We have begun this new year a little slow but very thankful as the remodel that we started last year has been completed! The remodel for half of our property has been completed and both the Creative Arts Workshop and Microfinance have been moved to their new spaces and been settling in nicely.

In the Workshop, Dani has been not only getting situated in the new space but also picked up a new skill, welding. He’s been making new tables that facilitate the space and work they do and allow for some flexibility as well. After his sabbatical last year, Dani has come back with lots of energy and hit the ground running, not just with the tables but also with the group of high school students he meets with every week.

Microfinance has not only been enjoying their new space, but taking advantage of the large salon as well. Though they haven’t officially started their classes yet, they’ve already had special activities like a chocolate making class for Valentines day, a bingo with some really great prizes, and had a time of worship and prayer with the women to dedicate their new space and the rest of the remodel.

Along with Microfinance and the Workshop moving, we also did a lot of moving everyone else around. We’ve adjust our old space to allow for our semester students to have their culture and Spanish classes in the office, created a shared working space, and prepared Microfinances old space for a new ministry site starting this year: Work of HeArt Studio. Christine Bowers has helped in various ministry sites over the last couple of years but this year will be starting a new ministry site with a focus on teaching art and helping students explore and understand their emotions.

We’re hoping to be able to rest the rest of the funds we need to renovate the rest of our property. Although we have accommodated our space well, we’re all looking forward to having better office space and classrooms for our students. If you’d like to donate towards our renovation, just click the link below.