So Far Gone: Continued Growth

Malnutrition Training Center

As time draws nearer to the opening of the malnutrition home, our excitement grows with it. We take position on August 1^st, 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.

Looking toward the front of the house

Kitchen space and future training area

Happy and helpful volunteer painting crew

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.

When I ask for personal space

38 bags of food from Fun Cafe

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.

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.

Our first glimpse of this beauty

God sent loving arms to care for Anali long before we held her

Anali was already so crazy loved before the moment her new parents first held her

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.

Stephanie letting me lead the appointments today
Building trust and relationships-- and holding babies

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.

Hanging laundry, praying, and watching the morning sun hit the volcanoes

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.