Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust

Transcription

1 Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people! Psalm 113:5-8 (NLT)

2 Dear friend, During 2012, we worked hard to ensure that your generosity has made a lasting difference in the lives of the Treasures. Today, our hearts are filled with joy, and we wish to share, that through our five programs, 5,014 children and youth were touched by our services. We brought hope to thousands of little Treasures through our Personal Development Program, causing 300 children to enter into a personal relationship with God through Jesus. Thanks to God and to your continued support, we reached a total of 8,912 Treasures of all ages. Yet, there is much to be done in By helping the Treasures to create a better future for themselves, you are giving them the opportunity to know that God cares about them and that He can transform their lives. I invite you to read about the life-changing impact God is having through your support in the lives of the Treasures. May the Lord continue to bless you! 1

3 about their spiritual needs Personal Development César Albán I didn t want to live any more. These are the gut-wrenching words of Cesar, a 7 year old boy who had developed low self-esteem issues that darkened his emotional and spiritual development. Cesar Otoniel lives with his mother, little sister, and grandfather. The father was killed soon after Cesar s birth. It was during the past year that Cesar developed the aforementioned self-esteem problems that affected his personal development. I wanted to kill myself because I thought my mother didn t love me, and thought that only my sister was important. I wanted to jump from a window, because I didn t want to live any more. I was very angry. This impending crisis was handled by our Personal Development spiritual leaders, who prayed and shared with Cesar about God s caring and healing heart. These conversations, plus the daily and monthly devotions, caused Cesar to open his heart to Jesus, thus causing Cesar to develop a personal relationship with God. Cesar s grandfather has recently told us about Cesar s transformation. He now spends time with his sister, sharing the words of the Bible that he learned at VBS. At PHA we want to lead our little Treasures to learn and experience about the unmeasurable love of God. We want them to turn to Jesus when they face problems at home or at school, because He cares about their spiritual needs and wants to be close to their hearts. Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Mathew 19:14 As part of the team or family you have helped to transform Cesar s life and the lives of many other children that are in desperate need of spiritual guidance. 2

4 about their future Education Kathy Rosales I relate to diamonds because in my life I have to go through hard processes that are similar to the fire that diamonds are exposed to. Kathy Rosales did not have a bright future. She was born into poverty and lived in one of the more dreary neighborhoods surrounding the city dump. Both of her parents were forced to scavenge in the dump as a meager means of supporting their family. And then disaster struck. When she was six years old, Kathy s father was murdered in front of their small shack. Kathy and her siblings were the first to find his body. The mother was now faced with the burdensome task of providing for her family. The older siblings, in order to survive, joined their mother to labor in the dump. It was then that Kathy realized that soon she would also have to drop out of school and join them. Poverty, without an education, seemed like her only recourse. However, it was then that PHA entered her life, and Kathy and her family became aware of the amazing caring love from God and His perfect plan for them as a family. Kathy was accepted into the Education Program to continue her studies. In addition to sponsors, she received the best gift of all; a relationship with Jesus Christ. Last year another disaster struck her family and life. It was the night of February 21st, when her house was burned up and they lost everything. It was a hard process for her and her family. God used the fire to provide us a new house. With God s provision and the help of Potter s House we got a brand new house, much better that the one we had before. Now I say: Daddy I know, I am your valuable diamond because I literally pass through the fire. Slowly Kathy developed the dream of becoming a Spanish- English translator. She is now 18 years old, and a high school graduate who works for PHA. She has recently received a scholarship to study at a college in the United States and will be leaving on August. Kathy is a perfect example of how God transforms those who allow Him work in their lives. Through PHA and the loving care of her sponsors, He has shown her His perfect plan for her life. Today, we want to thank you for being part of Kathy s achievements. 3

5 about their health Health Ely Morales If it wasn t for PHA I wouldn t have the money to seek prenatal care, post-pregnancy support, and take my baby for regular checkups. Ely, is a 16 year old young lady, and the mother of a newborn baby. She continues to live with her mother and five siblings. Becoming a mother at a young age has proven to be challenging; however, Ely has been making a big effort in providing her little baby a better quality of life. Ely was a school dropout, but now she has returned to school, taking the baby with her. My baby is my biggest strength and inspiration; I want to continue with my studies and for that reason I take him with me. Early in her pregnancy, Ely admitted to not feeling well. She went to our medical clinic where her pregnancy was confirmed by pregnancy and ultrasound tests. Ely wasn t aware of the pregnancy until then, but was happy to know that she would be having a baby. Ely remembers the baby s first image in her mind when she had the ultrasound at PHA. The ultrasound is one of the most highly advanced technologies and is probably the only one of it s kind in the garbage dump area. Since that time, she was blessed with the continuous prenatal care and vitamins from PHA to insure a safe pregnancy. Having the opportunity to see my baby s development was a true blessing All this special care is a continuous reminder of how God cares about Ely and her little baby. If it wasn t for PHA I wouldn t have the money to seek prenatal care, post-pregnancy support, and take my baby for regular checkups. Thanks to you, we were able to support Ely by providing the essential nutrients for her baby s development. It is through us that the Treasures need to know that God has not forgotten about them, and that a perfect plan is waiting for each one of them. 4

6 about their finances Micro-enterprise Nataly Barrios I am teaching other women how to make jewelry. Nataly is a married mother of three children. Previously she had been an occasional drug user who spent more time with her friends than with her children. In order to earn money she used to scavenge toys, shoes, and clothing at the city dump. Several years ago Nataly began to pray to God to seek help with her drug problem. When her prayers were answered, she was able to become drug-free. Since I quit drugs I have been trying hard to be a good mother. Through this time I have learned to pray and to be thankful to God for my beautiful family, and for having Him at the center of my family. She later enrolled in the Microenterprise Program offered at PHA and began to take jewelry making classes at PHA. The next step was to request her very first loan of $100. At the same time, she began selling the bracelets, rings, and necklaces that she was making in the classes. When she realized that making and selling jewelry was producing an income, she continued to hone her skills and invest in various jewelry making materials. Her next involvement was in an entrepreneurial program for women at PHA. I learned to calculate my costs and make a budget. and now I am teaching other women how to make jewelry. Throughout the years Nataly has increased her household income by building a broader customer base. For Nataly, it is evident that by using her talents to provide for her family she has received a clear sign from God about how He cares for her family and finances. She now has a dream of adding a small room to her house in which she can operate her business. But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 5

7 about their immediate needs Community Support Madelyn Serrano Esvin and Madelyn Serrano, a young married couple with a 7 month old daughter, have been living for more than 4 years in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the dump area. Their sole income is from Esvin s scavenging in the garbage dump. For this young couple, providing food and shelter has been a daily challenge, due to the low-income he generates by selling recycled things from the dump. Also, due to the vulnerability of their house made out of corrugated metal, every heavy season they suffer because of this. Last August, due to heavy rains, their home was flooded to knee level. At that time, their roof was merely a long tarp through which the rain easily leaked into their home, causing the water to rise. Eventually, all of their belongings were completely soaked, causing their daughter to develop respiratory problems. We were desperate because of this situation. We thought we would move to another place, but we can t afford living in another area. Sadly this is our situation. Following the flood, PHA was able to provide materials for a new corrugated metal roof. Also, clothing, food, medical attention, and spiritual support was provided for the family. Thanks to your support, we were able to immediately assist 100 families that faced a similar problem to Esvin s and Madelyn s. This is another way of immediately showing the Treasures that God is with them even in their most desperate moments. For many Treasures it is really hard to understand that God cares about them, because they don t see how their lives could be part of a perfect plan. Thanks to your partnership we are showing the Treasures that there is a perfect plan and that there is hope. 6

8 2012 Statistical Report Personal Development 1,845 Treasures 1,000 children actively participated in the Vacation Bible School (VBS) that took place in November, and 125 children participated in a weekly Bible study held in the home of one of the Treasures. As a result of the Treasures participation in these activities, a total of 300 children entered into a personal relationship with God through Jesus. 720 adults received spiritual support through large, community-wide celebrations and weekly discipleship groups. 70 people (35 couples) participated in discipleship classes. 2 weddings were perform at Potter s House. Two community leaders got married, and we were able to share the gospel with more than 100 attendees.* Through these activities, a total of 213 adults entered into a personal relationship with God through Jesus. Education 285 Treasures 200 children participated in our after school tutoring and enrichment program. In addition to tutoring classes, they enjoyed nutritious daily lunches and spiritual support through our weekly and monthly devotionals. Their grade point average was above 75%, and 95% of them were promoted to the next grade. These are excellent numbers in a community that does not value education. 4 young Treasures graduated from high school. Truly a remarkable achievement. 13 little Treasures in vulnerable situations received psychological counseling. Also 85 parents attended the Parenting School in which they learned about the importance of nutrition and how to improve relationships between parents and children. Health 2,693 Treasures 1,457 children enjoyed the benefits of the health program through medical and dental clinics in the community and at the Potter s House clinic and pharmacy. We alleviated the pain of 1,236 adults with the medical attention and medications they received through the clinic at the garbage dump, medical clinics in the community, and the medical clinic at Potter s House. 389 adults received medical attention and medications in the clinic at the dump. 847 adults received medical attention and medications in clinics conducted in the communities.* *Some of the above mentioned Treasures received assistance from multiple Programs.

9 2012 Statistical Report Micro-enterprise 60 Treasures 60 women actively participated in cooking, beauty and jewelry-making At the same time they learned the basics of marketing, investing, and saving. The focus of this program is the development of a new generation of microentrepreneurs that will be better able to face economic challenges. Community Support 4,029 Treasures We were able to provide nutrition for over 200 little Treasures, serving them a total of 40,000 lunches and 39,400 vitamin supplements to support their physical and intellectual development. We were also able to immediately support a total of 2,032 children and 1,797 adults who were in vulnerable situations. Among the things we provided were clothing, food, shoes, mattresses, stoves, water filters, corrugated metal roofs, and spiritual support.* 100 families seriously affected for the heavy rains in August, were supported with clothing, food, shoes, mattresses, corrugated metal roofs, and spiritual support. Complete financial reports are available upon request. We are commited to being good stewards of God s grace and your gifts. 165 projects were completed through mission trip teams, which helped 1,392 adults to improve the living and safety conditions in their community. *Some of the above mentioned Treasures received assistance from multiple Programs.