April happenings

Hello everyone, here is a little of our lives here in Guatemala this last month! First, Our sweet baby Ana has been moved into Canadian foster care as she is part Canadian. Although it is hard for us to see her go, we are all happy that she can live in a smaller family with much better access to healthcare. We miss her so much. Her social workers who traveled with her sent a few photos of her first birthday which she celebrated with her new family, and we were overjoyed to see the love she is receiving. We will continue to pray for her, that she may come to know Christ with this new family as well.

If you follow anyone at Hope for Home on facebook, I am sure you have heard about little Kevin. Dick Rutgers had been checking in on him in his home for a long time, but called very disturbed that he was doing very poorly. In fact, he was dying. After quite the legal fiasco (I would say so much more about this if I could without getting angry), Kevin was removed from his home and put in a hospital where he battled pneumonia and bronchitis along with severe malnutrition. When he entered our home, he weighed 15lbs at 3 years 8 months of age. We soon learned that he loves to eat, and finished every bottle we would give him; a whopping 8oz every three hours! This supported other evidence that his family had intentionally not been feeding him the formula we provided each month, and had been allowing him to starve. He also had been left for hours unattended and urine soaked on the floor. I wish I could say that this kind of neglect was unheard of, but sadly it is all too common. Please pray for this family. I do not know them, but whether Kevin's neglect were the result of confusion, pressure form family and neighbors, or apathy, this family desperately needs to know the love of Christ. Kevin is now safe and loved, but the family still remains in a place where they believed this neglect was acceptable. They need prayer, and they need Jesus.

Kevin's first full day
in our home.  15lb, 0oz

Kevin loves to eat!

Kevin's one month.  18lb 5oz

Kevin kets lots of therapy and
his high tone is lessening.  

Most important, Kevin is greatly loved.  

Kevin was welcomed into a crowded home with love and attention.  He gainned 3lbs 5oz in the first month. He has since slowed some on the gaining, and has begun to decline finishing a few bottles. This is a sign that he is not only feeling more satisfied, but that he is beginning to trust that if he is full and doesn't finish a bottle, he will still receive another bottle soon. He is learning that his needs will be met. Kevin still hates going to bed because even though he can hear the other boys in his room, he likely wonders at times if we really will come back for him. He is learning slowly that in this too he is loved and he can trust. Kevin loves all attention. He can take a moment to process stimulation, but when he does, he smiles and lights up the room. Kevin likes receiving kisses form Yenni, an older girl in our home, and he likes coming to the kitchen to 'help cook'.

Kevin does not love being put down.  

First of many big smiles

     

Early morning fun

Kevin has a wheelchair!

Laundry helper!

We have had a lot of small earthquakes here. Small enough that I myself have only felt one. But a few days there have been dozens of small tremors. This could mean a volcanic eruption is near, of it could mean very little. Either way, here is a fun supper outside because of many small tremors which kept us out of the house for an evening.

In the Fulp house, opening day for the Cubs is a big deal. The adults love baseball and supporting the team. Interesting enough, Jarred also loves the cubs. So he got a birthday cake to match this pasison of his!

Every Sunday, half of our family goes to church while the other half stays home with the kids who can't go. This month however, we have been at home because in a Catholic country, lent and leading up to Easter are a huge deal. The road in front of our church has been closed for processions, and the crowds would have us park a dangerously far distance form the church with so many wheelchairs and walkers who need close attention on busy streets! We are excited to get back to chuech soon. But in the meantime, I have loved snuggling babies for our messages at home!!









Easter and the weeks leading up to it are a very big deal here in Guatemala. For a good look at what this is like, please check out Lindsey Logsdon's blog which gives some details about the traditions of our town. http://lindseylogsdon.blogspot.com/2019/04/happy-easter.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR0Jfc7AqepM93_7W5dB0cGDqzanOyF7JutxNwyn-QR2nrAkRphhwgIHAN0

For our homes, we take the kids on a walk to see all of our neighbors alfombras, or carpets. These are intricately designed, and made from colorful sand, sawdust, or fruits and vegetables. They often depict the life of Jesus, and represent the sacrifice he made for us.

Our family also dyes eggs with the kids, and later hides them for a fun afternoon helping the kids find eggs. The kids love this, and the family involvement is fantastic.

This year we also spent some time together at Stevie and Carissa Chapins home with their kids. All the kids together makes for a fun morning! Here is our lineup before the kids from the Fulp home returned to the house.

Please pray for health in the homes. The last month has held a lot of sickness in the kids, our workers, and myself. Sadly some of the kids are pretty fragile and a sickness is bad news. Kevin lost one of those hard earned pounds.

A sick Kevin is a sad Kevin

For a good look at each of our kids, and a short description about them, check out Kelsie Westers blog post at https://kgwester.wixsite.com/kelsiewester/blog/meet-the-kids?fbclid=IwAR3Y5xcZGiqk6vzhtF3_W9_bjotKIYB_K_CnlJ8demWmVTg0z4KLrMJe-kk