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MAY 2016 - YEAR REPORT
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Message from Directors

Dear friends and family,

A year ago today, Casa de Ester had just survived our first month after making the transition to operate as an independent ministry.  It was a whirlwind month for the ministry as we stepped out in faith trusting that the Lord would sustain us.
 
It has been an exciting year of growth while we have also sought to create a stable foundation for the ministry - all thanks to God's incredible provision through Casa de Ester partners and the hard work of the wonderful staff at CdE. 

We thank you for your support over the last year. It goes to show that a group of people with strong faith, bold trust, and a willingness to be used by the Lord can make a profound impact. You inspire us to do the same!

Let's give praise to the Lord for His faithfulness as we reflect on the past year and look forward to what is to come!


With love from Honduras,

- Michael and Valina Perry
New Girls & Staff

In 2015, we welcomed 8 new girls and have welcomed 5 more in 2016.
 
As we have grown, we have also seen the Lord leading us to rescue girls from more severe cases of abuse:
  • Rescue from other homes where they were abused by those entrusted to care for them and even being held captive for years after speaking out for justice.
  • Rescue from nearly a decade of sexual abuse by a father.
  • Rescue from an orphanage where the children were provided allowance and condoms while letting the children roam the streets unsupervised - which resulted in many children being lured into drug addictions and prostitution.
  • Rescue from a constant state of fearing for one's life for rejecting the call of the maras or gangs.
As we encounter an increasing severity of abuse, hurt, and pain - it is with great joy and gratitude that we realized the dream of adding a full-time, female, Christian psychologist to the staff of Casa de Ester. In two months, we have seen a glimpse of the profound impact and benefit that this addition will have on the girls - especially as the road to recovery for abuse victims can be a long one (sometimes 15 years or longer).
 
One of our psychologist's biggest tools - and one of our core values - is ensuring the love, message, and salvation of Jesus Christ is at the forefront of our ministry.
Sharing the Good News!

We believe that if we fail to put Christ first or that if our work fails to communicate His love, then we work in vain.
 
In 2015, we celebrated 3 girls making a public profession of their faith in believer's baptism, joining 8 girls who made the same profession in 2014. We also rejoiced as 12 girls made a commitment to seek God's purity in all aspects of their life.

 
Through our outreach initiatives over the last year, we shared the good news with over 6 00  individuals on the streets of Tegucigalpa, a local hospital, and a nearby rural community.

If we only managed to reach the girls of Casa  de Ester, it would be 100% worth it. But the beauty is that the Lord also uses these redeemed girls and amazing staff to communicate His Word to those around them through our outreach initiatives.
 
Training

In the midst of growth and new challenges, the Lord has faithfully brought training to our doorstep. Within the last month, we have attended two incredible training conferences - one actually taking place onsite with our entire staff at CDE. The training focused on caring for victims of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. We were encouraged to see we are doing many things well - thanks to how the Holy Spirit has led us over the years. We were also challenged and equipped to get better.
 
The training also raised awareness of secondary trauma - similar to PTSD, it is the traumatic impact on those who care for victims of trauma. It served as a critical reminder that we cannot do this alone - we must rely on Christ's lead and on the support of fellow believers. We have also realized the importance of not just trying to survive - understanding that we are on the front lines in the war against a vicious evil. We are marching forward under the banner of Christ's victorious love - striving to be not just good but great!
Transition

Another critical part of our ministry is preparing and aiding the girls in the transition to adult life.
 
In 2015, we had five girls transition/graduate from Casa de Ester.  Two of the girls continue on-site at the Paso Uno Transition program, two others are living with a former CDE missionary in the city, and another returned to live with her family.  We watched two more girls graduate from high school this past December.
 
A major goal for 2016 is to launch a city transition home. As we mentioned previously, healing from trauma and abuse can take up to 15 years. We currently have staff prepared to lead that program as well as girls ready to enter. With as little as $1,250/month, we could launch the program - although ideally a second staff member could be added for support/counseling to that program which would required $1,750/month.
 
The transition program would provide a much-needed facet to the ministry. The main house could focus primarily on restoration care and spiritual/educational/vocational development, while the transition home team could focus on walking with the girls through the next stages of transition into adult living - helping the girls begin to live out the legacy they wish to write with their lives - a legacy of a life lived for Christ. The girls in the transition program would receive continued counseling while working and continuing their education.
Next Step

In 2015, we were continually encouraged to allow God to dream in us and cast His vision before us. He spoke to us that If we can do it of our own strength - it doesn't require our faith. If God is not required in it - we're not stepping out. If we know it's only possible with God - now we're following His lead! We must trust him to grow us and to qualify the unqualified for His glory alone.
 
As we lay the foundation for future growth, we are working to incorporate the ministry and formally establish an international NGO. The goal is a coalition of efforts to rescue those abandoned and oppressed and to bring the message of Christ to the lost, weary, and heavy-burdened - creating future-focused transformation through grace-filled initiatives.


For Casa de Ester, we are continuing to develop the local Honduran staff to run the day-to-day operations of Casa de Ester - a core value we will seek to replicate. Much like Paul planted churches, developed local leaders and believers, and then encouraged through oversight from afar - we will seek to plant missions and ministries to fill voids and develop local believers to continue serving their neighbors in need.
Prayer Requests/Praises

Please continue praying for Casa de Ester!
  • Continuing growth in support and stability for Casa de Ester
  • Transition Program development
  • Continued training for us as directors and for our staff
  • God's protection and lead as more girls are rescued from oppression.
  • Wisdom, discernment, and favor as we seek to establish the international NGO, as well as the board of directors
Fiscal Year Financial Review
(May 2015 - Apr 2016)
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MINISTRY SUPPORT
VIA ALLEGRO: $201,598
ON-SITE DONATIONS: $9,287
TOTAL: $210,885
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MINISTRY EXPENSES
LABOR: $64,290
OPERATIONS: $104,972
ALLEGRO FEE: $10,156
TOTAL: $179,418
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MINISTRY RESERVES
$31,467
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FOR DETAILED ANNUAL SUMMARY, CLICK HERE
CASA DE ESTER
US->HN Phone: (210) 399-9369