The Pursuing Love of the Father

January 2013 – A Mother’s Reflection

John 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.

Sixteen year old Alejandro was living alone in a tiny room close to the bus station.  He supported himself by getting tips from carrying passengers’ luggage.  Concerned that Alejandro would soon drop out of school, the principal contacted Phil to see if he could join the Casa Gabriel training.  For every boy wanting to enter Casa G there is an individual process that intentionally helps him and us to determine if God is saying this is the right fit, and that they are serious about being trained as an ambassador for Christ.  As part of this process, Alejandro was invited to start attending morning tutoring classes at Casa G on school days and then stay for lunch.  He was also invited to church and our Casa G family day on Sundays.

The first Sunday I met Alejandro, he broke my heart.  He jumped up from the breakfast table to start wildly wiping down the tables.  His entire demeanor was, “Take me.  Please take me!”  After two weeks, Phil asked the other boys what they thought about Alejandro coming on full-time.  There was hesitation, and then Marcelo said, “Everyone deserves a chance.”  Initially insecure, wounded and socially awkward, Alejandro didn’t fit in at Casa G.  However, it wasn’t long before this intelligent and witty sixteen year old took on a new identity as the valued son of the King. 

After finishing the year at the school for youth at risk, it was recommended that Alejandro transfer to a private school with higher academic standards.   By now he had become confident and connected easily with his peers.  In this new setting he quickly gained popularity.  We began to see a decline in motivation and overall attitude.  Continued poor choices led to some hard consequences.  Alejandro was asked to change schools and behavior in order to continue at Casa Gabriel so that he could focus on his studies and be less concerned with his newfound social status.  Unwilling to give up the school he was attending, he left Casa G. 

We were brokenhearted.  We were discouraged.  So we did the one thing, the best thing we could do.  We prayed and trusted in Our Mighty God who alone does the supernatural work upon the heart.  We trusted in His unfailing and pursuant love.  Alejandro didn’t need Casa G; he needed to find firm footing in his faith in Jesus.

Over the next months we occasionally saw Alejandro when he stopped by to visit.  His appearance and affect gave an indication that he was struggling.  Each time, Phil placed his arm around him and spoke words of affirmation and truth.  At the end of each visit he hugged and prayed for him.  A year ago Alejandro brought us a Christmas present and gave a long speech full of thanks for us and his time at Casa G.  He was in school and living with a family of a classmate.  God was answering our prayers.

On January 4, 2013, Alejandro surprised us with another visit.  This time he brought his report card from school.  He wanted Phil to see that he is making it.  He will graduate from high school in June.  We all bragged on his success, joked with him about the low English grade, and laughed at his witty humor. Alejandro seemed at peace with life and himself.  During our prayer time he asked us to pray for the Christian family he lives with and that he will continue to grow closer to God.  Our God is Mighty, unfailing and pursuant in His love! 

Praises and Prayer Requests:

Casa Gabriel

1.   We praise God for His financial provision.  We ended 2012 in the black!!  Phil and I have been doing the “happy dance!”

2.   Please continue to pray for monthly supporters for 2013.  Salaries for our Ecuadorian staff, some of whom are required by Ecuadorian law (academic coordinator, house parents, psychologist, social worker and legal counsel) are our largest expense.  

3.   Please pray for God’s leading and provision for a Christian social worker. 

4.   Please pray for Juan Miguel who is a senior leader at the house. He has been suffering with a number of medical issues.  He also would like prayer for God’s leading next year and for a plane ticket to attend our daughter Danelle’s wedding in May.  He has written a special song for the ceremony, just in case!

5.   All of us from Casa G will be celebrating with our housedad, Danny, who is marrying his best friend Jennifer on Saturday, January 12^th. 

6.   Pray for Carla Ackerman, team member who has been on bed rest the past week after a back injury.

7.   Juan Miguel has been in training to replace Danny in the interim.  We are praying for another house dad to join our team. 

8.   Please pray for Alejo and Lizandro who left the Casa G ministry after four plus years.  Like the Alejandro did in the above story, they are experiencing the hard consequences of seeking happiness in what the world has to offer and temporarily losing sight of Jesus who alone offers eternal and satisfying joy.  Pray they would return to the love of the Father who is looking and waiting to welcome them into His arms. 

Casa Adalia

1.   Kelsey Wilson, International Teams missionary from Australia will be teaching Hands that Heal, a comprehensive, Christian course to train global caregivers who are frontline providers of aftercare for women, children, and men that have been trafficked into the commercial sex industry.  We are thrilled to provide this training January 10^th -12th to our Casa Adalia team, volunteers and others who are interested in or are currently ministering to girls who have been rescued from the sex trade.

2.   Please pray for God’s healing touch on Barth and Mathilde Companjen, our team leaders from Holland. Both are very sick with the flu.  Mathilde who had planned to join us this week for the training and time with our team was unable to fly because the flu developed into pneumonia.

3.   Miguel, Desi and their baby daughter, Janoa have been in Holland for the past three months visiting Desi’s family and sharing the vision of Casa Adalia with interested churches and individuals. They return January 16th. They will be starting again the vocational training outreach with girls who are at risk for or who have been trafficked.

4.   We just received the completed paperwork from our legal advisor to submit to the government to become a legal foundation that can take underage girls. There are many steps yet that God needs to lead us through and provide for before we can open the Casa Adalia house. We continue to sense God’s “wind behind us" pushing us forward in this endeavor. The safe house and rehabilitation center for underage girls rescued from the sex trade recently told us, “If you were open you would be full.  We have many girls without options after they leave here.”

Whether we are anticipating joyful events or difficult challenges in 2013, faith fills us with reason to celebrate.  May we daily place our security and hope in God and in His Word.  (Isaiah 54:10).  Your friendship and support are beautiful and tangible reminders of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness on which our hope rests.  We rejoice knowing that we are building God’s Kingdom together with you. May you be strengthened and encouraged by the expectation of Jesus this 2013!

For His glory in Ecuador,

Debbie for all

 

Casa Gabriel and Casa Adalia are part of International Teams, a global organization committed to helping the oppressed and seeing lives and communities transformed by the power of God.  Follow this link for an easy way to give:  https://wwws.iteams.org/iteams/  Designate your contribution to “Casa Gabriel-Ecuador.”