Ministry Update - May, 2024
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for keeping us in your prayers and for the time and resources you continue to invest in this project. Your support means the world to us.
At Pneuma, we are continuously refining our approach to serving these young men. Our primary focus is on education, both personal and professional. We aim to equip our youth with the necessary tools to lead a purposeful life. We also emphasize guiding them towards strong social ethics and emotional well-being, ensuring they can adapt socially. These aspects are crucial for personal development. Above all, our goal is to approach education from a spiritual perspective.
The second pillar of our program focuses on vocation. We try to find opportunities for our young people to work in roles that accommodate their academic schedules. In the long term, we hope to create jobs within Pneuma Ministries for them, not only to provide income for them but also to help the ministry grow, which will help even more young men. In the short term, it is our goal to help them find and excel at employment. In cases where employment is not readily available, we create odd jobs within the house and the ministry to help them develop skills that will prepare them for success in the workforce.
The third pillar focuses on spiritual growth, fostering community and family bonds. We recognize that many of these young men were deprived of these from a young age. Therefore, we approach this with Christian principles, aiming to instill harmony, balance, and stability, grounded in the belief that God supports us all. I hope over the coming months to add details about these strategies on our website: www.pneumagives.org.
New Potential Members:
Fredy: Fredy is a young man transitioning out of a juvenile program where he has spent the last three years. Prior to that, he was in an orphanage where his exposure and life experiences had a negative impact. Fredy has had a challenging upbringing, but we are working with social services to help him with a transition plan, a healthy community, and opportunities he's never had before. He has not yet arrived, but the social worker has informed us that he could join us within the next 10 days. We are eager to welcome him.
Four New Young Men: Additionally, we are praying about and considering four new 18-year-old youths. These young men are all aging out of a youth program together. More on this later, but if it turns out to be the right fit, we would expect their arrival in October.
Caleb Huanca: Our new member currently serves as a supervisor. We are still defining his role within the program.
Updates on Our Current Members:
Fabricio (Pictured): He is studying culinary arts at the INSUR Institute in Cochabamba and works at a pizzeria from Wednesday to Sunday, 3 pm to 10 pm. He is doing great and we are closely monitoring his progress. He has a $2,000 debt with his institute, and we are praying God provides a path to help with his tuition.
Ervin: He is taking preparatory courses for university and plans to study electromechanical engineering at San Simón University. Currently, he supports us with household chores and other needs.
Andres: Andres has struggled with some of the house rules. We are working to find a balance of structure and mercy in order to provide him the support he needs. For now, we’ve decided that the best course of action is for Andres to live outside of the house while continuing to participate in some of our group activities. He will rent a room nearby and, if he is willing to maintain accountability, we will assist him in enrolling for a motorcycle mechanics course and help him to find a job. Our hope is that he will eventually rejoin us at the Restoration House, once he has demonstrated a desire to do so and a willingness to abide by the house rules.
On a personal note, I’d like to request prayer for some health challenges I’ve been facing recently. I’ve been experiencing some persistent dizziness that affects both my balance and concentration. Additionally, I’ve encountered some challenges in my work as a therapist. I rely on this income to help fund Pneuma. However, by God's grace, things are gradually getting better on both fronts.
Thank you all for your unwavering support and love.
Blessings,