2019 has been an incredible year for Jean and me personally, for the ministry God has entrusted us with in Honduras and for FHD Missions Honduras. Neither of these exist without you.
One year ago we were looking at, for the first time, photos of the house that has become La Casa De Rubén. We did not know how the foundation was going to be able to afford the rent but we thought it was the right house.
It took a little while to finalize the lease and get the utilities established. The house would be of no use without the proper staff so we began to search for the people who would make La Casa De Rubén work day to day. We did not know how the foundation was going to be able to afford to pay salaries but we thought that it was the right time.
In March 2019 we went to visit Rubén at his home in Mescalio to see how he was doing. He was doing relatively well physically, meaning he was infection and fever free, and that his skin ulcers were continuing to heal slowly. But he was not doing so well in other ways (please read the year end letter below for the details). We did not know how the foundation would be able to sustain La Casa de Rubén but, after this visit, we knew it was the right time.
Then the big day came, April 26th, the grand opening of La Casa de Rubén, and the moving in of Rubén and his younger sister Marlen.
So much has changed for them since then. Marlen is growing physically, emotionally and spiritually. As a result of hard work she has passed 7th grade and will be going on to 8th grade this coming February. Rubén went from wanting to give up ten months ago to sitting upright in his wheelchair without restraints, feeding himself, and even moving his wheelchair by himself. But more importantly he has new hope.
We have grown through all of this too as God, through so many of you, has proven himself to be faithful to provide. There have been times when we have not known how the medicines, supplies and food were going to be purchased. There have been times that we have wondered where the next payroll and rent payments were coming from. But God. He has been faithful. And He has done it through faithful and generous people like you.
There is so much more that could be said. We have shared much more in presentations and around tables with so many of you over the last few weeks and we are grateful for the time to do so.
As we began with, none of this happens without your prayers and financial donations. We did our first traditional mailing just a few days ago. Included below is the letter that was mailed in case you hadn’t received one. Please take a few moments to read it, and if you are touched to give, we thank you in advance.
Monthly support for the operating expenses is very much needed in order to offer these services to more people beginning in January 2020. We also have a large capital need as the foundation has the opportunity to purchase the house currently being rented. You can read more about all of this below.
Monthly or one-time support can be made here. If you would prefer to write and mail a check please make it out to FHD Missions and mail it to 2850 Jericho Road, LaGrange, KY 40031
If we receive the check by 11:59 December 31st it will be a tax deductible donation for the 2019 tax year. If we receive your donation later it will be tax deductible on your 2020 tax return.
100% of your donations for La Casa De Rubén go to operate the house. Jean and I receive nothing personally from these donations. If you would like to donate to support us and our other ministries you can do so here. These deductions are also tax deductible.
Here is our year end fundraising letter:
When we met Rubén in 2017 he was 20 years old, paralyzed from the chest down due to a spinal injury, confined to his bed in a remote mountain community with no hope of anything ever changing. Thanks to people like you, things are completely different for Rubén now.
Rubén is still paralyzed. Short of a miracle it is unlikely that he will walk again or regain full use of his hands and fingers. However, he is no longer living mostly alone in an isolated community. He is no longer spending nearly all day, every day, in bed.
Because of the amount of time Rubén spent like this, his body deteriorated significantly as 2017 and 2018 passed. By March of 2019, for the first time, Rubén told us that he was tired of being a burden to everyone and that he was ready to give up. Prior to this, despite the struggles with paralysis, large and deep skin ulcers, fevers and infections, he had always been upbeat with a big smile.
From this came the idea of opening a place where Rubén, and others like him from isolated communities, could come and live temporarily to be near the physical therapy center to receive the care they need.
This place is called La Casa De Rubén. It is the first and only one like it in all of western Honduras.
When Dora, Rubén’s physical therapist, saw him for the first time in over 2 years, she left his room and cried because she had never seen anyone decline to this point. Rubén’s family brought him to the physical therapy center right after the injury and that was the first time Dora met him. Because of the distance, difficult travel and economic limitations, Rubén, like so many others, never came back.
But now Rubén is receiving physical therapy three times per week. At La Casa De Rubén he is being cared for by nurse assistants who help him with his exercises. Rubén has been eating healthy meals and is well on his way to regaining the 40 pounds he had lost.
With the gaining of muscle tissue he now sits upright in his wheelchair without restraints, feeds himself, helps with small chores like sorting beans, and uses his hands and fingers as they are to read. He even moves his wheelchair by himself now!
But more significantly, Rubén has new hope. He is realizing that he has value and purpose despite his limitations. There are approximately 60 other people in any given month living in isolated communities with no hope of receiving the care they need to heal. Just like Rubén, they need La Casa De Rubén. And this is where you come in.
Your support makes it possible for Rubén and others to receive treatment they need to heal, finding value and purpose in the process. Please make a gift today. Your one-time gift of any amount, or a monthly gift from $25 to $100 or more, will fund the La Casa De Rubén monthly operating budget.
You can also make a one-time gift to our capital campaign to raise $155,000 needed to purchase the house and land we are currently renting for La Casa De Rubén.
No gift is too small, all gifts are tax deductible, and 100% will be used for La Casa De Rubén. If we receive your check or on-line donation by 11:59 p.m. December 31st it will be tax deductible for the 2019 tax year. So please mail a check in the enclosed envelope, give on-line at fhdhonduras.org, or call any one of our board members for more information:
Rick Lucas: 502-643-4461
Dennis Mangum: 502-648-4257
Kathy David: 404-791-7278
Charles Hodnett: 404-788-2804
With much gratitude,
Greg & Jean Hines
Founders, FHD Missions Honduras
P.S. We believe education changes lives, families, communities and even nations. Time prohibits us from telling you about the progress of Rubén’s thirteen year old sister who also lives at La Casa De Rubén. She has returned to school to continue her education, an impossibility where she lived before. Value and purpose are taking root in her life as a result of the education and care that she is receiving. You can make a difference by sponsoring one of our outstanding high school students enabling them to go to college.