MARCH GWOM: ΜΕΤΑΚΟΜΙΣΕΙ - MOVED IN!

This month we are celebrating the installation of houseparents to The Hope Center Maternity Home. Finally, after much paperwork and medical certifications, a lovely couple and their 4-year-old daughter have moved in.

We are thrilled at God’s leading and provision for us in this area. Our houseparents come with a mature marriage, parenting skills, love for the Lord, the ability to speak English and Greek, familiarity with the Ano Liossia neighborhood and hearts to counsel young women.

They come highly recommended to us by their pastor and other members of the community who have worked with them in the past. We have been blessed already as we've walked through this process with them and believe we are of the same heart regarding the ministry involved at The Hope Center.

Additionally, we've also moved a pregnant girl and her 3-year-old daughter into THC. The houseparents were part of the interview and intake process from the beginning and we are all encouraged to welcome this new girl and her daughter. 

Please pray:

• that our new girl will grow in her relationship with Christ and that she would let Him lead her in all the decisions she will need to make in the coming months. There are many challenges ahead as you can imagine.
• for good family relationships between the houseparents and the new girl and her daughter as they transition to living together at THC.
• for the neighborhood to be accepting of these new occupants and to give them peace.

FEB GWOM: ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ - CHURCH

This month we diverge from our normal news about The Hope Center Ministries to share with you a little about the Greek Church that we attend in Athens.   

We are so proud as we have watched this church (of about 150 ppl) intentionally move into their neighborhood to share the gospel in various ways: such as providing food and clothing for the needy, bible studies, a drop in center, language lessons, community clean up and the list goes on and on. 



Mike enjoys sharing his Mondays with our friends at church and those who come to visit outside the church doors. This provides a great opportunity to talk to those who might never enter a church. 





Highlights for us this month at church were:

• Being able to help with a medical van that came offering free dental and gynecological services to anyone who signed up.
• Mike sharing a message with the youth group.
• Peggy sharing The Hope Center vision to the young girls of the church with Marina, the Hope for Life pregnancy care center director.

Please continue to pray:

• that God would draw many to Himself through the local churches in Greece.
• for finalization of the paperwork in order to move the new houseparents into THC shortly.
• for a young girl we interviewed this week who is deciding whether THC is the place for her to live out her pregnancy.
• for us to get THC and HFL websites created and published soon.

DEC/JAN GWOM: ΕΓΚΑΙΝΙΑ-INAUGURATION

Following the birth of our first Hope Center baby, The Hope Center Ministries hosted an official inauguration and dedication of the maternity home in early December 2013.

Local pastors, those involved with the original design and construction of the building as well as other like-minded members of the Greek community joined us in celebrating the goodness of the Lord in His provision for this ministry.

Together with the Hope for Life Pregnancy Care Center, we shared the vision of this home built to host pregnant girls who have chosen not to have an abortion and need help. The girls will live at THC with house parents who will offer love, godly counsel and friendship in a Christian family setting.

Please continue to pray with us in this pioneering work:

·      As we interview potential candidates for the house parent position.
·      As we spread awareness about the sanctity of human life throughout Greece.

** If any of you is interested in helping contribute specifically towards the hospital bill for C's baby, you can use the give button at http://www.hellenicministries.org and mark the payment for THC baby fund. Thank you!

Nov GWOM - ΜΩΡΟ - BABY

Until us a child is born!!!



We are so happy to announce that a healthy baby boy was born to C, the first pregnant girl to live at THC on Nov 4th. Our hearts are so full of thankfulness to God for this new life and for the joy on his parents faces as they met their son and shared this joy with us.  



It was a long labor as we waited all through the night at the hospital with the expectant father but by early afternoon the next day, we were able to meet this darling little boy for the first time. 



All are healthy and now they are settling into life together as a new family in their own apartment. We continue to visit them weekly and are encouraged to see their love and care for the baby and for each other.



Please continue to pray for this new family:

•   for God to draw them to Himself and that they would respond 

•   for jobs for them

•   for finances to pay the hospital bill ($2,500. USD)

If any of you is interested in helping contribute specifically towards the hospital bill, you can go to www.hellenicministries.com and click on the GIVE button. Please mark the payment for THC baby fund.

Oct GWOM - ΔΙΑΣΥΝΔΕΣΕΙΣ - CONNECTIONS

Hooked up for another ultrasound 

Peggy, C, Sarah & Marina

Our team with C & Katerina, our midwife

This month has been amazing as we have watched God provide for us and for the pregnant girl living with us at The Hope Center in so many ways! Our hearts are so thankful. We are often overwhelmed, but are seeing Him so faithful in supplying all we need at just the right time.

This update would be way too wordy to describe each “connection” He’s made for us, so we will just highlight a few:

-A Greek social worker that meets with C weekly and is an amazing source of information and godly counsel for her and for us.

-Another Greek girl who visits C once a week and does English classes with her as well as sharing many girly things, like haircuts, manicures, pedicures, make up tips etc.

-A visiting missionary couple that live and work in her homeland who were able to talk to C about life back home and about baby care as the wife is a nurse.

-Two Greek midwives who are partnering with us. One has provided pre-natal instruction for C at THC and the other has met with C and with us to answer any questions we have about the delivery, the hospital and the ways things are done here in Greece.

-A Greek doctor who has been monitoring C all throughout her pregnancy.

-Heating at THC, finally we have an operating heating system just in time for the cold.

On and on, but a few more connections this month:

            -A couple who worked with Gypsies in Northern Greece
      -A Greek/English couple with an interest in THC
      -Medical testing facility
      -Local police department officials
      -Legal counsel
      -And so many friends who have donated all the practical  things that C needs for her baby such as a pack n play, baby clothes, diapers, car seat, baby carrier, bassinet etc.

We are so thankful that we are not alone in this. God is showing Himself so strong and able, as well as having our team mate Sarah living with us and shouldering the responsibilities. We are also thankful to our extended HM team, and to you-our international prayer and support team.

Please pray with us:

-For a good labor and delivery process, and a healthy baby for C. Her baby is due around Nov 10^th.

-For one of us to be able to be with her throughout the process, we have been told this is not possible, but would so like for her not to be alone.

-For the family that is being formed, with C, her boyfriend and their son. Their needs for  housing, work, and legal status which are tremendous.

-For C to see and to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

-For mental, physical and emotional strength for us to finish well through this process of our first girl.