HOPE OF LIFEI N T E R N AT I O N A L

Hope of Life2

THE JOYFUL

Dear friend of the poor,

As a small boy, I lived in a shack in Guatemala. We slept on a dirt floor and there was never enough food to eat. When the rains came, we would be wet for days; when the droughts came, we went thirsty.

I know what it is to be poor. I remember what it was like to go to sleep hungry, without knowing when I might eat again. Though it took many years, I was able to climb out of poverty.

When I was a young man, I came to America and realized the American dream. I became a successful businessman and put my past behind me. But one day I became very ill, and the doctors could do nothing to help me. I was not a person of faith, but I cried out to the Lord and said, “God, if you heal me, I promise I will live for you; I will help the poor of my country.”

God blessed me and healed me.

That year, I journeyed back to my native land and started Hope of Life. It was a small mission that took in homeless individuals—elderly men and women who had been forsaken by their families, left to die alone.

Every trip I made back home, I saw the need of my people, and my vision expanded. We still have the home for the elderly, but now it sits on 3,000 acres complete with a rescue center for the starving, an orphanage, a first class school and so much more.

We pride ourselves in how much of the mission we are able to underwrite through our vegetable farm, our tilapia farms, a thrift store, and hosting mission teams. But it is not enough. Thank you for taking the time to read our brochure. I pray you will decide to help.

For the poor,

Carlos Vargas

PS: There are so many ways you can help. Please spend a few moments in these pages and let your heart lead you.

CARLOS VARGAS was born in 1952 in Zacapa, Guatemala. Though his family suffered from extreme poverty, his mother, Doña Virgilia Belarmina Olivade Vargas, encouraged Carlos to excel in school and his father, Don José Facundo Vargas Morales, taught him the importance of hard work. All the while, his mother fostered his naturally compassionate spirit.

At age 16, Carlos moved to America to find work and begin a new life. With each passing year, he became more successful, finding the life he had always dreamed of. In 1973, he married Cheryl Peterson, and soon after, they dedicated their lives to Christ and committed their family to Him.

The Vargas family is blessed with five children—each of them raised with their parents’ passion for the poor. Together, they spend the majority of their time in Guatemala serving the weak, the homeless, and the poor.

85 Whipple Street Providence, RI 02908 USA 401-421-9078 contactusa@hopeoflifeintl.org

www.HopeOfLifeIntl.org

Designed and written by Inspired Direct, LLC. Photography by Greg Bartram, betterImage.

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2,000 The number of orphans we

have cared for from infancy to adulthood. Our goal is to give these children a bright future.

800 The number of children rescued by Hope of Life last year; nearly 70 percent in the high country

suffer from malnutrition.

5,000 The total number of children we have been able to rescue

over the past six years.

500 The number of homes we

will build this year. Over the last few years, we have

constructed 3,500 homes.

122 The number of children

currently residing at Children’s Paradise Orphanage where

they are loved, educated and protected.

78 The number of feeding centers.

Our food program directly benefits over 26,000 families

who depend on our help to survive.

60 The number of cleft palate

surgeries completed each year to improve speech, feeding,

and socialization.

100+ MILLION

The number of meals we have been able to provide since we began. We currently assist 35

orphanages and 1,200 villages.

1,000 The number of children who

have graduated. Students receive a sound education

combined with Christian values.

AT A GLANCEOUR WORK

At Hope of Life, every single life matters. All of our work is dedicated to reaching “the least of these” before it is too late.

Many children die in makeshift huts and are quickly buried in an unmarked grave.

We were almost too late when we found Alicia and her sister, Leidy. Both girls were so malnourished that they could barely communicate with us. Instead, they clung to each other every waking hour—cuddling long into the night. The nightmare of starvation bonded them in a special way.

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How many children in Guatemala will die from starvation? With over 70 percent of children suffer-ing from malnourishment, the answer is too many.

Many children die in makeshift huts and are quickly buried in an un-marked grave. There is no record on file that the child ever existed, and once gone, all that is left is a scar on the mother’s heart.

Hope of Life works tirelessly to bring food to those in need. In fact, every single day, we provide 28,000 meals! The meals include protein and vitamin supplements to give these children the best chance at survival.

We provide food to hundreds of thousands of people through our 78 feeding centers that are strategically placed to assist the most needy communities. These places include the local dump, rural villages, churches, schools and camps where flood and mudslide victims still live.

Over the years, Hope of Life has also devel-oped an extensive network of non-profits, churches, and orphanages that help us deliver food to the hungry.

“For me, one of the greatest blessings of my trip to Guatemala was actually manning the food station at the dump,” said Pastor David Johnson of Evangelical Free Church of Dennis, MA. “Looking at the faces of the children as we poured hearty soup into their bowls was life-changing. This ministry is keeping countless children alive.”

These partners help us care for the mentally disabled, the addicted, pregnant mothers and the handi-capped. They also help us

provide programs for seniors. Without the as-sistance of our partners, these people would be largely forgotten.

For the poor in the immedi-ate area, Hope of Life offers food for families through its thrift store. Each family is

FEEDING THE

HUNGRY

evaluated for need, based on the number of children in the household, illness, and employment situation, and is then given vouchers they can use for food, clothing and household items.

“Food is one of the largest expenses we have each month,” explained Carlos. “We grow all we can, we work with partners in the United States to acquire donated food by the container load, and we simply pray. I cannot stand by and see a child go hungry.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

$ 1,000Sponsor a feeding center for one month.

$ 7,000Sponsor a greenhouse that will produce over 150,000 pounds of food.

$ 7,500Ship 40,000 pounds of food — enough for 500,000 meals.

$ 12,000Sponsor a feeding center for an entire year.

STORY UPDATE:

Alicia and Leidy still cuddle a lot. They are more than sisters—having lived on the verge of death together, and found the miracle of Hope of Life. Today they are in school, thriving in every way.

Once we have restored a child’s health, we continue to monitor them often to make sure they have enough to eat and to thrive.

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Over the years, we have cared for more than 2,000 orphans from infancy to 18 years of age.

He has no understanding of the fact that he is, technically, an orphan. Johnny came to Hope of Life as a premature infant through our Rescue Center, abandoned by his mother hours after his birth, barely clinging to life, too weak to even cry.

One precious newborn was found in an empty cement bag, another was abandoned by her mother at the hospital, while others were signed over by parents who have no resources to care for their children.

Each of the 122 children at the Children’s Paradise Orphanage has their own heart-breaking story, but now, each has a chance at a very happy ending because of Hope of Life.

“The first child I rescued was a little boy named José,” Carlos recalled. “When his mother and siblings died, his father left him on the streets to die. He was only two years old and I had to find a home

for him. Instead, I started a home. That was 21 years ago, and since then José has completed his education.

“Today that little boy is a man, and he rescues babies every day for Hope of Life.”

High atop a mountain in the village of Llano Verde, is an orphan-age that boasts of panoramic views, colorful, comfortable rooms, a re-freshing water play area and a playground. Children’s Paradise Orphanage is not built like an institution, but rather like a series of small, comfortable homes.

“These are my kids,” says Carlos. “There is nothing I will not do to make sure they are healthy, happy, and growing up to be the men and women God wants them to be. They get the best education, a solid spiritual life, and loving adults to care for them. The Bible says we are to care for the orphans, how can I do less?”

Over the years, we have cared for more than 2,000

orphans from infancy to eighteen years of age. The children are enrolled in the school on-site where they receive a quality

education combined with Christian values.

This gives them a solid foundation for their futures. Many of these children,

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CARING FOR THE

ORPHANS

after completing a college education, return to serve the poor at Hope of Life.

“That is the greatest win for us,” says Carlos’ wife, Cheryl. “If we raised a child to have a sense of duty to others, a desire to give back and help the poor of Guatemala, we are thrilled. It shows us that this work will live on with-out us and will always be there for those in need.”

Whatever they choose to do in life, our orphans are equipped emotionally, spiritually and physically to succeed and become the leaders of tomorrow.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

$ 360Care for an orphan for an entire year.

$ 500Rescue one orphan from the highlands.

$ 1,000Sponsor one bedroom in the orphanage.

$ 6,480Sponsor an orphan for 18 years.

Johnny is beginning to learn and thrive. He tells his house mother that one day he wants to be a doctor and help babies like the ones at Hope of Life. By the time he graduates, you can be sure there will be a place for him on staff at our hospital.

Many children come to the orphanage after having suffered severe malnutrition. Once they are medically treated, they find a safe and loving home here.

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8 Hope of Life

LOVE THRIVES ON

3,000 ACRES1. Nutritional Center:

Together, we care for children suffering from moderate to severe malnutrition.

2. Orphange: Under a vision of love and care, this home houses 150 children.

3. Liberty College:Here, the wealthy and the poor come together to gain a brighter future.

4. Missionary Housing:Spacious units that can comfortably accommodate more than 200 missionaries.

5. St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital:Provides low cost medical attention for those with serious physical limitations.

6. Recreational Facility:A comfortable place for mission teams to come together at the end of the day.

7. Eldery Home:The first Hope of Life structure designed to support 50 to 60 elderly people.

8. Tilapia Farms:Produces 1.5 million lbs. of tilapia annually to help meet food and employment needs.

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LOVE THRIVES ON

3,000 ACRESHope of Life launched with a single structure in 1987, and now encompasses over 3,000 acres. As a fully functioning humanitarian institution, 300 employees work throughout the campus with one uniting mission: provide “hope of life” to the people of Guatemala.

Each rescue is arace against time,and sadly, we willnot be able tosave each child.

Elvira and her mother were living with her two brothers in a house made of sticks on the bank of a muddy river. At three months old, she weighed only three pounds.

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Over 1,000 children like Elvira will be rescued this year from the brink of death by the Hope of Life team.

Many will be so close to starvation that their bodies will have begun to deterio-rate. Their skin will be gray, their arms and legs nothing but bone, their hair fall-ing out. These children do not cry, in fact, they hardly move, too weak and listless from hunger.

Each rescue is a race against time, and sadly, we will not be able to save each child. Last year, of the 800 children we rescued, we lost 40. Each year, our percentage of those saved increases as we receive more funding.

“Of all the work we do, this

one is closest to my heart,” said Carlos Vargas. “We are all there is between life and death for these babies. If I had to pick only one thing I could do with my life, it would be to rescue babies.”

Every week, our teams use small donkeys, canoes, trucks, motor bikes and ambulanc-es—whatever it takes—to reach the children at risk as quickly and safely as possible and to ensure immediate medical attention.

Hope of Life pays for each child in danger to be evalu-ated at a local, private hos-pital. The most severe cases

are admitted to the hospi-tal, but most are transferred to our center for care.

Since this work began, 3,000 children have been rescued, many of them infants. Although each child is different, the ma-jority spend approximately three months at the center, and even after they return home, they are monitored to make sure they continue

to thrive.

While the majority of the children at the center are being treated for malnour-ishment, other

children are being prepared for major surgery. Some are suffering with tumors as large as 11 pounds, while others have clef palates needing repair. They are brought to the center to be treated to gain strength

RESCUE THE

SICK & DYING

prior to surgery to ensure the greatest chance of success.

Volunteer mission teams help us care for these children by spending time with them, holding them, and nurtur-ing them. This assistance is a special blessing for children whose parents have to stay behind with other children, forcing their ailing child to face medical care alone.

This aspect of our mission at Hope of Life will increase and become more successful with the opening of the new hospital.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

$ 100Sponsor a child for one week in the Rescue Center.

$ 500Help rescue a child on the brink of starvation.

$ 1,200Sponsor a child for his/her stay at the Rescue Center.

$ 6,500Sponsor one of the 60 cleft palate surgies completed annually.

STORY UPDATE:

One year after being rescued, Elvira returned to the Rescue Center a few days a week for additional treatment. Her family now lives in a home with running water on the grounds of Hope of Life.

Elvira (below) with a volunteer after being rescued from a tiny shack on the bank of a muddy river. She weighed only three pounds. Today, (above), she is healthy, active, and full of life.

Cheryl Vargas (shown at right) comforts one of the orphans.

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Hope of Life is committed to building 500 houses this year, complete with running water and furniture.

Seven-year-old Juanita Marie was raped by her father on the dirt floor of their shack. By the time she was seventeen, she was pregnant—along with her sister and her mother. When Hope of Life discovered the family, Juanita Marie’s father was on the run and two of the babies were in danger of starving to death.

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Over the last several years, hurricanes, floods and mudslides have left tens of thousands of families homeless, sweeping away everything they’ve ever known. These were followed by times of severe drought, turning farms into dust bowls.

Many of these families then traveled by foot from their home towns to seek a more stable area to live. The government of Guate-mala offered these refugees tracts of land to build on, but no assistance in pro-viding building materials, water, or other utilities.

Unemployed, owning little but the clothes on their

backs, these families began to “build” using whatever they could find at area gar-bage dumps. Like the vast majority of the families that Hope of Life serves, they built huts made of sticks, random pieces of wood, plastic, cardboard and tin.

Most of these homes are smaller than a typical Ameri-can bath-room, though they house as many as eight people. The floor is often dirt, the cook-ing done over an open fire. Entire families sleep on a mat of discarded clothes or straw.

The sad reality is, an American family would be arrested for keeping a pet in such conditions.

“I was raised in a place worse than these homes,” says Carlos Vargas. “I was hungry, dirty, and had no opportunity at an educa-tion. But my mother in-stilled in me a dream, a hope, an understanding that I could do anything in life. And to honor her and my father, we are building an entire village of homes for the poor. These houses

only cost $6,500 to build, but to these families, they are palaces.”

Hope of Life is committed to building another 500 houses this year, complete with running wa-

ter and furniture. The vil-lage will also have a church

PROVIDING HOMES FOR THE

HOMELESS

with a full-time pastor and a park.

In the last few years, we have built 3,500 homes for a number of families through-out the surround-ing communities. Often, a roof is the first step towards a brighter future.

“This village will give these families a new life, better than they ever had,” declared Cheryl Vargas. “And they will be part of our family for the rest of their lives.”

$ 500Help furnish one of the newly constructed homes.

$ 6,500Build a new home for a small family.

$ 8,500Build a new home for a large family.

$ 30,000Build a new church in the village.

STORY UPDATE:

Juanita Marie, her sister and her mom have recently been given a home in this new village. She’ll be protected from any future threat of her father. Her child and the others will attend our schools and will have an opportunity for a wonderful life.

Many families don’t have adequate shelter, leaving them victim to the elements and disease. Our teams often discover eight people living in a space the size of an American bathroom.

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Liberty College, one of the highest rated Christian academies in the entire area, offers traditional education for every child.

Louise lives in a stick house and almost died when she was one year old. Martha lives in a huge house in the village, with a swimming pool and servants. How could these girls become the very best of friends? Though it seems impossible, it happens all the time at our school.

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Hope of Life has built one of the highest rated Christian academies in the entire area, offering traditional education, as well as advanced computer classes and art and music classes that give students a competitive edge when they graduate.

The school boasts some of the best educators in all of Guatemala, modern classrooms (some designed by a former student), a library, and innovative sports programs.

Parents have mandatory sessions with teachers to ensure the whole family is involved with the child’s education. “It is another way that we keep an eye on

what is happening in the child’s home,” said Cheryl. “We know if there is sick-ness, violence or if there is not enough to eat. These sessions are as important as anything else we do at the school.”

The facility is not only available to our or-phans, but also to poor and wealthy residents in our commu-nity. “While the poor pay noth-ing for tu-ition, uniforms, books and meals, children with means pay a premium price. This

income allows us to offer an education to the poor,” explained Carlos.

“The wealthy parents know that for each child’s tuition they pay, they are also sponsoring a poor child to get the same education. We do not separate them; they all wear the same uniform, have the same educational opportunities. The poor kids learn from the rich kids and the rich learn from the poor.

“These parents are happy to pay it because we offer a qual-ity of educa-tion that is unmatched in the area. If they want their children to graduate

with the skills needed to go to university and become equipped for a successful life, they want them here.”

PREPARING TOMORROW’S

LEADERS

Today, our school offers classes from grade school through high school for 500 students. Near the high school is property that has been designated for a university to be built in the near future, offering a higher level of education to our students and the entire area.

The university will provide a diversified learning environment where students will be able to experience and follow different career paths.

We believe that education is empowerment. Here, students will gain a quality education that will strengthen their mindset and help them bring health and change to Guatemala.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

$ 30Buys one child a school uniform.

$ 300Pays a teacher’s salary for one month.

$ 30,000Builds and supplies a university classroom.

$ 200,000Pays for an entire floor of the university.

STORY UPDATE:

Louise and Martha are both planning to go to college one day. Louise wants to be a chef, and Martha would like to study computer science. Our goal for both of these girls? That neither has to raise their children in a house made of sticks.

Though they were once starving, poor, and homeless, many of these children are now excelling in school.

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Through vegetable farming, we are able to produce 150,000 pounds of food in every green-house we build. These vegetables not only provide food for the poor, but also jobs for dozens of people.

In addition to vegetable gardens, we have built some of the most innovative tilapia farms in the county, and this year alone, we will harvest over 1.5 million pounds of fish from these efforts.

On the grounds of Hope of Life, there is also a thrift store stocked with

food, clothing, and other basic items. The poor families in the area are given vouchers so that they can come and “purchase” their needs. During designated times, the store is open to the entire community, allowing the store to turn a profit to help support the work.

Finally, the mission generatesincome from the dozens of mission teams that come each year. Hope of Life offers each group a customized experience including construction, children’s activities, rescue missions, medical service and more. Hope of Life

offers these groups comfortable accommodations, good food, and an evening of relaxation and enter-tainment at our pool and hot tub.

Our staff takes care of all the details: ground transportation, translation, and when requested, trips to the rain forest, Mayan ruins, and other local sites. For these services, we charge each group enough to cover our cost as well as an additional amount to help support our work.

Over 99.5 percent of groups who come here on a mission trip have such a wonderful experience that they return again.

These activities pay for nearly 75 percent of our needs. We rely on the contributions of others to bring assistance and hope to the people of Guatemala.

YOUR GENEROUS HELP IS A

BLESSINGPerhaps no mission on earth works harder to be self sufficient. Yet we still depend on the generous help of people to care for the orphans, the sick, the elderly, and the dying. Every gift makes a life saving difference.

85 Whipple Street, Providence, RI 02908 USA, 401-421-9078 contactusa@hopeoflifeintl.orgwww.HopeOfLifeIntl.org

Hope of Life International

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)