News from Reynosa & McAllen

Saludos y Dios le bendiga!
Sister Elma's webpage has been updated and looks great!
www.casahogarmami.org
I see that the Soriana store in Mexico has made a nice donation!
Our friends in McAllen had their annual Tea party and collected $7,000. However, they inform us that travel to Reynosa is not safe at this time. Still no news on the purchase of the property next door.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers, love, and support!

Update on Fernanda

I called Sister Elma this week to find out if there was any news about Fernanda. (I knew that many of you had been praying.) Xochit and Mikey, former employees of Casa MAMi, are working in another casa hogar and Fernanda has gone there. Apparently Xochit and Fernanda were communicating via email about this. There is now email in the office of the home. The home where Xochit and Mikey are does not enforce the same rules that Sister Elma has. Hopefully this will be a good environment for Fernanda. Your prayers are appreciated. Mikey's father has a seminary in Reynosa. I don't have any additional information at this time.

please pray

Friends, these are two photos of Fernanda. The first was taken in February 2007; the second upon her graduation from middle school, June 2009. I am sad to share the news that Fernanda has left Casa MAMi. She arrived for the first time in 2003 or 2004, from the streets, on drugs. She has been a leader, a reader, a musician, and a Christian. She has helped care for the younger children, assisted Margarita with the office and, as an adolescent, has been either the best or the worst influence on others.

Elma has been in Houston for several weeks with her daughter, a mother of two, who has medical problems. We have talked several times. The other day, Elma informed me that when Fernanda entered high school this fall (age 15) she began to ask to have a cell phone and more money. She desperately wanted to have more freedom and to fit in with other students. When they went to pick her up one day at school she was not there. I do not have up to date information on her whearabouts. Since she has been at Casa MAMi she has been taken home to her mother ( not a stable person) three times, and returned to Casa MAMi by the DIF. Elma is currently in touch with the DIF and they are hoping to put her in a Christian home for older girls. Fernanda has always been one of my favorites so I am very burdened for this.

I expressed my hope that the ministry would perhaps develop programs for the older girls that gives them freedom and responsibilities. Elma said that she had been talking with Fernanda about a part time job. I am sad that Fernanda is acting impulsively and perhaps taking dangerous risks. One teacher said that 'she was friends with the kids who sell drugs'. Please pray that she will hear the voice of her Savior and not go down the path of her mother. Other prayers for older girls and the need for good mentors would be answered. Thank you!

God's vision for the future

"

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord"

Isaiah 55:8

Friends of this ministry: When our board had its fifth annual meeting in March 2009 President Bill White presented a letter comparing how Focus on the Family was led to appoint a successor to Dr. James Dobson, and raised the concern and prayer of what would become of this ministry should Sister Elma not be present. "Out of the blue" some answers to this prayer are appearing. For those of you who are familiar with Casa Hogar MAMi, it will come as no surprise to learn that, just as the opportunity of purchasing the adjacent property came at an unexpected moment, the same is true for future leadership of Casa MAMi.

Last week, on Friday October 9, 2009 a meeting was held in Reynosa to announce that an organization in Ft. Worth, Texas, Love Never Fails International, ( http://www.loveneverfailsinternational.org/) will spend the next six months shadowing Sister Elma and the ministry in Reynosa. God willing, after this period of "get to know you" they will hire a missionary couple to work in the home and Sister Elma's role will change to Vice President. Love Never Fails International primarily ministers to children at risk. They intend to replicate this ministry in new locations along the border of Mexico with Texas. This is a very exciting vision.

There is other news to share: 1) Random violence continues, particularly in Matamoros, where some pastors were kidnapped and their car was stolen. Fortunately, Elma, who travels back and forth across the border several times a week, has not had any problems. 2) The first floor of the home, that has been dedicated to the Day Care program and school for parents as well as kindergarten, has now taken a new direction: young boys, mostly brothers, are also residents. Clothes are needed for these children. 3) So far, there is no news regarding the purchase of the adjacent property. It is our hope that God may use the support from Love Never Fails International to accomplish this. 4) New visitors who are expected to make trips to the home before the end of the year are students from Bowdoin College in Maine, members of Park Street Church Boston, MA (http://www.parkstreet.org/ ), First Presbyterian Church San Antonio, TX (http://www.fpconline.org) and Christ United Methodist Church of Sugarland, TX will make a food delivery. 5) The Lions Club of Reynosa is planning a style show to benefit Casa Hogar MAMi.

We appreciate your support, friendship and gifts of love and financial support. May God bless YOUR home. If you did not receive the newsletter from August, I will try to post it here. Thank you for joining us in prayer for all of the staff and children who need protection and kindness and are within the reach of Casa MAMi.

July visitors and news

"The goal.. is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." I Timothy 1:5

These words were written by the apostle Paul to Timothy. They are the basis for the instruction that is currently emphasized at Casa MAMi. The ministry, GLORY, praise and thanksgiving to God, is in a very good place right now.

1) Based on writings in Spanish by Joyce Meyer and James Dobson, instruction is given to the residential girls, battered women, and the parents of the day care program. The girls are writing their own lists of what God wants them to do, personal goals, and lists of prayers and God's miracles in their lives. Parents are developing their own understanding of what God wants them to do, and BE, and how to better take care of their children. Biblical instruction and prayer support are alive and well at Casa MAMi.

2) Sister Elma recently returned from a trip to Ciudad Victoria, the state capital, with great news that the Mexican government will give $20,000 USD (conversion) toward capital improvements to the home.

3) The property next door that has come for sale to the ministry is evaluated by one appraiser at minimum 150-180K.(USD) The second appraisal is due by July 10. A gate from the patio of Casa MAMi to the property will need to be created and approximately 10K (USD) in improvements should be completed to make this useful.

4) Two interns, Courtney Bass and Annie Love of Auburn University, will be staying at the home July 3-Aug 3. They have spent June in Guatemala at a similar ministry. We are grateful and prayerfully supportive of their commitment to help this summer at Casa MAMi.

5) July 11-12, our friends from Christ United Methodist Church in Sugarland, TX will visit Casa MAMi. For 20 years members of this dedicated church have been traveling to Reynosa to serve. The board of Casa MAMi MX is privileged to have two members from this church serving with us, Olinda Osejovics and Renee Teel.

So far, the only other interest for visits from mission groups is Oct. 9-11, 2009 St. Luke's United Methodist Church of Houston and Spring Break (March 11-18?) 2010 Advent Church Arlington, TN. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE THINKING OF COMING. GOD BLESS YOU!

6) Sister Elma is reworking her Mexican board, as some members have become inactive due to time constraints and other commitments. She will see some of them today, June 27. The staff and overall health of the ministry is very good. Greater support for the ministry has developed in Mexico. For 2008, one-third of all donations were from the US and two-thirds were from Mexico. This is great news! Our US non-profit organization is committed to paying staff salaries, as God provides.

6) Special needs and prayer concerns: donations for salaries; safety for all visitors and people touched by the ministry (violence is down, but still a concern, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the situation), donors for the new property... finally MUCH PRAISE TO OUR AWESOME GOD AND REDEEMER JESUS CHRIST

P.S. Here is an email, June 27, from US board member Celia Thrash, who lives in McAllen.

Hi guys, just thought I'd give you an update. Maria and I met Elma and Polo today. Because of an e-mail Maria sent out, McAllen Sports donated thousands of t-shirts, sports pants, etc, to the orphanage to resale. They needed to clean out their warehouse and the timing with Maria's note fit perfectly. We filled (to the brim) CASA HOGAR's large van and Elma's van with boxes of t-shirts. Elma's arranged for a tent to sell the shirts in the parking lot of a large department store in Reynosa.

Elma mentioned to Maria that she did several interviews on TV and radio and newspaper - one was a National Mexico station! Maria's going to put it on the blog. I've discussed with Elma the importance of introducing the desire to purchase property for a playground for the children in her interviews etc...... We all need to do that in hopes of reaching capable and generous hearts.

I've sent schedules to Annie and Courtney. We are arranging to have them picked up at the airport. I just need to get their time of arrival.
Kathy, I still need to get on the phone with you. I've been swamped!

Olinda, wish I could see you on July 11th. I'll be in Dallas. Good Luck. And, don't worry about Mexico, we're feeling quite safe there right now.

Talk to you soon.
Celia

A long awaited answer to prayer!

Sister Elma phoned last night to say that the owners of the property next door to Casa MAMi, on Rio Frio, want to sell!

If you read previous blogs from years past you will remember that there was a donor who was willing to help purchase additional land for a playground and growth for the ministry. Sister Elma said that God would provide in His timing. The land that is for sale is our first choice; it includes the treed drive way and two houses.

We are excited and look forward to seeing how God will accomplish this. For now, the bank is appraising the property. I don't know if the donor is still interested. Please pray!

Thank you~!

A letter from Maria Paz

Mary Patterson is a friend of Casa MAMi who's mother lives in Reynosa and is a close friend of Sister Elma. "Mari Paz", as Sister Elma calls her,lives in McAllen, works with the board of Casa MAMi MX, and sent the following message to members of the Mexican Board and friends along the border.

Dear Friends:

As you are aware, some of us help out with an all-girl orphanage in Reynosa, Mexico. Because of the recent violence threats and the swine flu, we had not been able to visit in a few months. Fortunately, Celia Thrash and I were there this weekend.

I want to share these pictures with you because in the past, most of you have found it in your hearts to donate either time or money to this great cause. So, here's an update:

There are 42 girls between the ages of 1 to 17 staying there permanently. All girls of school age attend school, sport activities and church. Two of them will attend high school this fall. They graduated from Junior High with an A average!

There are 3 teenage mothers (16, 16 and 17 years old) with their children staying there temporarily until better accommodations are found for them.

There are 32 children (boys and girls) attending the free daycare and kinder garden from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. And 26 more children (boys and girls) attend free daycare only (same hours). The parents of these children have the opportunity to attend the Mexican equivalent to GED classes, as well as parenting classes on weekends and evenings right there at the orphanage.

To look at the pictures, please follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=88383&id=625843945&l=97b2df2c83


Right now, due to the tragedy that occurred in Sonora, Mexico where 31 children died at a daycare fire, the Mexican government has mandated to have all orphanages and daycare centers inspected. When CASA MAMi was inspected, they found our extinguishers to be too small and not enough of them, plus we were missing evacuation signs, and our staff was not trained to properly evacuate the children or use the extinguishers. Long story short, we had to update our extinguishers and signs or we would be closed down. Each of the 18 extinguishers needed costs $50 dlls (installation included). We will also need to install panic bars in some of the doors. We are trying to help Ms. Fonseca, the orphanage director, to pay for all of this.

I know that the economy is not good today, but if you could find it in your heart to help with a few dollars, we could resolve this issue without going into the funds that we keep for food and supplies. All donations are tax deductible in the USA, if they are made out to Casa MAMi MX.

If you are able to help us, please make the checks out to: CASA HOGAR MAMi. You can send the donations to my address:

Maria Patterson
2005 Fair Oaks Drive
Mission, TX 78574

Thank you so much in advance, and enjoy the pictures!

God bless you