Micah Project August 2008 Photos

Olvin Funez, who is starting his second year at the University of Houston, was able to participate in a trip to Egypt sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. After leading a sports camp for Egyptian youth near Cairo, the team got to spend a day visiting the pyramids. Here, Olvin is looking very Egyptian as he stands in front of the great pyramid at Giza!

Through our street ministry, we have been developing close relationships with several young street boys. Often, the boys come to the Micah House for food or a nap. Several of them have been participating in our Saturday activities as well. Above, Hector and Josue came and slept for several hours one afternoon on the Micah House couch. Mocha (our chocolate lab), never one to miss a good nap, joined them for most of the afternoon.

Marvin Cobán celebrated his fourteenth birthday on August 12. This was the first birthday he ever celebrated! When he left the streets last year, he didn't know his birthday, so we passed it right by in his first month with us. We were able to get his birth certificate, though, so this year we had a big celebration!

Cristofer, who will graduate from the sixth grade in November, shares a smile with his teacher Paty. Cristofer, at 13, is the youngest Micah boys. Paty has taught in our home-schooling program for three years.

14 year old Wilmer (black shirt) has been off the streets and stable in our programs since early June. He first came to us in July of last year, but had been on and off the streets since them. These last couple of months have been wonderful; he seems to be leaving the streets behind day by day. Finally, these month, he has been identifying syllables and forming words...even reading short sentences. For the first time in his life, he can read! Here, he stands with his younger brother Nelson, who sometimes comes to visit us.

Our three high school seniors, hard at work! Marvin, Pedro and Oscar are doing a series of social service initiatives before graduating in November. Above, they are reforesting an area near one of their churches. Below, they give a puppet presentation about health and hygiene to kindergarten students at our neighborhood school.

A trip down memory lane! Lauri Deniakos (orange and white shirt), Becca (Hogan) Woods (green shirt) and Erin MacLean (blue sweater) served with the Micah Project for several years. They played a key role in raising the first couple of generations of Micah boys! They all met in St. Louis in July to celebrate the birth of Becca's baby, Kennedy Jane. Here, they stand with Tino, Oscar, and Oscar's friend Lauren in July 2008 in St. Louis.

As is our custom, we took a Saturday-trip to a park outside of Tegucigalpa last week. Lately, we have been inviting street kids on these trips as a way to develop our relationship with them. Above, Michael stands with one of the street kids, named Jose Daniel. We have been praying for this kid for a long time; maybe some day he will leave the yellow glue behind and join the project. Below, during a soccer game at the same park, Edwin (blue shirt) tries to get the ball from an opponent during a pick-up game of soccer.

On the last day of August, we participated in the annual run to support Proyecto Victoria, the Christian rehab facility where three of our boys are currently getting help. Most of our guys participated in this 10 kilometer run through the streets of Tegucigalpa. Above, Wilmer is almost to the finish line! Below, Erick holds Becca's second-place trophy (congratulations Becca!!!) while they chat about his life at the rehab facility. We are very proud of Erick's progress!

On another one of our Saturday outings, to the Pacific coast, Fredy and our intern David enjoy some fried fish. David is with us for six months from Wheaton College's HNGR program (which is the same program that Michael Miller did in 1993!).