Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you are all doing well! As I was trying to think of how to put this prayer letter together… this picture with the “Never give up!” phrase came to mind. Not that I am going to quit, but there have been many challenges lately. So, in this letter.. I simply want to send out some information about what this first month back at work has been like and some very important prayer requests. Then, I’ll include some pictures to let you all have a peek at the action in Dulce Refugio and in my life in general.

As 2010 took off, I felt like I entered into a totally new phase of leadership and challenges in Dulce Refugio. My best friend and co-entrepreneur of Dulce Refugio is no longer working with me and I am feeling the weight of having to carry the vision forward on my own. I do have a great team that is slowly taking shape, but nothing compares to being able to share the load with another person that is just as passionate and dedicated to the ministry as you are.

Prayer request: that God would bring that person into Dulce Refugio, someone to dream with, and share the work load as each day brings new opportunities. We are also in desperate need of a full-time teacher who can dedicate time and energy to coordinate all the activities and programs we have for the kids and is also able to sow God’s love and wisdom into their lives as they mature.

Since all of our children are still on vacation until the end of this month, there has been a need for many extra activities and a great opportunity to develop some special programs with the kids and spend more time with them. For the month of February, we planned the first 2 Tuesdays with workshops like cooking, electricity, hair styling, and carpentry in the mornings and then in the afternoons they had a choreography/ dance class and time for a Bible Study. The Fire Fighters were supposed to come and teach us about safety and first aid along with an outing to the park in the afternoon where the kids will be able to see the trucks and ambulances first hand.... They never showed up.

This little princess (Alejandra) stayed with me for a couple of days while her mother took care of the baby sister in the hospital. I seriously fell in love with her!! But, it wasn’t very easy..

After spending one night at my place, she literally kicked and screamed when she was supposed to go home with her uncle. I found out that they abuse her, so I took her home with me for the weekend. She didn’t want to be with anyone else. She melts my heart!