Casa de Esperaza (Hope House) is a
residential home for up to 5 individuals with physical and/or cognitive
disabilities and an equal number of able-bodied peers who serve as assistants to our residents with disabilities.
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Many individuals with disabilities are able to live in a home environment if provided
sufficient support services. At present, no such services are available
in Guatemala
Casa de Esperanza addresses this need. Our house is modeled after the homes operated by L’Arche, an ecumenical association of residences for
those with cognitive disabilities.
The Mission
We are individuals, with and without disabilities, sharing life in
community. Mutual relationships and faith and trust in God will be at the
center of our life together, which will be found on Jesus Christ, Bible Study
and Community Prayer and service. We celebrate the unique gifting of
each individual, and support each other in living out our God-given purpose and
identity:
- To glorify God while living in Christian
community by:
- Identifying and fostering
the unique giftedness of each member of the community
- Meeting the physical,
spiritual, and relational needs of those with and without disabilities
- Providing therapy, education
and training appropriate to the giftedness of each member of the
community
- Locating and/or creating
opportunities for meaningful work for all members of the community, both
within the residence and in the community at large
- Sharing with others the
reason for the hope which we have found in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15)
Our Spirituality:
We are an interdenominational Christian Community attempting to
live out the values which Jesus presented in the Sermon on the Mount:
We strive to be:
- poor in spirit (totally dependent on God)
- meek (quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to
anger)
- pure in spirit (following a Biblical life-style)
- merciful
- peace-makers.
We will:
- comfort those who mourn, as well as rejoice
with those who are glad
- promote righteousness and justice by the way
we live
- promote diversity within unity
- be quick to ask for forgiveness as well as
quick to forgive
- support each other as we seek to live out
these values.
Each community member is encouraged to participate in the
worship and practices of their faith tradition under Biblical guidance and
authority. In addition, each community member commits to individual and
shared prayer, Bible study, and personal spiritual growth and service.
Our Structure:
Persons with physical and intellectual disabilities will be the
heart of and permanent residents of our community. However, we cannot
exist without our assistants, those who come to live with our permanent
residents.
People with disabilities have much to contribute to life in
community, but often need help in their daily lives. Our assistants help
and support our permanent residents with these tasks, such as cooking,
cleaning, hygiene or medical care.
An assistant can be a volunteer or an employee, and may live in
the community house or on their own. They will commit to sharing life and
growth, as well as prayer time and Bible study and service projects, with the
members of the household, no matter where they live.
They may commit to being with us for a limited period of time (a
minimum commitment of six months is required) or for an extended period of
time, as a permanent assistant and member of the community.
Volunteer assistants will be asked to raise their own personal
support, but will be provided with room and board to enable them to participate
in our community. Employed assistants will be paid comparably to others
with similar care-giving jobs in particular community in which they live.
Room and board may be part of their compensation if they so desire.
