2026 Summer of Esperanza

The Esperanza House was started in 2027 when we realized there was a need for a home near the town for the mountain village girls to live so that they could go to high school. They had no access to education in their villages and many were resigned to be teenage brides with no other options.

Our youngest daughter, Esperanza Grace (Gracie) was born in Indonesia, and her name was symbolic of how we desired to be used by God to bring Hope (Esperanza is the Spanish word for Hope) and Grace to the people of the country we were called to share the Gospel with. We named the Esperanza House after her, because we desire for these village girls to have the same “hope and a future” to dream for a bright future, have the education to achieve it, and the joy of the Lord that comes from a relationship with Jesus and understanding of the Word of God!

Our ministry time in Indonesia in 2026 was really special because our Esperanza Grace was able to travel with us one last time before she turns 18. Because they were on school break, the younger girls were not at the Esperanza House, but a handful of former girls that are now in Bible School were staying there and looking after the home. Gracie had so much fun hanging out with them, reminiscing the past, laughing, joking, and singing together. It was beautiful to hear them sing together!

Over the summer these girls not only looked after everything at the Esperanza house and kept the gardens fruitful they also were doing online classes for the BA’s and MA’s from Bible Schools that are on Java, and they helped with some much needed renovations and updates! The new girls returned in August to no more leaky roof, and a fresh coat of paint!

Next year will be the 10yr anniversary of the opening of the Esperanza House. Praise the Lord for all He has done!

Graduation 2025

ESPERANZA HOUSE

The gardens and three growing seasons and harvests that the equatorial climate in Indonesia produced an abundant harvest of vegetables including two varieties of spinach, pumpkins, eggplant, casava, and chili peppers! The fruit trees around the home also produced crops of mangos, coconuts, jackfruit, and rambutan!

This physical fruit is good, and provides for the needs of the Esperanza House, but even more exciting is the fruit we see in the lives of our girls! Erpi, Ilma, and Yesika Sindi graduated high school with honors last year and are now the Bible school program. They will continue to live at the Esperanza House, and are mentors for new girls. There is an exciting season of discipleship and growing as they live life and grow in faith together.

Another graduation that we are excited to celebrate is that of Vio and Yalni. These young ladies have graduated from the local Bible School with an AA degree (the only degree our local Bible School is able to offer presently). They have both been offered a pastoral staff internship on another island, Java, which includes a scholarship to take online classes at Berea where they can finish their BA degree in pastoral ministry! For these girls from a remote mountain village, this is mind blowing. Just five years ago such opportunities did not exist. Praise the Lord for such a time as this! And pray for these girls as they follow the calling the Lord has put on their lives.

2023 meet some of us...

Currently there are 18 girls at the Esperanza House and one house mom. They start out going to the Christian high school on our Bible college campus in Palopo. If they desire to continue their education, they can go to the Bible college on campus or we are open to helping them find a way to another college of their choice.

Rifka’s Neice

It is an exciting time at the Esperanza House! In January the spring semester started with new students! One of those is the niece of our foster daughter (Rifka) who lived with us nearly 10yrs ago! Another is from a remote village that has no church yet, but she somehow heard about the opportunity for education and God made a way for her to come to the Esperanza House where she is excited to not just go to school, but to meet Christians and learn about Jesus!

Nova

Other exciting happenings at the Esperanza House is our new House Mom, Nova! She was one of our first students back in 2013! She was an incredible student and even earned a scholarship at a prominent Bible School on another Island. Once she completed her degree she felt God calling her back to us, to serve at the Esperanza House as well as teach at STAT, our local pastor’s training school. She is a vibrant young lady that is pouring so much into our girls, discipling them with an infectious joy and love for the Lord!

Pizza Party

During our time at the Esperanza House we treated the girls to pizza! For many of them, it was the first time they have ever eaten this strange food, and it was a hit!

Worship and Praise

We also had the chance to worship with them in the chapel that we helped build on their school campus back in 2014. I was moved to tears as one of the girls shared the Word and her testimony, the girls praised Jesus with all their hearts, and we prayed together.

Growing and Gardening

Lastly it is so exciting to see this group of girls working together to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables in their gardens! This helps cut their costs, gives them a sense of ownership and accomplishment while developing valuable life skills outside of the classroom!