pay the architect, secure the building permits, and pay the corresponding municipality fees. This is our most pressing need so we can be ready to start construction in 2016.
Looking at it with the natural eyes, it is a daunting task to say the least. We keep reminding ourselves that God has been faithful, is faithful, and will continue to be faithful as we walk in obedience to carry out His will.
Please pray and ask if God would have you participate financially. We are confident that He will reveal exactly what you need to do.
As mentioned in our last newsletter, we are praying earnestly for a suitable family to adopt Yamil. The Office of Adoptions asked us to update Yamil’s psychological evaluation (since it is over a year old), listing any new advances that he has made this past year. We have done so and are praying that God will move on someone’s heart to adopt a sweet 10 year old, and soon!
We continue praying for good news with regards to the Pilarte siblings (4) and Anthony and Aislinn (brother/sister). One of the families has finished their home studies and the government is awaiting arrival of the file from the United States. The other family is still in process. Completing the endless paperwork and innumerous home studies is arduous, but necessary. Continue lifting these two prospective families before the Lord, praying that they will not grow weary in well doing. We know that in God’s perfect timing they will reap their reward!
Speaking of Anthony, he and his little sister have been with us for 3-1/2 years. Anthony is a special young man, but he has also been a little bit of a trial. In the past, he has behaved poorly in school and the house parents have received so many notes (not good ones) from the teacher. They have also attended many a meeting to talk about our Anthony. At the end of last year, we sat down with the house parents and our new psychologist, Dominique, to discuss how we would proceed forward. We decided that since he was 12 we would let him form part of the skateboard club here at the Abraham Project. Sergio Nix is the leader of the group and he invites young men from all over our neighborhood to get involved. It is a discipleship group of sorts for these teenagers. In January, Anthony began attending. The following month, when he started school, we noticed a marked change in his behavior. He was doing his school work in school, he was completing his homework, and best of all he has not brought home a single note from the teacher since he started 2 months ago! We are so proud of the huge effort that he is putting forth. We are happy that he is growing and maturing into a fine young man! He has also accepted the job of cleaning our office once a week, which affords him a small salary for sweeping, moping, dusting, and taking out the trash. He has been super motivated and we are so pleased with the changes that Christ is making in his life!
Most of you might remember a small, 3-1/2 yr. old boy in Aaron & Candace’s house named Sebastián. We are happy to announce that he has finally been declared abandoned and that his case has been sent to the Office of Adoptions. We have not yet heard when the adoption council will be seeing his case, but it may be in April after Holy Week. Sebastián will go quickly to a Costa Rican family since he is young. Ticos get first dibs on the kids and they typically want the kids 3 and under. Please pray that God would choose just the right family for this little boy.
We have started a new tradition of having each kid over to our home for their birthday dinner. They get to choose their favorite meal and help us cook it. Last month, we hosted Stuard who turned 9 yrs. old. He wanted chicken fingers for supper … delicious, southern comfort food (and one of Bethany’s favorites as well!). He had fun making dinner with Tío Steve and we all enjoyed homemade ice cream sandwiches to top off the night! *Woo-Hoo!*
Korean Dinner Shin-dig!
It is always a treat to receive our friends from Grace Community Chapel, NJ. One of the highlights of the trip is that they always prepare the missionaries a homemade Korean meal! The Kimchi was delicious!
Phase II
After being on the back burner for a little while, we are excited that things are finally underway to get the necessary permits needed to begin developing Phase II.
Today the surveyors were out surveying the land and taking soil samples, only one of the many hoops we must jump through in order to obtain the needed permits.
Adopting Ángel!
On Thursday, March 5th, Erick and Lucrecia, a national couple, arrived to meet their adoptive son Ángel for the very first time! Ángel came to the Abraham Project in November 2013. when he was a mere 5 months old. It is always a hallmark around here when a child gets place with a loving family. On March 9th, he left our home in order to go to his new, permanent home a couple hours from here. We trust that Ángel will enjoy the kind of life that every child should have with a loving family!
Ministry News
We are humbled that so many pray continually for and support the kids in our homes. Please pray earnestly for a suitable family to adopt Yamil. He has been with us since July 2013 and has been declared abandoned. The Office of Adoptions has been promoting his case since February of last year with no interest thus far. We believe that God is actively interested in his future and that He will provide just the right family for Yamil, in His time! We have good news with regards to the Pilarte siblings (4) and Anthony and Aislinn (brother/sister). The Office of Adoptions has notified us that there are families interested in these children. Both families are in the process of completing their home studies in order to be approved for an international adoption. Please pray that the families will find grace and favor as they work through this process and pray that the kids will be ready for a new transition in their lives.
We are so proud of Isaac and Roberto for completing their elementary education and graduating from 6th grade on December 15, 2014. Roberto actually had the highest grade point average for his grade. Both boys have been accepted to a well known high school and will begin classes soon.
Last month, Katherine was adopted by a single mother here in Costa Rica. Her mother, Marisela, is a pharmacist that works at one of the main hospitals in downtown San José. Katherine has adjusted nicely to her new home and environment. We are so thankful that God has provided a caring mother for this amazing little girl!
Before closing, we would like to include a quick update on the matching fund campaign for the multipurpose building roof. This is something we had shared about in our last newsletter. If you remember, we received two donations for a total of $186,000 that we are required to match dollar for dollar to receive full benefit. To date, we have raised a total of $162,000. Approximately $92K is from the United States and the remainder ($70K) is from local donations. Please continue to pray as we are still short of our goal. Once again, God has demonstrated His generosity and His power to provide. We stand in awe of His continual provision in all that He has called us to do.
Construction on the roof is progressing nicely. Structural work is now complete and the majority of the roofing material has been installed. Electricians are working hard to complete their part, then comes the fun of drywall work and painting. Projected completion date - late 2015.
Love & Truth Reaches out in Rio Azul!
Our first team of the year, Love & Truth Church, visited our sister church in Rio Azul. They ministered to the children with Bible stories and activities and participated in the feeding program. Pastor Gilbert always receives our teams with open arms.
Getting the Roof in Place
We continue making progress on the roofing project for our multipurpose building. Slowly but surely she's going up! Here is a photo update of where we are at so far:
The following photo was taken on January 23, 2015. Work on the roof is progressing!
Ministry News!
Dear Friends, With the year coming to an end, we have been contemplating Gods’ unfathomable grace. Grace is that intangible tangible. It’s that thing you just can’t put your finger on, but is evident in everyday life. It’s God abiding in us. It’s a call to change with the power do to so. It rises in defense of others. It sees the hurt but chooses forgiveness. It’s actively looking for an opportunity to show kindness. Jesus is the embodiment of grace. He extended grace to us first so that we could in turn extend it to our neighbor and that’s what Christmas is all about.
Two thousand fourteen has been a sweet year because we have experienced God’s goodness and grace in so many ways. We would like to share just one of the ways God has moved with a story close to home.
Twenty years ago on a cold winter day, God blessed us with our third son. Luke came quickly, as he was born just 8 minutes after arriving at the hospital! Hours later, the pediatrician would deliver the report that our baby had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. We were shocked and could barely digest the news. However, the Lord in his grace didn’t leave us without hope. Over the years we have prayed Exodus 31:3 over him: And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. And Philippians 4:13: “Luke can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.”
We relocated to Costa Rica when he was 2 yrs. old. We always believed that if God called our family to serve on the foreign mission field that he would provide for Luke’s’ special needs. Over the years we have witnessed that provision. His graduation this year from high school is an incredible milestone. In the early days, it seemed like he would be in school forever. Now, forever is here. Last month, the school board at Colegio Saint Clare voted to hire Luke as part of their personnel for the upcoming 2015 school year. He will be working in their copy department, making and delivering copies to the different departments in the school (preschool, elementary, and high school). We trust God will continue His good work in Luke.
We encourage you to take a moment to contemplate God’s endless grace towards you and your family. Please know that nothing could be accomplished without each of us doing his part. Thank you for your continued support of our family through your gifts and prayers.
“The mother grace of all graces is Christian good-will” – Beecher
Merry Christmas
Christmas Party for A.P. Personnel
You are cordially invited to the A.P. personnel Christmas party!
We worked in conjunction with the daycare in order to host a pig roast. A 100 lb. pig was prepared and cooked.
It was a labor of love in that this was literally an all-day affair.
The pig was stuffed with lemon grass and injected with spices.
It cooked for hours over an open fire.
When it was all said and done over 60 people enjoyed roasted pork, mashed potatoes, salad, and dessert! Merry Christmas to everyone who works and serves at the Abraham Project!
The Apprentice at Work!
Roberto, a 13 year old boy in our homes, is very talented artistically. This past year we were able to hook him up with a local painter and mentor, Alfredo. Alfredo is the very one that has painted the murals at the Abraham Project. His work is remarkable. Roberto is learning new techniques in order to enhance his talent through art. I guess you can say that the apprentice is at work!
Dynamic Duo Arrives at the A.P.
Today the dynamic duo arrived on our doorstep. Stuard and Josua are brothers with a domestic violence back ground. Their mother has been consuming “crack” since she was 14 year old. She has tried rehab a number of times but unfortunately has had a couple of relapses, so the boys are with us for the time being. We are looking forward to seeing God transform their little lives.