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February update from the ICC UK. We thank you.
We may get discouraged when certain things happen within the ICC family. A child rebels. An employee misbehaves. Not enough money. Is God still with us? Are we making a difference?
Encouragement came to me in the form of words of love and gratitude from those we are trying to help. Young people reached out to us recently to wish us well, to thank us, to express their love for us and the ICC family. I am sharing these messages with you because of what you do to impact the lives of “His Kids.”
As the children grow, they realize just how important their ICC family is to them. Thank you for all the love and support you have given “His Kids!”
See below some Christmas letters from the children.
I am happy to write this letter to you. How are you? I am doing fine. Thank you so much for helping me. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.
I love Christmas programs. I enjoy so much during Christmas with lights, stars and with all my siblings.
I love you so much. I wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With lots of love, Your daughter.
I wish with all my heart that you have beautiful holidays and a prosperous New Year in 2022.
May God give many blessings to you and your family. May you enjoy much joy and health.
I want to thank you for all the beautiful things you do for me. It is a privilege to be part of the great family of ICC and for being allowed to realize my dreams and goals. Thank you.
I feel enormously grateful, first to God, and with you all. For me it is a privilege to have been one of the sons of ICC. I grew up with good principles, manners and discipline which I appreciate because I am who I am thanks to that. THANKS for the support you have given me, for everything you have done for me. I feel happy because until now God has not left me alone. I know He has a purpose for me, and, thanks to you all, I am fulfilling my dreams. I hope that God will shower you with many blessings today and always. With lots of love.
A thousand thanks for the help you have given me.
I am very grateful with you all. Enjoy this Christmas and have a Prosperous New Year!
With Love .
Update from Nicaragua
ICC Nicaragua’s Vamos a Estudiar program benefits local families
(Editor‘s Note) Even though ICC’s children’s village in Nicaragua has suspended operations because of government policies, our directors, Felix and Angelica, continue to do a great work within the local community. Here is an edited excerpt from an update we received recently.
Angelica delivers cleaning supplies, food, and fruit to local families participating in the Vamos a Estudiar program in Nicaragua.
Dear friends of International Children’s Care, we want to tell you how wonderful has been the providence and care of our Creator for our staff and our small but very significant work in these difficult times.
In this new stage the program we call Vamos a Estudiar (Let’s Study) continues to be our main work,although we are also carrying out other smaller tasks such as education on healthy living and timely help for some unforeseen needs or situations.
The objectives we set at the beginning of this project in this new stage are being achieved, perhaps quite slowly, but you can see the positive changes in each of the 48 children who benefit directly from this work as well as the families to which the children we support belong.
The facilities of the Casa Hogar have been very important for the support of our work. This year we have had an overproduction of lemons. We sold more than 30,000 and took another 5,000 to the hospital. We distributed about 8,000 among the families we support. We have had a good production of bananas, and we hope to have a good harvest of sorghum. The tractor that you helped us to buy has been one of the greatest blessings we have received.
We visited the schools where the children who participate in the program study. The children of this program received a school package containing a pair of shoes, school uniforms, notebooks, pencils, and a nice backpack. Every month we visit each family, and each one is given cleaning materials, a bag with food, and fruits grown on the farm of the Casa Hogar.
“…With God's help we will continue to work for the less fortunate trying to be God's hands in this place.”
In April, several young people from the program and other young volunteers built a simple room for the mother of one of the students in the program. This helped her to be protected from the rains. We also continued the nutrition classes for low-income mothers. In these classes, they are taught the basics of nutrition and the preparation of nutritious and healthy meals based on what is produced in the area. This is done in coordination with the Adventist church.
An important thing when working with the families we support is that we do not only give them welfare support, but we also think about the sustainable development of each family. We seek to find each family an economic opportunity that will be a source of income that will allow them to stop depending on social assistance in the not-too-distant future. We do this almost always by means of activities that they already carry out, improving their conditions or providing them with a means of work in better conditions. We gave one man a tricycle to work transporting people since he was renting one to carry out his work. Other families we have given an industrial stove with a tortilla griddle, tables, and stand to sell vegetables, etc.
As you can see, we have been very busy, and with God’s help we will continue to work for the less fortunate trying to be God’s hands in this place. Thank you very much. God bless you and remember that we always have you in our prayers.
Sweet Home Children Celebrate Christmas Together
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from India
According to Udai Valluri, DEWS Sweet Home business manager, Christmas is the best day of the year “because all the DEWS Sweet Home family gathers. Spending Christmas with my family in Sweet Home is very important to me. We spend the day preparing a big Christmas lunch/dinner, with all the trimmings. The children love to see each other. They spend the day playing games and sharing their new gifts and toys… They get so eager to decorate that it is hard to restrain them.” At the Sweet Home Children’s Village, Christmas is celebrated with different activities throughout the week. Special meals for breakfast, lunch, and supper are prepared to create a special homelike feel for the children.
Christmas was celebrated on the 26th of December. The Sweet Home family gathered for a special service. The children sang songs and one of the house parents gave a message on Christ’s birth. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a meal that included fruits, sweets, and snacks. That night, the children participated in another program where they received their gifts.
Christmas is a special time for the children. According to Udai, “each one of us thanked the Lord for providing us a safe place where we are loved and well cared for. Thanks to all the sponsors and donors.”
In previous years, the children visited churches and performed a Christmas pageant. Due to the pandemic, they were unable to make these presentations about Christ’s birth. The local church visited Sweet Home and sang carols. The children enjoyed singing and praising God.
Thanks to your support, ICC’s children in India experienced the blessing and joy of Christmas. Thanks for all you do for the kids!
Christmas Prayers Answered
An AMAZING response
What an AMAZING response the children received from many of you towards the “Christmas Care” matching grant!
Thanks to you, 100% of the funds available for the matching grant were matched! This was a tremendous blessing for the children in order to keep their programs going. This only happened because of each of you who contributed to that vital need.
YOU are the ones who are keeping the children alive and providing a hope for their young lives.
Because of these gifts, the children will receive the food, clothing, education, and nurturing care that they need so much. Thank you from the bottom of the children’s hearts for your unselfish gift of love at Christmas to them. This was truly an answer to the prayers of His Kids!
Also, please remember the children in this first quarter of this year in whatever way you can. The first quarter of the year is often difficult financially for each project. Any special gift you can send will be so appreciated.
God bless you each one!
Doug Congleton
