Newsletter March 2007

Postal Address:- Sr. & Sra. Bonner, HopeHouse, Ascarrunz, Lima 36, Peru. bgeraghty_1@hotmail.com


Dear all,


It’s About time you heard something from us !



There have been so many changes over the past two months which have kept us on our toes.
Firstly,
our helpers Luis and family have left, this was as sudden for us as it is for you. They were not happy to continue with home schooling for their children and we were unable to supply the extra funds to send them to the school they chose. Their church couldn’t help either, so they felt the only alternative was to leave.
We have been working hard to put together a team of workers who have

the same vision

and the same commitment as ourselves.

Needless to say this is no easy task !
Secondly,

we have been in the process of changing administration. As you are aware, previously we have been working with a Peruvian association. We now find that this association is unable to commit any longer to helping us and they even suffer the embarrasment of being unable to repay a debt to HopeHouse. Their commitment has been very shaky for some time and now has come to an end due to Luis & family leaving. Fortunately they are willing to co-operate in the transfer of the house and property to the new association. (God’s hand !)

Below, Valeria (15), Yesenia (17) and Nory (17) our oldest girls are resting in the National Museum grounds after a packed lunch and much walking.

The museum provided a comprehensive history of Peruvian culture. Below the girls are listening to a tour guide while viewing artifacts including authentic shrunken heads !

We are delighted to announce that the new association is the group of ‘big hearted’ Americans from Georgia whom we have mentioned may times in our previous news letters. They are called ‘New Covenant Creation Ministries’ (NCCM). As you know, we have already been greatly encouraged by the support that they have shown to us. (God’s hand !) These people have a heart for Peru and are committed to helping the street children of Lima through HopeHouse. The house will continue to be staffed by Peruvian nationals as before.


Above is our youngest girl, Abby, 5 years old, she is giving some vitamin tablets to Andrea. Andrea knocked on our door at a very low time, just after Luis & family left. She was looking for work. She had been badly treated by her family and wanted to go home to her husband, but she did not have the coach fare. She was asking us to provide it in return for a weeks work. After much prayer we took her in. Andrea turned out to be such a great help to us, she loved the girls, they truly responded to her love and became very fond of her. The day she left was both sad and happy. We were all happy for her as we knew she was so wanting to go home, but, many tears were shed too. Also we believe that she took home with her a deposit of God.

Thirdly,
our accreditation with MIMDES (women’s ministry) is not yet complete. We have passed their inspections; however, their minimum requirement is that we have experienced professionals working with the girls. In the past we have employed students in their last year of study, (psychologist and social worker) who have accepted a very small wage, because they have needed to gain work experience. In short, we must reapply for accreditaion owing to the changeover to the new association. As far as the application goes, this means .............back to quare one ! It also means we must employ professionals on a full time basis. Definitely one for God to assist with as current funding will not meet this need. We ask you pray consistently on this as we are caught between a rock and hard place.

Fourthly,
we have been busy getting our visas extended for another year. This is now accomplished thanks to the new association NCCM and the hand of GOD.


Greg celebrating a birthday at the Latin-American language school with two of the teachers.
We had lots of fun!

Elena is our new staff member. She lives-in and works full time with us.
We met her through the local church, please pray for her, that God will encourage her and equip her to meet the demands of the girls and the house.

The change in Government has dictated that we must work towards re-inserting children with their families no matter how difficult that may be. To our utter astonishment, we have found that the Judges seem unconcerned about the home situations they are sending the girls to. Carmen’s case is a classic example. In spite of being left by her mother with total strangers and at risk, her mother was given custody. In the case of the sisters Kelly & Victoria, custody was given to the mother even though she is diagnosed with Schizophrenia and has an appalling history of neglect towards her children. In every case the child was asked if they wanted to go to their mother, aunty etc: The answer was always in the affirmative, proof that blood is thicker than water. These children desperately long for true parental love and would suffer anything to get it. Pray for them. (Kelly, Victoria, Elizabeth, Carmen, Alejandra, Suzie, Vanessa, Flor)
I truly believe that God has a plan and purpose for each of their lives’, and that they have experienced His love and come to know His promises. Over the past two years Kelly and others made their first step of obedience to God by going through the waters of baptism. I know that they are in the palm of His hand and He will never let them go. I am comforted by this now, though in my heart I have struggled with letting certain girls go. I never imagined it would be so hard, but God is strengthening my faith through the struggle and He is showing me how to depend on Him in everything.

Above............. just look how the girls spoil me ! They are learning how to do manicures and pedicures, and of course, they needed a model. It was so goooood !

To share with you one of the most wonderful things that God has done:
Elizabeth was placed in care at age 8 when her mother contracted puerperal infection after the birth of a younger brother. Her father left during the mother’s pregnancy. We never heard from either mother or father at any time. Elizabeth learned to pray, and she prayed faithfully every night for her mother. Sometimes her prayers were with tears, sometimes not so earnest, but she persisted in prayer every night. Out of the blue her mother showed up bringing her younger brother. She needed help ! That was, legal help to get custody of Elizabeth. Apparently she had reunited with her husband and now they wanted Elizabeth back. Of course we provided the legal help and Elizabeth’s prayers were answered. I believe that in her last nights with us, when she
prayed for God to help her to tell her mum about Him, that too will be answered. Our God is a good God!

Greg and I would like to thank Joanna Comley (Sydney) for her very generous donation towards the construction work. We are pleased to say that we have been able to complete a full side of the outer wall and to continue with the building of the new home which is planned for our accomodation and ultimately the couple who will be left in charge of the girls. Also we wish to thank Don Sadler (Atlanta) for his wonderful Christmas gift to the girls. With this we were able to take them to the beach on two occasions, the National museum and the swimming pool.


In the bus on the way home from the beach, nearly everyone fell asleep, except Carmen. (Amazing!)



The church in Australia has stood in the gap and responded to the needs here at HopeHouse, this, combined with the help we have received from the church in Georgia is the only reason HopeHouse remains viable. We value your faithful giving, and we thank God for all our supporters. We acknowledge that God’s hand is at work touching hearts to give and touching lives to serve. We ask that you continue to pray with us, for the girls, and for His provision. We desperately need an experienced Christian psychologist (full-time $730.00/month) an experienced social worker (full-time $530.00) and a legal representative (part-time $450.00). We are hopefull that NCCM may be able to help to some extent, but we realize that we need God’s help. We know that we are unable to pay these wages, but we can trust that our God will provide all our needs.

On a lighter note...............Is it really possible that I have survived a complete year with Greg!
Yes, last month was our first year wedding aniversary. Greg has dragged me through snow blizzards, risked my life on cliff edges, walked me until I couldn't walk any more, insisted on taking rides with high risk kamikazi taxi drivers. No, seriously, it's been an amazing year with an amazing person.

The girls, Greg and I will continue to pray for all our loved ones and for our faithful supporters.

In His Service,
Greg & Bridget