We still have our men. . .

With all I post about the new women's home, I don't want to forget to update you on the men at Casa de Esperanza.

All four travel every Saturday up the volcano to Santa Maria de Jesus to continue their studies.  This is quite an expense, but one well worth it.  It is quite the process to get them all up there, requiring a taxi and a pick up truck, but our workers do it diligently, arising at 4 am to start the process of preparing the guys and getting them breakfast.

Moises and Osmi both graduated 9th grade and are working on a Bachelerato en Sciencias y Letras, the equivalent of a high school diploma.  They both seem academically prepared for the challenges they face and I am very proud of them.

In addition to working on school, Moises is practicing walking with the help of a companion for balance.  Carrie Cook, a physical therapist who visited with the communication team, assured us he was ready for this, and I can see steady improvement.  He still prefers his wheelchair because it is faster and easier to "shuffle around sitting" but is encouraged to do his therapy by the promise of Coca-cola.  (Moy will do almost anything for a Coke.)

After his serious illness when his appendix rupture, Osmi is recovering quite well.  His relationship with Jesus has never been better, and while I hate what he went through with the illness, I rejoice that it drew him closer to Him.  It also seems to have further cemented his friendship with Ali, a young lady who is quite fond of him.  They are such a cute couple, she is a good woman, and I'm watching to see what God does with their friendship.  Please pray for them.

Osmi and Kevin, one of our companion caregivers, also have the idea to start a small business selling mugs customized with photos.  They had put of a sign and had not gotten any takers.  When I get back, they will receive a "small business loan" to make some sample mugs with generic photos of Antigua.  I think people will buy these, as well as the samples will demonstrate the quality of their work.  There's a lot to do to develop this idea, but I'm proud of them for coming up with it and hope I can coach them well.



Fidel surprised, no, astonished me when he asked if he could go to school on Saturdays too.  If you have followed us through the years, you might remember what a struggle it was to get Fidel to finish 9th grade. He maintains his interest in computers and design, and the director of the school, Pastor Rey, developed a plan where he can just work on is computer skills.  He will not receive a diploma, but at 33 years old I am pleased he still wants to learn more.  I hope to be able to get him a good computer with video and graphic abilities so he can really put to good use his talent.  And he can do PR for our ministry!

Fidel's reycling business is an example of many ministries working together.
Bethel Ministries provided the power chair.
Dick Rutgers has kept him in batteries.
Beeline wheelchairs make his cart.
And the barrels he uses are part of a donation for Cross Ministries in Iowa.
I love when the Body of Christ works together.

Fidel also continues to run his recycling business.  It is painful how little money he receives for so much work, but he is content to have work.  What really saddens me is the number of Guatemalas I know who subsist with recycling as their only source of income.

Finally, Roberto is working on basic academics on Saturdays with a private tutor.  He continues to struggle, especially with remembering letters, numbers and symbols, and I believe this is due to damage he received in the fall that left him paralyzed.  Our goal for him, however, is to socialize with typical adults his age and develop his social skills.  We also are blessed to have a psychology student doing a practicum with us, and she is working to help us better understand Roberto's intellectual abilities and his neurological limitations.

No, Roberto isn't doing hard time on the rock pile.  
He's voluntarily breaking up some of the concrete chunks
that were removed when we built the addition to the house.
Now they can be disposed of properly.

Both Moy and Roberto continue to help with household chores.  Roberto's attitude has so greatly improved about doing this that he sometimes receives "bonuses" to his monthly allowance for going above and beyond.  Moy does it because he has to, but, after all, that's why I clean my house, too!

I can't praise the staff God has given us enough.  To Him really is the glory for assembling such a team of remarkable people who serve Him by serving our guys, and I thank him daily for each of them. They love the men and the men love them.  They truly are Jesus with skin on to us.