February 2012
Dear Friends:
Stan and I just returned from two weeks in Bogota, staying with Beth (our daughter) and Rafael Afanador. During the week we catalogued and got on the shelf new titles in the beautiful, new El Camino library. El Camino has about 300 students and is thriving—but besides work, we had some time for visiting and relaxing too.
In the course of our conversations, it was obvious that Rafael’s heart was deeply troubled. He is struggling right now with an acute financial crisis to keep going, and expand as he feels burdened to do, the Hogar de Paz (Home of Peace) that is held in the first floor of the office of the Maranatha Foundation (FIM), which he directs. The Home is for neighborhood at‐risk children, ages 5‐10. While their parent work, they spend the 1⁄2 day they are not in school at the Home,
having a hot lunch, then getting help with their homework, using the computers, playing, reading, hearing Bible stories, watching Christian kids’ videos, doing crafts, and interacting with volunteers. Right now 20 children come to the center after their public school is out at noon. Rafael feels led to start a morning shift of children so that 20 more can be reached, as well as their families.
The public school is noticing a difference in the children served by the Home. In November, the majority of the FIM kids were given awards for academic and artistic achievement in 2011. The school also celebrated two of the FIM moms and gave them awards for being responsible and exemplary mothers. Their testimony was that they were putting into practice things they have learned at the parent conferences at the Home.
At a parents’ meeting last week, Rafa told them that it looked like the program would not be able to open at the appointed date due to lack of funds, and that it probably would be several more weeks before the Home could reopen for the semester. One mom started crying, saying she had no other options where she felt it was safe to leave her child while she worked. One mom offered to come to cook without pay, and two others offered to come watch the kids at no charge. Unfortunately, legal implications of having moms help out without the proper training and paperwork is a great risk for FIM, so that is not an option. Paid staff right now consists of a director and a cook. Fortunately, volunteers, both missionaries and nationals, frequently come to do special projects with the children, which they love.
A few more stories from the Home families...When Laura was four months old, her parents left her with a friend to care for her—but the parents never came back. The “adopted mom” is a maid and is thankful for the growth she has seen in Laura’s social skills since being in the Home of Peace. Laura, now 9, seems to be more emotionally stable; her adopted mom credits the FIM for fostering this growth.
Dear Friends:
Stan and I just returned from two weeks in Bogota, staying with Beth (our daughter) and Rafael Afanador. During the week we catalogued and got on the shelf new titles in the beautiful, new El Camino library. El Camino has about 300 students and is thriving—but besides work, we had some time for visiting and relaxing too.
In the course of our conversations, it was obvious that Rafael’s heart was deeply troubled. He is struggling right now with an acute financial crisis to keep going, and expand as he feels burdened to do, the Hogar de Paz (Home of Peace) that is held in the first floor of the office of the Maranatha Foundation (FIM), which he directs. The Home is for neighborhood at‐risk children, ages 5‐10. While their parent work, they spend the 1⁄2 day they are not in school at the Home,
having a hot lunch, then getting help with their homework, using the computers, playing, reading, hearing Bible stories, watching Christian kids’ videos, doing crafts, and interacting with volunteers. Right now 20 children come to the center after their public school is out at noon. Rafael feels led to start a morning shift of children so that 20 more can be reached, as well as their families.
The public school is noticing a difference in the children served by the Home. In November, the majority of the FIM kids were given awards for academic and artistic achievement in 2011. The school also celebrated two of the FIM moms and gave them awards for being responsible and exemplary mothers. Their testimony was that they were putting into practice things they have learned at the parent conferences at the Home.
At a parents’ meeting last week, Rafa told them that it looked like the program would not be able to open at the appointed date due to lack of funds, and that it probably would be several more weeks before the Home could reopen for the semester. One mom started crying, saying she had no other options where she felt it was safe to leave her child while she worked. One mom offered to come to cook without pay, and two others offered to come watch the kids at no charge. Unfortunately, legal implications of having moms help out without the proper training and paperwork is a great risk for FIM, so that is not an option. Paid staff right now consists of a director and a cook. Fortunately, volunteers, both missionaries and nationals, frequently come to do special projects with the children, which they love.
A few more stories from the Home families...When Laura was four months old, her parents left her with a friend to care for her—but the parents never came back. The “adopted mom” is a maid and is thankful for the growth she has seen in Laura’s social skills since being in the Home of Peace. Laura, now 9, seems to be more emotionally stable; her adopted mom credits the FIM for fostering this growth.
Nine‐year‐old Juliana is the youngest of four children who came to Bogota about
two years ago to live with her grandma, after she witnessed her father being killed.
Struggling with epilepsy, Juliana feels safe and secure at Home of Peace, and her
mom feels she is beginning to heal from the trauma she has experienced. The
mom is grateful for the spiritual support Juliana has received, as well as the
spiritual guidance she personally has gotten to help her deal with bitterness over
the difficulties experienced by the family. The mom says Juliana has improved
radically in academics and discipline issues due to the structure and lessons she has
learned at FIM.
Three of the moms have professed faith in Christ and have begun attending a local Christian church.
So, God is at work at the Hogar de Paz, but the Foundation needs our help to keep the ministry going, and to expand it to help another 20 at‐risk children and their families. Could you help? What is needed is donors who will pledge to give monthly, so that 40 children can continue benefiting from the opportunities offered at Hogar de Paz, and be fed a nourishing, hot noon meal. As Rafa says, “You can’t feed them for three days, and then, because of lack of money, not feed them the rest of the week. Once you start feeding them, you need to do it on a regular basis.” One‐time gifts are also appreciated, and can be used over the months for food and staff salaries. In addition, one needed project, building enclosed cabinets in the kitchen, will cost about $1,000 for supplies. A large new stove and refrigerator are in place and functioning well.
We trust your heart is touched by what you have heard here, and we hope that you will pray about what God would have you to do to help with this ministry. The situation is critical right now. Your gift could make the difference as to when the Hogar de Paz can reopen and continue to minister in the lives of these wonderful children. The easiest way for you to give would be to deposit a check in checking account 800588529 at any Citibank and send the deposit slip by email to funintermaranata@gmail.com, or send your check (made out to Maranatha International Foundation) to Maranatha International Foundation, 485C Raintree Ct, Glen Ellyn IL 60137. It would be helpful if you indicated whether you are giving a one‐time gift, or will be giving a certain amount on a regular basis.
Thank you for reading this letter. Rafael and the others involved in directing Hogar de Paz would appreciate your continued prayers and support for the ministry with the children being reached from Bogota’s at‐risk community.
In Christ’s love,
Melodee Yohe
Three of the moms have professed faith in Christ and have begun attending a local Christian church.
So, God is at work at the Hogar de Paz, but the Foundation needs our help to keep the ministry going, and to expand it to help another 20 at‐risk children and their families. Could you help? What is needed is donors who will pledge to give monthly, so that 40 children can continue benefiting from the opportunities offered at Hogar de Paz, and be fed a nourishing, hot noon meal. As Rafa says, “You can’t feed them for three days, and then, because of lack of money, not feed them the rest of the week. Once you start feeding them, you need to do it on a regular basis.” One‐time gifts are also appreciated, and can be used over the months for food and staff salaries. In addition, one needed project, building enclosed cabinets in the kitchen, will cost about $1,000 for supplies. A large new stove and refrigerator are in place and functioning well.
We trust your heart is touched by what you have heard here, and we hope that you will pray about what God would have you to do to help with this ministry. The situation is critical right now. Your gift could make the difference as to when the Hogar de Paz can reopen and continue to minister in the lives of these wonderful children. The easiest way for you to give would be to deposit a check in checking account 800588529 at any Citibank and send the deposit slip by email to funintermaranata@gmail.com, or send your check (made out to Maranatha International Foundation) to Maranatha International Foundation, 485C Raintree Ct, Glen Ellyn IL 60137. It would be helpful if you indicated whether you are giving a one‐time gift, or will be giving a certain amount on a regular basis.
Thank you for reading this letter. Rafael and the others involved in directing Hogar de Paz would appreciate your continued prayers and support for the ministry with the children being reached from Bogota’s at‐risk community.
In Christ’s love,
Melodee Yohe
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