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Thanks to YOU! The new year dawns once again within the ICC family of children! Thanks to the support of caring ICC family members like you, the new year dawns with new hope, new dreams, and new frontiers to explore. This is especially true for the “new children who have recently become a part of our family.
Thanks to YOU! The new year dawns once again within the ICC family of children! Thanks to the support of caring ICC family members like you, the new year dawns with new hope, new dreams, and new frontiers to explore. This is especially true for the “new children who have recently become a part of our family.
Your support help children like Daniela, Ana, and Emily to experience wonderful new beginnings in their lives. Here are their stories:
Because of the negative choices of her father and the mental health challenges of Daniela’s mother, Daniela grew up experiencing a life of poverty and abandonment. She was passed back and forth between several of her family members and her mother. Daniela never stayed very long at any one place because of the scarcity of food necessary to survive. Fortunately for Daniela, kind-hearted church members intervened and arranged for her to join the ICC family.
Ana and Emily’s father died in a motorcycle accident on his way to work. The girl’s mother suffered from addictions and couldn’t adequately care for them. She would often leave Ana and Emily alone at home without any supervision. The mother became so depressed that a family member had to intervene. Eventually the sisters were brought to us.
Ana and Emily’s father died in a motorcycle accident on his way to work. The girl’s mother suffered from addictions and couldn’t adequately care for them. She would often leave Ana and Emily alone at home without any supervision. The mother became so depressed that a family member had to intervene. Eventually the sisters were brought to us.
KEEPING THE VISION ALIVE
By Rick Bowes
Not long ago my world began to change significantly. I couldn’t see as well as I could in the past. I was having trouble driving at night. I was having trouble recognising people from across the room. I was having trouble reading the fine print. I had to admit that my vision was dimming. When I sought medical help the diagnosis came back, “cataracts.”
At first, I said to myself, “How can that be, I’m only 37 years old? But then my wife reminded me that I was actually 73. Long story short, I had surgery, and now I see perfectly. As we began this new year, I want to share a different kind of vision, the vision that was lived out in the life of ICC founder, Alcyon Fleck.
It began with Alcyon reading a weekly newspaper strip about the life of Little Orphan Annie, who lived in a large, austere orphanage. The orphanage director, Miss Meany, ruling with an iron hand, was always picking on Annie, who therefore lived in a state of perpetual fear.
One day after reading of a particularly painful incident in Little Orphan Annie’s life, Alcyon emphatically told her mom, “When I grow up I want to have a different kind of orphanage where children will be happy and have a real home.”
Years later those poignant words would prove to be prophetic when Alcyon was called to Guatemala to give aid to 5,000 orphans whose parents had been killed in a devastating earthquake. After landing in Guatemala City Alcyon was taken to a camp for earthquake victims where she met with six children whose father had been killed, and whose mom could not be located.
Alcyon recorded the moment in her journal saying, “These poor children had absolutely nothing. The oldest child, a teenage girl, was doing her best to care for her siblings, while her brother had gone into the city looking for their mother. The rest stair-steps in age, were all in rags with dirty faces, runny noses, and matted hair.” Truly, though Alcyon had seen much in her long missionary career, she had never seen anything quite like this. She concluded her journal entry with the words, “When I left the camp my heart was heavy with the thought of what will happen to those children?”
These words echoed in Alcyon’s heart, and as she thought of her childhood vision, she began to pray that God would somehow guide her in caring for orphaned children in such a way that each one would “be happy and have a real home.”
Gradually, the plan that God laid on her heart become clear, and the ICC model of orphan care was born. It’s been 46 years since Alcyon met those orphans in Guatemala City, and during that time through the establishment of Children’s Villages, hundreds of young lives have been changed and saved.
Today though wars, natural disasters, governmental regulations, and political chaos have worked to derail us from that original childhood vision, it is still very much alive and well thanks to YOU! But, just as I had to do what was needed to maintain my physical vision, (Cataract surgery), so ICC is constantly engaged in the work of maintaining the original vision. And that requires faith, perseverance, prayer, and the generous financial support of our ICC family.
Please won’t you consider giving an extra special gift today to help keep the vision alive in 2023?
LOS PINOS CHILDREN • PAYING FORWARD YOUR SUPPORT
Over the next few editions of the newsletter, we will be sharing project updates from around the ICC family. This first feature comes from Joel Carpio, Project Director of Los Pions Children’s Village in Guatemala where in December there were 39 children receiving care. We are about to finish 2022. For 43 years the Lord has led the social-humanitarian-spiritual work that Hogar Los Pinos does in favor of needy children in our country. It also has been a source of employment for many Adventists who have used their gifts to be a blessing to the children sheltered.
During all the years of work, and particularly this year, God has supplied each of our needs. We know that the main work of Los Pinos is spiritual, teaching children that there is a creator God, and a Christ who offers us salvation. This year we graduated two young ladies from the university, joining pastors, administrators, nurses, educators, lawyers, and engineers, who through the years have received support.
From ICAP [secondary and vocational training school] we graduated 4 girls in education and accounting and 8 graduated from the elementary level [9th grade]. International Children's Care INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S CARE JANUARY 2023 Photo: Two of the 2022 graduates from ICAP. From ICAP [secondary and vocational training school] we graduated 4 girls in education and accounting and 8 graduated from the elementary level [9th grade]. The children carry out social and spiritual work in the nearby communities, and our Pathfinders are in the top five clubs in Guatemala. Children enjoy the comprehensive activities on our campus: sports, educational, recreational, and spiritual. Also, they enjoy swimming in the river of this property, as well as trips to nearby tourist places, combining these trips with educational aspects.
NOW MORE THAN EVER
“Now more than ever.” “What does it mean?’ you may be wondering. In a world in chaos...
Where wrong is touted as right and visa versa,
Where wars and rumours of war threaten the peace and security of humanity,
Where inflation continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of mankind,
Where crime is rampant and criminals are unmasked and unashamed,
Where the “love of many has grown cold, ”
Where the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children is often overlooked and neglected — like the children themselves.
Where wrong is touted as right and visa versa, Where wars and rumours of war threaten the peace and security of humanity, Where inflation continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of mankind, Where crime is rampant and criminals are unmasked and unashamed, Where the “love of many has grown cold, ” Where the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children is often overlooked and neglected — like the children themselves.
What that in mind
◆ Now more than ever, the children need ... Love and nurturing care
◆ Now more than ever, the children need ... A safe place to call home
◆ Now more than ever, the children need ... An opportunity to learn about Jesus
◆ Now more than ever, the children need ... Your prayers and generous support
NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE CHILDREN NEED YOU!
PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE MANLEYS
We are pleased to introduce Brian and Lori Manley to our ICC family. While Lori has served the children of ICC for 16 years, most of her time has been spent working remotely in the country of Lebanon where her husband, Brian, served the Adventist Church in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Union. In October, Brain and Lori transitioned to our ICC headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, where they have joined their energies, creativity, and enthusiasm to serve in this ministry for orphan and vulnerable children. Brian has been appointed Executive Vice President and Lori will continue in her role as Associate Director of Children’s Services.
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