Learning to Let Go

Danielle, a Phase II resident at Homes for Families, wrestled with substance abuse for years. She thought she had overcome the problem after working through a recovery program and surrendering her life to Jesus several years ago. During that time, she divorced her husband and fought for custody of her daughters; Alexi, 6 and Jess, 15. She obtained sobriety long enough to keep her daughters, start college classes and begin to build a new life. However, anxiety overwhelmed her and prescription pills tempted her to believe they would take her cares away.

Danielle recognized the danger she faced. Child Protective Services had been in and out of her life and she worried another slip up would result in permanent loss of her girls. Although she had not prioritized her relationship with Jesus, she knew it was His presence in her heart that helped her remember the steps she had learned in the first recovery program. She contacted Theresa Klacman, Director of STCH Ministries Homes for Families and explained her fears. Theresa encouraged Danielle to apply for the program.

“All my dysfunction and brokenness spilled over into my children’s lives,” Danielle said. Her oldest daughter Jess began to struggle with cutting, self-mutilation and suicidal thoughts. Due to this, Danielle placed Jess into the residential program at Restoration House Ministries in Victoria. As she watched her daughter submit to God and become healthier, Danielle found the courage to move to Homes for Families and get more help for herself. She sold everything from her apartment and moved to the Marshall Ranch Campus on September 2, 2019.

Recently, Alexi approached Danielle with her coloring book and asked her mom to rip out a page for her. But Alexi wouldn’t let go of the coloring book. Baffled, Danielle told her, “I can’t take it out if you don’t give it to me.” At that exact moment Danielle heard God speak to her, for the Lord to remove her hurt from her past, she must first give it to Him.

In the few months she has been in the program, Danielle has felt loved, supported and most importantly, safe. She relies on her resident coordinator for counsel, knowing she can talk about anything and helps her to trust she will overcome the bad habits of her previous lifestyle. Bible study, professional Christian counseling and a nurturing environment allow Danielle to work through and process her issues as God helps her to understand them. She is learning to change old thoughts and behaviors by replacing them with healthy practices through prayer and the supportive staff at Homes for Families.

As she considers the future, Danielle hopes to return to nursing school, but knows she needs time to truly heal. She asks for prayer as she continues to seek God’s direction for her family. Danielle knows that the last time she committed to the challenging work of changing her life, she quit too soon. This time, she is determined to wait on God and do it right. Will you pray with and for her?

2020 Renewed Vision

Without even the CRACK! of a starting gun, the 2020 decade arrived, racing down the corridors of time.  On January 7, STCH Ministries International hosted the eighth annual Vision Trip in the Dominican Republic.  Christian leaders, donors, board members and staff from several of our nine ministries received invitations to review and renew—review what God has been doing, and to renew Vision for the ministry and each participant in their own lives.

The invitation read in part,

Catch an overview of what God is doing in the Dominican Republic through STCH Ministries and individuals and churches like yours! Visit schools and orphanages and ministry sites, which though poor in resources, are rich in faith in an all-sufficient God! It will renew your vision of what faith in God can accomplish.

Was this purpose accomplished on the Vision 2020 trip?

Landing first in Punta Cana, we visited the first children’s home STCH Ministries had built.  Over the last 10 years, dozens of boys have passed through the La Romana boy’s home—some becoming permanent residents, while others experienced a loving, Christ-centered home until a safe kinship placement could be found.  The team enjoyed painting cinder blocks to make decorative planters and giving the inside walls a fresh touch of paint.  A group of ladies from the team made a quick trip to the grocery store to fill their pantry.  Although their pantry shelves are frequently bare, this was not a great concern for them, since they daily trust God to provide all of their needs.  Their testimony?  God is a faithful God.

We continued the next day to the town of Higuey.  About 20 years ago Miguel, a taxi driver, was delivering clients to various restaurants for their noon meal.  He was moved with compassion for “ninos de la calle,” known as street boys.  Abandoned by their families, numberless boys daily scavenged through piles of garbage containing uneaten food scraped from patron’s dishes.  Miguel talked to some friends. After long hours of prayer and planning, 18 fellow-Christians, without any financial backing, formed a board, by faith. They named their children’s home, “A Better World for Abandoned Boys.”  Soon they began to accept boys into a rented house.  Food trickled in—donations of eggs, oatmeal, plantains, rice and once in a while a chicken to share!  About 4 years ago STCH Ministries began to minister to the Home, traveling over three hours to do Bible classes, medical clinics, sports activities and share food.  Eventually, through a series of miracles and generous donations, the Vision Trip team celebrated the opening of their first home with them.  God provided not one, but two buildings.  The buildings provide three apartments for boys and their house parents, plus space for their administrative functions.

As we traveled throughout the island, we saw many more examples of what partnership between mission teams and Dominican ministries could accomplish through faith.  At Raquel’s school, we saw a former chicken shack transformed into two new school buildings.  Today it has twice the capacity to provide a Christian education to over 200 children trapped in poverty.  Uncounted children and their families have come to saving faith through their outreach.  Similarly, when we originally met another school in Villa Altagracia, a sun-bleached banner hung above the over-crowded school housed in a shabby apartment. “Educando para la Eternidad” (educating for eternity) proclaimed their motto.  God saw their faith, and led STCH Ministries, in partnership with mission teams, donors and churches, to build a two-story building.  Today many more children are “educated for eternity” in a facility worthy of the God they serve.  By faith, plans for an additional pre-school building have already been drawn.

Faith-activated ministries and projects included a transition home for orphans who age out of the Monte Plata home.  At Guaricanos we worshipped with over 200 children in a new auditorium.  In partnership with others, STCH Ministries replaced the leaky tin roof with cement, enabling the construction of the auditorium.  The home of three children with alcoholic parents was changed as mother and dad came to faith in Christ.  Reconstructed from the ground up, the family now proclaims faith in Christ visually, louder than any megaphone, “God’s power to redeem and restore!”

We experienced faith personally one evening as we shared a meal with a Dominican family. Crowded knee-to-knee with dark-skinned brothers and sisters speaking a language we could not understand; the humble home was filled with the glory of God.  The faith we shared in Christ transformed our surroundings into a mansion fit for the King of Kings.  We were reminded that wealth is not the stuff we own or the house we live in.  These people possessed priceless riches of joy, faith in God who meets every need, and in peace of heart and mind.

Their stories of perseverance and patience challenged us to examine our faith in what God can accomplish in our lives.  They prayed and worked, prayed and waited and prayed and continued to believe.  12 years to receive government permission to build a church, 18 years for a permanent home for orphan boys, many more years for the salvation of a spouse or a dad. By contrast, we live in a microwave culture.  The baked potato is ready in 5 minutes…popcorn only takes 2.  God reminded us that His purposes cannot be denied.  He has always been and will continue to be faithful.  He cannot deny Himself.

Vision and faith—each essential for any work to succeed, to stay on track, to win the prize, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Vision to plan, but perhaps more importantly, faith.  Faith sustains perseverance through the obstacles and patience to wait for God’s timing. Faith empowers boldness to step out of the boat and provides courage to take a step when you cannot see the end results.  Faith that enables trust in God’s promises, and releases flexibility and creativity to find another way when the way seems blocked.

One participant declared, “I have been challenged—no more excuses!  When God calls me to do something, I will step forward boldly, in faith.”  This is a worthy goal for each of us to place at the top of our prayer list as we journey through 2020.

I am Loved

“I did not know what integrity was until I came to the ranch,” said Brittany Nicholson, currently in Phase 2 of STCH Ministries Homes for Families on the Marshall Ranch Campus. Learning to live honestly and showing a consistent, uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles marks a distinct difference from her life before obtaining her sobriety and surrendering her life to Jesus Christ as her Savior.

Brittany described her childhood relationship with her dad as toxic and began using drugs to defy him. Rebellion turned into an addiction that cost over fifteen years of her life, ruining every relationship she had and nearly losing custody of her children. She knew programs existed that could help her reclaim her life and even made occasional, half-hearted attempts to do so – but the effort required proved more than she was willing to commit to doing.

Child Protective Services informed Brittany that her children would be removed from her custody again, and her parental rights would be terminated if she did not make significant changes. She made plans for her girls and moved into Restoration House Ministries in Victoria, Texas, on September 11, 2018. Restoration House Ministries exists to serve women like Brittany who desire to be free from addiction and bondage based on the promise of God found in Joel 2:25 “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten.” The program allowed Brittany to overcome her dependence on drugs and brought her to the place where she gave her life to Jesus. Following her baptism, she felt as if “the veil was lifted” and she knew clearly, “How I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.”

The rigorous schedule and sense of community found living in a group environment provided the stability and accountability Brittany knew were necessary to continue to change her life. Brittany knew she needed more help before she could be successful as a sober, single mom on her own. After completing the Restoration House Ministries program she moved into Phase 2 – Equipping of Homes for Families on the Marshall Ranch Campus along with her daughters, Haven and Cheyanne. The goal of the equipping phase is for women to face and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their future success. Besides Bible study, Brittany took parenting and financial courses. Brittany dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and not having a diploma is an obstacle to her future success. She joined the S.P.A.R.K. program at the local high school to finish the course work and prepare for the GED.

Homes for Families provided a peaceful, healthy environment to adjust to Brittany’s life without chaos and dysfunction. The staff and other moms living on the Marshall Ranch Campus helped her to find her true identity. “Knowing the past does not determine who I am – Jesus says who I am – I am loved.”

Brittany treasured the second chance to be a good mother, daughter and friend. She worked hard to reestablish healthy relationships with her family and looks forward to a bright future. She plans to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse and gives thanks to God for showing her His love through the people at Homes for Families.

Summer Vocation: Kali Scholle

Summer interns have assisted STCH Ministries International in the Dominican Republic (DR) for 3 years. This year, three college students lived at International’s DR base of operation inside Iglesia Bautista Quisequayana (IBQ), near the capital city of Santo Domingo from May through August. Amanda Longoria, Associate Director of International said the interns helped in many different ways. Their upbeat spirit and endless energy made the summer weeks go by without a hitch. They connected not only with the Dominican nationals but also with Americans traveling to the DR on mission trips. They offered comfort and accommodations to the needs of the groups and served as the hands and feet of Jesus in the Dominican Republic.

Kali, a recent finance graduate of Oklahoma Christian University, resisted the idea of spending six weeks out of the country when she needed to study for her CPA exam. However, God revealed to her the unique opportunity she had. “It hit me that never again (until retirement most likely) would I have six weeks free to go overseas,”

A few of the interns shared their experience in the DR and what they learned about themselves and God as they served. This is Kali’s story, in her own words:

I never expected I would spend six weeks after college graduation in a foreign country without my family or a complete understanding of everything I would be doing while there. However, I have been reminded how much greater God’s plan is than my own. I am so grateful God revealed to me His desire for me to step out of my comfort zone and serve as an intern this summer.

I first went to the DR with STCH Ministries International in March 2018. I was gripped by the work God was doing there. When the trip came to an end, I felt God telling me that I would be back. Nine months later, I returned with another group from my church. I did not know I could love the DR any more than I did, but sure enough, it was possible.

When I learned of the internship position my first instinct was to say no. My last college class ended in May and I already had a job to start in January. I planned to use every week of the six months in between to study and take all four parts of the CPA exam, but God revealed to me the unique opportunity that I had. The dates of the internship were June 18th through August 3rd. My summer master’s classes ended June 15th – graduation was August 16th. God couldn’t have made it any clearer that this is where He wanted me to be.

It’s so hard to sum up everything I experienced, learned and saw God do during my six weeks in the DR. How do you begin to explain the unexplainable joy? Poverty? The friendships made? The endless amounts of VBS, construction projects, ESL classes, orphanage visits, church services, etc.

If I had to choose one word to describe Dominicans, it would be “joy”. The children and their families radiate joy: universal joy, joy independent of material things and joy that radiates Christ. I had several opportunities to go with groups and help deliver groceries to families in need. The homes that I went to typically had dirt floors, no kitchen, one bedroom and poor roofing. You would think someone living in those conditions would be frustrated, perhaps even bitter at God, right? I was blown away with how happy and joyful they were. It was so special to hear them tell their story and list ways God has faithfully provided.

I learned from STCH Ministries International the power of investing in relationships. Being in the DR for six weeks allowed me to witness things groups are not always able to see on a week-long trip. A couple of times throughout the summer we returned to a school or orphanage that we had visited a few weeks prior. It was amazing to watch the kids grow spiritually and see their faces light up as they ran to me for a hug.

I learned that as cliché as it sounds, love has no language barriers. Knowing very little Spanish, I doubted I could be a strong leader in a Spanish speaking country. Yet, I quickly learned that the kids did not care if I could not communicate entirely in Spanish. They simply wanted love. Spending time with the kids at schools and orphanages, loving them and laughing together made me excited for the day we will all be in Heaven, laughing, loving and worshiping God with people from all nations. I remembered that we are all more alike than we are different. This is something that would hit me during the church services when we sang worship songs in Spanish that I knew in English. We all worship the same God, how crazy amazing is that?

My biggest takeaway was a renewed passion to share the Gospel. God reassured me that sharing our faith did not have to be a big, scary thing. A few times throughout the summer I shared my testimony with various Dominicans and Americans. It still amazes me how God can use me and my story to point others to Christ. God is so good.

Getting to know the children and families at IBQ encouraged me. We had so much fun working on my Spanish and their English, playing games and laughing together. In my first week, one eight-year-old girl became my church buddy. We sat together most Sundays – dancing in the pew, reading from a Spanish/English Bible, her copying my English sermon notes while looking at me with a big smile, proud of her work; she stole my heart. Halfway through the summer, I learned that the groups who came last summer built a home for her and her family. She’s gone through so much but you would never guess it, she has so much joy.

Each American volunteer team was different from the others, yet each team welcomed me into their group. Working in the heat was exhausting but time after time groups did it without complaining and set a wonderful example of how the body of Christ is to be.

I cannot talk about my wonderful experience in the DR without talking about the wonderful staff and translators I was blessed to work with. They serve the Lord so fervently and give of their time and energy abundantly. I am so thankful for the staff and translators (and my co-interns) who made this summer the amazing experience that it was.

If you are interested in serving as a summer intern, applications for summer 2020 are open now; those chosen will be notified in early 2020. Please see https://www.STCHM.org/international/summer-intern-application/  for more information.

Summer Vocation: Grace Skaggs

Summer interns have assisted Homes for Children (HFC) on the Boothe Campus for nearly thirty years. Enabling others to join in the ministry of reaching hurting children and families with God’s love and truth is essential to the mission of STCH Ministries and the intern program is one way to achieve that. This year, five college students lived among our students at Boothe Campus from May to August. The staff feels interns make summers richer providing guidance and friendship to the students on campus.

College students provide unique friendships as they pour into the lives and hearts of the kids, friendships they probably do not have with their houseparents, their caseworkers or other staff.

Grace Skaggs, a nursing major at the University of Texas, was described by her peers as gentle, compassionate and hardworking. She stayed in tune with God’s heart, working to show love to every kid in the same way and help anywhere she could. Grace was incredible with the younger kids showing rare patience and compassion for the smallest of them.

A few of the interns shared their experience at HFC and what they learned about themselves and God as they served. This is Grace’s story, in her own words:

Working at HFC last summer was amazing. I enjoyed the unique place I got to have in the kids’ lives as an intern. The job description, to love the kids, allowed me to spend time every day playing games, swimming, listening and sharing their lives. In many ways, it was hard but in the end, I found myself to be so thankful for the opportunity.

My favorite part of the summer was spending time reading with one of the boys. My heart broke for the little third grader and I started to read with him daily. By the end of the summer, he recited the alphabet with confidence, knew a handful of sight-words and could sound out words. Every day before I left his cottage, I would give him a high five and say, “You did awesome today.” One day towards the end of the summer he responded, “Hey Grace, I bet I will do awesome tomorrow too.” He discovered he can learn the same as the others in his class.

I felt God gently and patiently reminding me that I need to trust Him. At the beginning of the summer, I held onto everything so tightly. I took all the pain and the brokenness I saw and let it completely overwhelm me. The stories I heard felt like an unbearable weight on me.  As soon as I handed the burden to God, peace overwhelmed me; I stopped crying all the time, found I could sleep again and for the first time in weeks, believed I could serve Him the way I wanted to from the beginning.

God taught me that His plan is better than mine. This was not how I planned to spend my summer. I am going into my fourth year of nursing school and this is the summer I expected to do an internship. All of my friends applied for internships at hospitals and I conceded to doing a mission trip to do something medical. In my heart, I knew I could not ignore His voice calling me to HFC. When I started working with the kids, I immediately knew that this summer would be a gift more special than I could have imagined. I thank God all the time for how He blessed my life when He led me to HFC.

I think a lot about the special place HFC now holds in my heart, and I have peace in knowing God will bring everything together if I’m meant to come back one day. He did it before, and I trust He has the power to do it again.

I would tell anyone considering interning at HFC next year to listen first. If this is where He has called you then He has a reason. Trust Him and be obedient. He will bless you beyond imagination through the adults you will work with, the children you will serve and the time you will spend in His presence.

Applications for summer 2020 will be accepted beginning January 2020 for anyone interested. Please call our office at 367-375-2101 or send an email to intake-homesforchildren@stchm.org for more information.

Summer Vocation: Katie Barclay

Summer interns have assisted STCH Ministries International in the Dominican Republic (DR) for 3 years. This year, three college students lived at International’s DR base of operation inside Iglesia Bautista Quisequayana (IBQ), near the capital city of Santo Domingo from May-August. Amanda Longoria, Associate Director of International said the interns helped in many different ways. Their upbeat spirit and endless energy made the summer weeks go by without a hitch. They connected not only with the Dominican nationals but also with Americans traveling to the DR on mission trips. They offered comfort and accommodations to the needs of the groups. Summer Interns served as the hands and feet of Jesus in the Dominican Republic.

Katie, a speech therapy major at Stephen F. Austin State University visited the DR in 2018 on her first mission trip. Amanda remembered Katie being shy and quiet and believed working as a summer intern would take Katie outside of her comfort zone. The staff agreed God wanted Katie on the team and knew He would provide the strength she needed. Watching her work with the groups and connecting with people Amanda knew they made the right decision. Katie came out of her shell and had the time of her life.

A few of the interns shared their experience in the DR and what they learned about themselves and God as they served. This is Katie’s story, in her own words:

My time in the Dominican Republic was a real blessing for me. When I found out I had been picked for the internship in January, I’m going to be brutally honest: I was EXTREMELY nervous. As it got closer to the time for me to leave, it got worse.

After my grandpa passed away in March, I began to question the entire trip. Finding out I made the Dean’s List at the end of the semester helped to calm my nerves. I thought to myself, “Wow, Katie, if you can get on the Dean’s List during the hardest semester yet in your personal life, you can absolutely go on this mission trip and get out of your comfort zone.”

I continued to doubt and talked with many different people I trust. My biggest concern, the fact that I am VERY shy, made me hesitant to commit. My best friend, Hannah Glasson, helped me realize Grandpa would be so mad if I did not go – this was the last major thing I told him I was going to do before he passed. I had to do this.

I made a list on the airplane of what I wanted to do while in the DR.

1) Get out of your comfort zone! (Biggest one)

2) Be open and honest with as many people as possible to make new friendships.

3) Play with tons of kids.

4) Learn as much as possible/take everything in and grow my relationship with God – a lot.

I exceeded all the items on my list and so much more than I could have ever imagined or expected. I went over there expecting to serve people; in the end, I was the one that had the pleasure of being served by everybody surrounding me. The first week was rough for me. It was a new place, I was with a huge group of adult professionals in the medical field and I felt out of place. As the week went by, working with STCH Ministries staff worker, Valentina, and all the kids helped me to start coming out of my shell. Moving in to share a room with Margaret Magallanes Leyba was honestly the best thing that could have happened.

Ashley Beck arrived on June 3rd and changed everything, life was a blast from there on out. I had been nervous about relationships with the other interns, but as soon as we picked Ashley up at the airport I knew we would get along perfectly! Kali Scholle and I only worked together for two weeks before I left, but I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her there. She fit in like the missing puzzle piece. These two girls were both so sweet, we learned to trust one another and talk about anything.

I did so many days of VBS (which were an absolute blast and such a joy) and a few days of construction. We went to orphanages and schools to help out with everything from organizing books in their library to planning activity days with the kids. I embraced everything I did and took in so much more than I ever expected to (including some Spanish words and phrases).

Last summer on the short term trip, I took pictures of different things around me because I thought they were awesome and fascinating. This year, I didn’t take pictures of things. I took pictures with people because they taught me more than I could ever put into words.

The biggest thing I learned from each person was love. Dominicans spread love all over to every single person they come across and do it with a smile no matter what. It was inspiring. They’re the hardest working people I know and never give up on anything until it’s done. Every one of these people made me a better person in some way.

Now that I am back in the United States, I feel a need to show A LOT more love to everybody around me. While in the DR, I remember every Sunday morning at church, receiving a hug or a kiss on the cheek and hearing, “God bless you” from nearly everyone. I can start with something as simple as that. I need to do better at REALLY knowing Jesus and the Bible. The Dominican people put me to shame. They know the Bible like the back of their hand and it amazes me. I take too much for granted here. I complain too much when I have WAY more than I actually need.

The most important thing I realized over my weeks there was this: we are not that different. Yes, we have different skin colors and speak a different language (which definitely isn’t a barrier) and do things a little bit differently, but we are no different than every person standing right next to us. We need to love (Jesus and people) more and hate less.

Thank you again to all the staff, translators and interns that made my time the absolute best experience. I left my heart there and I will without a doubt be back. Until next time, Te Quiero Mucho República Dominicana

If you are interested in serving as a summer intern, applications for summer 2020 are open now; those chosen will be notified in early 2020. Please see: https://www.STCHM.org/international/summer-intern-application/  for more information.

Joy I Never Knew

Tim Williams, Director of Church Relations grew up in the Victoria area and has been in Christian ministry since 1982 with 27 of those years serving as a senior pastor. As Director of Church Relations, Tim connects churches with STCH Ministries by helping identify ways to minister to their needs. He is also available for pulpit supply as he leads the Pastor Care ministry.

Occasionally, Tim will share stories from his ministry relating to how God heals hurts and shares hope using STCH Ministries. Here is one story, in his words:

For years I watched as a young woman named Ashley grew up in my church in Victoria.  After I came on board with STCH Ministries, Ashley made her way to work in Branson, Missouri.  She happened to be working on the showboat the Branson Belle the fateful day in 2018 when seventeen people died in a Duck Boat accident during a thunderstorm.  Ashley and the rest of the staff watched helplessly as people drowned in front of them.

The event deeply traumatized Ashley, she had to quit her job and moved back home to Victoria to live with family.  She came to STCH Ministries Family Counseling where her family therapist recommended EMDR therapy for her.  The results were dramatic.  As she faced the anniversary of the Branson event she reflected on how she felt.

“It is a day that will forever remind me of heartbreak, shock and grief.  It is a day I will remember minute by minute.  It is a day that filled my heart and mind with anxiety and depression.”  She went on to mention that she did not look at boats the same and experienced chills every time there was a storm.

I asked her how she felt about things in light of her counseling.  I will let her words tell her story.  “I was telling a friend yesterday that I never thought I would be able to find joy again.  I was down such a dark hole that I didn’t think I would get out.  Because of His love, I found a joy I never knew existed.  I’m thankful for the grief, anxiety and depression because it opened my eyes to see I was settling for a life that was not part of God’s plan for me.  God is good.”

Ashley is back on her own and with a new career and a new direction.  Yes, God is good.

For more information about Family Counseling, please see: https://www.STCHM.org/family-counseling/

For more information about Pastor Care, please see: https://www.STCHM.org/pastor-care/

Summer Vocation: Benjamin Brewer

Summer interns have assisted Homes for Children (HFC) on the Boothe Campus for nearly 30 years. Enabling others to join in the ministry of reaching hurting children and families with God’s love and truth is essential to the mission of STCH Ministries and the intern program is one way to achieve that. This year, five college students lived among our students at Boothe Campus from May to August.  The staff feels interns make summers richer providing guidance and friendship to the students on campus.

College students provide unique friendships as they pour into the lives and hearts of the kids, friendships they probably do not have with their houseparents, their caseworkers or other staff.

Benjamin Brewer, a sociology major at Texas A&M University at San Antonio, is described by his peers as warm-hearted, energetic, compassionate, hardworking and wise. He applies passion and energy to all things giving an example of what a godly man looks like.

A few of the interns shared their experience at HFC and what they learned about themselves and God as they served. This is Benjamin’s story, in his own words:

This was my fourth and last summer here at Boothe Campus, I graduate with my bachelor’s degree this spring. The time I spent here has been marvelous. I built relationships with children and with houseparents that go so much deeper than I ever imagined; relationships that will impact me for the rest of my life. The amount of love a child can audaciously love you with is unfathomable. These hurting kids know how to love well, yet sometimes have a hard time receiving love because of their pasts. For me, that tends to be the hardest barrier to cross when it comes to building relationships with these spectacular children.

I learned so much about children and enjoyed the time I poured my life into them. My prayer has been to impact them for Jesus, and to Jesus, in all that I say and do. Not that it was me or of me that I loved them, but it was also Christ through me that loved them. Jesus enabled me to love and serve them with energy and compassion.

But this is not a story of how I impacted and loved these kids for the betterment of their lives. This is how they have taught me to love, to be loved and what it feels like to be loved by my Heavenly Father. I know it is easy to view these kids as troubled and needy. But I am just like them, in terms of my relationship with God. I am the one that needs His love; I am the one that needs to learn how to love back, I am the one that sometimes feels like I am rejected and have a poor image of myself. This place has taught me so much more about me and who I am; the reality is unreal.

Being here, I put Jesus’ instructions into practice. I served, loved and told of his remarkable Good News. So many experiences at HFC astounded me with God’s love – holding a little one and the sensation of torrential amounts of love that you have for her, playing football with little kids outside for what seems like forever, the trust of a child asleep in your arms, a teenager crying on your shoulder and the opportunity to share with them that Jesus is enough, the honor to shout their name from the stands as they walk across the stage to grab their diploma. The memories are unforgettable; I cherish them in my heart.

I want to say thank you to the fantastic houseparents for not only being houseparents to STCH Ministries’ kids but to us as well. Allowing us into their homes, feeding us and praying for us; it is something that I know I will never forget and helped me develop into the person I am today. Being In their homes was my favorite part of this whole experience.

I love and appreciate STCH Ministries Homes for Children. Thank you for everything.

Applications for summer 2020 will be accepted beginning January 2020 for anyone interested. Please call our office at 367-375-2101 or send an email to intake-homesforchildren@stchm.org for more information.

Christmas in Costa Rica

What gift do you think the wise men brought to Jesus? A chupon! A baby bottle was the eager answer.

Sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth, our mission team traveled to Costa Rica in December. We turned an old table on its side, and draped it with a blanket, creating an improvised puppet stage. Crouched behind, team members held stick puppets while a narrator told the story of angels, and shepherds and wise men, and best of all, a baby! The children responded to questions in their language. “Jesus was born in a “corral” and laid in the dry grass in a pesebre, surrounded by stinky, noisy pigs, chickens and a rooster!” The children could visualize a baby born in the midst of those surroundings. After all, the surroundings in which they lived were not so very different from this stable.

The Christmas story continued. The wise men were very rich and they brought gifts to the baby Jesus. What do you think they brought? One little boy shot his hand straight up and said for all to hear,

“A bottle!”

Of course, what else? Gold, silver and frankincense were foreign concepts in a village with dirt roads, and hovels made of tin and scraps of wood. In any case, what would a baby do with gold, silver and frankincense? A bottle made perfect sense, and it brought a smile to all of our faces.

The story ended with the question, “Do you know that Jesus is still looking for a place to live?” Perplexed looks responded. “That’s right. Jesus wants to live in our hearts, in my heart and in your heart. Can you hear him knocking right now? Do you want to invite him to come in?”

God chose to announce his arrival in terms that even a poor, uneducated, isolated child could understand. Hearts open, there was nothing in their lives to distract, to compete with the amazing angelic announcement, “This day, a Savior is born and lies in a manger!”

As we closed, the children joined in singing a carol about Jesus birth—a song translated into many languages around the world, “Noche de paz, noche de amor” (Silent night, holy night).

Bendiciones,

Joanna Berry

Joanna Berry
Vice President of Family and International Ministries
STCH Ministries

Thank You!

STCH Ministries is a collaborative effort. The dream birthed in the heart of Laura Boothe 67 years ago grew into an organization leading hundreds to meet the needs of children and families in crisis across South Texas and around the world. As you know, STCH Ministries is comprised of nine ministries, each one dedicated to healing hearts and sharing hope in their own way.

One of our driving principals is to remain 100% privately funded and God has honored that principal by providing through His people on many levels. STCH Ministries continues to grow because individuals and churches go beyond financial support. They link arms with our staff every day.

Fourteen Churches spanning from San Antonio to Houston, all the way down to Corpus Christi partnered with our Family Counseling ministry to provide a place for families and individuals to find hope and direction when they found themselves in broken places.

Couples enjoyed romance and inspiration in Corpus Christi during Date Night by the Bay. School counselors, pastoral staff and others who help people earned continuing education credit and more tools for their work at our 3rd annual iCare conference in Victoria. These events further Family Counseling’s efforts to provide safe environments for individuals, couples and families to process through the places of hurt in their lives.

God used our Faith & Work and Faith & Finances ministries as instruments of hope, reconciliation and healing for families across Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi helping people discover God’s purpose for their life, work and money. Students in all three cities testified to the practical and spiritual impact these programs made on them both personally and professionally. Class sizes, new training sites and the support from volunteers willing to assist in facilitating allowed the courses to increase in all three cities.

Hundreds of individuals stepped up to encourage the children and moms at Homes for Children and Homes for Families. That encouragement was expressed through hugs, group activities, new sidewalks and playing games.

Others literally went the extra mile traveling beyond the borders of the United States to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Peru. Volunteers in these places ministered to orphans, taught job skills and built homes to show that Jesus’ love crosses man-made boundaries.

Our vision is to show the love of Christ to each child and family to whom we minister. Your cooperation brings it to reality as you pray, demonstrate acts of love through time spent helping others and financial support. Thank you for joining us in reaching hurting children and families with God’s love and truth.