Teenagers

It happens everywhere around the world, in every family.  One day you're chasing a toddler and then you blink, and the years have flown by, and suddenly you have a teenager.  Or in our case, 13 teenagers.

When we look around here at GiveHope2Kids, we're always surprised by another voice that's deepened, another young person headed off for their high school internship.  We always throw the traditional big party, a quinceniera, to celebrate when a girl here turns 15.  We just celebrated Katherin, and flipping ahead in our calendar we see that next fall we'll celebrate as 4 more of our girls become young ladies.  Time sure does fly!

So what is life like for the young people of GiveHope2Kids?  Our number one priority is always family, so our teens are still an integral part of the families here -- the big helpers.  Most of our teens have been here for several years, so they see their house-parents as mom and dad and they love the younger kids as their siblings.  After family, an education comes next on our list.  Our teens are studying in school, learning through classes we're teaching (jewelry making, sewing, and chess as examples), taking music lessons, and participating in our Friday night Hope & Healing Ministry, from acting in skits, to singing on the worship team. 

We are proud of the young people they are becoming.  From rambunctious preschoolers, to thriving teens, we've been through a lot with these kids.  It's a beautiful thing to watch as the love of God and family shape these lives and propel them towards a success.

We're so excited that our Transition Home is now up and running.  This is thanks to Earl & Sharon Washburn, our long time mentors, stepping in as the parents there.  We feel it a privilege that we can offer this home to several young people who are studying, including our first high school graduate.  Grisel now has a chance to stretch her wings, and take flight at university, while still having family to come home to at night.  ​