Awareness is only the beginning. . .

 Disability Awareness Sunday reminds us that awareness is only the beginning.

It is good to see people with disabilities.
It is good to learn about their experiences.
It is good to recognize the barriers they face.

But awareness alone is not enough.

Awareness should move us to compassion—to see each person not as a diagnosis, a limitation, or a problem to be solved, but as someone created in the image of God, with inherent dignity, gifts, purpose, and a place in community.

And true compassion leads to action.

It asks: What can I do? How can I remove a barrier? How can I make my church more welcoming? How can I create opportunities for belonging, participation, friendship, and service?

Because if awareness never moves us beyond feeling sorry for someone, it can easily become pity.

Pity looks at someone and feels sorry for them.
Compassion looks at someone and asks, “How can I walk alongside you?”

This Disability Awareness Sunday, let's move beyond awareness.
Let awareness lead to compassion—and let compassion lead to action.

Because inclusion isn't simply about noticing who is missing.
It's about making room at the table.

#DisabilityAwarenessSunday #DisabilityInclusion #CompassionInAction #Belonging #ReasonToHope

Why need a Private Facebook Group

 

You may be wondering why we're creating a private Facebook group instead of continuing to share everything on my personal page or on Reason to Hope's public Facebook page.

For many years, my personal Facebook page has served two purposes. It has been a place to stay connected with people who know me personally, and it has also been a way to share the work of Reason to Hope. As our ministry grows and others take on leadership and communication responsibilities, we need a communication strategy that is centered on the ministry—not on me.

This is a transition that nonprofit advisors consistently recommend. They encourage founder-led ministries to begin establishing a separate organizational identity while the founder is still actively involved. Making this shift now will help ensure that Reason to Hope continues to thrive for years to come, with an identity that is larger than any one person.

Our public Facebook page has a different purpose. It is designed to introduce new people to Reason to Hope, tell our story, and invite others to become involved. Because it is open to anyone on the internet, we are increasingly careful about what we share. While we have posted more personal stories in the past, we've come to recognize that doing so isn't the best way to protect the privacy and dignity of our residents and staff.

Our private Facebook group serves a different audience—people who already know, support, and care about Reason to Hope. It provides a more secure space where we can share everyday life in our homes, prayer requests, ministry updates, organizational news, and the joys and challenges that don't belong on a public page. It also allows us to communicate more personally and more frequently instead of waiting for our next newsletter.

Each of these communication channels has a distinct purpose. Together, they help us strengthen Reason to Hope's mission while honoring the people we serve and building a sustainable future for the ministry.

A word about our giving platform--ZEFFY

We are using Zeffy as our donation platform for Giving Tuesday 2025 because they do not charge nonprofits any credit/debit card processing fees. When you check out, you will be asked to make an optional donation to Zeffy. Donated funds go to support Zeffy (not Reason To Hope) but enable Zeffy to provide this service free of charge to nonprofits.

This donation to Zeffy is Optional and will not affect your donation to Reason to Hope should you decide to opt out.

Please change the default donation amount to $0 unless you would like to support the Zeffy platform. If you unintentionally make a donation to Zeffy, Reason To Hope is not able to refund your donation amount. Thank you for your generous support and for your understanding. 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO REASON TO HOPE

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 dishes 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.