Ileana has been in our Nicaragua children’s program for the last eight years. Our team has poured into her heart, spirit, and education, and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman of God. Her life hasn’t been easy, but as you’ll read in her letter, she has learned to depend on Christ for her strength.
Our ultimate goal for all the children and adults impacted by our programs is that they learn their true worth and God-given purpose, and we love seeing how God has faithfully done that in Ileana’s life.
Hello to all the members of the Forward Edge Office!
The reason for my little letter is to thank each of you for allowing me to be accepted into the Villa program. Remembering a few years ago, my first days at the Villa were wonderful because the Villa was a huge paradise and full of great joy and happiness. I remember how my heart had come to the Villa full of pride, selfishness and fear, and even full of violence, and of wanting things for myself. But little by little, God was changing my life and shaping my heart according to His purpose. It was a painful process because I was already used to living that way. And when I agreed to change, I felt like I was taking nails out of my heart, and they were hurting me. But as time went on, it was the opposite of what I thought. It was God, through people, who was transforming heart. The Villa and you have been a precious gift from Jesus. So, thank you very much for your great work in my life.
My life changed resoundingly when I accepted Christ as my only lord and Savior, and He formed much of that beautiful process. My heart was insatiable before, but now it celebrates God’s grace and mercy in my life. Members of Forward Edge, thank you for making me a different girl full of great humility and love for the service of others. Thank you for the efforts you have made in my life, for my educational and spiritual development. Today, I am a great intensive care nurse and I thank God and each of you for your efforts.
Well, currently I have decided to leave the Villa program. It is sad for me, but I am going out freely and with great gratitude for all that the Villa and you saw in my life and in my family. With this act of leaving, I want to give opportunity to another girl who wants to be part of the Villa and wants God to work in her life as He did with me. God has done His work in my life; now it is my turn to do my part and move on. But one thing I am sure of is that I desire to follow the path of Jesus and I hope one day to be together celebrating a huge feast together with the great Creator.
I love you very much and this is not a goodbye, but a see you soon. My heart is happy because I know that you are angels to this world and God has put you in a very special place. I will always be praying for the ministry and you. Thank you for your friendship and the nice connection.
– Ileana
I leave this as part of what the Villa taught me:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” –Micah 6:8
“Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” -John 7:39
The Verge is a caring and committed group of monthly givers pushing past the barriers of poverty to bring transformation to suffering children and communities around the world. It’s people like you, giving anything they can to prove that the Gospel + practical help can break the cycle of poverty, one person at a time.
Nancy, our Director of Development and long-time short-term missionary, shares her experience with the “Women of the Word” program in Kampala, Uganda. These resilient women, who migrated to a new area after facing unimaginable hardships, have come together to build a supportive community and empower one another. Discover how their journey of faith and perseverance is creating lasting change in their lives and in their community.
A Birthday with a Purpose Rappel down the side of a building to raise money for children?! I’d never heard of such an idea, but it sounded great to me! I’d get to challenge myself, do something fun, and help children all at the same time. My fundraising goal was
Choosing to sponsor a child is a big leap of faith. Once you have taken the first step of saying “yes” to sponsorship and helping vulnerable children, the next step can be joyful…and overwhelming! It can be difficult to know where to start that’s why we’ve put together a list
In the extremely poor village of Kijabe, Kenya, there lives a crippled widow named Mary. After her husband died of AIDS a few years ago, she struggled to find food. While she suffers from HIV, too, Mary’s greatest challenge is a nerve problem in her legs. She has to use crutches
10 yrs. old
Entered the program: April 2022
Mary lives with her grandmother, four cousins, a nephew and a niece in a rented two-room stone house that has electricity, a cement floor and a good bathroom facility. They fetch water from a neighbor’s borehole. Mary’s grandmother is the main provider for the family but her mother is employed as a maid and helps out.
Mary's cousin, Robinson Numi, is also in the Mama Beth program.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
