Antonio

Cuter than ever and rotten as ever
Antonio

Hospital Escuela

Yesterday I spent part of the day at Hospital Escuela. For those of you who have been here before with TORCH teams you have seen the poverty, dirtiness, and the sadness this place holds. Well I have been there several times with TORCH groups also to visit the hurting mommas, the child who has been there alone with out any one to visit them for 6 months, and the one who just lost a child. It is always a touching experience and you leave there with compassion for those people and usually one special person you interacted with that day stays on your heart and mind.
Although yesterday I got to see it with whole new eyes. I was there yesterday with Isabel. The little girl that Ashley has taken in and is taking care of. Well we were not there this time to visit anyone we were there because Isabel needed medical attention. So the Dr. that had been attending her before when she was in the hospital two weeks ago at Viera volunteers his time at Hospital Escuela in the mornings and he told us to meet him there yesterday morning so he could see Isabel for free of charge. Very nice, helpful and wonderful Doctor. Well little did I know what I was in for. I knew it would be a whole new experience but it opened my eyes and heart to things I could have never imagined.
To see the lines and lines of people there with their sick child only to be told the Dr. would not be in till 1pm and they got there at 6am. Some of those waiting had seats while others has little sick ones and no where to sit. Let me tell you with little Isabel me and Dorian passed her back and forth as we waited in lines and such and she wore my arms out fast so I can't even imagine those who waited all morning long. Some had been getting up early every morning for the past week to come and bring there child for continued care and so they were getting up early every day traveling 3hours or so and missing going to work because they were 1st and foremost concerned about their child.
As we waited in lines the smell was over whelming of sweaty bodies, dirty diapers, and pukey babies and I am not even too sure what else. It was enough to make me a little tipsy and want to vomit myself. At one point I had to tell Dorian I would be back and go take a walk and get some fresh air, it was just too much.
After seeing the Dr. we were sent all over the hospital for different tests, meds, and paperwork. The Dr. told us we needed to go out to the pharmacy and buy one of the meds we needed and have them give it to Isabel. They had the other ones that we needed there in the hospital pharmacy but one they did not have so they need to have Dorian go and get it while I stayed there in the hospital and waited for him to come back with the medicine. Then we had to go get an injection in the emergency room in the peds dept. Being in the pediatric emergency room was overwhelming. People were bring in kids right and left. One had been hit by a car while riding her bike and her leg was cut open and broken. Another child has been beat severely and the police came while we were there to investigate this case. Others had passed out for some reason or another. Some they had in the actually emergency room while others they layed in beds in the hall way and still others they had no bed for them to even lay in. The Dr.'s that were there were working hard it was just more than what they could handle. We were there quit awhile because they wanted to admit Isabel but after giving her a shot she calmed down from her convulsions and they just observed her a few hours before releasing us to go home.
When it was time to go home I was for more than ready to get out of this place but at the same time my heart went out to these people. For me it is so hard to imagine to go somewhere like this when needing medical care. Luckily I know different and that is not the case for me, but the poor here have no other option. It is either watching your child suffer, having your child die, or taking the free medical care at Hosptial Escuela. For the people here it is no question at all. They will wait in lines all day, miss work for weeks, and give there last cent to have their child well.
By seeing the amount of people that was there yesterday I would think every one wanted the well being of their child, but we all know the reality of the children here in Honduras and how many are neglected, abused and abandoned. I am just thankful for all of those I saw yesterday who do care!
Right now I ask that you pray for each and every person in this hospital, whether child, mother, nurse or doctor. Pray that God attends to them and wraps them up tonight.

I thank you God for continually showing me these moments that continue to soften me up. It is easy in the time that I have been here to be here in Santa Ana and forget about what is happening all around me. So I thank you Lord for the reminder yesterday! May I continue to grow in my compassion and love for those in this country.

Fitto

Continue to pray that Fitto heals from the abuse he has been through. He is in counseling and is making progress but continue to pray he chooses to live a life for GOD!

Friends

I am reading Job right now and this time when I was reading it a came upon something that I had never noticed before. Job goes through more than I can even begin to imagine. As he has been hit with all of this at once three of his friends get word of all of the troubles that has been placed upon him. When hearing about all of this the three friends decided to set off and go and comfort and sympathize with him. Once getting to where Job was they saw him from a distance and could hardly recognize him. They began to weep and tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for 7 days and nights. No one had to say anything to him because they saw how great his suffering was.

Job 2:11-13

The extent that a friend would go to to be there for you..............
Having the type of friends who are just there and do not have to say anything.................them just being there and their existence brings comfort.

Go out and be that friend..................

brothers

Antonio, Mario, and Fransico

Fernando

Fernando

Visitation

Today was visitation at Casitas Kennedy. I guess I should catch you all up. Last month at visitation Monica, Fernando, and Katty's family was there to visit with them. Well they have this sweet sister Doris who is always there to visit them also but is always just sort of shoved aside and never given any attention and not a word is every spoken from her mouth. Just a soft timid smile. I have tired several times to get her to talk to me at past visitations but she always get embarrassed. She turns her head or looks down and hardly ever makes eye contact. Never speaks a word and just seems like she has ever even been in contact with other people to even know how to interact with them. She has a head full of lice, filthy, ratty clothes, and stinks. So last month I brought her to the attention of the administration at Casitas Kennedy. So they came out and took her that very same day from her mom . The mom was at loss for words and only said no you don't know how to take care of her. She is a special child and so forth. Well they for certain did not have any room to speak because they had not taken care of the child themselves. For all I know maybe they took care of the child to the best of their ability with what they had and what they knew but that was not enough.
So Doris has now been at Casitas for a month now. So today when we were there the social workers came out and talked to me and wanting us to take Doris. I asked to see her files and that paper work we are required to take her in. They told us that if we did not take her that they would have to take Monica, Fernando, and Katty from us and place them in another center with their sister(and we sure do not want that). The paper work ended up not being done so we did not take her today but it looks within the next couple of weeks she will get to come here and be with her brother and sisters. So be praying if that is what God wants that all will work out.
While we were at visitation today only Cindy and Marjuir's mom came. They did allow Doris to come out while we were there and she got to play and interact with our kids. Monica tried to take good care of her. Those two are just two peas in a pod! It was good to see Doris making progress in the month that she has been there. She played , giggled, and ran around which is rare thing to see from her. In the month she has been at Casitas she has not spoken either they said. The girl is looks like she is 8 but say she is 12 and is at the mentality of maybe a 2 year old.

Please be praying for and what God wants with this situation. Here below are a few pics from today. Doris & Monica

Fernando, Katty, Doris, and Monica

Cindy and Marjuri with their momma

true character

Your true character is revealed by what you do when no one is watching.

What is it that you are doing when no one is watching....our great BIG God sees everything! We can not hide from Him.

video

So my brother put together a little thing video he sent to me today.
Just thought that I would share it!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dATpjUM8ziE

Youth Group Outing

Last Saturday we had a good day! We took the youth group on an outing. It is not very often at all that those kind of things get to happen. It was a 3 or 4 hour car ride but they loved it and made the best of it. They sang, giggled, joked around, and told stories. It sure enough took me back to the days we went on our youth outings with Grubbs.
It was a beautiful view as you can see! looks like water is coming out of the rock

the waterfall from down below......after going down what seemed liked 100 steps..............going up was the fun part!

group fun

playing games

wading in the water

hiking down and around to see the falls

beautiful

waterfall

the youth group

seeing who can hang on the longest

chowing down on lunch

I am blessed and highly favored!

more kids

So for all of you praying out there it looks as we might be taking some more kids in here soon. Be praying that God will send the children he wants here. For those of you praying I really do feel your prayers when you pray for Casa de Esperanza.

Fundraising

Be sure to check out the Casa de Esperanza website

cdehonduras.org

Go under the link donating and fundraising and see what things you can do to help us here at Casa. Please gather up some friends and those friends gather some friends up and the chain just keeps going and you all help out Casa a lot!
So please be sure to take some time to check out the page and see what you can do to help us out here at Casa.
Have a blessed day!

Rudy and Brayan

Many of you have personally emailed me about Rudy and asked how he is, where he is, and what is going on with him. Well it looks as if he is out of our care and he is now back with his mom. Whether this is a good thing or not I am not too sure. He at such a young age ran to the streets for some reason or another while living with his mom and now he is back living at his home again so I hope that he does not resort to the streets again.
Right now the judge is talking that they might take Brayan also to be with his mom.
This being a mom stuff and loving on them till it hurts is not so much fun. Although we come into this knowing that the judge or INFA (gov.) can come in here at any time and take these kids from us, but that sure does not stop us from loving on them. I continue to mother them and love them to the best of my ability and trust that the rest is in God's hands.
So say a prayer for as you read this for Rudy and Brayan!!

Antonio

AntonioThis is how I feel sometimes at the end of the day.........just let me fall where ever and go to sleep. It doesn't matter where it is!! Just wanted to get some shut eye.

Outtings

Not very often but every once in a while we all load up in the van and take a trip to town. And when we do get to take a trip to town they are all so excited they can hardly stand it so it is a little hard to keep them all under control in the car. Well last week when the Belpre group was here we loaded up and headed out to spend Saturday with the group at a Carnival they were doing at another children's home.

Let's just say when we are in the car in is always an adventure. You have so and so hitting so and so. Then you have another one wanting to throw up, another one wanting to pee, and another one wanting to know when we will be there. Having to constantly remind them to sit down and keep their hands to their selves.

The other day Brayan tried to sneak a nap in and in the process kicked Daniela off of the seat.

Katty Katty!

Marjuri, Antonio, and Katty

Here she is trying to be a tiger!

Here is the princess herself!

Katty had her bday yesterday and she thought she was a princess. Well actually everyday she thinks she is a princess but yesterday she really thought that she was one! So here is a pic of the princess herself. Last night the elec. went out so we all sat on the floor with a candle in the dark and sang happy birthday to Katty and had cake to celebrate!

Please just continue to pray for us at Casa. That God will use us daily and that we are open to Him. My prayer is that God is making me the best mom for these kiddos. At times I think I am failing with them when we have some not so good days, but I know that God has sent me here and will continue to use me to and for His glory. So just pray this week that God pours out His wisdom and guidance upon me as I work with these kiddos. That I do what is best for them and help them to become children who make our daddy smile!

Thank you all for your prayers!

Belpre

Some of the people that I love and have been supporting me all along in this journey here in Honduras have come to work here with us. The Belpre group is here this week!
Today I got away and built a house with them.
Yeah for those who love and support us, and I love it when our worlds come together here in Honduras!