|
Our Current Status
Presently Shadow of His Wings houses forty girls. Several are daughters of prostitutes, with one of them being forced into her mother's profession at the age of six. Some girls have come to the Home badly beaten, one by her mother and the other by a stepfather. One girl was taken from the streets where she had been selling candy on the "Chicken Buses" to earn her meager existence in one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City, a city of over four million. In addition to that, she had been tortured with burns to the back of her legs and carries the deeps sears as evidence.
One girl was found in a hotel room with signs of having been repeatedly tortured, beaten, and raped. For some time she did not speak. At the time, as God is leading her through this "valley of the shadow of death", she is recovering her speech day by day.
Others share similar stories; years of sexual abuse from a father, stepfather or other adult family member, lack of the basics of life, food, clothing and shelter - and love. Most of the girls have received little or no education. Thus the need for the Liberty Christian School and trained teachers, psychologists, and counselors to help these girls hurdle the problems of life to walk in success in their future. Most of these girls have come in with no education at all.
"I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen even now. Don't you see it coming? I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert. I will make streams of water in the dry and empty land." Isaiah 43:19 NIRV
Medium Range Goals
Initially the goal of a permanent home to which we could relocate the girls was thought to be only a dream, but this dream started to become a reality October 7, 2004 when the paperwork was completed
to purchase ten acres of land for construction. The next goal was opening of a site for construction and a place for teams who hopefully would come to help with the construction of the new buildings. This was accomplished in November of 2004 when a building was rented in Monjas to serve as a home for two of the directors of James Project and to serve as a place to house the teams who were starting to arrive to help in the construction of the facilities. The third goal started to become a reality as the perimeter wall was begun January 8, 2005. It was completed March 31, 2005 at a cost of $21,000, plus labor. Construction of a first duplex for two homes in which to house the girls was accomplished in April of 2006.
The girls and many staff and missionaries moved from Guatemala City to Monjas in December of 2005. The second duplex was completed in March of 2007, making space for about 55 girls. As more
houses are constructed, the home will continue to grow, since the need is greater than space available. Each home will house twelve children, as set of house parents and one or two helpers (girls who have already turned 18) in order to help the girls mature in as normal a family as can be provided, given their circumstances.
In November of 2006, another 7.5 acres of adjoining land was purchased for the future site of the Shadow of His Wings Home for Boys.
Long Range Goals
While it is difficult to imagine administrating this, our hearts have been directed of the Lord to build for at least 150 girls and 100 boys. The site will have a
school for the the 250, a kitchen/laundry building, multi-purpose building, medical clinic (which will also serve community members), administrative building, and two small staff homes. A six-basket basketball court has been built as well as some playground equipment. A soccer field and space for gardens and domesticated animals will be added over time. A home for babies and a home for widows is also in the overall plan.
|
Home
Email this page
Print this page
