Derek Group Outing to the Zoo

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This weekend, Engadi Ministries had the opportunity to continue working one-on-one and strengthening brotherhood within the boys within the Derek Program. This month, boys partook in a larger quarterly outing from their neighborhood of Paraíso to Guatemala’s national zoo. Boys who had an attendance of at least 75% of their discipleship groups since September, as well as at least 75% of participation in local community service projects were treated to an outing to the zoo where several had never been before. It was a great time for these boys to break away from the monotony of their small community, and spend time fellowshipping with each other.

Through these outings, Engadi staff members are able to focus intensively with each of the boys and continue mentoring them, focusing on building the hopes and dreams of each young man. Just another way Engadi is working to bring #hope and #brotherhood to Paraíso through the next generation of men.

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First Classes in the Engadi Transformation Center

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Last week, Engadi Ministries held our first classes within the recently acquired and renovated Engadi Transformation Center in Paraíso. As a way to earn school supplies for their children, families are able to attend Biblically-based values classes, which are now held at the Engadi Transformation Center, a safe and neutral location within their community.

ETC Classes

Residents of Paraíso attending Family Values Classes within the Engadi Transformation Center

The classes held last week were taught by Engadi’s Director of Discipleship, David Medina, and covered a Biblical the topics of “Love vs. Hate”, a message which is extremely relevant in Paraíso’s gang-ridden streets. Classes aim to unite, educate, and share hope through the Gospel of Christ within the community.  Young men within the Derek Program have also begun using the building for weekly Bible studies and discipleship groups.  We are excited to be a part of how God is able to use the Center to ultimately draw the community of Paraíso closer to Him.

#engadi

Thank You, Avenue Church!

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Engadi Ministries thanks the men of Avenue Church who spent the past week partnering to reach out to children and families living in Paraíso. The construction they completed this week was jobs that would have taken our ministry staff many more weeks, if not months, to complete and it will have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of those who live in Paraíso. About half of the team spent the week renovating the Engadi Transformation Center, a beacon of hope within the community that will touch hundreds of lives as Engadi uses it to share Christ’s love with the neighborhood through Bible studies, community classes and events. The other half of the team spent the majority of their week constructing beds, dressers, and desks for the boys who will be living there, creating a bond of brotherhood within the shared rooms of the home. All of the teams’ work looks great, and we are so thankful to have their support, expertise, and dedication for the past week. Thank you, Avenue Church!

#engadi

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Benaiah House Furnishings

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For the past week, men from Avenue Church in Waxahachie, Texas have been working on a very special project for the Benaiah House, Engadi Ministries’ first boys home, which is scheduled to open its doors early this year. The house is already home to Engadi’s main offices, and houseparents, James and Ellie Carr. It is now even one step closer to housing its first three at-risk boys from the slums of Guatemala.

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Part of the all-men’s team has constructed beds, dressers, and desks for the first three young men to move into the Benaiah House, and even began construction on three additional beds that will be needed later this year as the ministry grows.

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These beds are designed to give each young man his own area within his shared room, with his own space to study, place to keep his belongings, and his own bed, things that these boys have never experienced in Paraíso, where most families currently live in small tin shacks that are generally shared by many individuals. These rooms will help create a close bond of brotherhood between the boys who share them, in addition to cultivating the hopes and dreams of each individual boy.

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Thank you, Avenue Church, for believing in the vision of Engadi Ministries, and making it a reality through your hard work and dedication. The beds look wonderful!

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Transforming the Transformation Center

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The new roof looks great!

The new roof looks great!

Over the past week, the all-men’s team from Avenue Church has transformed the Engadi Transformation Center in Paraíso. The team has replaced the roof, rewired the building, leveled and poured new concrete on the floor, begun to tile the upstairs, and dried-in one of the downstairs bathrooms. We are so thankful for their know-how, flexibility, and willingness to get the job done this week.

Beginning their last full day of work in Paraíso

Beginning their last full day of work in Paraíso

Finishing up the wiring within the building.

Finishing up the wiring within the building.

Avenue Church helping to lay tile and rewire the building.

Avenue Church helping to lay tile and rewire the building.

Rewiring the building was more complex than first thought, but Robert was able to get the job done!

Rewiring the building was more complex than first thought, but Robert was able to get the job done!

Laying tile on the newly poured floors.

Laying tile on the newly poured floors.

Pouring and leveling the floors.

Pouring and leveling the floors.

Drywalling the downstairs bathroom.

Drywalling the downstairs bathroom.

The Engadi Transformation Center will allow Engadi to have a continual secure presence within the community of Paraíso. It is designed to be a beacon of hope for the neighborhood, and a place where Bible studies, community classes, and events can be held to bring a sense of brotherhood and togetherness to the community. Thank you Avenue Church for investing your time, money and talents into sharing Christ’s love with the community.

#engadi #hope #brotherhood

Raising the Roof

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Yesterday, the all-men’s team from Avenue Church in Texas put in a long day’s work in Paraíso at Engadi’s newly acquired Engadi Transformation Center. The team removed the building’s original roof which was in disrepair and replaced it with new metal roofing. They also finished framing on one of the building’s bathrooms and began drywall work on the room. In addition, they initiated rewiring the electrical system in the building and leveling and pouring new concrete flooring upstairs. Great work guys! Your efforts will help Engadi bring hope and brotherhood to countess children and families in Paraíso

The team is back in Paraíso as of this morning continuing progress on the building. We can’t wait to see the progress that they are able to make in the next three days that they are here!

Avenue Church's mens team removing the old tin roof.

Avenue Church’s mens team removing the old tin roof.

Avenue Church's men's team hoisting up the new sheets of metal roofing.

Avenue Church’s men’s team hoisting up the new sheets of metal roofing.

Avenue Church's men's team finished the roof; now moving on to level and pour new concrete flooring.

The new roof looks great!  Now moving on to level and pour new concrete flooring.

Phillip Blume of Blume Photography captured the progress made of Engadi's Transformation Center

Phillip Blume of Blume Photography captured the progress made of Engadi’s Transformation Center

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Men’s Team Leads January Family Festival

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IMG_1219Avenue Family Festival Jan 2015

This week, Engadi Ministries is excited to be joined by two very important partners. Saturday night, fourteen men from Avenue Church in Waxahachie, Texas arrived in Guatemala. Yesterday, the all-men’s team partnered with Engadi Ministries to host a family festival at the soccer stadium where a message about sin and God’s forgiveness through Christ was shared with all in attendance. We are thankful for the team’s efforts to continue bringing hope and brotherhood to Paraíso through the Gospel of Christ.

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Also joining Engadi this week is board member, Phillip Blume of Blume Photography. Four years after releasing “Lost Boys of Paradise,” a documentary following the work of Engadi Ministries in Paraíso, Blume has returned to partner with Engadi for the week shooting more footage of the ministry in action. Since Engadi’s inception, Phillip has had a heartbeat for bringing hope and brotherhood to boys living in the slums of Guatemala, specifically, Paraíso, and we are thrilled to have him return to Guatemala for the week.

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Throughout this week, the all-men’s team from Avenue Church will be spearheading the construction on Engadi Ministries’ newly acquired Transformation Center in Paraíso. We are thankful to have their knowledge and experience with construction to help us complete several specialized tasks. Check back for updates of their progress throughout the week!

#engadi #hope #brotherhood