A year in review

In just about a week, I will celebrate my one year anniversary living in Guatemala and serving with Hope for Home Ministries.  This ends my initial one year commitment, however I have no plans of stopping now!  Guatemala has become my home, and I love the work I get to take part in. 

If you have been reading these updates, then you know I live and work in the group home for special needs children, and I am privileged to travel out with the four wheel drive ministry team to visit and minister to children with special needs in more remote villages. 

Alejandra

Brayan

Yennifer

Here in the home, I have grown accustomed to more than just long term care from a nursing definition, I have become part of a ridiculously large and loud family.  Our kids in the home have become my kids.  I truly cherish each of them.  This year, I have watch Alejandra find her ‘voice’ and start communicating through an ipad.  Brayan and Yenni are growing and learning new things almost daily.  Rafael has begun to interact slowly in his therapy.  Angelita has seen many struggles this year as her hydrocephalus has been progressing.  She underwent a shunt placement to try and reduce pressure, but she has also lost her sucking reflex and can no longer drink from a bottle, necessitating a feeding tube.  Humberto has graduated to eating more regular meals and drinking from a cup (poured by his feeder) rather than a bottle.  Giovanni runs, jumps and has been talking more.  Ruavis roars like a little lion cub, and his snuggles are perfect.  Olimpia has seen many changes.  She now can say Si, and gracious, and a few short names.  She has been walking with help, and now walks along with nothing but her baby doll stroller which she uses as a walker.  She also has made the change to eating at mealtime, and even holding her own spoon.  Alison was born this year, and came into our home a month later.  She has grown into quite the lovable little chunk!

Rafael

Angelita

Humberto

Giovanni holding Alison

Ruais

Olimpia

Alison

Then there are those whom God has blessed with a smaller, more intimate family.  Christian returned to his family after a year long stay in the home to learn about his severe autism, and learn how to care for him, and teach the family.  Ester and Raquel, our precious toddler twins went home to their forever home last month.  I has watched them learn and grow, and talk, and experienced toilet training with one of them.  I loved these kids.  And I am grateful that God has given the twins loving parents, grandparents, trips to the grocery store while riding in the cart, and so many precious moments that a smaller family with loving and Godly parents is able to provide. 

Esther and Raquel

Christian

Rosalinda came to us this year also.  She struggles with severe malnutrition so that she never topped 11lbs 6oz while with us, although she was a year and a half when she went to the malnutrition center for closer more direct care.  She has more attitude and personality than I have ever seen in a baby her age!  Nonetheless, she was a precious child in our home whom we loved dearly enough to send her to a malnutrition center when we feared our efforts were not enough for her.  At the center, she initially lost weight, and did not gain for a few months.  Now, she is still listed as critical, and has not yet gained back to our top weight with her.  She has begun to pass developmental benchmarks again however, and has learned to say ‘zapatos’(shoes), as well as Si, and many other verbalizations. 

Rosalinda (and Angelita)

And finally those who have returned home to Jesus.  I arrived too late to meet Thania or Esperanza.  But I loved them in my heart, and it has been incredible to hear stories of them from the family who loved them home to Jesus.  I did meet Micah.  And although we only got to hold him for 8 days, he will forever hold a place in my heart.  I truly cherished that baby boy.  I loved the late nights with him, and the smiles and laughs we were able to coax out of him.  God blessed us with 8 days with an angel in that boy.  I’m so glad he is home forever free of the suffering he experienced in this life. 

Micah

God has done remarkable things in the home this year. 

He has also shown me many things in the rural villages.  We have lost children and friends in the villages.  Maria Jose, Marta, Miguel, and more.  God has brought new families into our lives, and some of their stories are staggering.  Everywhere I go, I see the physical hurt, and need, but I can also sense the spiritual longing in many hearts.  This ministry is fantastic because God lets us help people who have many physical needs.  But the point would be tragically missed if it stopped there. the whole point of this is not to throw a bandaid over physical needs, but to provide a structure of love and communications through which to share the gospel and Christ’s love.  This is not humanitarian work, but showing Christ’s love through actions lived out. 

San Antonio view from our roof

The road into San Pablo

This year, another family from the United States has accepted God’s calling on their lives to Guatemala, and the Gross family has begun steps to move to Guatemala to take up ministry with us.  Kara Puterball has joined the team in the home, and decided that God was calling her to more than six months.  Other families have also expressed an interest in serving like this.  Many more have brought encouragement and become prayer partners with the ministry. 

Kara reading to Giovanni

This year, steps have begun for the advancement of the ministry to new departments across Guatemala.  In the coming year, we will get to watch as God stretches his hands over many new villages, and out to many new families.  It’s exciting to get to see God working firsthand.  This last year was incredibly challenging, and beautifully fulfilling as God has unraveled his intentions.  I cannot wait to see what He will do next. 

I want to thank you all for your prayers for me, and this ministry.  This life is certainly hard, and there are some specific struggles which I could use prayer about.  But God has blessed all of this, and His lessons are preciously earned.  

Happy new year to everyone!

~Katie~
--after His heart--