Happy Birthday MARCOS!

For those of you who don't know Marcos, he is a precious patient of ours here at Paradise Bound who will simply break your heart with one flash of his smile! Today, he turned 17, and we had a blast celebrating with him by watching a soccer game in a nearby village and inviting him to eat at Pollo Campero with us. Although there was reason for celebration, the day was somewhat bittersweet as we were reminded of the urgency of his medical situation. Marcos has been battling a severe bone infection called Osteomyelitis for about a year, and the medical treatment they have been prescribing him here in Guatemala is not helping whatsoever. If the infection is not halted soon, it could continue to spread and potentially cause Marcos to lose his leg. For a young man here in Guatemala, that type of disability would culturally lead to discrimination - no work, and no hope of starting a family. Therefore, we are working feverishly with Healing the Children and Shriner's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri to get Marcos to the States for surgery as soon as possible. I ask that you would please join me in praying for this young man - not only that his leg may be healed and that he may continue to have high spirits throughout this whole process, but also that the paperwork we have to complete will go smoothly as we have already hit some bumps along the way. More importantly, however, join me in praying that God would do a great work in his life. Marcos is a special young man, in more ways than one, and I know that God is putting him through this trial for a great purpose - to draw Marcos closer to Himself amidst a Catholic family that is buried in religion and tradition!