Thursday, October 31, 2019

First Graduate of Hogar Rosalinda

Hogar Rosalinda has it's first Graduate! 

Mirko and his Mother Esther have come so far, and are the first to finish the program of nutritional training at Hogar Rosalinda.  
I thought I would share his weekly photos to show his physical improvement.  So much more however was his emotional growth.  


Mirko


Before arrival

When they arrived, Mirko had little strength, didn’t move much, cried and smiled little.  Over the last 8 weeks I was blessed to watch his transformation. Mirko suffered from Hepatitis before arriving, and although he had improved some, he still had a ways to go. 











Week 1


Mirko was pretty shy at first, and would not warm up fast to newcomers. He would also cry hard whenever his mother was not in view. In physical therapy he did not move very much on his own. He did not have much strength and was very behind for his age.

Week 2



Mirko enjoyed traveling by bus to church in Antigua.  It means a full morning carefully planned to ensure he could get his feedings on time.  

We would arrive to church early for a picknick lunch.  Esther would diligently work to feed him in this new setting while we practiced planning days away from home and health eating options.  

At the same time, church became more and more important, and exposed both mom and son to Christianity based on relationship rather than religious traditions.   










Week 3

Celebrations were in order when Mirko so quickly passed our of the classification 'severely' malnourished, and into 'moderately' malnourished. He was growing in strength and could so things on his own.  Also, his bright personality was coming out in full.  Mirko is a joy!  Further, after 3 weeks, a deeper trust and relationship was forming with his mother.  There are a lot of cultural differences that come out when living in a bi-cultural home.  How you deal with health concerns is a huge difference, and in the beginning there was tension about some of the differences.  With every positive step however, trust grew. 












Week 4

As trust grew in physical care, doors also opened for deeper conversations.  At first I had wondered why for so long God only placed one mother and son in the home.  However, as trust grew, it became apparent what we had talked about at the beginning- that this home is a home of discipleship as much as a nutrition training center.  Esther and I grew in our friendship, and more and more opportunities came into play to talk about Christ in a tangible way, not just in a superficial way. 









Week 5



Mirko Continued to show growth in personality, weight, strength, and mobility.  I the mean time, his mother showed growth in leaps and bounds in interest in learning his care, and proacivity in seeking out information about his nutrition. 

Now our lesson times did not feel like an obligation, but a good way to learn.  Also, our morning reading of the scripture was  no longer seen as a bother, but a welcome part of our day. 



Week 6 






Esther was now planning for the future, and what would be the best for her son's growth. I both loved watching her plan, and hurt when things would fall through. 

Esther had come from a challenging family life, and was hoping to give something better to her son. 







Week 7


Mirko could now scoot across rooms alone, and was beginning to lift himself off of the floor on his hands and knees.  He also began some self feeding.  He was still behind for his age, but had come so far!  Also, his smile has the deepest dimples! 

Esther also had come to life.  We would prepare a meal together in unity and flow so well we almost didn't have to talk!  She would smile in photos, and had asked about baptism at our church.  So we went together to the class for preparation and I watched Esther attentively answering questions and seeking answers. 

Now when we would pray together at meals, she also would pray quietly.  When she would describe how something at home had fallen through, she would say that she could take her strength from God because she knew he was in control.  





Week 8
With graduation and discharge around the corner, Esther and I both were sad but excited.  We have become friends, so parting is hard.  At the same time, it is the change for new beginnings, and a better life for Mirko. 

Esther is a loving mom who cares for her son even when its hard.  She now takes comfort in God's unfailing love.  Mirko is full of joy and a delight.  He has grown in strength, and even has some little fat rolls on his thighs.  It has been an honor to walk with Esther and Mirko through this time in their lives.  Now they are beginning as a young family, fresh, healthy, and centered on Christ.  














Getting to witness the transformation in Esther's life was a blessing beyond belief.  What an honor to get to see her baptized as well!  




Mirko's ride home










It is always hard to say goodbye.  Every hard goodbye is a cnahce to praise God for the friends he has provided.  Thank you God for Esther and her impact on my life!!



My heart is very full and I understand now why God only sent one mother for this time.  He had so much he wanted to do in Esther, and in me.  God is so good!  







Always in my heart!


Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Gaining momentum


Hogar Rosalinda
Today marks one month of Hogar Rosalinda being open.  This has been so challenging, so painful, so beautiful, and so growthful.  There has been a lot to figure out in running the home, living biculturally in my daily life, and application of nutritional concepts.  Communication is hard beyond the obvious language barrier. How we communicate daily challenges is also far different so that even when we use the right words, we misunderstand each other's meaning.

By far the hardest part has been the realization that by design, this program means I don’t get to care for the children here, I have to encourage, motivate, and at times push my mothers here to do the care themselves.  This is hard because I am also teaching a method foreign to them. It is hard to get someone motivated about something that seems useless to them. Once results are seen, then things are much easier because trust is being established.  The results however are only part of the real idea in this home. Really, this is day to day discipleship. That sounds great until I’m exhausted and life with those I’m trying to influence. If I say something, and don’t demonstrate it in my life, even in the middle of the night when I am woken for something, what does that show?  One way I'm learning is how I talk to myself- If I get irritated about not being able to make tortillas and give up trying, how can I then ask a mom to learn new concepts in health?

You can always find the gringa's tortillas! 
My moms are good and patient teachers!

Smiles and laughter in supper prep.

I'm learning new foods while my mothers
are learning what's in these foods.



Hogar de la esperanza homes
The group homes are overflowing with love as always!  Casa Alvarez is still awaiting that final signature. In the mean time they are loving little Anali as well as various other areas of the ministry.  In Casa Chapin, life adjustments to two fewer children and anniversaries of little ones now with Jesus show what a love God is working through them. In Casa Fulp, little Jarred has been placed back with his mother.  This is always a challenging and complicated situation for everyone involved. We pray that his mother continues to show progress in his care, while hearts at the home are missing a little boy they held for the time they had him.  For more, check out https://www.hislove4us.com/, https://www.facebook.com/light2guate, http://carissachapin.blogspot.com/2012/05/everything.html 

Jarred has now returned to his mother. 
We have loved the time we had with him.  

Danilo full of smiles in Casa Chapin.



Our kids
Mirko
Mirko is the first child in Hogar Rosalinda.  He came with his mom Esther, who loves him so much she would move into the gringas house an hour from anything familiar!  A lot is different here, and the schedule for feedings is a lot of work. Esther has stepped up for her son however and is learning a lot.  Mirko is a joy and smiles a lot. He has gained a lot, and has new energy and strength. He eats well and wants to walk. It is exciting to see his growth, but so much more so to know that his mom has been the one empowered to help him get here.  

At first, smiles were hard to catch

Weight bearing and wanting to walk!

Too cute for words.


Ruavis
Ruavis has lived in the first grouphome, casa fulp, for years.  When he first came to the home he was in active crisis and seized nearly nonstop.  With proper medication and lots of love he improved greatly. His muscles settled down and he because quite snuggly.  Over the years he has had some ups and downs. Overall he has slowly declined a little at a time. In recent months he has declined still further and this poor little guy now hurts most days.  His muscles are tight, and he has days of very pore color or circulation. Please pray for comfort for Ruavis. On these bad days it seems his time with us is limited.  

Holding Ruavis is getting hard with all the spasms.  


El centro de partos el pozo
Stephanie Konrad and her team continue at the birthing center, and reach women with pre and postnatal care.  More importantly they are building relationships with the mothers who come. Last week, the centers first baby delivered on site returned for a check up.  Carlos is now 6 months old and looking good! What a blessing it was to work with Stephanie at the birthing center for a year! Now I have to be content to see all that God is doing from a short distance!  To learn more what that looks like, check out Stephanies blog at https://stephaniedkonrad.wordpress.com/ 

Stephanie with baby Carlos, the center's first delivery on site. 


Aliento Feeding program
Taryn Fulp has been heading up for a few months now a feeding program in Aceituno Escuintla.  Her team includes many short and long term volunteers who love the kids. This program has been helping feed many children who are not getting nearly enough and struggle with malnutrition.  So much more important however is the stories that are heard here. Taryn and her team are building relationships and giving an hear to many children who have never been ehrad. I encourage you to check our Her blog at https://tarynfulp.blogspot.com/ to learn how God gave the program its name.  Also invest a few minutes to see the video TJ alvarez made to show the heart of the ministry there.  https://youtu.be/lt7PorZmJxw
Going for tortillas.

Tary's passion for her kids.


Rural village
Our team continues to travel out and continues to minister to families in remote areas who care for their children with special needs.  This is a beautiful, hot, sweaty, long day much of which is spent in a car. The team continually shows love and compassion in some hard situations that confront them on a far too frequent basis.  They love with the love of Christ which goes beyond compassion fatigue. Here are a few blogs by team members who travel out. http://hopeforhome.blogspot.com/http://blog.dickrutgers.com/.  

Osman is in need of prayers for
his aggressive seizures.  

Samuel is one happy guy in his new chair.


Personal


This month has stretched me so far.  What I have found is that wherever I have lacked, God brought together what was needed.  When I was emotionally drained, He would bring someone to visit with my mothers or myself.  When I lacked the nutritional knowledge, he provided an expert specifically interested in continued support forma far.  When I felt alone, he sent time and time again more and more faces and hugs than I can count. So very many people have visited, encouraged, prayed, and messaged words of comfort. God showed his community at work.  More than this, he continues to teach me that in all things, to give glory to Him.

This leads to something I hate to admit.  Not all stories in this home will be a success.  Can I give that to God? Can I pour out all I have into someone, emotionally go all out and not build barriers to protect myself, and know that if a choice beyond my control is made, that I can only cary the weight of the choices I can make?  Can I give to God the hearts I can no longer affect, and emotionally continue to openly pour out into others who come? Can I continue to serve God with my everything even when I perceive failure as a result?  

Mirko getting a haircut.

Therapy with Lindsey.




Prayer
I would ask for prayer for so many areas of the ministry, so many kids, so many desperate situations, and so many workers. Specifically I would like to lift up in prayer my second mom and child to come.  They decided not to continue at the training center. This breaks my heart. I want to keep sharing the victories as B gains weight and as I gains confidence.  I want also to see them grow in Christ. Both were precious in this home, and have a hold on my heart. I don’t know how God will continue their story, but I pray that He is glorified in it.  


An empty room is a daily reminder of needed prayer