Restoration

Casa Victoria is a venue for two kinds of restoration. The obvious and tangible restoration is that of the house itself, and the landscaping of the the surrounding area. It is a beautiful, grand, and historic home with an inner courtyard, high ceilings, wood floors, many fire places and several original artistic designs. The goal is to complete the physical restoration by the end of 2007.

The other type of restoration is the restoration of people to God and to each other. Alicia, Jose Luis, and Jose's wife Carolina have been pouring into the five young men who are currently living at the house, and caring for each visitor (rich or poor) who is somehow connected to Jesus.

The young men living in the house come from various backgrounds, but each of them knows their need for God; for His love, grace and leadership in their lives. They are learning to be faithful in small things, like keeping things clean and doing what they say they are going to do. They are learning to be honest with each other and to apologize and forgive each other for offenses. They are learning to love and serve the poor, whether it be a hungry person, or a political leader who is poor in spirit.

These young men are also seving the community of San Roque, where the house stand. This neighborhood is inhabited primarily by poor people coming from the countryside in hopes of having a better life in the city. Most of the time, they face dissapointment, hardship and mistrust. This is where Casa Victoria come in: it is a place where they are shown love and care, a listening ear, a shared meal, and Jesus of Nazareth.

THE LIBRARY
In August of 2007, the city council of Quito awarded Casa Victoria a grant to build a library inside the house, as a prize for their submitted proposal of a project that would benefit the community. When completed, this library will be an information center with computers, multimedia, and two levels of book shelves. This is a vital opportunity to open the doors of Casa Victoria to the children of the neighborhood and their parents, many of whom are single mothers. There are no libraries in the local schools, so this will be a wonderful resource for people, and one more opportunity for those overseeing and living in Casa Victoria to serve and develop relationships with those who come.