our GOD is greater!

Sooooo, as some of you may or may not know, I have two children here in Guatemala - adopted children that is! =) Their names are Banner, age 7, and Henry, age 5. Three weeks ago, I had the pleasure of assisting Team Res Life Rockford in building a house for them and their family, who is one of the poorest in the semi-coastal village of La Reina, a village of 152 families located at the foot of the most active volcano in Central America - Fuego (Fire). The following is the story of mis hijos - my sons.


The journey begins a year ago when we first began building homes in La Reina. To be honest, I was a little nervous because I didn't know anyone in this village and I was worried about meeting friends and getting to know the people when I was already quite attached to another village called La Bendicion. Little did I know that all of that was about to change - and rapidly! I had first heard of Henry when Dan Smith and the people of the village began telling me about a young, special needs boy who hadn't been able to hear nor talk since he was born. This boy was Henry, and as soon as I met him, his huge smile and large brown eyes melted my heart. I was blown away by the joy he had for life, the friendship we built almost immediately, the love his older brother and family had for him, and our ability to communicate perfectly - without sound. It didn't matter to me if he was disabled, or if the village looked down on him because of it or not.
I began talking to the family and discovered that Henry's ears had never been examined. After asking for their permission, I cleaned out his hears and took a good look inside of them - nothing. Whatever he had going on was far more extensive than my little otoscope could detect, so we brought him to an ear specialist...and another...and another. Right now, the verdict is what we thought and feared the whole time - that Henry was born this way and that no operation or device could help him hear again. However, the family is surprisingly okay with this diagnosis! We talked about the option of teaching Henry sign language, and they expressed interest and excitement in pursuing this opportunity right away. So far, they have a few Spanish sign language materials in their possession, and I am looking forward to having the chance to work with them further on this new endeavor.
Although watching Henry's progress and assisting him in finding a way to communicate with those around him has truly been a blessing, the greatest blessing has come from watching the entire family grow spiritually. Last fall, we conducted a medical clinic at La Reina. Once the clinic was done, the village settled in to watch the Jesus Film and hear the songs and testimonies of the group, as well as the message of our Pastor, Hermano Jesus. That night, I was able to be apart of leading Henry's mom, Elvia, forward to accept Christ. Banner came with us, and as he finished repeating the Salvation Prayer and accepting his first Bible, he stuck around to help me pray for other children who were accepting Christ!
Then, on March 2, 2011, we had finished building Henry's house and were preparing to dedicate it to them. Since the team was a little behind schedule, we decided that we would only dedicate 3 of that houses that day - and Henry's house was elected to go first. However, God had a better plan! Henry's Dad was called into work last minute, so he was no longer present and unable to be there for the dedication, thus moving them to the fifth and final dedication that would take place the next day. As we entered the house, I had the privilege of doing something I've never done in a house before - presenting the family with a few gifts that would turn the conversation spiritual. Hermano Jesus then presented the family with the Gospel and the opportunity to accept Christ into their hearts. The invitation was extended to each individual, beginning with the father. He contemplated the decision for awhile, to the point of making me think he'd refuse, but at last gave a heartfelt and confident "yes!" His wife followed, handing her life fully over to Christ, and so did Banner - with the biggest smile I've ever seen on the little boy's adorable face! Then, it was Henry's turn. Hermano Jesus politely said, "I know that Henry can't hear or understand me, but we are going to extend the invitation to him as well." Pointing to Henry, then to heaven, and finally to Henry's heart, the invitation was made. At that moment, we all experienced a miracle as I truly believe that it was the only the power of the Holy Spirit that caused Henry to look at Hermano Jesus with those big brown eyes and heartbreaking grin, shaking his head yes in full understandment! From that point on, the rest is a beautiful history that is now recorded in the book of life. Tears of joy were shed all around, even by the father as the prayers that Hermano Jesus poured out for him after the dedication left him broken before his Lord and Savior.
With every day that passes, Banner and Henry become more and more like family to me - not just because they refer to me as "mamita gringa" (white mother), but because they are now members of my spiritual family...for eternity! You know, I think Henry described it best when he went over to his deck of spanish flashcards, picked out the heart card, placed it against his chest, and then gave it to one of the team members. That, my friends, is a love that transcends all time, place and language - and that is the kind of love our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us.

Answered Prayers and Dreams Come True!

“All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!” – Jude 1:25.
On Tuesday, March 15, at 6am, we said our goodbyes to precious Marcos as he entered the La Aurora International Airport en route to St. Louis, Missouri! It was an emotional time for the eleven family members who gathered to see him off as this past weekend was filled with the threat of a natural disaster and the loss of a family member. However, despite these trials, the peace of God that transcends all understanding enabled the love of a family, wanting simply the best for their brother and son, to overcome all circumstances. We watched expectantly as the beaming, excited, and surprisingly calm Marcos entered the airport, passed through the ticket counter line, paid his exit tax, and was whisked down through security and out of sight by his travel escort. Feelings of sadness soon became replaced by JOY – joy in the knowledge that prayers were answered and that the long-awaited day had arrived when Marcos would receive the medical treatment he so desperately needed. It was hard to believe that this dream was actually coming true, but the reality was solidified that evening when we received the good news that Marcos had arrived safe and sound!
Tomorrow, Friday, March 18, Marcos has his first appointment with the doctors of Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Please join us in praying for wisdom and discernment for the doctor’s, as well as peace and comfort for Marcos and his family. Also, keep Marcos’ host family and the staff of Healing the Children in your prayers as they support him through this time. In the meantime, I will do my very best to keep you updated on Marcos’ treatment and progress as I receive more information.

"oh ye of little faith!"

The humility that this statement brought with it struck to the very core of my being. As I continued to think about what was said, a slow smile began to creep across my face. It was at that moment that God gave me the grace to realize that none of what took place had anything to do with my humanity and brokenness – but EVERYTHING to do with my all-powerful and all-knowing Savior. What an awesome God we serve!
This past Friday, Marcos attended his VISA appointment, which is anything short of a miracle in and of itself! With the goal of receiving his VISA the first week of March still in mind, the earliest that we could schedule his VISA appointment was March 29. However, with lots of prayer…and a few emails, too…we were able to move the appointment up to March 4 at 8am!
From there, God orchestrated everything in accordance with His good and perfect will! I had forgotten to remind Marcos to have pictures taken for the VISA – but there just happened to be a photo shop around the corner from the Embassy that was not only open at 7am but that also had the photos ready to go in less than 5 minutes! The man at the photo shop told me that I wouldn’t be able to enter the Embassy with Marcos because I was an American – but with a quick show of my passport, the security guard let me walk right in! Once in the Embassy, I was worried that we had missed the appointment since 8am had already come and gone and Marcos’ name had not been called yet – but within a half hour, Marcos’ name was called, and within 2 hours, everything was finished and we were walking out the door! The VISA was not in hand, but everything is set in place to receive it TODAY! And as I returned back to the mission base that afternoon, I received an email explaining that a host family (with three, bilingual, adopted children from Guatemala) had been found for Marcos and that a Spanish-speaking escort was available to accompany Marcos to the United States. Marcos will now be flying from Guatemala City to St. Louis, Missouri on March 15, 2011 to receive much needed and long-awaited medical treatment at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thanks to each and every one of you for the prayers you have POURED out and LIFTED up on Marcos’ behalf! The VICTORY is already ours through Jesus Christ, but the battle is far from over. Please continue to keep Marcos in your prayers as he travels to the States and undergoes a major operation. Pray for safety, healing, discernment for the medical staff, and most importantly - that Marcos may enter into a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ through this experience!