Dearest Amigos,
Where to begin? 2022 has been a year full of many extremes - extreme joy and extreme sadness, extreme blessings and extreme challenges - but we have found GOD to be faithful - through it all - and for that we give Him thanks and glory. As you should see immediately from the photo below, our biggest blessing has come in the form of many new sons and daughters. This picture was taken in October, with the hope of CHl's end-of-the-year letter being one of the first organization's Christmas letters to reach you! We can also see clearly how that turned out, ha,ha,ha! But had all gone as planned, I would not have had the opportunity to share that God blessed us with 4 more children in the last 2 months, bringing our full-time family to a total of 92 Kids & 18 Staff (in addition to the 18 teachers and assistants that run our on-site elementary school, Maria - our cook, our Christian psychologist and an extra substitute Tia who all live off campus but are also essential members of our Mexico Team).
I also would not have had the opportunity to share about one of the biggest tragedies that has befallen us in years. On Dec. 9th, our iconic gym burned to the ground due to a short in the circuit breaker box. The fire was swift and the devastation was total - but no children or staff were injured! Thanks be to God!
- Two groups of children (left) lost their classrooms, all text books, furnishings, desks, computers, etc.
- Our youngest Kiddos lost their nursery with all the furnishings (middle).
- The sweet family of 5 we've been helping for the past year lost everything (insert). They had been living in the apartment in the gym since fleeing their home in the interior of Mexico due to cartel members threatening to re-kidnap their oldest son even after having paid a hefty ransom.
- Our stockpile of school supplies for all grades was entirely lost as were all of our Mexican folk dance outfits and costumes for special occasions.
- Equipment for PE and all art supplies used for over 150 students was destroyed along with sound and video equipment used for Chapel, not to mention many benches and tables.
The list could go on and on of what was lost - thankfully, with the extra funding we are praying will come in, most material items will eventually be able to be replaced - this has become a great, unexpected and urgent need.
What has not been lost however is our hope for the future, nor our trust in the Lord. We can see His hand of protection, even in the timing of this tragedy, and we give Him much thanks.
Between 4 and 5 PM, when the fire began, only Jaime and his two sons were in the building. He saw the smoke coming through the floor boards and just barely had enough time to get his boys downstairs to safety. Had it been earlier in the day, while classes were going, or when all 150+ students were gathered for chapel... had it been even an hour earlier when our older girls were doing their chores of cleaning the upstairs classrooms and Tia Sulema was handing out school supplies or in the dead of night when the family would have been asleep - the outcome would have been far, far more devastating.
The fact that this terrible accident occurred during the children's last week of school before Christmas vacation - has actually been very timely as well. It has allowed us a little space to regroup, as we seek the Lord's will on how to proceed. The following Monday - two of the displaced classes were held in the newly remodeled computer room/future library - which is about 95% complete. Tio Juan's office was turned into the nursery for a few days and the family is currently staying in one of the apartments used for the Tio & Tias' days off. We are seeking God's guidance on how to proceed and for now our emphasis will be on replacing the lost material items needed to resume classes in January - rather than focusing on rebuilding the gym at the moment.
I've written this letter so many times in my mind over the last few months - giving you updates and thanking you for your support of this ministry are some of the things I truly feel privileged to do as the Director of CHI. But today I am struggling to piece things together - so please bear with me.
This letter will go out to our entire mailing list - between 1200 and 1300 folks in the US and Canada - that at one time or another have shown interest in our Home. About half of you are our "current donors" which means you have given at least one gift of any amount in the past 14 months - Thank You! It has been your donations that have helped us feed, clothe, educate and provide for each and every need of our Dear Ones during 2022. I know the economy has adversely affected everyone, that prices have skyrocketed all over and it doesn't look like there is really any end in sight - but YOU have chosen to make "providing loving Christian care to needy children" one of your personal priorities and we are honored that you would partner with CHI to do it for 92 of "the least of these".
We pray you will continue to support the Haven in 2023 and we are committed to being faithful stewards of every dollar that is sent in to advance God's Kingdom work in the hearts and lives of needy children and teens as well as the growing community that now surrounds the Haven in Reynosa - through our school and other outreach ministries.
I also want to offer special thanks at this time to all those that even without being reminded or before you knew of our emergency needs - had already felt moved to send in an extra year-end gift. A few very, very generous ones too, I might add! At the beginning of the month, I was surprised to see we were actually ahead in our finances as compared to last year. This is a wonderful thing, and the Lord knows we need it. Because at the same time, expenses have also increased drastically this past year. Most is due, obviously, to the huge increase in children. Two years ago at this time we had 42, last year around 65 and now 92! Why so many more children you ask? Well for starters, all 7 Casas are available for use now and our Site Director, Juan Arteaga, has done an amazing job at both staff and child retention. He has been an open door and the Home is running at complete capacity- if not slightly beyond!
In Matthew 25:14-30 - Jesus used the parable of the talents to teach us the importance of using what God's given us to grow His kingdom. In that story the servants were dealing with
money, and when they showed themselves to be faithful - the master gave them more money to be stewards of. We see each new child the Lord brings to us as an increase in talents - a reward for good and faithful service and an opportunity to see hopeless lives transformed by the love and care our wonderful Tios and Tias provide - with the end goal of growing His kingdom.
Take Anthony for example, pictured below, with bruises on his neck from where his own mother tried to strangle him. Then look at the next photo - taken just a week later in the gym incidentally ... can you see the difference? Can you see the hope? That's what your gifts help us do!
The increase in "talents" we have received has been the blessing of adding so many more needy children to our family. But we also desperately need more money as well and we are extremely grateful to all of you that help us have enough to meet such a large family's daily needs. If you haven't yet given this year - but it's in your heart to do so - there's still time and we really need all the help we can get. Any gift of any size will make a difference.
About half of you that will receive this letter we haven't heard from in several years. Maybe you came on a Team, visited on a lunch tour or at one of our Mexican Fiestas - which will mean you too must have a beautiful memory ortwo in what was our gym. If there is any way you can help us out - we hope you will see this is a critical time for the Haven and be moved to action. Any gift of any amount would be a great blessing and we would be ever so appreciative. If your heart is still with us, but your financial situation has changed and you just can not give - then will you pray that others will be able to do so? Prayer is what kept our children and staff safe on 12/9 - prayer is what has brought so many new kiddos to our Home and prayer is what will sustain us in 2023 and beyond. Even if you can't give financially, please take the time to write a note saying you will continue to pray for our needs. It would be very encouraging and also lets us know that you wish to remain on our mailing list. And if you are a friend from the past that has simply felt led to use your talents elsewhere - how about letting us know that as well. It would save us some time and postage, we won't hold it against you and still thank you for whatever part you played in the past to help get us to where we are today.
In 2023 - Children's Haven International will be celebrating our 50th year of Ministry! Exciting right? Praise God! Lord willing we will have special events planned on both sides of the Rio to mark this important milestone. Feb. 25th, more than likely, will be the date on the US and we hope to be at a place to hold a ribbon cutting of sorts for Project Steele on 3/4 when we celebrate at the Home in Reynosa. That's why it is extra important for you to keep in touch! Should God give us His favor, the three metal sides will be up by the end of February, if not sooner, and below is the architect's rendering for the front of the building, which will be worked on simultaneously, as long as funding is available. Power Ministries has committed to framing the two offices and large open meeting area on the left side of the building beginning in January & we may be to a point to use labor from our Team's for additional work to advance the project.
Since we have so much going on, much expected and planned and then there's all the unexpected and unplanned - I will end this letter with a simple plea. If over the years you've seen, either through our correspondence, posts on social media or personal visits to the Home, that we have been faithful stewards of that which has been entrusted to us - please consider not only continuing your partnership but increasing your investment in what God is doing through Children's Haven International, especially now when our needs are greatest. Please share about this work with others in your circles of influence and please, please, please PRAY for our Staff, our Children and our Future. Donations will be used first and foremost to ensure the daily needs of our ever-growing family are met and to equip our wonderful staff of Mexican Missionaries to share the Gospel with our Kiddos, with the 100+ school children and their families and with those in the community that surround us. Lord willing, we will soon be able to replace much of that which was lost & we will be in a place to continue to invest in the future outreach opportunities that we feel Project Steele will afford us. All of this will be done by God's grace and in His time as He touches hearts and opens .doors. Thanks once more for all you have done already!
In Christ's Service, Betsy Chacon
CHILDREN'S HAVEN
"Providing loving Christian care for needy children"
Got questions about Children's Haven International? Please contact:
Crystal Stulp | Children & Family Care Pastor - crystal@centralcommunity.ca