Director's Desk

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="3" width=120 BGCOLOR="#333333" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="92a64860.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="134" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=63 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="home.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME"><U>HOME</U></A>   |   <A HREF="ourmission.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Mission"><U>Our Mission</U></A>   |   <B>Director's Desk</B>   |   <A HREF="ourphilosophycorevalues.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Philosophy/Core Values"><U>Our Philosophy/Core Values</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our History"><U>Our History</U></A>   |   <A HREF="ourservices.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Services"><U>Our Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="equineprogram.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Equine Program"><U>Equine Program</U></A>   |   <A HREF="phasei.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Girls Home"><U>Girl's Home</U></A>   |   <A HREF="youcanhelp.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="You Can Help"><U>You Can Help</U></A>   |   <A HREF="ourwishlist.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Wish List"><U>Our Wish List</U></A>   |   <A HREF="contactus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="map.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Map"><U>Map</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Smith Family Homes, Inc."><U>Smith Family Homes, Inc.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id228.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Involved"><U>Get Involved</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Donor List"><U>Donor List</U></A>   |   <A HREF="poemsandstories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poems/Stories"><U>Poems/Stories</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id271.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Freedom Project"><U>Freedom Project</U></A>   |   <A HREF="boardofdirectors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board of Directors"><U>Board of Directors</U></A>   |   <A HREF="prayerpartners.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Become a Prayer Partner"><U>Become a Prayer Partner</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meet Our Horses"><U>Meet Our Horses</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id209.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Academy"><U>Academy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id215.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fencing Project"><U>Fencing Project</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id287.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Events"><U>Current Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id283.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Admission"><U>Admission</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=389 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <U>Director's Desk</U></div> <div> April 1, 2008</div> <bR> <div> It has been so very exiting to see what the Lord has done these past 12 months in the lives of the kids and families we serve!  Man, I love to see impossibilities become reality!!</div> <bR> <div> We have all heard of how families are adopting cute little babies from struggling homes, over-seas countries, and even destitute families in the USA.  But have you ever heard of families adopting teenagers?  Better yet, have you ever heard of someone diligently looking for and adopting “At-Risk” teenagers?  The answer is a resounding “NO”.   Most families want to adopt babies so they can impart their values and family history.  Teenagers come with the baggage of past abuse, families, and hang-ups, a sad reality, that kids coming to HOPE Youth Ranch know too well.  Those who at the age of 14 and up who find themselves unable to return home or be taken-in by a relative, face the reality before them of a very slim chance of ever being adopted and having a place they can call home, or someone they can call Mom and Dad. </div> <bR> <div> In steps our Miracle working God!  It has been amazing to personally see this happen over and over again in the lives of kids in our program that find healing in our Savior and Lord.  These children, ages 13 to 15, are dealing with very severe abuse issues.  Issues that have placed them in bondage for most of their young lives.  Issues that have the potential, if not resolved, to keep them in the same bondage and negatively affect the rest of their future lives.  It takes them a while (typically 12 months) to resolve the complexity of the issues with intensive daily therapy, a supportive and structured setting, and lots of encouragement.  But, after their hard work, a Mighty God is ready to reward their mighty effort with an adoptive family.   </div> <bR> <div> I do not know how it happens!!  We all see the child coming into HOPE Youth Ranch at the young age of 13 with all sorts of physical, emotional, psychological, and social problems to resolve.  Many of these problems I would personally find difficult dealing with as an adult.  Yet they work hard and diligently through many tears, fears, and emotions to reach the coveted time in their lives where they make peace with their inner pains.  Through the journey, they meet a God that can do the impossible.  He proves His faithfulness to them many times through their stay here.  Amazingly, those that find themselves unable to go home, at the last stages of their stay with us, find themselves talking to strangers as they interview each other, build relationship with each other, and get to the coveted time of being able to call them Mom and Dad!  </div> <bR> <div> Every child that has graduated from HOPE Youth Ranch in the past year that has not had a home to go to, has found an adoptive home!  Something that should not be happening with the age and issues these kids have.  Recently we completed 2 adoptions, and we are currently working on 2 more!!  It's a great day to see miracles!  </div> <bR> <div> Excitingly,  miracles have become a common place around here.  Through your continued prayers and His great faithfulness, provisions for “our daily bread” continue to come as they are needed.  Yes it is great to see miracles as they build up our faith.  It's amazing to come to expect miracles in the lives of these kids.  Not with arrogance, but with humility of faith trusting in whom we know to be true.  </div> <bR> <div> May our Savior Jesus Christ be with you always and build up your faith to expect EVERY promise He has for you.</div> <bR> <div> Pastor Jose Suarez</div> <div> Executive Director</div> <bR> <div> <U>                                                                                                                               </U></div> <bR> <div> September 12, 2007</div> <bR> <div> Isn't it amazing the year is more than half over!  Where does the time go?  I'm amazed that we all look at time in different ways.  It's the same time period; my 60 seconds last just as long as your 60 seconds, yet we all experience it in different ways.  </div> <bR> <div> Some kids just admitted to HOPE Youth Ranch see their 9-month stay as an eternity.  Some kids graduating from HOPE Youth Ranch look back at the time spent here and can't believe it's over and it's time to leave!  In this microwave generation we live in, we want everything fast. How many times as you approach a toll plaza you are looking for the lane with the least cars so you do not have to “wait”.  Or what about when you are checking out at your favorite grocery store and the person in front of you cannot find their wallet after all the merchandise is rung up…wait!!</div> <bR> <div> Yet the Bible tells us to “Wait” (“<I><B>Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord</B></I>.” Psalm 27:14).  Not just wait idly just watching the minutes tick by, but pass the time doing something to prepare you.  “Be strong,” it says.  Have you ever exercised to strengthen yourself?  There is nothing idle about that kind of work!  You must develop discipline, persevere through the pain, and take advice from others more knowledgeable.  Yet we are conditioned to do the opposite.  </div> <bR> <div> How many times at the beginning of the year you tell yourself this is the year I exercise.  Then go to that special store and buy your exercise equipment or join that health spa to never grace it with your shadow more than a couple of times in the year?  I mean after all, when you started to exercise you did so much the first time that you found hurting muscles the following day you never even knew existed in your body!  You give yourself the needed rest, leading to more rest, leading to thinking about getting back to exercise, which eventually leads to not thinking about it any more, and you stop all together.  Or have you not ever gone to a gym and pretended to know how to work-out instead of asking the professional (“I'll just watch what everyone else is doing and just do the same!  After all, I`m dressed for it just right…oh yeah, check me out!) and then proceed to strain yourself so that you, once again, find those pesky muscles that no one told you where there until the day after when you find them as you get out of bed and scream “Oh baby where did you come from?”</div> <bR> <div> There is no doubt; waiting to do it right takes discipline, perseverance, and wise counsel.  As we work with the girls the Lord has placed in our care, we as a staff must constantly remind ourselves of discipline, perseverance, and counsel.  We too want them heal right away.  The wait is the worst part of what we do.  Yet when the time is right, WOW what a beautiful child emerges!</div> <bR> <div> I recently had a conversation with one of our 14-year-old girls.  This conversation really touched my heart.  After she shared with me the years of sexual abuse she has endured, the number one thing she is waiting for is to be able to see her little brother once more.  The last time she saw or even spoke with him was when the abuse was finally made public several months ago.  She will heal.  She has the discipline, the perseverance, and the ability to seek and receive wise counsel.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>What are you waiting for?</B>   Please pray for the staff as we deal with very difficult situations. Please help us financially and be part of a life changing experience.</div> <bR> <div> In His service,</div> <bR> <div> Pastor Jose Suarez</div> <div> Executive Director </div> <bR> <div> <U>                                                                                                                               </U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> August 6, 2007</div> <bR> <div> From the start of HOPE Youth Ranch in August 2004 to present, we have seen many lives changed, many children healed from their physical, drug, and sexual abuse, and numerous families restored. With a success rate of 75%, which greatly surpasses State averages of 15%, we continue to move forward. </div> <bR> <div> The work is hard, hours long, situations difficult and different every time, and the recognition few and far between.  Your perfect job right!? It is during these times, that we see the miracles God is doing in the children at HOPE Youth Ranch giving us the needed boost to keep on keeping on! </div> <bR> <div> I have come to expect to see violence in the history of these kids.  Abuse is running rampant in the families across America.  Like a silent disease, it destroys from the inside out.  Once its outward signs are visible, it becomes a race against time to heal the child.  Experience and common sense tells us that the earlier we can begin to treat a child the better their chances are for total and long term healing.  Sometimes we get kids as little as 11 years of age.  These little babies have seen and experience pains that many of us as adults will never realize.  They are caught in the middle of wanting to be a kid, having experience adult-type relationships and pains, and unable to cope with either one as they struggle in both worlds.</div> <bR> <div> Healing is not easy.  At an early age, these children must identify these hurt emotions often caused by people that claim to love them and should instead be protecting them.  Trust is hard to build and yet must be the first thing we work on in the healing process.  A common response we get is “Why should I trust any adult? I trusted by mom and dad and look what happened!  Why should I trust you?”  Yet over time, with great patience, encouragement, and Godly wisdom the staff continues to persevere and fight for the lives of these children.  </div> <bR> <div> While they first come in angry at the world and pushing us away, they graduate not wanting to leave us.  Many tears are shed during graduation ceremonies.  It seems like the tougher the case, the more tears are shed.  Not because of pain, this has been dealt with, but because of the pains we went through together to reach this point in their lives.  Graduation is a wonderful time in the lives of everyone.  It comes with apprehension in the life of the child and separation from the side of the staff, but all of this is overcome by an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in seeing restored families hugging each other and crying because they once again are united as a family on their way home!</div> <bR> <div> That's what keeps us going!  That's what it's all about.  Please help us to continue to help them by becoming a monthly financial partner.  Prayerfully consider what you will donate on a monthly basis and then join us as we help restore hope.</div> <bR> <div> Continuing with the Lord,</div> <bR> <div> Pastor Jose Suarez</div> <div> Executive Director </div> <bR> <div> <U>                                                                                                                               </U></div> <bR> <div> February 14, 2007<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> WOW...I love to see God work!!!  What a great valentine's gift he gave us this year. </div> <bR> <div> We have been praying, planning and moving forward with the plans to put a school modular at our main campus giving the kids in a bigger learning environment and moving the office to the back of the property, allowing us to grow the program since a portion of the house is taken up by the office.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> This morning, as we do every Wednesday, we had a staff meeting.  In it, I discussed the plan with the staff of expanding our services, which hinges on having a school modular to move the kids into. The only problem with the concept is that we don't have the modular or the funds to get the modular with. However, we continue to plan and talk about it as if we already had it.  Everyone looked back at me excited and puzzled, sort of saying "I like what I hear but how in the world are we going to do this given the fact we don't have the funds to purchase this modular?"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" >   </FONT>Sensing this, I continued to be very excited about the idea knowing in my heart that this is were God is leading us and if it is, He will fund it without further need of debt .  </div> <bR> <div> We had done our part and sent out letters to 11 people the Lord placed on my heart asking them to fund the entire $12,000 project.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" >  </FONT>Kathy, Ampy, Bonnie and I prayed over the letters before we sent them and pray regularly for the Lord to move in their heart when they get it.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> What a terrifically wonderful surprise to finish the staff meeting today and see a Fed-Ex envelop on top of Bonnie's desk.  As I opened it, there were 2 checks...one for $5,000 and another for $7,000!!  </div> <div> I cried for a while and started constructing this memo to let you all know HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD and how well He will take care of us!! </div> <bR> <div> This money not only allows us to get the modular, but as we move the kids in the modular, it frees the office move to the area currently occupied as the school, which frees the area for the house parents, which frees extra rooms in the house to increase our capacity in this house from 6 to as much as 12 girls.  In essence, these $12,000 will be the equivalent of building another house on the property (DEBT FREE)!  Not to mention the new house Smith Family Homes is committed to help us build.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> PRAISE GOD! </div> <bR> <div> So Mr. Nate (our School Teacher) , get ready to have a real school building real soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div> <bR> <div> Pastor Jose Suarez</div> <div> Executive Director</div> <bR> <div> <U>                                                                                                                               </U></div> <bR> <div> Novemer 17, 2006</div> <bR> <div> Since the beginning of our operation in August 2004 we have seen one miracle after another. Children coming into our homes with such abuse and neglect in their lives that they feel hopeless. They express this hopelessness with what they are familiar with; verbal aggression due to their anger, self cutting from their inner pain, running away and isolation from their depression, and sometimes physical aggression from the hate welling up inside them.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> It is in these situations that God has allowed us to minister to the lives of these children. Through patience, encouragement, boundaries, and a real life encounter with God, these children begin to come out of their broken shells and into the future and purpose that they were created for. Darkness sheds off and is replaced by a new inner light as they look at what the future can be rather than what the past has been.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Since our beginning in 2004, we have helped over 30 children and their families recover from abuse and neglect. Many have been reunified with healed family members. Others have found adoptive homes or relatives that will take them in giving them both a home and a family, the two things each of these children want the most. In an environment where other programs measure success if 15% of their children do not return into the system, HOPE Youth Ranch, Inc. has been able to achieve an 80% success rate!! One of the highest in the industry!!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Nevertheless, there are still 20% of the children unable to heal.  Some because we are not structured for their intensely severe needs, some because they choose not to heal.  We pray for this 20% regularly and continue to make plans to better serve the children under our care.  We have been given a marvelous opportunity to do just that over the next years. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="594" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 232 WIDTH="438"><div> A local builder (Smith Family Homes) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><A HREF="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com"><U><U>www.smithfamilyhomes.com</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com"><U> </U></A>has partnered with HOPE Youth Ranch, Inc. to expand our services.  At present we are raising capital funds to build a house per year over the next 5 years at our main campus.  The floor plan has been identified as the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><A HREF="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com/HomeBuilder/FloorPlanDetails.aspx?FloorPlanID=e657dfef-3e42-473d-b36b-6cb036cbed87&PicType=FloorPlans" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com/HomeBuil"><U>"ARUBA"</U></A></FONT> model.</div> <bR> <div> We are looking for corporate and family sponsors to purchase one of these homes.  We need to raise $100,000 per home to cover our costs as most of the materials will be donated by Smith Family Homes and their subcontractors.  Would you consider sponsoring one of these beautiful homes and putting your family or corporate name to it on a beautifully decorated bronze plaque that would be anchored by its front door.  You would be partnering with us to impact many generations to come.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <A HREF="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com/HomeBuilder/FloorPlanDetails.aspx?FloorPlanID=e657dfef-3e42-473d-b36b-6cb036cbed87&PicType=FloorPlans" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smithfamilyhomes.com/HomeBuil"><U><IMG SRC="9287dbc0.gif" border=0 width="125" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> I look forward to hearing from you on this project. As always, please feel free to contact me at the office 727-232-0119 or via email at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><A HREF="mailto:jose@hopeyouthranch.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jose@hopeyouthranch.org"><U><U>Jose@hopeyouthranch.org</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> God bless your day and may all your plans prosper according to His will,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Pastor Jose Suarez</div> <div> Executive Director<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=28 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> H.O.P.E. Youth Ranch     17933 East Road, Hudson, FL  34667-6074     (727) 232-0119    <A HREF="mailto:info@hopeyouthranch.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@hopeyouthranch.org"><U>info@hopeyouthranch.org</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>