A year ago today Millie (Sarai) and I arrived to Guatemala with 2 dogs, 4 crates and 2 bags to start the transition of the family down to Guatemala. Shannon, TJ, Izzie, Abbie and Anaiah would follow 6 weeks later after staying in Indiana to sell or give away almost everything we called our own.
Besides the material things we had a heart full of love and the burning desire to serve God and neighbor in this country that we would now call home.
What a year it has been! We have had the blessing to meet some of the most amazing people in this planet. People that choose to spend their resources and vacation time coming to serve people that they have never met. Putting at God’s service their resources, talents and training to alleviate the pain and suffering of my neighbors. These people were strangers just a year ago and now they are family, isn’t it amazing the way God works?
One of the things consistent in our lives since Shannon and I got married has been the love for vulnerable children. That has taken shape in foster care, adoption and advocacy through the years. In coming to Guatemala we feel one of our callings is to open a home for children with special needs. That process has been long and involved (and expensive!) but we are almost there. We are waiting for the call from the CNA (agency that regulates and approves private homes) for our final inspection. In the process we have been able to staff and spend time with the families of the people that will help us run the home. I feel that many people forget how important is to be good witness of the gospel to the community their are in and how that starts with the people they bring in as staff. They are our ministry partners and definitely family to us.
One of the ways that God has worked on my heart during this year has been with the rural ministry. Five months ago I accepted an unpaid position as Field Director for Hope for Home Ministries which has taken me places I never dreamed and places that would cause nightmares to most Americans if they had to live 1 day like that. I am blessed to be surrounded by a team of God-and-neighbor loving men.
Often I am asked what do I do? What my day looks like? So let me share my day yesterday as posted on Facebook:
“It has definitely been a heavy emotional day!
Early this morning I got a call from a family I met at a clinic regarding their 10 month old baby spending the night with fever and seizures. They didn’t want to take the baby to the hospital because they lost a baby there before. After getting to their home in Escuintla I was able to convince them to take him in. A few hours later they call me that he was released from the hospital and was seizing again. I am about to walk back into their home. Please help me pray for Carlos Enrique and his family!
After the morning visit as I am driving back into back into San Antonio I got a call from Juan-k regarding a visit he wanted me to go to. When I arrive I meet this young man, 45, with obviously primary progressing MS, pretty advanced and already having difficulty breathing. I ask to see his meds and all he is taking is lecithin, probiotics and ginkgo biloba. They lack the resources for treatment. He is the father of 3 young daughters and the disease has progressed really fast in the last 3 years. Please help me pray for Victorino and his family.
Then I get the afternoon call to get back to Escuintla.
Please help me pray for these families and please pray for me, there are days that the weight of the pain and suffering in this world gets really heavy. That my actions are His actions and my words are His!”Carlos Enrique died last night around 8pm in my arms as we waited for him to be admitted at the local hospital. The need is great, the workers few, the resources limited.
A year in and we are still not fully supported financially, but every month God shows at the 11th hour and provides for our needs. From our income we give more than what most would consider prudent or wise and trust God with the rest. He never has and we know he never will let us down.