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#93
- December 2005
A Ministry of the Southwest Florida Outreach Council: LCMS
Rising to the
Challenge
We
received a big boost with the promise of a $10,000 matching gift from an
anonymous donor. Our nameless benefactor believes that the friends of
Amigos en Cristo will rise to the challenge. He will match gifts given
to our Amigos ministry, up to a total of $10,000. That adds up to
$20,000. We need this to meet our Campaign Income goal of $47,000 by the
end of 2005. Please make your tax deductible contribution payable to
“Amigos Center” and send to 25999 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.
LWML Latina
The Latin women of
St. Michael’s Lutheran, Fort Myers, recently formed the first Hispanic
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League in Southwest Florida. Four officers
were elected and will attend the next LWML Latina zone rally in Hialeah,
Florida.
Hurricane Recovery
The United Way of Lee County choose Amigos Center to provide hurricane recovery assistance to the residents of labor camps in Bonita Springs. They feel that many immigrants, wary of government institutions, will be more receptive to the relief efforts of Amigos Center.
As a result of the United Way’s support, we have temporarily added Diego Grisales to our staff and expanded the hours of others. Diego serves as the director of our Hurricane Wilma Recovery effort.
Lutheran Services Florida and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided additional funding so that our hurricane recovery team can help people from throughout Southwest Florida.
During the first two weeks of our recovery efforts we helped 73 adults and 91 children from 40 families with a total of $4,700. Each home was visited, an intake form filled out and the appropriate aid offered (food vouchers, Wal-Mart gift cards, utility payments, etc.). Many people suffered property loss
due to water/wind damage and/or lost wages because of damaged work places and power outages. We are
now gearing up to help the migrant workers who will soon arrive in our area only to find that Hurricane Wilma has decimated local crops, leaving little or no work for them.
Accomplishments
2005...
To the glory of God and by His grace
we:
·
Strengthened our church planting team by calling Sarah
Paganes, a bilingual rostered LCMS Director of Christian Education to
work with Pastor Selle;
·
Opened a new Amigos Center at Messiah Lutheran Church in
Golden Gate.
·
Hired and trained a 2nd Immigration Specialist
to serve in Bonita Springs and Golden Gate.
·
Changed our part-time caseworker into a full-time worker
with health benefits. Also hired a second part-time caseworker.
·
Expanded the scope of our 70-page Spanish Newcomers Guide
to cover both Lee and Collier Counties. Print 15,000 copies.
·
Strengthened our language program by partnering with
Bonita Literacy Council to train our English teachers and received Kathy
Donlan as our Volunteer Language Program Director.
·
Filled our “Community Outreach Liaison” position so we can
increase our base of prayer, volunteer and financial support.
Give thanks to God for
. . .
Ø
Our goals achieved during 2005.
Pray for . . .
Ø
Ongoing hurricane recovery efforts under the direction of Diego Grisales.
Ø
Leadership of our new LWML Latina.
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