Malnutrition Training Center
As time draws nearer to the opening of
the malnutrition home, our excitement grows with it. We take
position on August 1st, and hope to be ready to receive
our first families in early September. In this time I will make a
trip for some much needed time with my family in Ohio. For the
present, our landlord is allowing us access to the unoccupied rooms
for such work as painting. So a few weeks ago we splashed on the
fist little bit of color with the help of a team form Living Waters
church in Michigan. There is still much to do, but God has shown his
hand over this ministry and we trust soon the doors will be open to
begin training in nutrition, and discipleship.
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| Looking toward the front of the house |
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| Kitchen space and future training area |
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| Happy and helpful volunteer painting crew |
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| Fun, joking, and paining everywhere you look |
Hogar de la Esperanza, Homes
Hogar de la Esperanza Casa Alvarez is
soon to open its doors and receive children. This will be the third
home to open. At present I continue to live in Casa Fulp. This kind
of work and life is emotionally draining, but as exhausted as we get,
God never ceases to show his grace and provision just as weariness
reaches its peak. At the heaviest moment, when my heart seems about
to be ripped from my chest, God shows how he is walking so close.
Sometimes this is a story of how God has acted in the lives of one of
our families, or other times it is a ring at the bell with a huge
donation of food and goods. Personally, God has stretched and grown
me through these emotional challenges. Difficulties and all, I can't
imagine not living with our kids daily.
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| When I ask for personal space |
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| 38 bags of food from Fun Cafe |
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| Late night cuddles; tired but precious moments |
Our Kids
Cesar
When Cesar arrived in the home a few
years ago, it took 5 adults to hold him and administer his
medications. As he has grown to trust the love he receives now, he
has grown tremendously. Cesar learned how to swallow pills this
month. It was a hard transition, it would not have even been possible
a few years ago. Cesar drives me crazy. Cesar is so very precious.
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| Life is hard when you just want the shorts to be a shirt |
Anali
This month also we received little
Anali into our home. She will be the first child in Casa Alvarez
when they open, but for now she lives with us in Casa Fulp. Anali
has a long road ahead of her. She was found by another home up in
Coban, but was soon hospitalized for her fragile condition. She
battled pneumonia and diarrhea, as well as her neurological
struggles. We transported her home, and soon realized that she was
till fighting an infection and was dehydrated. She started her life
with is by receiving antibiotic injection and an NG tube. We are
working now on learning how to feed her safely so she will no longer
aspirate on thin liquids. Anali is a precious little one with a
challenging future. Her diagnosis is not encouraging, but she will
be deeply loved whatever the outcome.
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| Our first glimpse of this beauty |
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| God sent loving arms to care for Anali long before we held her |
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| Anali was already so crazy loved before the moment her new parents first held her |
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| Sweet little lady is very fragile and has a long road ahead |
El Centro de Partos el Pozo
At the birthing center we continue to
build relationships with the women who come for prenatal
appointments. As often as not, we have visitors with a variety of
health concerns. Mostly these are just consults because we carry
only medications safe for pregnant mothers. The relationships are
being built all the same. I am learning that one huge area I wish I
had unlimited resources in is dermatology!!There are so many health
problems we can do little about, but we can listen, pray, and be
there.
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Stephanie letting me lead the appointments today
Building trust and relationships-- and holding babies |
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| Every clinic day we have visitors seeking more than maternity help |
Personal
Many of us live in exhaustion. I am sick a lot of the time, and almost
daily we here one or many heartbreaking stories from somewhere in the
ministry or in Guatemala. The more desperate the situation seems,
the more faithful God shows himself however. He holds every child,
catches every tear. And he has taught me that quite moments with
Him, alone, are more refreshing than hours of sleep.
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| Hanging laundry, praying, and watching the morning sun hit the volcanoes |
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| God shows His heart in these treasures |
Prayer
I would ask for prayer for so
many areas, so many needs. But ultimately, all needs considered, I
would ask for prayer over us and those our ministry affects, that we
would seek Christ above seeking alleviation of any amount of
suffering we see or experience. I would rather walk through hell
itself with Christ leading, than have all physical needs met, and
emotional exhaustion eliminated.
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| More valuable a moment with Christ than a moment of extra sleep |
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| Olimpia hugs heal on hard days |
