New Beginnings

January marks the beginning of a new year, and this year, it also marks the beginning of a new decade. It is a time to make new goals, nix bad habits, and possibly try new things.

This month, I experienced some firsts, and our programs also experienced some new beginnings!

New Years: It is tradition, here in Ecuador, to "burn out" the old year by setting a viejo (old man) or monigote on fire. In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, monigotes are sold on street corners. (Depending on the political climate, the president or a famous soccer player may be depicted as a viejo.) Once lite, you jump over the monigote, which symbolizes leaping into the new year. On New Year's Eve, men also dress up as viudas (or widows) and take to the streets in the plight of their deceased husband, el viejo, that is burned at midnight. The viudas often block roads and stop cars to ask for handouts or "funds" for their new lives as widows. It is quite a sight to see!

Dream Center: This month Extreme Response will be launching scholarships for our Dream Center kids! You can choose to sponsor a child from any one of our three regions---Ecuador, South Africa, or the Philippines. These scholarships will provide children enrolled in our programs with continued educational reinforcement, school supplies, hot meals, life skills training, and a safe and nurturing environment where they get to hear about the love of Jesus. Look for more information on January 24th at www.extremeresponse.org.

Life Skills & Livelihood Training:

The ladies who are a part of our Life Skills and

Livelihood Training started something new this month--a take-home Bible study! Usually, when the ladies get together for their workshops, a Bible study is also done beforehand. Not this time, though! This time, the ladies took the initiative and asked if they could have a take-home study to do amongst themselves and then discuss the material they covered the day of their workshops. I cannot begin to tell you how big of a deal this is! Pray for these ladies as they go through the study--"Lies that Women Believe"--with their friends. I am praying and believing it will be a powerful time for them!

Praises, Blessings & Updates:

• I have finally settled on a church! Small groups have yet to start up, but hopefully, they will soon.

• A short-term volunteer arrived two weeks ago and will be staying for the next six months. She will split her time between a partner project and our program. Please pray for her transition and for the time that she will spend here.

• Speaking of transitions, I have been very grateful for the smooth transition that I have had. It is truly an answer to prayer and a blessing.

• I started mentoring sessions this month! I am enjoying the time I spend with the girls. Some of our conversations are lighthearted; others are heavy as they talk about their family, abuse, and fears. Pray for the time that we spend together! Pray for their hearts and wisdom as I navigate tough topics.

• Extreme Response is hosting a Bible story training with an organization called Kids Around the World this coming week. Our teachers (and myself) will be in attendance and staff from various partner projects. Please pray for our time together! We are excited about this opportunity and hope to use these new strategies with the kids at the Dream Center during Bible time.

Prayer Requests:

• Please continue to hold Luz and her family in your prayers. As I mentioned in my last update, they were waiting for a diagnosis. The doctors believe Luz has cancer, but her body has rejected chemo treatment. (Often, when doctors are unsure of a diagnosis, they label it as cancer.) She is currently in the hospital (with her family). The doctors are trying to make her as comfortable as possible. Please pray for her family during this time. It does not look good. Two of her siblings attend our program and have been out all week. Pray for them as well, as more than likely, they will have to cope with her passing.

• Pray for two siblings who are a part of the Dream Center. Unfortunately, I cannot go into many details publicly, but we recently became aware of sexual abuse in the home. Pray for wisdom as we negative this trauma, for the chains of abuse to be broken, and for protection.​

• We have officially outgrown our space at the Dream Center. We have been tight on space for a while, but we are now bursting at the seams. We cannot add on to the house we currently use. Please pray for another building to open up or for us to find land to build! Either way, this requires funds! Pray for funding to come in and for the Father to lead us to the perfect location.

• Continue to pray that I stay healthy! We have many sick kids at the moment, so Vitamin C and Zinc have become my best friend.