The Girls at Shalom Home

Transcription

1 The Girls at Shalom Home At the Cruzadas del Evangelio mission compound located in a worn area of the city of La Ceiba in the Department of Atlántida in Honduras there is a safe home for over a dozen girls and young women. They come from many areas of Honduras. A few are from large cities, but most are from tiny villages many hours from La Ceiba. They all are there because they simply were not safe where they were. All were either severely neglected, potential kidnap targets by traffickers, or in a couple of cases taken to Shalom to allow them reach their full potential. They live in a group home on the compound. They are protected behind a high wall with guards and a huge dog. La Ceiba can be a dangerous place but they are safe here. There is a housemother living with them, herself a former resident. They prepare meals and do the normal day- to- day chores while they live in this Christian environment. They attend school; some are junior high age and some nearing the receipt of their university degrees. It s pretty much what you would expect a girls dorm to be like. A bit noisy with laughter and music, girls doing their laundry, or studying, or catching up with what s happening on Facebook. It s a little dark there, and the walls need painting. There is far less furniture than we have in our homes and the kitchen needs a lot of work. But, they are safe there, and they are loved. Many AHMEN teams visit the Cruzadas compound on their way to other areas of Honduras. But, few teams spend much time at Shalom. Most of the people stopping at Cruzadas know a couple of the girls; they might even sponsor one or they ve seen them on Facebook, but do they take time to really know these young ladies? Sponsoring one of the young ladies at Shalom is a worthwhile and committed endeavor. Most of the girls have at least one sponsoring couple. Some of them have multiple benefactors each providing for portions of their needs. As we all know, it is not cheap to raise a child in the US, especially with college expenses. It is exactly the same in Honduras. We are raising the next leaders of Honduras at Shalom. Beyond maintenance of the home, these girls need food and clothing, tuition, and of course, the same things that you would expect your

2 American daughter to need and want. Your monthly contributions for your Honduran daughter will help her to grow into a young women that has the has the fine moral and spiritual character you would hope for, as well as the having skills to make a real difference in her own life as well as the lives of other Hondurans. Of course, your financial contributions and are tax deductible under AHMEN s 501( c ) (3) IRS non- profit status. Partial sponsorships are encouraged as well. There is always a need for a few more dollars each month. Below is a way to begin to know the young ladies at Shalom. I ve included a recent picture of each as well a very brief bio. Just because a particular girl has a sponsor already, does not mean the group as a whole won t appreciate a commitment of care and assistance. Please contact me for further information. Bruce McFadden BCMCF@BHAM.RR.COM Maria Suyapa Turcios has been housemother at Shalom for 14 years. She came to Shalom as a teen, when she herself needed a safe home to live in. Suyapa is responsible for the day- to- day operation of the home. She is a mentor and mother for all the girls at Shalom. She is 42 years old and is taking some courses at the local university. Her original home is in Olancho.

3 Mery Hernandez Cortes is 17 years old. She has been at Shalom for four years. Mery is from Champas, a small mountain village in Colón, about six hours from La Ceiba. She is currently in Colegio, the Honduran equivalent to high school. She is learning computer programing and repair. He goal is to attend medical school in San Pedro Sula and become a physician. She has two brothers and two sisters. One sister also lives at Shalom. A member of AHMEN sponsors her. Alba Luz Nuñez Quijada is 22 years old and has been at Shalom for 12 years. She has two more years at the university where she is majoring in English Language. Alba wants to teach English in high school or at the university level. She has one sister also at Shalom. She is outgoing and always makes herself available as a translator. She has been in the field with several AHMEN mission teams. Alba is sponsored at Shalom by an AHMEN couple.

4 Danelia Ulloa Flores is from Embarcadero, Colón. She is 23 years old and comes a large family. Danelia is studying Spanish Literature at the university in La Ceiba. She is somewhat shy and quite studious. She has lived at Shalom for eight years. She is an avid runner. One AHMEN couple sponsors Danelia at Shalom. Keydy Llenery Ortega Hernandez will graduate from Nursing School this year with a Bachelor s Degree. She expects to continue her studies, and specialize in pediatric nursing. She has been at Shalom for thirteen years. She is from Seronia, Colón and has three brothers and five sisters. She is confident and self- assured. She would like to come to the US as a nurse. Keydy is sponsored at Shalom by an AHMEN couple.

5 Odalis Marmol Cortes is the youngest girl at Shalom and, the newest. She is eleven years old and has been there for a few months. She will start local school when classes restart after Christmas. Odalis is from Champas, Colón. She is undecided about her educational future or goals. She is quiet and little shy. Odalis is the younger sister of Shalom s Mery Hernandez. Odalis does not have a sponsor at Shalom. If you are interested in playing an active role is guiding this youngster please contact me. Fanny Medrano is 22 years old and has been at Shalom for more than 10 years. She will graduate from a local university with a Degree in Practical Nursing. She would like to continue her studies to earn a Bachelor s Degree in Nursing. She is from the village of Dulce Nombre Culmi in the Department of Olancho.. Fanny has two brothers and one younger sister. She has served on several AHMEN medical missions. Fanny is sponsored at Shalom by an AHMEN couple.

6 Estela Maritza Quijada Nuñez is 18 years old. She graduates from Colegio this year, which is the Honduran equivalent of high school. She specializes in computers and will attend the university to continue her studies. She is from Champas, Colón and has five brothers and three sisters. Estela has been at Shalom for six years. Estela is sponsored at Shalom by two AHMEN members. Madelin Guity graduated from the equivalent of junior high school this year. She is 17 years old and will enter Colegio this year. Her goal is to be a Honduran tourism specialist. She is extremely outgoing and is the life of the party. Madelin loves dancing and singing. She has been at Shalom for four years. She has one older brother and sister. She is sponsored by an AHMEN couple.

7 Maribel Mejia Guevera is nearing graduation from the university with a degree in Graphic Design. Her goal is to be an illustrator for childrens books and magazines. In her final semesters of education she is fulfilling her social service requirements creating painting and other art forms to hang in the public hospitals and municipal building. She has been at Shalom for nine years. Maribel is 26 years old. She has two sisters that were formally at Shalom; one in medical school and one in RN school. She is sponsored by an AHMEN member couple. Nely Romero Barrara is 19 years old. She has been at Shalom for 5 years. She is from Champas, Colón. She graduated from Colegio in December. Nely will be leaving Shalom in a few months to begin pharmacy technician training in Tegucigalpa. She has three brothers and two sisters. Nely is sponsored by one AHMEN member

8 Gladis Jaqeline Sánchez Cálix is 22 years old. Yaqui has been at Shalom for seven years. She is a university student majoring in Spanish and wants to be a teacher of Spanish literature. She is from the city of Jutigalpa in Olancho where she has two sisters and three brothers. Yaqui is sponsored by an AHMEN member couple. Ana Argueta has been at Shalom for 11 years. She is 26 years old and will graduate with her degree in Practical Nursing in January. She would like to continue her education toward a Bachelor s Degree in English. Anita has been away for several month in her home town of Champas fulfilling her social service requirements for her degree. She has been on several AHMEN medical mission trips as a nurse. She has four sisters and three brothers. She is currently sponsored at Shalom by an AHMEN couple.