Meeting of MAMi A.C. support

Merry Christmas to all Friends of Casa MAMi in the name of Jesus Christ who's birth we celebrate this week!

On Monday, Dec. 21 the group pictured here met in McAllen, TX in the home of Celia Thrash, board member of Casa MAMi MX. Pictured are: Front, Celia Thrash, Kathy Scruggs (Memphis, TN), Sister Elma Fonseca and the daughter of the Villafranca's, of Harlingen, TX. From left to right, standing: Isaiah (Brownsville, TX), Thomas Quinn (Ft. Worth, TX), Rick Hagans (Auburn, Al), Juan Carlos (father of Isaiah, Brownsville,TX), Pastor Bill Quinn (father of Thomas, Ft. Worth), Gary Dennis (Hammond, LA), Elisa & Martín Villafranca (Harlingen, TX) and Ismelda Ramirez Puente (Reynosa, Tmps, MX).

The purpose of the meeting was to (1) get to know one another as friends in Christ called to share the unique vision that Sister Elma has labored to fulfill and (2) to make decisions for the benefit and longevity of the ministry.

The consensus of the group was to establish the following goals / priorities:
(1) Continued prayer and more aggressive searching for a bilingual individual or couple to be hired; this person/couple, Lord willing, will have a true heart for the work, skill, knowledge, and ability to mentor lead, manage staff and accept responsibility for the future management of the home. As God leads, Elma will move into a position of advisor. Love Never Fails, International, a ministry of Pastor Bill Quinn, is committed to supporting Casa Hogar MAMi expenses with $60k to $100k over the next six months. After a time of learning from Sister Elma, LNF hopes to maintain their support and to open similar homes for children in other communities along the border.
(2) In preparation for this new staff, Elma is to find an apt or property to lease for 3 years where this person / couple can live in proximity to Casa MAMi on Rio Frio. Friends at the meeting offered to help with remodeling or furniture for this dwelling.

What does this mean for the future of Casa MAMi MX?
Some churches who have supported the home through our particular organization have already informed us that they will direct their funds to ministries who have greater need in the coming months. Our plan is to, as we always have done and as is described in our mission statement, continue to send donations to Sister Elma for salaries, as we are able. It has been a prayer that more staff of high quality could be employed at the home. In particular, there are still needs for better mentoring of the older girls, additional staff at night, and that individual or couple who can truly 'lighten Sister Elma's load'.

It was a deeply heartfelt blessing to sit in Celia's living room that day and to hear the stories of God's hand calling and blessing people through this ministry. Ismelda, pictured on the far right, moved with her family to Reynosa after the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, homeless. Sister Elma welcomed them and found them a place to live. Today their family owns the blood bank of Reynosa; her daughter Iliana took the photo and speaks perfect English. Iliana lives in Gainesville, TX.

What can you do?
Praise God for this new opportunity to strengthen and expand the ministry! We hope that the people who are sought will be called! Please help us find the bilingual missionary / missionaries who are needed at the home. Send donations as you feel called by God. Continue to pray and remember Casa MAMi. The future is very dependent upon God's provisions. This is one of the most precious characteristics of the ministry.

Fernanda still needs prayer. Sister Elma and the girls from Casa MAMi saw her at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in downtown Reynosa. She hugged them and was tearful. I asked if she could return and was told 'yes', as long as she is willing to abide by the rules. The home where she is is far from school so she has not been attending classes. This concerns me very much! Also, violence is prevalent in Reynosa. The army and police presence is actually a good thing, though. It makes visitors uncomfortable, but the shooting, which is sometimes heard at night, has not injured anyone we know, so far. Thanks be to God~