Fire hits Casa Esperanza,,,where do we begin…

Thinking, thinking, thinking...

Do you ever go to start something to fulfill a need, but then the need becomes much bigger due to unplanned circumstances, then you have no idea where to start??? Or did I just loose you? We have been involved with Casa Esperanza for many years now and over this summer some big changes came about that are going to make things a bit challenging for the next few months. We had started the boys bathrooms and I guess you could say that they feel victim to the Media-hype over the drug cartel and Swine Flu (that has no reported cases in Ensenada and only one case in all of Baja CA) and we have not been able to finish it up. Then I received and email with a few questions on it and then an “Oh By the

The Back section that caught fire

Way…” that went on to tell me of a section of the front building that caught fire and pretty much put the bathrooms out of commission. The fire started when some of the men working there tried to smoke out some bees and ended up catching the roof on fire. Casa Esperanza was already in need of some extra bathrooms, but now they are really hurting.

Today, 8/26/09 Sergio and I started with the demo work on the roof as to give us some clear views of what needs to be done and to come up with some estimates of how much it will cost to put a new roof on the building. If we can get the roof done this will give a bit of security from rain and moisture. The next step will be to demo the bathrooms, build the new exterior walls, run new electrical and plumbing and re construct the bathrooms. All of this will take allot of time and a bunch of money.

Sarah Dorsey and Sergio clean out the hopefully soon to be Boys Bathroom

The boys bathroom will need a septic tank built and there is still the work that needs to be done on the interior. Cement board still needs to be installed in the shower rooms, plus the lower portion of the bathroom walls. Then there is all the tile work, toilets and urinals that will need to be installed. So,,,there is much on the plate and some of it does not look so good, but it needs to be dealt with right away.

Besides all of this there have been some leadership changes as well. Terry is now in the States visiting here brother who is sick with cancer and she will not be coming back. Walter Requejo was asked to take the position as interim-overseer until the board of directors can find a married couple to take over. With these types of changes brings many challenges, but it can also bring many blessings as sometimes new eyes see things in a new way that can greatly benefit the ministry. Debbie and I will continue to support and stand by Casa Esperanza as best we can and do as much as we can do under our current position there, which is mainly just two people that volunteer, and advise them with their building and repair needs.

Please pray for us as we try to support Walt and Adriana with the very big and difficult task that they have in front of them. Please pray that we’ll be able to be a support to them as they look to some new ideas to improve the safety and security of the women and children, and pray for our safety as we get ready to help rebuild the burnt down section of the Hay Bail building.