Helen and Ruth are in the final stretch with their studies for this year. About one more month to go until they wrap up their classes for 2023.

We’re excited for Helen as she will graduate from high school and she will complete her two year commitment studying gastronomy at an institute.

Last week I had the privilege of visiting Ruth at her university and listening to a presentation that she and her classmates prepared on neurotransmitters. It was a pleasure to see her in her university setting and learn a little about the material she is studying.

Please keep Ruth and Helen in your prayers as they make the final push to end the trimester strong.

Growth for Ruth’s House is right around the corner.

Last month we celebrated Ana’s 18th birthday party, which will be her last at Talita Cumi. Come January of 2024 she will move into Ruth’s House. Ana is studying at an institute in order to become a kindergarten teacher and she’s currently working at a kindergarten too. Ana’s plan is to graduate next year from high school and to continue working at the kindergarten that she is at now.

In the picture below, Ana is on the left in the dress and to the right is Clara. Clara will turn 18 years old in July of next year and is currently trying to figure out what she would like to study at university next year. She is also praying about whether she will participate in Ruth’s House. Please pray for her as we help her discover what major would be best for her at university.

The schedule at the Talita Cumi children’s home has been a bit strange as of late. The children lost about a week’s worth of school due to forest fires in the outskirts of the city. Santa Cruz filled up with smoke, and so for health reasons, schools canceled classes. Thankfully, after several days of a smoke-filled city, it rained, putting out the fires and restoring the blue skies.

In the time off, the children (especially the girls) kept busy by painting cloths and wood that they hope to sell in our annual fair at the home in December.

One of the highlights for the children in recent days was the visit of a church group that gifted a Bible to each of the children with their own name on the cover. Then they led them in an activity of looking up verses in their own individualized Bibles. The children really got into it.

Please keep the children in your prayers as they finish their trimester in about one month. This can be a stressful time for the children as they receive a lot of homework and study hard for their exams. 

Please pray for patience and endurance as the Talita Cumi team members come alongside the children to help them finish the school year strong.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family.