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Dear friends of Casa de Ester,
In 2008, Arrow began its presence and ministry in Honduras for the purpose
of raising the standard of care for orphaned children in the city of
Tegucigalpa. A number of initiatives were delivered over the past six years to
do so; bringing the best of our knowledge and resources to other care-givers
in the country by providing training, networking opportunities, government
consultation, emergency resourcing, and direct care to the girls' home we
have come to know and love, Casa de Ester. As our first international
outreach and expansion effort, this was a significant undertaking for Arrow.
We are pleased with the work we have accomplished and feel good about both
the influence and operation we have planted there. Now, we are moving beyond
the planting time to another season of planning for the continued growth of
the work we started in Honduras.
We have discerned collectively with our leadership in Honduras that the best
way to create a path for continuing effective service in the future for the
girls' home operation is for Casa de Ester to become its own ministry under
the direction and leadership of Michael and Valina Perry. Michael and
Valina have served our ministry well in their role as International
Directors of Casa de Ester since 2013. They are committed to the mission,
convinced of their calling to serve in Honduras, and more specifically, they
know they belong helping the girls of Casa de Ester. We have been prayerfully
considering this transition, and they are now preparing to assume the control
and responsibility of the program on May 1, 2015.
Arrow can clearly
remember the early days of planting in Honduras, and can now step back and
admire the tree standing on its own, nurtured by many, including the current
leadership of Michael and Valina.
What does this mean to the donors who have supported Arrow in this work over
the years? I trust that it means you can feel good
about the investment you
made in the planting season of Arrow, and that you will continue your
support directly to Casa de Ester and Michael and Valina. What you have come
to know, love and appreciate a
bout the ministry performed at Casa de Ester
will prayerfully continue and grow in its
reach and impact. Candidly, what you
experience, what our girls experience, is more testimony to the Perry's
leadership than that of our work coming from the states. We serve
administratively while they serve on the frontline. We direct you to them,
and they receive you, connecting you and com
pelling you to continue
supporting the mission. For that reason, it is good stewardship to turn the
rei
ns over to them in as seamless a transition as possible. Specific aspects
of that transition are being worked out, but details will be forthcoming and
communicated by Michael, so that you can discern your place in the new relationship.
I consider it a privilege to have made both a personal and professional
investment of Arrow into the lives and hearts of the people of Honduras,
specifically the lives of very vulnerable young girls. Perhaps we will find
ourselves in a planting season in another jurisdiction beyond our
borders again? Only God knows. I do know, however, that the ministry in
Honduras has been good and fruitful. My prayer is that it will increase in
the days ahead with your support of Michael, Valina, and the rest of the
Honduras team.
I close with great appreciation and thankfulness to all who have made a difference
for children in Honduras. I now invite you to read a greeting
from the Perrys.
-Mark
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