Ministry opportunities in Jalapa

April 19 Today we visited Guastatoya for the month, and we got to visit with our families again. I always love this part of the ministry. I love our kids, and their families. We have a relationship with these families, and we don't just pass out food and medicine, we encourage, strengthen, and slowly show the love of Christ with them. They bless us.

Today was unique however a because we headed up to Jalapa to measure a little girl for a wheelchair. When we arrived, we met with a ministry which works with the municipal to reach kids in this area. They described the situation of children there with special needs. We have heard this before in every area we have visited. The kids need help, there are no resources, and so on.

We have been so overwhelmed, that we had decided not to take on any more kids for a while in order to better care for those we were already helping. God had other ideas. We thought we were going to measure one girl for a wheelchair and then head home after a long day. Instead we met child after child, and a they are quite precious. At our final stop, the word spread while we were on the street filling out an application, and by the time the first application was finished, there were 5 more waiting each with their own story, each with their own past, struggles, and hopes.

These visits lasted until 8 in the evening, and we determined that we could not return home that day because of the very long drive, after a very early start that morning. The team members we were working with from Jalapa gave us supper, and decided to put us up in a hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel seemed quite sketchy, so they made arrangements for us to spend the night in a gated compound which houses a catholic retirement home of sorts. The workers in Jalapa are anxious to get help for their children. And we are desperate for a way to help. But we don`t yet know when we can visit Jalapa regularly with so many already waiting.

Families crowding around presenting their children and situations

The incredible team in Jalapa

That evening, our team had a time of prayer over this new development as it was entirely unexpected, and we humans can’t possibly accomplish this. My heart is breaking. This is not an area where we work. In fact, we just spread out to Chiche, and have several more a places waiting. We can't come here yet. But these kids are real stories and real needs. My heart is breaking. Lord God please send out more workers into your field to work the harvest! This need is so very great.

April 28, 2016 I thought you might like a little glimpse into water therapy time with some of the kids!