No Need Too Small…No Need Unmet
We began in Venezuela many, many years ago because God opened our eyes to a need, and God touched our hearts with His love and zeal to meet that need. We worked in Venezuela for 14 years, rescuing children from horrifying circumstances and giving them hope, healing, and a home. We gave them JESUS, meeting their biggest and deepest need after we had cared for their immediate physical and emotional needs. During the latter part of those 14 years, we were also led to work in Honduras, meeting the needs of the poor, the widowed and the orphaned; offering them the same hope and love of Christ that had changed the lives of numbers of people in Venezuela. We worked in Honduras for 5 years. Now we have been working alongside Santa Maria Children’s Home in Peru for 2 and ½ years, meeting a variety of needs…some of which we do not even know about in advance of our arrival each month, but nonetheless important to the wellbeing of the orphanage and the precious children and staff that dwell there.
One such urgent need this month in Peru was to replace two broken water heaters, so that the children and staff might have warm showers to take (and to prevent any illness brought on by getting chilled in the winter weather). Right now it is very cold in Peru, as it is their winter season, and without properly functioning water heaters you can imagine just how unenthusiastic the children were to shower each day! We are grateful to the Lord (as are the children) that He enabled us to replace the two water heaters for the home. Unfortunately, however, our funds are very low at this time, and so the funds used to replace the water heaters meant we were unable to purchase airfare to go to Peru this month. What is more, we still need to supply them with more funds to cover this month’s utility bills for the orphanage, as well as money for food and supplies. We truly need your help. We recognize that July is usually a big month for vacations in America or a month where folks search for an opportunity to relax and spend a little extra time with family doing the activities they might not be able to do during the rest of the year. We hope that you will have the opportunity to celebrate, play, and rest with your family, and that in all of it you will sense the joy of the Lord. We do ask that you pray and sacrificially send whatever the Lord lays on your heart to help us continue to feed the orphanage during this month. We want to know that whatever need they have is met, and it will take an increase in giving for that to happen this month. There are 65 children to feed daily: a breakfast, a large lunch and a small dinner. We also know that they are in need of clothing and undergarments; we want to meet each need they have. In our hearts there is no need too small, and we want no need to go unmet, because we continually remember the words of Jesus that whoever gives to the least of these is giving to HIM. We have an opportunity to store up treasures in Heaven, to “lend to the Lord” by giving to the poor, and to practice what God our Father calls pure and undefiled religion in His sight. Please seriously consider this opportunity we are laying before you.
We sincerely appreciate your prayers and your support. The children are all well, and the director is in stable health. Praise God! On July 27 – 28 Rosa and I will be visiting Mountain High Community Church in Colorado for the Annual Pig Roast Dinner fundraiser; please pray that it is a successful event. We deeply appreciate their faithful support of Home of Refuge ministry over the years, as well as their steadfast friendship to us.
As we close this newsletter this month, we must take a few moments to share once again with you some painful news. We are thankful that we know the “end of the story”, but oftentimes we wish we could alter some of the chapters in life that we face. Many of you may not have known that one of our precious daughters-in-law, Sharon Rivera, has been battling cancer for a number of years. In February her husband (our son, Jesus Rivera) passed away unexpectedly, and we witnessed as Sharon continued to be strong in her faith, to worship the Lord in the midst of her pain and loss, and to be a source of encouragement to others. She was simply amazing! This past week, on June 13, Sharon joined our son in the eternal presence of God. We deeply appreciate your prayers for our family, and in particular our grandchildren that have experienced the passing of both of their parents in four month’s time. The grace of God is very real and we know He is carrying us all through this season with reminders of the HOPE that we have in Him. (“Sharon, you are deeply loved and will be dearly missed. You made it, Beautiful! You finished your race of faith and you 
have won the prize.”)
Grace and peace,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Homes of Refuge International
