This month began with a bang! The rainy season started early this year with the appearance of Tropical Storm Agatha. If that wasn’t enough, we also were met with Volcano Pacaya deciding to blow its top, which sent black lava sand all over our area.It was a mess to clean up.Roofs needed to be swept off
as well as roadways to keep the sand from plugging up the storm drains. Add two large sinkholes in the Capital, bridges and homes being swept away, and landslides all over the country and it all adds up to a very rough beginning to the rainy season.
The kids with a gift of papayas
We reicieved a donation of papayas...lots and lots of papayas
El Refugio continues to work through growing pains. Hurting women and children living in one house has its daily challenges. Mariela began taking cooking classes last month and it was such a blessing to her that we decided to have Hilda do the same thing on a different day, which has lifted her spirits tremendously. She has been bringing home her creations and receiving the praises of those enjoying her work. We hope to work all the ladies into attending one class a week outside the walls of the shelter. At this time Olga would be the only one who couldn’t, due to her illiteracy. We are hoping to get her back into a routine of learning to read and write. Sandra continues to do well in the university with just one more trimester to go. We have been blessed with the sponsorship she received to make her dream a reality.
Karla ~ one of our newest women in the shelter
Gloria and her daughter sought shelter for a night
We were also grateful that the rains were delayed so that we would be able to hold the rescheduled baptism of Sandra, Hilda and Mariela, who had asked to take this step of faith. When Agatha hit, the baptism had to be postponed. The upside was that the Agrellas work team could be present to witness this special event.
Dr. Estrada shares witht he group before the baptisms
Hilda, Mariella and Sandra before their moment in the pool
Hilda's baptism moment
Mariela after her baptism moment
Sandra before/during her baptism
The team gave a day to the shelter, in which two rooms received much needed paint jobs.
They also provided lunch outside the shelter walls and a piñata for a birthday party given for Hilda’s three boys who all had birthdays in June. This team donated a new computer and refrigerator to the shelter. Everyone was blessed!
Agrellas work team updating the living room
Kids in front of Shrek ~ an outing for the kids
It's pinata time
Olga drilling coffee beans... it is a messy business
The ladies have been working very hard within the
shelter walls. They are beginning to become more confident with the coffee
jewelry they are making, and they are developing new designs under the watchful
eye of Rosita. Mariela has taken to sewing more than the other ladies and is
hoping to send me away with lots of typical aprons to show and sell while
stateside. You should all get ready ~ a new trend is coming
stateside! Coffee jewelry for all ages ~ you heard it here first.
We would like to encourage you to visit the rest of our
website: www.weavinghopeministry.org to see more photos of things that are happening at El Refugio as well as
updates on our other ministry outreaches.
Mike and I appreciate your prayers and partnership
in the work God has blessed us with. We hope to see many of you soon. Our cell phone
number while stateside is: 262-388-4398. Please give us a call~ we’d love to
see you and share our hearts face to face.
