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Hijas del Rey is getting even better!

 

After renting the current building housing Hijas del Rey women's home for a year, and living here 2 years under a purchase agreement, we finalized our purchase of this facility in February, 2024.  By the grace of God and through your generosity and commitment to our ministry, we were able to pay off this home completely in only 2 years.  God truly does exceedling more than we can ask or imagine!

I love how Shawn Johnson of Recycled Lives here in Guatemala  (from whom we purchase the home) describes our ministy. She describes our home, which she has visited often as "a space for adult women to live to their maximum independence with the help of loving caregivers in a home based environment." All I would add to that is our purpose is to help our women come to know and love God through Jesus and to serve him to whatever extent they are able. This is who we are and who we will continue to be through your support.

Another unexpected blessing is coming to us next week from Bethel Ministries which has a grant from Joni and Friends to make living in Guatemala more accessible for the disabled.

A mutual friend of both of our ministries mentioned to Nick from Bethel that we could really use an elevator since our home is two stories. Nick immediately reached out to us, and offered us an elevator if we thought we could use it! I can't tell you the emotions which overwhelmed me (Pat) when I received this call. We had dreamed that maybe, someday, we could put in an elevator and accept more women with physical challenges. But when, out of the blue, someone calls and offers you what you have only been dreaming of, your heart skips a beat and your eyes fill with tears.

God sees.  He hears, And He answers in the most unexpected, even unsolicited ways.  After coming out and assessing our home and getting a quote for the cost, Bethel has more than generously decided to put the lift type elevator all the way to our terrace on the third floor, so our women can enjoy the views of the volcanoes sorrounding us!  Again, exceedingly more that we could ask or imagine.

Would you please join our prayers of gratitude to God, and ask his continued blessings upon both Bethel and Joni and Friends?  They are making that which was only a wish become a reality.

Roberto Recovering and Resilient

Roberto has adjusted to the new normal of living with a permanent infection of his pelvis, and the daily necessity of caring for the permanent drain. He faces these challenges with perseverance and strength I have seen in few able bodied men.  But these are not the first life changing challenges he has faced.  

After being rejected by his family and sent to live with his grandfather at age 8, he never had a chance to attend school.  He was put to work at that young age in the rubber plantations near the coast of Guatemala.  When he fell from a tree, broke his spine and was paralyzed, he was put in a room by himself and his family would come once a week to bring him food and care for him.

When we found him in July of 2015 his entire backside was one big bedsore.  His appendix ruptured before we knew it was infected--when you have no feeling below the waste, the classic pain is absent.  The rods originally put in his back to support his spine poked through the skin on his back and had to be removed.  And now, a permanent infection.

This has not stopped him from living life to the fullest and being an important part of our family and community.  He currently sells used shoes in the doorway of Casa de Esperanza, and recycles trash to earn some spending money.  He washes the dished each evening, and helps our other residents with things that they cannot do for themselves.  If one of our goals it to empower our residents to contribute to their community, he has exceeded all expectations.

His sense of humor has not diminished and he takes great joy in pestering his brothers, the staff and especially me!  Teasing is one of his spiritual gifts!

This does not minimize his daily challenges,   He prays each day for you who support us, and we ask your continued prayer support for him as he moves forward.

The Marriage Was Never Supposed to Happen--Except God. . .

Nine years ago, when we moved Casa de Esperanza to San Pedro, one of our residents met a remarkable young woman who lived in the neighborhood.  This began a friendship which grew into love and has cuminated in marriage.  Theirs is not only the love story between two people, but a love story authored only by God.

When I met Osmi in 2013, he had been sent to Hermano Pedro to die.  (To learn more about Osmi's history click here)  He had been misdiagnosed, could only move his one arm a few inches and was on a feeding tube. 

After moving in with us we got what we believe is a correct diagnosis, but one which does not explain the extent to which he has recovered since 2013.  By the time he came to us, Osmi could sit up in his wheelchair, move his arms a limited amount to feed himself and do simple tasks.  He has continued to recover mobility and strength, completed not only elementary school but graduated junior high as the Guatemalan equivalent of valedictorian.  He since has gone on to complete high school.

The doctors cannot explain his recovery since his diagnosis is a progressive disease which does not improve with time.  Since moving in with us he has shared what we believe is the explanation.  While he was most critical, a  group of short term missionaries came through Hermano Pedro.  They prayed with him and prophesied that his "sickness was not unto death." From that point on he has gradually improved to where he is today. . .strong enough to marry the woman he loves.  I guess sometimes miracles happen slowly.

We never considered the possibility of one of our residents marrying.  Actually, it was controversial among some members of the mission community that I would allow him to "date" (he would spend Sundays with Alejandra and her family).  I realized, though, if I believed what I said about self-determination for our residents, I had to honor their wishes even in the area of girlfriends.

As their relatioship grew and Alejandra and her family became more and more part of our family. They began speaking of marriage but could not imagine how this would happen.  They spoke with me and we worked out a plan.  

We will continue to provide Osmi's medications, which cost far more than what a Guatemalan salary could cover.  Ale owns land, and we are working with various ministries to try to find one to build an accessible house for the new family. Osmi will remain with us most of the time until the house is built, but spend more time at Ale's which is only 2 blocks from the men's home. We will then provided whatever in home support is needed to help Ale care for him.

What was most touching about this was to speak with Ale's mother and father.  I was somewhat tearful when I thanked them for accepting not only Osmi but our other guys.  Our men have been repeatedly invited to family celebrations at their house.  Mom's comment to me was, "Don't ever worry about Osmi.  He is our son!"  Truly remarkable for a Guatemalan family, and again, a connection only God could engineer.

This is a new adventure for all of us, but we are convinced it has been God's leading and he will be faithful to help us going forward.  Please pray for our new family, and a new stage in our ministry.

Critical care for Roberto

The beginning of this month we admitted Roberto to the hospital.  The Friday before a small bump appeared on his back.  It didn’t seem like much, but we wanted it to get checked.  We decided to watch it over the weekend.  By Monday it had grown significantly, but here Monday was a holiday.  The clinics were closed.  It really didn’t seem like it needed an emergency room visit.

We were wrong, however, and by the time we could see our doctor on Tuesday, the bump, which proved to be an abscess, was huge.  Surgery was required.  First, however, IV antibiotics would be needed.  Roberto also was anemic and would need a blood transfusion prior to surgery to build up his red blood count.

The sad reality we face is that this abscess was caused by the same bone infection of his pelvis that required surgery almost two years ago. The usual treatment for such a bone infection would be to remove the bone, but that is impossible with a pelvis. So, for the rest of his life Roberto will be on a strong antibiotic, and will need daily nursing care to maintain a permanent drain in his back to all the infection to escape.

No one can know for sure when this infection started, but we believe it was when he first operated on years ago in a national hospital when he fell from a tree and broke his spine. Really, it doesn't matter, since this is what we face now.

Honestly, I was heartbroken.  This is the fourth surgery Roberto has needed since he came to us.

Seven years ago,  on the Fourth of July, we found him living is horrible conditions, and brought him to live with us the same day.  (Click here to read his story).  In those seven years, we have watched him heal physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally.  But life has been hard for him and once again he is facing a challenge that would break many men.