News December05 to February 2006

Intermediate information February 23rd, 2006 (the last newsletter follows hereafter):

Schoolbooks and uniforms

Yeimi is happy about her new uniform and other school stuff
we were able to buy. Yet school books are still missing.

We are also still in need of schoolbooks for another 20 children this year. Each pupil needs an average of 6 books. We usually pay between 10,00 and 20,00 € per book, depending on grade and subject.

Ten kids still need uniforms. School trousers cost around 15.-€ and shoes 18.-€. A pair of socks is around 2.-€.

A one-time donation in March would help us indeed! In the first week of March, the school offers

On January 27, 2006 Andrés Felipe, son of Luz Marina was born. He weighed 8377 lbs (3800g) and measured 1.7' (51 cm). Only a few hours after his birth, he was being seperated from his mom, since they suspected the Aids virus in his blood. The doctor said the virus was only very feeble. Baby and mom were being tested thoroughly for a week. In the meantime, our team and the leader of our church prayed fervently. During that week, doctors were totally perplexed as no virus at all could be found! God is faithful, all glory be to Him! February 4th, Marina could take her baby boy home.

Many things have happened since I had written to you the last time. God has shown Himself as the Faithful One, not only with Marina and her baby boy, my "grandchild". But let me tell you in detail:

* Church in Colombia and what I have learned these last weeks: God will make a distinction between His people and those, who do not want to know of Him. Exodus 8:19 and 9:4 and 11:7 say: "But the Lord will make a distinction between the live-stock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die." Why does God do that? Exodus 8:18 and 9:16 explain: "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

* Christmas: All kids received a gift, thanks to some special donations, and we had a wonderful celebration. Our thanks go to Herborn, Bempflingen, Münsingen, Mittelstadt, Reutlingen, and other cities.

* New school year: I looked a little panicky toward that time, as it is always connected with a lot of expenses. Some of you might know that for every new school year, the kids have to be enrolled anew. New school uniforms, about 200 exercise books, pencils, crayons, watercolors, blocks, different handicraft papers, scissors, glue, ball point pens, books, school shoes, socks, blouses, shirts, trousers and skirts, sport dressings, towels, toilet paper (4 rolls for each child). Last week, we went with four people into town, shopping for those things during five hours in order to get all things at once for 30 kids to fair prices. All will be able to attend school again.

* Graduated in December 2005: Maria Alejandra and Camilo. In the meantime, both have found occupations. Maria is working during 3 days per week with norwegian missionaries who are having 2 small kids. She is taking care of a 3 year old little girl and a 10 months old boy when their parents are away from home. Camilo is doing his military service.

* On January 4th, 2006, the boys have moved into a bigger house. They are now living closer to us and like it a lot there. Yet, they have left a lot of damage in their former home.... During one month, we had to do repair works for doors, built-in closets, toilets, sinks, painting walls, putting in new window glasses and other minor jobs. Those were extra spendings of around 1200,00 Euro (~ US$ 1500,00) for the months of January and February.

* Premature birth: On January 1st, 2006, MF gave birth to her little baby boy. His name is Jose David. Do you remember the girl who was abducted and raped? At the age of 15, she became a mom now. Her baby weighed only 4.02 lbs and has still to be kept in a heated bed. But we are in permanent contact and in her last phone call, MF said, "Only because of your help, my baby is alive!" We will go on helping wherever we can with food, clothings and prayers for mom and babe.

* New with us since December 2005 is Ingrid Paola; a girl who was being sexually abused by her father. She lived in two different facilities before. One had to close down and the other one had accepted Ingrid only for a short period of time. After that, nobody really knew what would happen to her. Also with us she was supposed to be staying for a short time only. Yet in January we have decided together with her mother (who "works" on the street and cannot care for Ingrid Paola) that she will stay with us for good. She will attend a bilingual Christian school. Ingrid Paola is 14 years old, very beautiful and intelligent. Who knows of somebody who would help giving her financial support?

* We had a visit from Duisburg/Germany in mid January. A spiritual delivery from the Duisburg Church toward our local church here in Bogotá took place. So now we are part of our church in Bogotá. We know this church already for four years. All of our ministry is welcome with them and we have already seen a lot of changes in the lifes of our children.

* Attention, another important change took place: Helga Trieglaff of "Hope + Life Ministries" will retire as of March 2006. She has done an outstanding accountancy job for us thus blessing our ministry for several years. "Thank you manyfold, dear Helga from all of us here in Colombia and also from all donators." Please change all standing orders and transfer your donations to:

To: Stiftung CGR (German for: Foundation Christian Community Reutlingen CCR)
Account number: 32975
Bank code: 640 500 00
At: Kreissparkasse Reutlingen
Subject index: AB ("Aktion Barmherzigkeit", German for Mercy Mission)

* o You will receive your donation receipts from this foundation: Stiftung CGR (Foundation CCR), Silberburgstr. 6, 72764 Reutlingen. In the last months, this church (which is only 10 minutes drive away from my home village Mittelstadt), has blessed and encouraged us very much. A wonderful friendschip to its pastors Helmut and Nicola Vollkommer has grown. The former foundation Stiftung CCR Duisburg has delivered us to that church with blessings. "Ruben and pastor Ruth: many thanks for your visit here in Bogotá. Thank you, Pastor Hajo for all your prayers and good advice."

o Dear sponsors of our children: Together with all of our kids we thank you for all your loyalty in 2005. Because of you, kids could attend school, dress, had enough to eat, could listen to the gospel, found shelter and a home and people who love them!

* The twins Camilo and Jeison are now 5 years old and are writing their first letters and numbers and are talking like a waterfall.

* Luis Carlos is attending school with great joy and it is still something very special for him to be able to do this.

* Viviana ranges fourth of 35 pupils in her class. She has begun to take God seriously and wants to live in His light and not doing hidden things like before.

* Wilfer is still a very hard working student, who also has many practical gifts, and who keeps devotedly praying for his family.

* Daisy, 14, Angie, 10 and Marta Bautista, 11, are girls looking for deep true love after a lot of negligence and sexual abuse. They enjoy being with us and I am like their mom.

* David Casallas moved back to his mother, yet still needs our help in his schooling. He is regularly visiting us.

* His brother Andrés has become independent. With the beginning of February, he is also staying with his mother. He is selling wafers and still wants to study languages.

* Araceli is second best of her class. She passed through many emotional depths last year, so we decided for her to be regularly counseled this year.

* Diana went to live at a different ministry for several weeks, but returned to us in need of a lot of emotional healing.

* Hermes is only slowly accepting his motherly guide Teresa. We will try it again this year, whether he will be able to integrate into school. Hermes is very intelligent, yet was being expelled from school because of his behavior.

* Our new boys are: Cristian, 11 and John Freddi, 14. Both came to us from another ministry that had to be closed and both boys are still in need of sponsors.

* Our new girls are Camila 11 years old, whose mom had been killed a year ago by her jealous lover. She was having 10 different men in 10 years, as Camila told us. Also Yeimi, 13, is new with us. Her mom died in an accident. She was addicted to drugs, and sometimes even "sold" her little daughter to prostitution and often lived on the streets. Camila is still in need of financial support.

* John Alexander returned to us after some break. He has yet to learn to control his mouth... At school, he is hard working and brings good marks home.

* His sister Angélica María Romero is busily studying English. She attends a computer course and another one for sewing. She also sells cosmetics and fashions adornments: necklaces, earrings, bracelets and sells them. She teaches praise and worship dances to other girls thus showing a lot of creativity.

* Jackline, 14 and her little 8 year old sister Erica came to us through Youth with a Mission. They and their mother sometimes lived in a little room and sometimes on the streets of a red light area, where at day and night prostitutes are looking for jobs.

* Yuli, 14, experienced God's protection last January. She couldn't stop her bike when a car approached her. The wheels of that car came to a halt just before her cheek. During 2 weeks, one could see the marks of the wheel in her face. For several days, Yuli was in a state of shock. But now, she is fine again.

* Jeison has found a job. And now independent are sind: Samuel, Francisco, Alexander, Julián and Julio.

* The Aguila Family is getting support from this american missionary who has opened his ministry some months ago.

* Luís, the brother of our twins, is attending a school for handicapped children thanks to regular support from Germany and is making a good progress.

* Johana, Miguel Angel and Angela Chala are fine. We keep helping them with education and food.

* Daniel, 14, came to us in June 2004 totally neglected and is a good student. He also is still in need of sponsors.

4. for our finances to be enough for all schools, staff members, rents, costs of transport, school materials, etc.

I am very thankful for our staff which is standing faithfully at my side. For those helping our kids to have a meaningful future. For your friendship and help. For our counsel team here on location, who are on my side with counseling and help. For my health and God's guidance, protection, wisdom and strength.

Shalom to all of you and many greetings from all of us here of Mercy Mission, especially from