Giving Tuesday 2018--Reason #9 to Support Reason to Hope, Inc.

Brenda Julisa Salazar 

Brenda joined our staff in February, 2015 as our housekeeper and cook.  She rapidly became part of the family, and her skills in managing not only the house but the boys and the staff quickly became apparent.  She has since grown into the role of House Manager of Casa de Esperanza, carrying the major responsibility for running the home and program, and assuring that our men are well cared for.

Brenda with her husband, Miguel Angel

She is the only member of her extended family with a steady job, and basically supports not only her husband and daughters, but her parents, grandmother and disabled uncle.  Your donations to Reason to Hope, Inc. pay her salary.

To the men living at the house, Brenda is more than an employee.  She is their second mother, their confidant, and at times their disciplinarian.  

Brenda celebrating Fidel's birthday with him

Brenda considers those at Casa de Esperanza to be part of her family. So much so that, last Christmas Eve, she and her husband and two daughters spent the night at the house, sleeping on the floor, just so they could be with the guys for this special night. 

When our men are ill, she refuses to leave them, even though other staff members are assigned to care for them.  This is especially true when one of them needs to be hospitalized.

Brenda and her family in a community shelter
after fleeing the lava flow from the volcanic eruption.

Her dedication to the ministry is so strong that, after her own village and home were destroyed by the Fuego volcano last June, her main concern was returning to work to make sure "her boys" were okay, though they were in no way threatened by the volcano.

When not working at Casa de Esperanza,
she joined members of her church
searching for and serving survivors of the disaster.

We don't know what we would do without Brenda in our home and in our lives.  I hope we will never have to find out.