May 2020
The new normal
Amidst frequent life altering changes from the coronavirus and it’s side effects, life is change. The new normal here in Guatemala is unpredictable change, and unchanging desperation. There are almost daily changes to what is allowed or restricted. It is challenging to live through these as some greatly affect life and ministry, but we have to remember that what is inconvenient to us is devastating to so much of the world. As christians let’s not be the ones pointing fingers and complaining, and start loving as the church ought to shine like stars in these dark times. Let’s share the hope of Jesus that the world may hear.
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| Tiny masks are pretty cute, and required by law whenever out of your residence. That doesn't keep away Alison's joy! |
Hogar Rosalinda
(Nutrition Training Center)
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| Painting |
We have made it to our new house! In the middle of curfews, social distancing, and lockdowns this was a bit of a challenge, but God is good, and we are home. This first week at the new home we expected 2 mothers to come. One mother came from a very remote area with her two children. Her background was sad, and we looked forward to getting to know her better. Unfortunately the changes of leaving her remote area, traveling 5 hours by car (a new experience), and arriving in a town that is busier than her old one, she decided to return to her hometown. This was an emotional two days, but her children are actually quite healthy and not undernourished at all. Please pray for God to continue to bring healing to her heart through the hands of the ministry in her local area.
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| Moving day |
The other mother we expected lives in the town where Taryn has her feeding program. For about 2 months now he has been in limbo. We would decide he should come, then he would do a little better, and his mom would decide to stay home and see. Then he would drop weight or go to the hospital. He would almost leave the hospital, then take a turn for the worse. He lost a lot of weight in the hospital. That is, until he was able to receive the ministry formula we had been providing while in the hospital. Immediately he began to gain weight, and in just a few days, he was discharged and had gained enough weight that he did not even look like the same child! Praise God!! He is out of danger now, and they have chosen to remain in their community for the time being.
Hogar de la Esperanza homes
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| Ready for school with Anny |
The three group homes remain as isolated as possible under the circumstances. There are now positive cases in our town, and this is a close community. Restrictions are pretty severe. As I type this, we are in the middle of a full weekend lock-in from 5pm Friday to 5am Monday. This is in an effort to track cases during the week- no small feet in crowded communities. Restrictions on what stores can open, when, and how many people are allowed inside make it extremely difficult to stock the homes and care for so many. Despite papers stating that homes are exempt from some of these restrictions, at the store level, these exemptions are rarely honored. For example, one store had a 3 of each item limit, and allowed the home to buy 5 items. But 5 bags of spaghetti is not enough noodles for one full meal at the main home.
Further challenges include getting our staff here and home with curfews inplace. By law they can travel to and from work because care for the kids is essential, but in reality many local police may not know what to do with the paperwork presented at checkpoints.
Further challenges include getting our staff here and home with curfews inplace. By law they can travel to and from work because care for the kids is essential, but in reality many local police may not know what to do with the paperwork presented at checkpoints.
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| Ale's 18th birthday |
On a positive note, in 2 months, Hope for Home will be opening our first adult home for our children who turn 18 and can no longer live on site with the children. We are not willing to let them take their chances in the system and end up who knows where, so when our head nanny approached with the desire to take them in, but had no means to do so, we began praying. Now we have a house in preparation, and are working to furnish it. In a few months 5 of the Fulp home will be 18 or over and will be moving up the street. We are praising God that he is providing for these who are our family to remain in our town.
Read more about the different homes here:
Blessing Angle, home intern:https://blessingjessica01.wixsite.com/website
Alvarez home: on facebook at @light2guate
Our Kids
Checha
Checha is the oldest in the homes. He celebrated his 18th birthday with us, and was mentally competent to choose for himself at the courts to remain in the Fulps home, but move out of the boy’s room. He is now 20, and has grown into such a gentleman. He is one of the kindest people I know, and a real friend. Checha loves hanging out with the olders at night, and spends hours coloring intricate pages he sells for a few Q. Checha loves Jesus, and he shows it in how much he loves and tries to care for the little ones despite his CP.
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| Checha playing iwth the girls |
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| Checha loves it when we ask him to help sooth a fussy little one |
Anali
Anali is a beautiful little girl. She lives in the Alvarez home and arrived almost a year ago. Anali is 3 years and has hydrocephalus. She is a forever baby-what I like to call the precious little ones who will forever need full care, and are forever cute and cuddly! The Alvarez family love to snuggle with her and enjoy her pouty lips. They also love her way of communicating without noises or words. Anali is a treasured gift and brings joy to the Alvarezes as they love her with the love of Jesus.
El centro de partos el pozo
(Birthing Center)
With lockdowns and isolations, Stephany and Joy have continued to love and serve their expecting mothers, while taking strong steps in protecting themselves and their patients. Hospitals are less predictable now, and have turned away some mothers in need of help, so closing such a necessary resource is not an option. They now work in Escuintla’s heat under masks and face shields using social distancing. There have been a few quarantine babies born after curfew, but thanks to the clinic, mothers had somewhere to go. Another victory- The ladies have been training a local woman named Luki to work with them as a midwife. She was an astute learner, and recently completed her training. The ladies are doing great work in the name of Jesus.
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| Luki got to catch this little guy |
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| Celebrating Luki's competing her final exam |
To learn more about el Centro de Partos el Pozo, follow Stephanie Konrad, at: https://stephaniedkonrad.wordpress.com/
Aliento feeding program
Taryn and her team have continued to serve the Aceituno community even under the restrictions. There have been many times when the rapidly changing restrictions altered their plans and they were unable obtain the vegetables or reach the town. Sadly, the team must now operate under social distancing restrictions. They can no longer hug the children that they love, and can only go for the minimum time it takes to fill each family's container for them to take home to eat. It is hot work with masks, gloves, and extra layers of clothes to shed once leaving the town. Taryn shared recently the encouragement of a few girls who have chosen to work on memorizing scripture since they could not go to school in this crisis.
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| Jeff on April 3 |
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| Jeff on May 11 |
Rural village ministry
The rural village ministry team has been busier than ever. In addition to continuing to drop off supplies for the families they already have been visiting, they are now working to try and help combat the hunger crisis caused by all the shut downs. Malnutrition rates have tripled in this already struggling nation. More than 25 tons of food have entered our bodega, been sorted into family sized portions, and distributed to families in need in communities near and far. The hard part is, as many as receive food, thousands more are hungry. As cases are found in healthcare workers, some hospitals have shut down, and sent home sick or injured patients. White flags signal that a family is desperate for food- but the flags are inumerable. It is hard not to be discouraged by all the need and hurt.
The only hope is in Jesus Christ, and it is in his name that food is given. So many churches or local governments here try to take credit for and resources given out, but with every bag of food given, we emphasize again and again that it is not from a ministry, or a specific church, but that God has seen their need, and provided food for them through his servants, in his name. This should be a time of unity in the hope of Jesus. In social media let the voice of the church across nations be hope in Jesus, not complaints about minor inconveniences or restrictions. So much of the church has stepped up and given help to buy food. Let that be the image that the world sees of the church-- hope, love and words of life. '
Or follow Daryl Fulp, Dick Rutgers, or Emanuel Alvarez on facebook.
Personal
I have gotten to bounce around various roles in the ministry to help where help is needed while Hogar Rosalinda is empty, and gathering for nutrition classes is prohibited. Sometimes this is direct care for the kids in the homes, assisting Taryn with tracking kids in her formula program, helping with some of the food distributions, and so many food packing parties. It is an honor to get to help in this work. Adoption paperwork is on hold since I can’t collect everything or get legal translations or copies. Sadly I may have to start over when I pass the 6 month mark on the documents I do have.
Prayer
In this crisis let christians not complain about the situation, but seek God in prayer. Please join us in prayer!
Pray for developing nations across the world.
Pray for Liberia where it isn’t a request to wear a mask at costco, but mandatory at all times in public, and breaking this means a public beating.
Pray for Guatemala where malnutrition rates have tripled during this crisis, and healthcare is horribly incapable of handling the situation.
Pray for Liberia where it isn’t a request to wear a mask at costco, but mandatory at all times in public, and breaking this means a public beating.
Pray for Guatemala where malnutrition rates have tripled during this crisis, and healthcare is horribly incapable of handling the situation.
Pray for safety for our fragile children.
Pray for the leaders of the world who have to make the most impossible decisions imaginable- losing thousands to the virus, or losing thousands to starvation in trying to prevent the virus.
Pray for the church around the world to be the ones to step up in the name of Jesus and bring words of life.
Pray for moments of rest for frontline workers in top of the line hospitals and hole in the wall clinics, out of unemployment offices or pickup trucks on mountainsides, and for those patrolling streets for safety. They are tired and overwhelmed.
Pray for the leaders of the world who have to make the most impossible decisions imaginable- losing thousands to the virus, or losing thousands to starvation in trying to prevent the virus.
Pray for the church around the world to be the ones to step up in the name of Jesus and bring words of life.
Pray for moments of rest for frontline workers in top of the line hospitals and hole in the wall clinics, out of unemployment offices or pickup trucks on mountainsides, and for those patrolling streets for safety. They are tired and overwhelmed.
God is still in control, and he will use even this. He holds these things in his hands, and God is still good.
To learn about Hope for home in Liberia, follow:
