Dear Friends of Casa Chirilagua,

I am happy to report that Casa Chirilagua is ending 2011, our first year of operation as an official organization, in the black. We are so thankful that in 2011 we were able to grow the staff to three full-time and one part-time employees, helping provide the necessary resources to build organizational structure for future growth and supply the necessary staff support to grow existing programs. This year all of our regular outreach components the Kids Club program, the Kids Club Summer program, LIT (Leaders in Training) and the Mentoring program have increased in size. Due to significant volunteer support, we have added after-school tutoring for a few Middle School students and three Monday night Bible studies. God has been faithful to provide exactly what we need, when we need it.  We operated on $160,000 this year and every penny that we needed was supplied.  For the Casa Chirilagua staff and the board, this is affirmation that we are right in the palm of the Lord’s will.  We serve the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides and He is faithful to provide for our needs.

As 2011 comes to a close, we look forward to 2012 with anticipation. We have a need to hire two more employees in 2012, a Mentoring Relationships Coordinator and a Middle School Program Director.  In the coming year we anticipate that we will be managing over 60 one-to-one mentoring relationships. Taking this program to the next level will require a full-time staff member.  Additionally, we will need to add a staff member to coordinate programs for our 20 Middle School students in need of follow-on academic support who have aged out of the Kids Club program. Please join us in praying for the right people to fill these positions and the financial resources to support them.

As you pray about your 2011 year-end giving and your 2012 budget, please consider supporting Casa Chirilagua.  We know there are great things to come in 2012 and that God will supply our need. Perhaps the Lord will prompt you to be a part of the relationships that are blossoming and growing in Chirilagua.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with peace, joy and love.

With a Grateful Heart,

Dawnielle Miller