Dearest Friends & Family,  

It has been a crazy year! In the last year I have graduated college, got a job, and have had the wonderful opportunity of serving at Westside A Jesus Church. My primary service at the church is at the Bridge. A group of 18-26 year olds that meet Tuesday nights to learn, seek, and help move forward the kingdom of God. When the opportunity came to serve internationally with my bridge community I felt this was the perfect time to go on a Jesus adventure, living and loving as he did. We will be traveling to Managua, Nicaragua to serve at the Villa Esperanza with young, at risk girls. As my team and I begin to prepare to embark on this journey I ask for prayer and financial support.

Here's a quick update on my life. After graduating from George Fox University I had the privilege of working at a summer camp called Camp Tilikum as the Adventure Program Onsite Manager. One of the most challenging, yet the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. Since then I've had the pleasure of assistant teaching at a school in Newberg. Now, I am moving forward in my education and plan to attend Portland State University for music education. I recently got a job at Salt & Straw, and have said goodbye to the beautiful Newberg. As I begin a bunch of new adventures I'm excited to go on my biggest one on July 9 to Nicaragua.

You are my family; with that I would love you to be as involved as you feel called. I want to share some information about the cause because I strongly believe the more we bring light to something dark the quicker we are to help those in need.

Up until a few years ago there used to be a 100-acre landfill that was home to 1,500 people and new trash everyday. That landfill was called La Chureca (Spanish for "The Dump"). Parents and children would scavenge the heaps of garbage to collect what they could sell, and in return live off what most in America would consider pocket change. Their homes were made of garbage scraps often leaving holes which made them vulnerable during the winter. Young boys are robbed from their childhood to work and young girls are encouraged to prostitute themselves to garbage truck drivers for money or a better garbage selection. It is poverty and injustice beyond anything that can be communicated by word or picture.

Nine years ago, Forward Edge International (a non-profit in Vancouver, Washington) decided to do something about the injustice. They bought a 2-acre plot of land about 10 minutes outside of La Chureca and began building homes for the young, at risk girls within the dump. This July marks eight years since the 16 original girls arrived at Villa Esperanza (Spanish for "Village of Hope". Currently there are about 30 girls living at the Villa. Villa Esperanza provides these girls with the basic essentials every child deserves. They provide each and every one of these girls with hope-- hope to break the generational poverty that seems inescapable in La Chureca.

Eight years ago a team like ours arrived at Villa Esperanza only two weeks after the original 16 girls had been removed from the dump. The girls were shy, timid, physically weak, sick, and extremely weary around outsiders. Over the last eight years, FEI teams have witnessed transformation in these young girls beyond what we could have imagined. They are all now healthy,confident, and happy. Beyond that though they are all learning new relaities. These girls are learning that not all men are dangerous, it is not okay for husbands to beat their wives, and there are means to survival beyond stealing and sexual exploitation.

Below is a link for a video captured in 2011 sharing a little more about Villa Esperanza and how it started. Some of the statistics may vary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVKGFH38I7A

God has opened a door for me to go serve his people internationally and I am saying yes, disregarding my own fears. When ever we go somewhere new, we will have some jitters but it is the Joy of Jesus that gets us through. I believe God has called and prepared me to serve the girls at the Villa Esperanza to love unconditionally, listen, and learn from all of what God is doing in their hearts. I come to you excited for journey but fully understanding that I can't do this on my own.  There are a few ways that you can share this adventure with me. The first and extremely important way to help is through prayer. Please pray that God prepares the hearts of my team and myself included. We also pray for God to make his presence so tangibly known in a dark place, and we also ask that you pray for peace. God peace overcomes all things, we know he already has a plan for this trip but we want to open handed and open hearted. Please also pray that the financial needs to this trip be met.

The second way to help is by doing just that and helping me financially. I am beyond greatful for any and all contributions made towards helping me reach my goal. All my funds will need to be met by the end of June with one deadline on May 9th of $1000. Whether you feel led to help financially or through prayer I deeply appreciate both!

Thank you all so much for reading and coming along side me as a prepare for this crazy adventure!

Peace be with you,

Suvi