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Micah Project December Update |
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“MANY TASSELS” CHRISTMAS 2004 It was a rather simple gesture. Left to right: dangle and swing. Left to right: dangle and swing. Five times Sister Marta Soto, the founder and director of Maestro en Casa, moved a tassel from one side of a teetering graduation cap to the other on the evening of November 13, 2004. This simple gesture was profoundly moving to all who attended the graduation of five of the Micah young men: Cristino, David, Jarvin, Marvin, and Olvin. Five former street kids have become men of God with their own gifts, challenges, and callings. God in his grace has changed their lives from left to right, death to life, darkness to light just as clearly as Sister Marta had swung tassels across their caps. The wonderful graduation celebration served as one of the most obvious testaments to God’s transforming power at work in the Micah boys in 2004. But, there were many other significant moments for the Micah Project in the past year as well! The oldest participant in the Micah House, Darwin Pavon, finished his first year at Zamorano, a prestigious university that focuses on Latin American development issues. In February, the Leadership House was inaugurated and the five young men mentioned above settled in. This House is the realization of the dream to provide “yesterday’s street children” with loving training at every step of their development into “tomorrow’s Kingdom builders.” And as some of the older boys moved into the Leadership House, God brought two younger boys, Eric and Jeferson, to be the newest members of the Micah House family. God’s resurrection power was also obvious through the outreach that he enabled the Micah Project to do in 2004. The boys continued serving others in a variety of contexts- part-time jobs at orphanages, participating in adult education programs and youth ministry at Villa Linda Miller, caring for children and adults who struggle to survive at the city dump, and much more. In 2004, God also provided a number of natural connections to the boys’ families. The Micah Project, for example, had the privilege of helping several of the boys’ families solve housing crises, including building a new home for Miguel and Jeferson’s family. God is powerfully at work in the boys’ hearts, often amidst the opening of old wounds, as they reach out to their families and experience God’s healing for everyone. The above summary of God’s work in and through the Micah Project is certainly inadequate. Much of the profound change that God has brought is reflected in day to day life at both the Micah and Leadership Houses. The hugs given to staff members, the service offered to one another at meals, the joy found in learning to play the guitar, and the self-control exhibited amidst a competitive soccer game all testify to the power and goodness of God. As you reflect on 2004 with the Micah Project, we invite you to worship the God who brings light and life right in the middle of deep darkness. We are very thankful to Him for providing the Micah Project with such a devoted, competent, and loving staff. Furthermore, we are grateful for you, our partners, who give so generously of your resources, prayers, and lives, in hope that many tassels will swing from left to right- and many children move from darkness into God’s marvelous light. (Thanks to Micah Board member Tim Baldwin for this beautiful reflection!) |