Dear Friends and Family in Christ:
It has been a long time since we do not communicate with you. We have been very busy here at Casa Bernabe, serving 14 precious girls, ( 9 to 19 years old).
At the beginning of the year, we listened to God’s voice, leading us to come back to Casa Bernabe, to work and serve. We tried to be obedient even we did not understand why, once again, we would be here.
As we shared with you in one of our newsletters, last year, we were working in a Christian school, Vida y Esperanza, teaching Bible principles to many teenagers. We were also in charge of discipling the young teachers, young adults and being counselors in specific areas of their lives. It was a wonderful experience! God also put some challenges in front of us… challenges that we would not succeed them without God’s help. In addition to that, Hugo and I were considering to move to Santa Lucia, the place where this school is located to be able to continue serving more time, and invite the teens to come to our house for more Bible studies and communion activities, we mean, having some fun activities like drawing or cooking, with the vision of sharing Jesus’ love through our daily life.
We want to mention that, other activities we did with these teenagers was evangelism (through sports) games in the street sometimes, inviting them to eat, or through art classes. We could see “the good fruit” within weeks, or months. Some of them invited their friends and that was the way many who were lost came to Jesus Christ.
We enjoyed sharing with them and their friends, in fact, our “call” in God’s kingdom is to invite “the lost teens” to join to our table for a meal, and tell them how God had Hugo and I to come from the darkness to the “Light” (that is Jesus) and how God accepted, and not rejected us! This is the way God loves. Unconditional love. Acceptance. Light and Truth. So we were walking after our “call”.
For several months, we were also praying for a bigger house where we could have more rooms to recive teenagers, who had already turned 18 years old, coming from Casa Bernabe and those who were never able to be adopted or did not have any relative to live with, so that we would help them to find a job and being their helpers to be adapted to normal society, but not living by themselves yet, until they were responsible workers and more mature. Who would learn wise decisions, and control their income and expenses, as well of their spiritual life and volunteering others in need. We shared our desire with Pedro and Donie, and they encouraged us to keep praying, and they would join us to our prayer request.
As we could not find the opportunity to rent the bigger house, we knew that it was not God’s time. (We wondered: why, Lord, there is nothing impossible for you. You can provide us this house…) But it did not happen. (Okay, Lord, you must have a purpose. We had been praying for 7 months. Is there anything else you want to speak to us, Lord? No answer. (Yet)
In January, just a few days before enrolling our own children in School, (because school in Guatemala is from Jan. to Oct., the direction from our God came to us. Finally. What was that? Casa Benabe. Again. We worked in CB taking care of boys only, for 8 years.
Our girls, Ilse, Rode and Andrea grew up among this group of kids (boys) when they were little (4 to 12 years old). God was always faithful. More than faithful. He took well care of our girls, even when we had 12 boys at least. It was a wonderful experience,
but this time, God was leading us to serve a group of girls!!
We were concerned, also, what would happen with the teenagers in Santa Lucia and Antigua, who we were training. Well, God was in control. It is His work and not ours.
As it says in ........1st. Corinthians, some servants plant, other fellow workers water the plants, but it is God who makes them grow! (Read 1st. Cor. 5-9) So in this Christian school, we did our work (planting) and he sent (and was equipping) a few other servants. We know they are doing a good job. When God is in charge….. when He has the situations in His hands…..miracles happen!!
So here we are. Back in Casa Bernabe since January. 14 girls, plus 3 of our own and our 2 older girls living in Antigua with our relatives.
During these 8 months, we have learned many more things about why God wanted us back here, and serving these precious girls. Now we have definitely decided to continue working with girls. They have such a sweet heart and are in great need of comfort and protection and guideness. They are very talented. They will become wifes and mothers some day. There’s a lot to do! But only God can transform a heart, a mind and a life through His powerful word. Through His great patience and love.
However, we keep praying. Many times God works in us in a way that we have experienced in different occations. He starts putting some of His thoughts into our minds and hearts, over and over… and when this happens, we better stop and listen. We better seek for counsel and much in prayer. A corfirmation of his plans usually comes after this.
We want to share with you what is specifically going on.
- God is confirming a special care we should have with the older girls (18 yrs.old and up, who need to study a formal career)
- God is making us think of some of the older girls with special needs (16 yrs. old) who have not finished elementary school, but they are able to work and take art, cooking or sewing classes that will enable them to become better workers and housekeepers).
In addition to that, the school program for our older girls with special needs is not appropriate. We are looking for better opportunities for them.
We see God preparing other servants’ hearts to lead this group of children here in Casa Bernabe.
What we want: (Please help us pray for this!!)
- We want the confirmation from our God, soon.
- We want to talk to the Board Members in Casa Bernabe about this specific thoughts and feelings that God is placing into our hearts. We want to be obedient to Him.
- We want to continue working along with Casa Bernabe in this vision and mission.
- We want to trust God He will provide the resources, the house we have looking for, and an appropriate school program for the older girls with special needs.
What we need:
- Approval, from the Board members. (Friends of Children Everywhere)
- A bigger house in Antigua and the finances to afford the rent (for a period of time, until God provides a property)
- A specific group of people, or Church, or individuals who are interested in supporting these girls with Education (specifically) and Health.
- A specific group of people, or Church, or individuals who are interested in supporting Hugo and I to work Full Time with this Ministry.
- 2 long term volunteers (specially women) to live with us.
We will continue communicating with you, because we want you to be part of this “branch” of Casa Bernabe Ministry, if God allows it to be opened.
We need con continue communicating you about our meetings, and spiritual guidance, and new information.
We just want to THANK you for keeping us in your prayers and we always treasure and value our friendship. We bless every time we have spent with you, either personally or through mail.
It is a great pleasure to serve God in this way, but is a great responsibility, too.
We NEED your prayers. We need God’s guidance, and we need it very clear. So please, join us in prayer. If possible, try to keep in touch with us to make sure you received this e-mail, and if you want to join our prayers. May our good God bless you and your family each day.
THANK YOU.
Hugo and Gilma Caballeros
Guatemala
“But you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”
1st. Peter 2:9
1 comment:
I am praying that God will grant His grace upon your vision. God bless you Hugo and Gilma!
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