“Your faithfulness continues through all generations.”
For almost a decade, three generations of Ludving’s family have participated in the spiritual and educational programs that have made Casa del Lago a second home to families in the Bachman Lake community.
“I’ve been here at Casa since 2014,” says Ludving. “One day I came to the lake and saw the banner out front. It captured my attention and I came, and I’ve been here ever since. I’m still here,” she laughs, “and I don’t want to leave!”
Originally from Guatemala, Ludving arrived in North Texas in 2008. Because of the language barrier, she found it difficult to interact with others and often felt timid about speaking English. When she learned about the affordable ESL classes at Casa del Lago, she was ready to take advantage of the opportunity to learn conversational English. But what Ludving found at Casa del Lago was so much more than that: she and her husband found an inclusive, supportive environment where they could access the resources they needed to build a better future for their family.
“Casa del Lago has been such a timely opportunity for my development. I am very timid, very shy about speaking in English, but now I speak much more because of my years at Casa. It has helped me so much, I have learned a lot. The teachers are such great people, they are practically my family.”
Ludving’s youngest daughter, Kelly, has been participating in Casa del Lago programs since age one, progressing from the early childhood classes through After School Reading which helped her to read at grade level. Now in the 5th grade, Kelly professed faith in Christ this year at Summer at the Lake (SATL), our summer reading camp that provides reading enrichment to rising 1st through 6th grade students, as well as field trips, swimming lessons, and Bible lessons to learn more about God.
“Casa del Lago has taught me a lot about God and how he saved people from sin. I used to feel like I was not in a safe place. Since the day I’ve been saved, I’ve felt so much more secure, and the people I’ve known for years at Casa del Lago, they’ve helped me realize that safety is all around me if God is beside me.”
Ludving’s older daughter, Melanie, participates in Casa del Lago’s typing and computer literacy classes where she is learning basic computer skills, how to use email, web browsing, and basic word processing and spreadsheet usage.
Melanie’s daughters, Melody and Nahomi, are currently enrolled in our Early Childhood Education program (ECE), where they are developing the critical motor, social emotional, pre-math, and pre-literacy skills that will help them succeed in school. Through the parenting seminars and community at ECE, Melanie too is learning how to create a home environment that will help her daughters get the best possible start in school.
Kelly says, “Casa del Lago helped my whole family.”
Casa del Lago exists to demonstrate God’s love by equipping the families of Bachman Lake to face the educational, spiritual, and material challenges in their lives. We envision a vibrant Bachman Lake community filled with active disciples of Christ who are leading community-wide transformation. Because of the support of our Casa del Lago community—our friends, neighbors, volunteers, and donors—we are able to provide wraparound support to our Casa del Lago families. Your continued support enriches the lives of our families, no matter how young or old—families like Ludving’s.
“To the people who make this program possible, truly from the bottom of my heart—and I speak on behalf of the many people who don’t have the opportunity to speak about it—I am grateful for this program, for this support. If it wasn't for your support, we couldn’t attend, so God bless you! Thanks for what you do, and may God multiply what you give 100-to-1!”
This year, we hope you will consider making Casa del Lago a part of your year-end giving. Every gift you make will help support our programming, benefitting multiple generations in every single family we serve. Please make a gift of support to Casa del Lago today!