It seems incredible to me that this month, we celebrate 15 years of service to the child, the church and the community in Venezuela and Colombia.  We began with three board members and a vague idea of what we would do to help the poor, cheered on by a network of friends and co-workers Susan and I met during our year of working in Rubio, Venezuela.

My, how we have grown. Today we operate 11 Help and Hope Centers serving over 1,000 children. We offer skills training to the community at large. Our Christian school enrolls over 200 children in grades pre-K through 8th grade. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, we serve hundreds of meals to the hungry each month.

Our board is a diverse blend of nine highly capable directors. Our selection process for opening new Help and Hope Centers is based on business principles that ensure they stay open for the long term.  Our network of colleagues in Venezuela has grown measurably, and we operate through a Civil Association in Venezuela and an NGO in Colombia.

The Lord has continually provided the people and the circumstances for this ministry to grow.  I can't wait to see what the next 15 years bring.