Monday, May 26, 2014

Get to know Karen Vanesa

Karen is the second child we're highlighting from our feeding center in Tejeras Lempira. Isn't she lovely and soulful-looking? (You can read about Yovani, in a previous post, here. That post also gives some info about how our feeding center program works.)

Karen lives with her mother and three siblings. She's eleven years old, and she attends the local elementary school. There is no father in this home, and they are extremely poor. Although families with no father in the picture are not at all uncommon, this family has been somewhat ostracized in their community. Her mom works doing housework in other people's homes, on a regular schedule, so she does have a small amount of relatively reliable income.

Because Karen's family had no place to live, a member of the church which runs this feeding center is allowing them to live rent-free in a small house he owns but hasn't been using. In spite of the stigma sometimes attached to single parents in these small villages, the church reached out in love to this family. The house is in very run down condition. It only has two rooms, no electricity or water in the house, and the size of the whole house is around 20' x 15'. It is also located in a low, swampy area. They are grateful to have the use of it, though, as they own no house or land of their own. (Much of what you or I would consider to be "slum conditions" in this loaned housing is actually pretty standard for this area - dirt floors, crumbling adobe brick walls, no screens or glass in the windows, leaky roof, no utilities, no indoor bathing or cooking facilities, etc.)


Karen's future is not bright. It is likely that she will receive minimal education, and will feel hopeless about her lack of opportunities. But Karen and her family are learning about God, and his love for them, through the ministry of Pastor Orlando Rivera. They are receiving tangible gifts of love, from God, through Pastor Rivera and his congregation, and through us, with your help! Our prayer is that the love of God will transform the lives of Karen and her family, giving them an understanding of God's wonderful plan for them!


We don't offer sponsorships for individual children, but without any paperwork or funds transferred, you can pray for Karen and her family. Prayer does change things! You can also pray for Pastor Rivera and his church, as they minister to this family. And you could pray for our ministry, as we strive to help the pastors in our area get the resources that help them in their work.

If you'd be interested in donating toward the feeding center project, as a whole, here is the information you need for that:


To Donate by Mail, send checks to:

The Foundation
PO Box 560233
Orlando, Florida 32856-0233

- Make check payable to "The Foundation" -
- Be sure to write "preferenced for Sowers Ministry - Feeding Centers" on an enclosed paper -


To Donate Online:


Click on THIS LINK to donate online using credit card, debit card, or automatic monthly donations from your bank account. Make sure that you choose "Missionary Support" from the drop down menu, and type in "Sowers Ministry - Feeding Centers" in the box requesting "additional specifics on how to use the gift."


If additional instructions or information are needed for donating, please don't hesitate to call The Foundation for Missions, at 407-796-4939or send your questions by email to brenda@tfofsp.org




2 comments:

stephanie said...

Thank you, Trish, for letting us know.

Denise said...

Both of these kids have what looks like a plastic bag of broth on a plate. What is this?