M I R O S O F T

We Love you 1 4 T H F E B R U A R Y V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E

Inside this issue:

Our recent trip

to El Salvador

What did we do

in 2011?

What are we

going to do in

2012?

Where would we

be without you?

Staying involved

Dear Friends,

February is a month filled with love and appreciation for

those we love. We at Together in Hope would like to

extend our gratitude and love to every single one of you.

Because of your love for our children, you have helped

us achieve so much since our beginning. We are grateful

to everyone who has donated their time, money, and advice. We are

especially thankful for those who have come to see the work we do and

meet the wonderful people with whom we work. Thank you for sharing

those moments with us.

At the beginning of 2011, Together in Hope had a new

vision of how we could make Together in Hope bigger and

better. We are overjoyed to announce that our vision is

coming true, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers,

staff, donors and friends. In 2011, we strengthened our

organization by expanding our programs and launching

new initiatives all over the world. Together in Hope went

from being run solely by our founder to having two

permanent dedicated staff members. We held some

great community service trips engaging youth, church

members, and people from all backgrounds.

Throughout our development and growth, we have stuck to our vision of

empowering the poor. We continue to be invited into communities and work

with communities members, continuing our model of self sustainable

development. We are hopeful that 2012 will be an even better year for us

and that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of the members of

the communities in which we work around the world.

Medical Mission to El Salvador

In January 2012 , Together in Hope brought its first ever medical team to the Alta

Mira Flores community in San Salvador, El Salvador. This medical mission was a vision

that our director and founder Diane McGehee has had for many years. It is the first

of its kind with this community. In fact, Together in Hope is the first international organization to be

invited in to help this community. In the area where we work, there is one doctor for 30,000 people. She

has very few resources and the need is too great for one person.

As one of our team members said’ “We cannot change the world, but we can

help change a life” and I believe we did! Our team went from seeing 61 patients

the first day, 87 patients the second day to over 100 for the last three days.

Every single member of the team gave it 100%.The majority of our team had

no medical training, but wow, working along side our medical and dental

personnel, we got the job done. In five days, between our medical and dental team, we saw and

treated approximately 500 patients. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Jessica’s Table in the Philippines The Jessica’s Table program in the Philippines is continually expanding. In three different

communities over 500 children are registered with the program. Not only is this program reaching

out to children in need, but it has also expanded to the adults living in these communities. In Upper

Javier, we renovated an existing structure and bought 9 industrial size sewing machines, launching a

sewing program so that women and men in this squatter community could begin to earn a livelihood. A sewing and

feeding program was also established in Bicol.

The Bicol program continues to expand. In October in Bicol, a new hair dressing training program

was launched for women in the community. Twenty-five adults are now enrolled in these programs.

A literacy program was also established for 26 preschool children who are unable to read and write.

We are hoping to expand these numbers in 2012.

The Jessica’s Table program began in the squatter community of Malis in 2008. The program in Malis now feeds and

provides educational support to over 300 children per week. It has also created great leadership amongst the

community with the program being run solely by local youth and leaders. We have also established an economic

development program to assist university students to earn their tuition for college, allowing them to get the education

they deserve and need.

New Partnership-Ethiopia

Together in Hope has expanded its support to Ethiopia. We are assisting Irish

organization Youth Release in its efforts in providing educational and

psychosocial support to street children in Dire Dawa Ethiopia. In September

2011, Youth Release opened its youth center. The youth center is now providing education, health

classes, tutorial support, counseling services and family re integration

programs to 275 children. For many children in Dire Dawa, school is not an

option. When they reach 14 they are no longer able to enroll in school. A

vocational training program has been created that allows these children to

acquire a skill to enable them to have employment opportunities. The goal

is to increase the number of programs at the youth center and also expand

the number of children benefiting from these programs

Meet Rani. Before

the youth center

was established

Rani couldn't

afford to attend

school. Now she is

enrolled in full time

education and

LOVES to learn!

Dr Steve treating a

patient in El Salvador

January 2012

Our founder Diane

Mcgehee teaching street

children in Ethiopia 2011.

Highlights from 2011-2012

What’s in store for 2012

Dr Jojo in the Philippines

providing free medical care

To a community of 1000

people.

Some of South Western soccer

team who traveled to El

Salvador in March 2011 to run

a soccer clinic for the children

El Salvador

For the majority of people living in Alta Mira Flores, El Salvador the cost of education, medical

services, and job training programs is beyond their reach! What if we could change that? What

if we could give each child a brighter tomorrow? What if these people didn’t have to live in

poverty, or with disease? We can be that change.

Together in Hope plans to buy this piece of property and build a larger school, (allowing the

children to continue their education to high school), a medical clinic, and a community center.

We also hope to use this facility to hold various adult education classes, health training and

provide much needed counseling services for adults and children.

Meet the Del Carmens, they are just one of the families that will benefit from the much needed services

I Learn to be more

patient and show

concern and help other

people. I learn to have

self control in talking

with other people’

Amelia– Member of

the adult cell group

in the Philippines

The Philippines

In the Philippines, we are working in three squatter communities developing leadership

and providing nutritional, educational, and occupational support programs. These grow as

the leadership grows and resources are available. Other communities in the Philippines

are awaiting similar relational partnering. Our goal for 2012 is to increase the number of

these programs, bringing them to those who need it most.

Ethiopia In Ethiopia, Youth Release has opened a youth center providing an outreach service to

disadvantaged and vulnerable youths targeted at 300 street children. Our goal is to

support them in the facilitation of these programs and to work in partnership together to

provide these much needed services. Our goal for 2012 is to continue with the programs

and help improve the lives of children in Dire Dawa. New educational programs and fun

outreach programs will be established for the children. The aim is to raise the number of

children benefiting from the youth center and continue to give them the childhood they

deserve!

This is the piece of

property we are

hoping to purchase.

What an amazing

piece of land.

A huge thank you to all our donors, sponsors and volunteers

Glenn Schwab

Will Linder & Jan Bowers

David Leonard

Heidi Pinyerd

Paul Feiler & Roberta Harris

Patti Osborne

Dr. Teresa Duryea,

R m Kimzey

Rev. Beth Tatum

Frank & Lynda Bain

Kimery L McKaskle

Clyde Vanderbrouk

Brooke Lozano

Ronald E. Hudson

Linda B. McCutchen

Susan Watkins

Ray & Barbara Sauder

Paul Bailey

Felix & Patsy Scardino

Doug & Sharleen Turley

Steve Eagle

Joyce Janak

Reba McNair

Ruth Gonda

Google Inc

Creeris LP

Blessing International

Tech Soup

ABC Dental

Thank You so much

to every one for

your donations,

time and advice.

We love you and

are forever

grateful, and so are

they!

Together in Hope

1250 Wood Branch Park Drive, Suite 625

Houston, TX 77079

Telephone: 713-504-3068

www.togetherinhope.org

laurapower@togetherinhope.org

501 (c)(3) number 61-1566852

John & Joyce Garner

Mary & Jack Balagia

Jean & Bo Brackendoff

Martha Durio

Michael Hick

Ann Radtke

Tyler Hemann

Dr. Tammy Van Wart

Dr. Stephen Barnes

Dr. Joseph Varon

Rev. Don Lewis

John Crawford

Reuben Coons

Ethel Smith

Allen Hemann

Evis Serrano

Brian Philgreen

Claudia Castillo

Robin Lovvorn

Alan Miller

Caroline Turley

Ed Quillen

Erlinda Cristobal

Cynthia Orbe

Malcom Monroe

Jack & Diane McGehee

Ofelia Macapugay

Southwestern University

Memorial Drive UMC

St Stephen’s UMC

Bellaire UMC

St Luke’s UMC

Grace UMC

Friendswood UMC

Chapelwood UMC

Clear Lake UMC

St. John’s UMC Baytown

First UMC Nederland

First UMC Bishop

Robert and Lois Kelly

Elizabeth Jackson

Nida Gonda

Rey & Luz Santos

Thomas Brackendorff

Sherri and Jack White

Rev. Sharon & David Sabom

Dr. Jonathan De Los Reyes

Joana Interiano

Karla Mena

Dave Luther

Christina & Michael Ervin

Don Gregory

Zack Pope

Julie M Van Haren