Today, Dave, Debbie, and Timo left to return home to the states for a while. Timo needs to focus on his School work, and Dave and Debbie have a Steve Green fund raising concert in December to put on in upstate New York. It was a chaotic day with all the last minute preparations in just enough time that they could barely leave on time.

Dave and Debbie founded the home years ago and as of recent have had to bounce back and forth between the states and Peru more frequently and spend less time in Peru than they would like, due to many reasons: health, lack of financial support, family priorities, etc. They care for these kids at the home as if they were their own, and they have so much of their lives invested here that it’s hard for them to leave so often.

Only Dave intends to return in January, because Timo needs to finish his school in a more focused environment than his living room with so much going on. Not many kids are like this 14 year old. Around New Hope, Timo pretty much functions as a normal kid. He does his best to focus on his studies in a home school environment (only with about 40 kids around), but it can be difficult when your friends are playing futbol outside, or you are needed to translate for Americans.  However, there was some hopeful last minute talk about an english school Timo could attend here in Arequipa so he would be able to finish his schooling here. This would mean that Dave, Debbie and Timo would be able to remain in Peru together for a longer period of time, that Timo would be in a focused educational environment instead, and they could live together instead of living apart in different halves of the world.

This would mean a lot of things. They would be able to serve where they feel called, do what they love, and be together as a family. An additional selfish thing I have to admit is that it would mean there would be a bit more daily sanity for us gringos who have relied on Dave and Debbie to mediate with the kids, translate, and help everything function a bit smoother. It will be an interesting few weeks until Dave or everyone returns.

There is a whole staff of great Peruvian people at the home to help everything function properly, but Dave and Debbie have given their lives for these kids and this entire home. Actions speak louder than words, and after only spending a week and a half with Dave and Debbie, you can see and feel how much of their lives they have poured into the kids here at New Hope.

If you would like to support or know of someone who would be interested in helping Dave and Debbie in their ministry to the kids here in Arequipa, Peru, please do so by supporting them by visiting  this link www.peruhope.org

Thanks for your time.