More to the story

If you heard me speak while I was in the states then you know about M.  She has a terribly hard story of poverty, loneliness, and loss.  We wanted to move her into the girls’ home, but had lost touch with her right before I left the country.  The good news is… she is found!

A week ago today I got a call from an unknown number.  It was Melissa.  She was in Copan, about 6 hours from here working as household help for a stranger.  It was so sad to me listen to her talk about how she just didn’t really believe that it would work out for her at PDE.  Someone offered her a chance to escape her life that was immediate, so she took it.  And she is used to earning her own way in life.  She talks about how it would be too hard to just “let” us help her without being able to give anything in return.  At least where she is she is earning her own way.  They treat her poorly and she makes $35/month, but she feels like she is able to survive. 

These are the times when I just want to scoop these girls up and tell them that they are so loved.  They can have a chance, a new life.  They can experience grace and not have to work for everything.  Its okay to let us help you, to just receive for a little while because life has beaten you up so hard.  And I want them to know how much I long for them to know Jesus and His grace and how His love isn’t based on how hard we work.

I was able to tell Melissa that day how much we care for her and that we still wanted her to come to the house, but I understood if she didn’t come back.  But if she changed her mind, to please call me.

Wednesday night I got another call.  E is three months old and was in the hospital with a high fever and eye infection.  The hospital is small and the doctors not very good.  They were telling her the baby had eye cancer and an allergy to the cold (It was probably 75 degrees).  Thankfully they recommended bring her back to La Ceiba to see a specialist.  So M called for help.  Bus fare, blood tests… all things that she could not afford.  As much as I care about her, I’m not willing to be responsible for her being in La Ceiba homeless, so I told her I would help her if she was at a place where she wanted to live with us upon leaving the hospital.  If not, then I couldn’t bring her here, because she would have nowhere to go.  She thought it through and called me back later saying that yes, she wanted to live in PDE.

She’s here.  In the hospital with her daughter.  Receiving.  Being patient.  Letting us love on her a little bit.  She’s still alone most of the time since I can’t be there with her all the time.  But we are checking in, taking diapers and food, and waiting to see what the doctor says.  They have been sleeping in the emergency waiting room because there are no beds available, but the doctor says it’s an infection and once her fever stays down he will let them come home.

It’s not official yet, there are still papers to prepare and work to be done before Melissa officially comes to PDE.  But please pray for it to happen.  Pray for her heart to be able to receive the gift of a new start.  Pray for healing for little E to be able to leave the hospital soon.  And pray for M to know Jesus more than anything else!

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Close to my heart

A few weeks ago I met a girl who broke my heart.  Could be the twin thing, could be that the Lord just gave me overwhelming compassion, but I just cannot get her off my mind.

M is 18 years old and has no one.  After losing her mom when she was young, she lost her mom figure who raised her last year.  Abandoned by her boyfriend at the news of a baby and alone in the world.  Unable to find work after losing her job due to pregnancy... no one wants to pay maternity costs.  And now unable to work because what would she do about childcare?  Not a penny to her name and because of that no prenatal care.

After walking over two miles to the hospital by herself in labor, she found out she was having twins and then lost her son all in one day.  She is now trying to fend for herself and take care of a 2 month old little girl in a world where she gets kicked in the head while on the ground being mugged so that the thief can take her neighbor's cell phone that she asked to borrow to be able to call me.  She can't get birth certificates to get paperwork ready for her to move into the house because their isn't paper at the registry.

Oh the process is frustrating.  I just want to move her in today, or yesterday, or last week.  When I met her she was going on 4 days without eating while trying to feed her baby.  Her situation is brokeness, and seemingly hopeless.  And in the midst of it, she knows a little bit about the Lord and named her baby Biblical names because she has always found peace in a church building.  The Lord has allowed her to know peace and to trust that He can change things for her... she hasn't seen it happen yet, but she speaks about praying and asking and waiting and hoping.

Our lawyer says it can happen.  Papers are ready, things are in order, its just always one more thing... waiting for the registry to print her birth certificates because the guys who mugged her took the bag that had all her papers in it.  Pray for a quick process.  Pray that she can move in quickly.  Pray for favor in all governmental proceedings since she will be the first to move in after all the changes.

In the meantime she is hanging out around PDE, eating good meals when she can and getting some money to go back and forth on the bus instead of walking everywhere.

Pray for her to know Jesus, for her to experience some relief from how heavy life has been, and for peace in her heart.

Thank you for caring about our ministry and allowing us to care for her.

Family Life

The kids are the best! The twins turned 6 months this past week on the 17th... I cannot believe it.  They are just growing up WAY too quickly!  I get so sad sometimes for those who I love who still haven't gotten to meet or really get to know my kids, so I thought I'd share a little bit about them...

Eliana is super curious about everything.  She is so friendly and smiles at anyone who looks her way.  She loves action and adventure, i.e. the johnny jump up and getting thrown up in the air.  She loves the pool, and already kicks like she knows how to swim.  She sat up for the first time this past week and loves to look at books.  She has decided to scream every time we ride in the car and its dark outside, so that's not our favorite trick.  She wants food everytime she sees us eating and has tried carrots, applesauce, avacado and rice cereal.  She is so much fun!

Wesley is a cuddle-bug and so laid-back.  He has his hands in his mouth constantly or any toy that he has managed to hold on to.  His favorite toy is a little giraffe lovey because he loves to suck on the ears.  He is able to roll over and try to crawl, but most of the time it just seems like too much effort.  He is much happier giving flirty smiles and belly laughs when he gets tickled.  He is a little bit of a mama's boy and has moments when he just wants to be with me, but I'm okay with it :)  For the most part he is so flexible and easy-going, that it is fun to spoil him sometimes.  He still has a few digestive issues, but is not far behind in the eating department and is growing well!  He is a joy!

Andres is a little spit-fire these days with the most precious personality.  He brings me flowers to put in my hair and runs to see me if I haven't seen him all day.  He calls me mom instead of mami, which shows that there is some english influence in there and I think his favorite thing to say is "mom, come see... or mom, look!"  He is starting to put together English sentences finally and really expressing his opinion.  He LOVES his little brother and sister and also gets super jealous.  Basically just wants to help with everything... giving them a bottle, making them laugh, helping them swim, whatever, he is right by my side.  And he loves to help me cook... he is basically my little shadow.  He can also swim short distances in the pool by himself and all over with water wings... the pool is his happy place :)

Nicolle is still my best helper.  She is eager and for the most part does things with a really good attitude.  She loves being near me, whether it is snuggling on the bed or running errands.  She is ready to be a grown up and wants to be the one to pay for the groceries or change the babies' diapers.  She is so out-going, has never met a stranger.  And she saves her brother in the kitchen because she is always offering to scramble eggs for him or make him a quesadilla when I say dinner is fend for yourself.  She loves music, riding bikes, painting, making any kind of mess, and quality time!  She also just hangs in her own world as life's little details just seem to escape her most of the time :)  Why is it important whether or not I have shoes on?  I made Eliana laugh all the way to church!  Her English is awesome, but she still makes me laugh when she says paste instead of stick or throwing saliva instead of drooling :)  She really is going to be my mini-me and I love that... but its humbling all at the same time.  She accepted Christ in March and will be baptized in August!  She is a little sponge and soaks up anything and everything that I share with her.

Angel is a rule-following 11 year old.  He is very detail-oriented and the most schedule-driven Honduran that I know.  This kid forgets nothing!  He is all boy and loves soccer, riding bikes, swimming and video games.  We are working on fostering a love of reading and so far the most successful has been Captain Underpants.  He is a funny kid, sometimes at the right time and sometimes I have to remind myself he hasn't grown into humor yet and figured out when its just not quite appropriate, whoops!  He has some pre-teen attitude festering, but he is also quick to repent and show love.  He is thoughtful and kind and a huge help to me.  But he is his daddy's shadow.  He will do anything and everything with Lesther and lives for times alone with his papi.  He responds so well to Lesther and is able to be honest with him and receive advice and guidance.  He is good about talking through things, even with me, and has a mature ability to think reasonably about things, which helps.  He is just starting to want to hang out with new friends and stretch his independence a little bit, but so far he is a trustworthy kid.  I love when I get him alone for a little while, although its rare.  And mami dates almost always include food, that's his favorite!  Angel also came to know Jesus in March and will be baptized in a few weeks, he has some really good questions and is not afraid to talk about spiritual things.  He is the sweetest big brother and loves one-on-one time with the babies.

   

Sewing and Swimming and a video!

Some little house updates...

K is doing sewing classes, and she is loving it :)  She has made a dress and a shirt and a skirt!  I really love the lady who owns the shop where she is working and the people who work there.  They seem to really want to help her learn and they are really patient.  So its just good!

We got a little pool for the kiddos because it has been SO hot!  I think they are loving it :)  We've also gotten to go out swimming a few times and they have had so much fun hanging out with Ahnalies who is here for a month!

Also, we had a two person video crew here from MTW, one from the office and one volunteer and they were AMAZING!  They are officially doing some promotional stuff for MTW, but also took advantage of the time to get some footage and pictures of PDE.  It was really fun to have them here and it gave us some really fun chances to get the whole PDE family together.  Hopefully we'll see some of them soon and we can share them!  I can't wait to share a little taste of what they got to capture.  I'm so thankful for the way that these two ladies came and served us so well.

Government update

It looks like things may finally be moving along.  I have a scheduled meeting with the new director of social services on Wednesday afternoon at 2pm.  Please pray for favor with him and that he will want to help us get through the remainder of the recommendations quickly.  I am so ready for us to be at a place where we can just seek out girls to move into the home.  I'm ready to see it full again!

On that note, I have a few girls you can be praying for as I get to know them and consider them for the home.

M just had her baby 8 days ago!  I was able to go and see her the day the baby was born in the hospital and be a part of walking her through those days afterwards.  We helped her with some expenses because she comes from a very poor family and she and the baby both had some issues after the birth.  She lost lots of blood and had some fainting episodes, but seems to be doing much better.  Her son, A, was born with a fever and has some kind of unknown infection... well, unknown to us :)  He came home after 5 days in the hospital and seems to be doing well now.  It was a very frustrating few days as the public health care system and hospital are just not an easy or fun experience.  Please pray for M as she knows that PDE is an option and one that she has really thought through, pray for a wise decision to be made.  She is very close with her mom and sisters, but due to poverty has very few options for her future.

R is another girl who I have been spending time with.  Her little girl was born one day after the twins!  She is in a very off and on relationship with her father of her daughter and seems to stay with him only because she sees no other option for how she would get by.  I am praying for discernment as I talk to her and try to help her seek the Lord's guidance for her future.  It is not a healthy relationship at all and she has no family support.  Pray for wisom.

I'm so excited that we can start to consider girls for the home again, we just pray that God would bring who HE wants to be there!

Baptism

Praise the LORD!

Last Wednesday night K and C were both baptized at our local Spanish church!  I was so excited that we could be there to support them and some of the former PDE girls were there too.  It was just a blessing to be able to watch them take the step of faith to say "I belong to Jesus" publicly.  We talked a lot about what baptism means and why it is important.  It is more than just a step of obedience for a believer, its a way to share that God has changed them.  He called them out of darkness and into life.  He has given them a purpose and a newness to life.  Its something to celebrate that in His good grace, God rescued them from certain eternal death!  And we give HIM all the glory!