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Dear all, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support in this valuable project.

Please can you consider advanced orders for Christmas and for your church? The program has been relying heavily on the support from short term mission teams when they come to Choluteca, however we are aware that we now have only three teams to come and therefore understand things could get tight. 

Also the current political situation is not helping matter and is making locals nervous of spending. The program has seen remarkable changes in character of some of the workers and gives the Casa Hogar team more time to disciple them on a daily basis.

I have attached a copy of the brochure for you to look through, but I need to make clear that we can and will make anything that is not on the brochure, just send us the details.

Some of the ways we have been able to provide things for churches are for example bracelets with names on for kids clubs etc. We can make pens for gifts or to use as promotional tools with names on.   Some churches have brought our full stock of bags, handmade cushions etc and then held a summer fair or sold them within their church.

Your help transforms lives: Most know the story of Luz. She used to live in a small mud house 4 metres by 3 metres and could not find work due to her infection with the HIV virus. She now works fulltime in manualidades and has her own home in Casa Hogar,  she now supports her family and no longer relies on handouts.    

Her story however is far from over. Luz is now going to start a career in promotions. Cedar Creek who partners with GCLA on many projects is sponsoring Luz to write stories on the families and children Casa Hogar Vida works with. The plan is to write the histories of these people in order that people who are taking part in the Detroit marathon have a person who they can connect with to run for.

Luz will be learning to use a laptop, camera and video, hard to believe that one year ago she seemed to have little hope in her life, but now sees daily the Glory that God provides for her.

We have all sorts of bags, purses and kitchen linens, ranging in price from $5 to $25.  Most purses and bags are $18. 

So if you’re in Columbia, stop by Middlebush Auditorium on Saturday at 7:07 and pick up something special hand-made by the ladies of Manualidades, benefitting Casa Hogar Vida.

Yes, it’s a bus.  Isn’t it lovely?  Maybe you think there’s nothing beautiful about a bus, but I’d like to disagree.

Romans 10:13-15
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

That last part is a quote from Isaiah Isaiah 52:7
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!""

I’d like to change that to "How beautiful in Honduras is the bus that brings good news!"

This bus has been a dream for a long time.  It’s been a dream that touched many hearts, and much prayer and financial support went into the fruition of the dream.

The purpose of the bus is three-fold:

• To transport HIV patients from Choluteca to Tegucigalpa for treatment.
• To transport people from the poor neighborhoods in and around Choluteca to church on Saturdays.
• To transport missionary teams during their trips.

This is not just any bus.  It’s a bus with a mission.  A bus with a purpose.  A bus to save lives for today, for tomorrow, and for eternity.

Click each thumbnail to see the full-size image

You can see more pictures and diagrams at the Casa Hogar Vida site.

Luz Moved in her New Home
from GCLA Foundation in Action
The community “Esperanza” has new kids in the block. Luz moved with her children, and Ramon moved with his family. We were delayed due to water and sewer but now the systems are in, and soon more families will move. Read more.

Expansion in Choluteca
from GCLA Foundation in Action
The Choluteca church has been growing in attendance and in services to their community. Some weekends the church receives 300 or more people, but it fits only 250. The church is building an expansion to the Auditorium where now 550 people will seat comfortably. Read more.

Basic Utility Vehicle in Casa Hogar
from GCLA Foundation in Action
A US college student designed a type of cheap, hard working, efficient, utility vehicle that could be used for heavy tasks in places of community service such as Casa Hogar. These vehicle is made in Honduras. Now we are using it to move rocks, materials, re-bar, blocks, cement, trash, posts, anything. Read more.

Fencing Casa Hogar Vida
from GCLA Foundation in Action
One of the last requirements to receive the orphan HIV/AIDS children in Casa Hogar Vida was the fence, we are building it and it should be finished within a month. The Honduran children agency has already assigned 4-6 children that could come and live here. Read more.

From Tyler:

1.) I asked to see if there was something better we could bring besides shoes, but Nelson is very adamant that shoes are a vital/special thing that only the Rock brings down. A pair of shoes are an immediate bump up in social class, a smile on your face and joy in your heart. A boost in self-confidence, so in fewer words, lets stick with shoes, and keep bringing them.

2.) The new auditorium construction is coming up soooo fast, you are going to be amazed when you come. That being said the old court had to be torn up and they need money for a new one. Nelson suggested this might be a good project for you guys, not sure. The total cost is $9,000, but they have $3,000 so what they are looking is to see if maybe we could set out to raise $6,000 to pay for their new court "Cancha" an absolutely vital part of their school. (Take that coming from me, the current PE teacher giving classes without a court)

See the products

Team members: please share this with your sponsors, friends and family. 

Get a printable brochure

If you want to order anything, please let me know so I can give them numbers to be sure there will be enough. 

Read more about the Manualidades project

Dear friends, I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you a new program we have started in Casa Hogar Vida to help people sustain their own families. Its name is Manualidades (Handcrafts) and at the moment employs two people: Luz who many of you know and Lilly.

The aim of Manualidades is to make things with a sewing machine such as handbags, table cloths, curtains and other things which can be sold.

We are looking for your support in two ways if this is possible. Firstly; by bringing or sending any material that you can which will reduce our costs, fewer costs means more people can have employment.

Secondly; if there are things in the brochure that you would like to purchase then again this will help sustain the ministry.
 
For your attention here in brief are Luz and Lilly’s stories:    
Luz
Luz is infected with HIV, she used to live in a tiny house made of mud with her three boys. When the father of her middle boy found out he was infected and had infected Luz he took his own life by hanging himself with the hammock. Luz struggled on but faced huge stigma and discrimination, even from her own family. Her mother would not let her eat from the same plate as anybody else and would not even let Luz touch her own son in her presence.

Luz went to the pastor of the church she was attending to try and get him to speak with her mother who also went to the same church. However, he told many people and told Luz it was her own fault, so Luz was alone. She said she felt like her family and God had turned their back on her and so she stopped attending church.  Two workers from the Casa Hogar Vida team managed to reconcile Luz to her family which is really important but most important is her reconciliation to God.

Luz now has a new home in Casa Hogar Vida and a regular job in Manualidades, which provides a source of income for her family. She also attends church every Saturday evening and is an active member in a fellowship group.
 
Lilly
Lilly’s husband died of an AIDS-related opportunist disease, leaving Lilly a widow. Shortly after his death Lilly was raped by a man who she later found out had a hereditary problem with his heart. Lilly soon found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy naming him Brian. However, Brian to had the hereditary problem and at the age of one year old sadly he died.                                                                                       

Manualidades is helping Lilly in many ways, financially, practically but above all spiritually. Every morning at 8 o’clock there is a devotional when issues are addressed, Lilly has many and still has a way to go but through God’s grace she will get there.

When we think of how far Luz has come spiritually in the year and a half that the team has known her then Lilly can do it to. She now attends church every Saturday and is soon to join a fellowship group.

 
Here is a list of things that are needed as of the 27th January 2009.
 
o    Stiffening both thick and thin
o    Embroidery silks, various colours
o    Navy zips and other colours various sizes
o    Fasteners for skirts
o    Various coloured cottons
o    Felt material
o    Ribbon all colours and width’s
o    Edging material, cotton and silk fringing
o    Imitation fur material
o    Filling for cushions etc.
o    Material with Aztec type patterns
o    Tapestry type material
o    Bag type material
o    Sued looking material
o    Leather looking material
o    Sequins
o    Transfers
o    Fabric glue
o    Ordinary glue
o    Glue sticks
o    Embroidery squares
o    felt