Prayer and Praise Update 10/21/08

I just wanted to write and say thanks to the many who prayed for me during my month long trip to the beautiful Northwest states. My current kidney stone did not give me any pain while traveling and I arrived home safely on Saturday October 19th. (2:30am!!)

During my many visits to churches and with new and old friends I had the privilege to share what God is doing in Guatemala. I am excited to now be able to share with a long list of new people who have indicated their interest in sharing in prayer support of the ministry activities.

Current Prayer Requests

Please pray for a new Christian named Carlos. His life has been changed by God but he has been arrested for previous acts and is in jail.

Magdalena asks you to pray for her brothers. She wants them to find God and turn their lives away from bad things.

Maria wants you to pray that she keeps seeking God.

Solia asks you pray that her family may be reunited in the future.

Kemberly asks you to pray that her father will visit her more often.

Isabel wants you to pray that she will understand her school work better.

Pray for Lorenzo as he has been reunited with his family which he had missed very much. He is thankful for the 2 years he spent with El Castillo.

Finally, please thank God for Monica Yool who works in the ghetto of La Limonada and is visiting in Missouri now. She will speak to a group of donors tonight and share how God has changed her life.

Thanks for caring,

Rick Grove, Director
Life of Hope Ministries

Prayer and Praise Requests–Sept 15, 2008

Please remember Monica Yool. She is Tita Evertsz assistant in ministry at the school in the ghetto of La Limonada. Monica has been in the Cincinnati Ohio area for two months serving the Latino community.

Continue to remember the “Day Care” program in the ghetto of Santa Faz. Pray for safety and pray from effectiveness in sharing Jesus with the children.

Mama Carmen is a servant caring for 30-40 children 24/7. She does this in faith. Please pray that ALL the needs of the children will be met.

The “street team” of El Castillo and our partners who work in the ghetto are exposed to some potential of violence each day. We ask you to continue to hold them in your prayers.

At Life of Hope Ministries we sense God’s leading and we are so thankful we can serve. We ask that you pray that the board and staff remain open and anxious to follow Him.

Please say a prayer of thanks for those who volunteer with Life of Hope Ministries. They are a blessing to our work!!

Thank God for all those who share their blessings with Life of Hope Ministries so we can share His blessings with children and families in Guatemala.

Rick Grove, Director

Prayer & Praise Update 8-18-08

Above you see some very happy children. They are part of the “nursury care” ministry being hosted through Chris and Richard Rice in the ghetto of Santa Faz. These children would be left unattended, or under supervised without the existence of the program. The program is also allowing some mothers a chance to earn an income so they can keep their families together and their kids off the streets. PLEASE PRAY that the program will grow and flourish.

Pray for the ministry of Rosario and Ramon. They are serving the “new church” in Santa Faz and they face the challenge of Satan. Ramon hopes to start a men’s ministry soon.

Pray that God will send supporters to help fund the work at the church in Santa Faz. The funds must grow for the ministry to be sustained.

The new outreach in La Limonada is growing. Teachers now present classes 4 days a week in the new area of ministry.

Please pray for the “area directors” of El Castillo. They are in need of God’s guidance as they serve the various areas of ministry.

Remember Mario Lopez (National Director of El Castillo) as he makes a strong effort to re-organize and focus the ministry of El Castillo.

Join us in giving thanks to God for providing exactly what is needed for our field partners.

I will soon be traveling in the Northwest US for 4 weeks. Pray that the churches visited will be receptive to the needs presented.

Rick Grove, Director

Prayer and Praise Request!!

We are praising God this week because Tita Evertsz is getting the opportunity to expand her ministry into a new area of the ghetto of La Limonada. They will have classes two days this week and share Jesus with the children. Please join in praying that many children will come and that this effort will grow during the coming weeks and months.

Another Praise!! The church in Santa Faz that is evoling through the work of Richard and Chris Rice is basically finished. Chris is currently organizing to open a day care center. Please pray that God sends the right women to help in this effort and that it draws families to the church.

Remember the “street team” of El Castillo as they work the streets several nights this week.

Pray for Jenfet and Miquel (9 and 10) who are living alone because their mother must stay in the hospital with their little sister. They have been alone for 2 months now.

Pray for Jonathan (11) who lives in the ghetto of La Limonada and is being drawn toward the gangs.

We are asking you to pray for Bill Cummings (North Carolina) who has stepped out in faith to full time mission work. His ministry (Lemonade International) is seeking to assist Tita Evertsz with the work in La Limonada.

Please pray for the “short term” mission group from Fellowship Bible Church-Rogers, Arkansas. They are serving with Tita’s ministry this week.

Finally, join us in asking God to open doors and open the eyes of Life of Hope Ministries so we can do His Work in Guatemala City!

Blessings to all,

Rick Grove, Director

Prayer/Praise Update 6/23/08

The lady in the photo is asking God to change her life and the life of her family. Recently her husband tried to kill her with a knife. While she was at the hospital he did kill her brother. Now the family wants to change. Please pray for Tita Evertsz as she tries to help them find the strength the family needs through a relationship with God!

Continue to pray that the construction on the new church in the ghetto of Santa Faz moves to completion. (Richard and Chris Rice)

Life of Hope is in the process of purchasing much needed medicines for Mama Carmen and two of her children. Pray that the medicine needed can be found and the quanitity needed is available. (she has been reducing needed dosages to extend the medications)

Continue to pray for the street team of El Castillo as they work this cycle to receive young girls from the street environment.

Pray for “short term” mission teams from Fellowship Bible Church (Rogers, Ark) as they go over the next 30 days to serve in Guatemala.

Life of Hope Ministries has new friends in a church by the garbage dump of Guatemala City. They report a “garage slide” at the dump and 50 people were buried. 7 deaths have been reported and there may be many more. Please join us in praying for these families and Igesia Bautista de el Camino who is trying to minister to them.

Pray for a young man named Kevin. He has returned to the Christian care provided by El Castillo. He is now 15 and needs to continue his life in Christ.

As always, remember Life of Hope Ministries as we plan ways to serve God and our partners through the rest of 2008.

Respectfully requested: Rick Grove, Director of Life of Hope Ministries

This boy in the photo is Geraldo. He has cerebral palsy and needs daily seizure medicine.

Prayer Requests–6/17/08

I have just returned from Guatemala and have several prayer requests. Please remember these needs during this week and share them with any prayer warriors you know!

**Pray that the medicine Geraldo receives will relieve his seizures. Also, remember Marcos who is just over 1 year old. He also receives the seizure medicine each day. Pray that his seizures are also controlled.

**Pray for Mama Carmen (pictured above). She has a asthma condition and during the raining season she struggles.

**Pray for the final stages of the church construction in Santa Faz.

**Pray for the right workers for the “day care” activities at the church in Santa Faz. They are to begin in July.

**Pray that Tita Evertsz will be freed from the headaches she has been experiencing.

**Pray for Mario Lopez as he works as the new director of El Castillo’s ministry.

**Pray for older girls who have been moved from the Salem house (of El Castillo) to live in the Shalom home.

**Pray for the 3 boys who are close to making a clean break from the streets (to move into the half-way house of El Castillo)

**Pray that the home of Jessenia (a girl in Tita’s school) whose home was destroyed in a rain slide.

**Pray for the start of “spiritual meetings” in a new area of the ghetto of La Limonada.

Thanks for joining in our efforts to support the children and families in Guatemala with PRAYER!!

Rick Grove, Director

“Prayer and Praise Update” 5-19-2008

This update is dedicated to the way God blesses Life of Hope Ministries and our partners!! Please join in praising God for the following:

Chris Rice’s health has been restored so she may move forward with establishing the programs of the community center in the ghetto of Santa Faz.

Construction work on the worship assembly area of the new church building in Santa Faz is again moving forward and should be completed soon.

Recently a women known to Tita Evertsz (who ministers in the ghetto of La Limonada) came expressing many problems and addictions. Tita shared her need with a few people and 1 women was lead to provide 1000Q (about $100) to the lady and her family. They were at the brink of starvation and Tita did not have funds to help. Praise God for His love!

We are thankful that Pamela Alvarez has regained her health and is able to again serve at the assistant to the director of El Castillo.

We are very pleased that God provides financial blessings so Life of Hope Ministries can continue to send support and encouragement to our partners in Guatemala.

God has provided a way for Life of Hope Ministries to spend 30 days in the Northwest United States sharing about His work with the street children of Guatemala.

Katelin Duffey is currently in Guatemala serving as an intern with El Castillo.

We are thankful for friends like Dina Fesler and the Childrens Culture Connection for there love and concern for children with little hope of a future.

We are blessed by those who volunteer their time and talents to aid in fulfilling the mission of our ministry.

Rick Grove, Director

Prayer & Praise Update 4/28/08

Some Praises…….

Through the generosity of the Charles H. Stout Foundation Life of Hope Ministries has provided a new wheel chair and stretcher for the community of La Limonada (Tita Evertsz ministry). This will make it possible to transport the children and others who are ill and can not walk the steep paths of the ghetto. Funds where also provided to re-stock the medicine cabinet at the school.

Tomoka Christian Church provided a “short term” misson group to Guatemala April 4-11. This group conducted a medical clinic, rebuild a slum house, and aided in two additional construction sites. Joe Putting, Tomoka’s lead minister, preached in the new church located in the ghetto of Santa Faz. (The Rice Family Ministry)

My hip surgery has been a great success. I am driving and moving toward normal activity. I will be in Guatemala in early June to meet with our partners and host our 3rd group of the year.

Prayer Requests!!

Chris and Richard Rice are still being challenged with an illness contracted on a visit to Honduras. It has been a couple of months now and it just won’t go away. Please pray for a doctors appointment this week that could lead to a medical cure for there conditions.

Mario Lopez has been appointed the “national director” of El Castillo. The ministry is spending time in prayer in an effort to continue in a direction that touches lives of the street children and serves our God in the way He desires. Mario has asked for supportive prayer at this time.

Mario also asked for protection for the street children who are attach by Satan on a daily basis!

Tita Evertsz has asked for special prayer for a girl in her school. This little girl has been abused for several years and her actions have lead Tita to sense an evil spirit in her heart. They are loving her and working with her but believe YOUR PRAYERS can help. Please conmit to praying for this girl today!!

(Tita estimates that 80% of the children in her school are being abused or have been abused!!)

Thanks for your concern,

Rick Grove, Director-Life of Hope Ministries

Praise and Prayer Update

We have just learned of the passing of Richard Rice’s mother in England. Richard is traveling to England to be with family and honor his mothers life. Please remember the Rice family and Richards travel at this time. (Richard and Chris Rice are field partners of Life of Hope and are establishing a “community center” in the ghetto of Santa Faz)

Last Friday Joe Walenciak, the president of the Life of Hope board, had two skin cancers removed from his arm. Please join us in praying that the reports we be clear of further cancer.

Please remember these upcoming activities in Guatemala:

April 4-11 Short term group working in with our partners in Guatemala

May 08 SIFE Team conducting medical clinics in the ghettos of Guatemala City

June 08 Short term team working with our Guatemala field partners

Give PRAISE!! for Miguel and the opportunity to shape the young lives in Guatemala with the love and knowledge of Jesus. Each day in the La Limonada school the children see Jesus witnessed and hear His name. This will make a difference in their lives and point them away from life on the streets.

WHEN YOU PRAY, WHEN YOU SUPPORT YOU ARE BLESSING THESE LITTLE ONES!

Prayer and Praise Update  3/20/08

 My hip surgery went good on Thursday March 13.  I came home on the 16th and I am making normal progress.  Thanks for all prayers and contacts.

 Prayer Request-El Castillo—The board of directors of El Castillo have announced that Mario Lopez has been hired to be the National Director of their ministry.  Silvia Robles Diaz, the interim director, has asked that we remember the ministry as this transition occurs.

Prayer requests from Tita Evertsz– La Limonada

One of the older girls attending her school was resently raped and another incident in the community has been identified.  Please pray for those affected by these acts and for future protection.

Please remember the teachers in Tita’s school as they teach against the topic of violence with the children.  Soceity is trying to convince the kids that “only the strongest survive”.

Life of Hope continues to be thankful for the sustaining financial support from our “kingdom partners” and the prayers that tend to keep us moving in step with God’s will!!

Rick Grove, Director