What's going on at Dulce Refugio
I know that many people have passed through this orphanage and left their mark at Dulce Refugio. I want to keep all of you informed about what is going on with the kids and the construction process. Please remember to keep us in your thoughts and prayers; I hope you continue to help us out here at Casa Hogar Dulce Refugio. Gracias amigos!
Short update this month. June went by quickly but we still got a lot done. We started a new ministry and advanced in our church building project. I spent lots of time with the kids at the orphanage and I also got to take a trip home. Praise God for all that is going on!
We now have all the dirt that we need at our church site, so we started prepping the floor. We rented "bailarinas" (ballerinas), as they are nicknamed in Spanish, which stomp the dirt and compact everything. After stomping everything we put on a final coat of dirt to level the ground and make it ready for the concrete.
I had to fix some things on the kids' castle. These holes in the floor originally had ropes but after many years they were ripping and could no longer hold up the weight of the children. It was a safety hazard so I filled in the holes with steel. Now it should last for a long time. The kids helped me paint the protections and then I installed them. Now they can play again.
I made a hair salon room for the girls. They wanted a space where all of the girls could get ready together and a place where the big girls could help out the little ones with their hair. I put in shelves and mirrors (I even cut some of the glass myself...after a few failed attempts).
We started a new ministry! Since Mary was asked to leave the orphanage last month, she began praying about what to do next. God gave her a desire to help out some of the older girls that were once in orphanages and are now ready to leave and live independent lives. We are currently renting a 3 bedroom house and she is living there with Ariana, who spent many years in Dulce Refugio. The girls that live here will be able to continue studying and have more freedoms, while still being under the supervision of a responsible adult. We wish to help them with all of their necessities and continue to guide them in their relationship with Jesus. Please pray for the young women that will be staying here and that God will bless this "transition home."
I got to come home and see my family. It has been since January that I was last in the US so it was really good to see my parents. We have been postponing my trip due to the Coronavirus, but we finally decided that we can't live in fear and that family is too important to be kept apart. I will get to rest and have some vacation time for 2 1/2 weeks. It feels good. Praise God!
