Can you imagine meeting the girls and seeing where they live?

In reading Amparo monthly updates on email or through Facebook, have you ever considered traveling to Santa Cruz to visit? Would you like to meet Aquiles and his wife, Elsi, in person?  Do you ever wonder about the women who pour into them daily?  Have you heard of Matilde and Diego? Have you ever wondered about other aspects of the ministry and what they entail? Did you know the community outreach programs take place weekly in different communities? These are only a few of the questions I had on my first visit to Santa Cruz last month.  I have read the updates and heard about it all too.  It was only by being in person that my perspective changed.

The first day we were there we met the staff and volunteers at the home and then spent time with them at dinner.  I was able to have limited conversations with the volunteers because of the language barrier, but their joy and smiles were easily understood.  I was able to have conversations with Aquiles, Elsi, Matilde, and Diego regarding the issues and trauma each girl has experienced. Later in the week I was able to meet with the social worker at the office with Matilde and Elsi and that gave me a picture of the level of care needed for the girls.  In that meeting, discussing ideas on how to implement and encourage healthy behavior as well as concepts of attachment, trauma, and its effects allowed me to feel the enormous weight of this ministry.   I’m challenged to pray for rest and self-care especially for the social worker and psychologist as well as Aquiles and Elsi, on the days they are not in the home.  In addition, it’s a great opportunity for anyone reading this to pray fervently for each staff member and volunteer because of what is needed and required to care for each girl. The kindness and compassion shown to each girl by the tremendous staff and volunteers is so important and they are being shown the love of Jesus every single day.

Our trip also included fun events to mark huge milestones of baptism and birthdays.  It was an amazing experience to be in person for the baptism of Ruth and Lorena.  What a huge influence they each have on the younger girls in the home and with this step of obedience, hopefully a choice to encourage the younger girls to a life of faith.  Please pray that they would live like Abraham and obey God and His word and that He will grow their faith!

Corrie Weir, Amparo’s Board member