Nov. Update

Nov. 08

Dorian and I began the month by spending some time in Nicaragua visiting with Dorian's family. This was important to me as it had been a year and a half since I had last been there. Please pray for his mother as she raises two grandsons.
The children here at Casa wrapped up their school year and are now on break until mid February. Monica, Fernando and Daniela have graduated kindergarten and are moving on to first grade!
The rain stopped finally it has been cold here. It gets in the low 50's sometimes at night. Sounds kind of balmy until you realize that there is constant wind chill, no insulation and no heat of any kind. We here at Casa are blessed to have a sturdy home and plenty of clothing and covers; things that many here do without.
We have been so blessed this month by having many of you blessing us with funds towards expenses of Dorian's surgery. Thank you so much for all your donations, they are deeply appreciated and valued. I know times are tough and uncertain in the States but our God continues to see us through any obstacle.
Hopefully many of you received a Christmas card from Casa with pictures of all the children. This was donated by Kippa Norsworthy at kipscreations.com. Thank you Kippa!!
Each Thanksgiving, Jen and I would purchase and prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for Casa staff and children. With Jen serving another ministry and Dorian and myself being short of funds, we thought we would have to downscale this year. But thanks to "BJ's Buddies" a small group from Belpre and Terri Tindall's mom we were able to continue the tradition. I think the staff enjoys it almost more than the children! This year we served about 45 people as we all thanked our Father for his blessings.
As we get ready for Christmas any of you wanting to send money for the kids Christmas can send that money to Casa de Esperanza PO BOX 9222 Columbus, Mississippi 39705. Be sure to make a note that it is for Christmas. Thank you to so many of you who have come together and sent money for the kids new beds for Christmas! :)
Dorian continues to feel better each week and we continue to be honored to have the privilege of serving God's people in Honduras.

~Blessings~

pursuing........

"Pursue the things over which Christ presides."

~ Col. 3:1 ~

Surgery

Today we finally got the surgery authorized for Pamela's foot. Still no date set right now but we have got the letter from the Judge giving us premission. It was not an easy task but at last we have it and we will probably get it scheduled this coming week. I will keep you updated on to when it will be. As for now keep her in your prayers as she is a little antsy to get this done!

Telton and Manos Felizes

So it looks as if we are going to get help for Monica and Doris's learning disabilities. We are in the process of getting them accepted in Telton to start there next year. It is a lot like Easter Seals.
One of the good things is that they even get to go there for free. Telton will work with each of them individually and see what areas they need work in the most and give a diganosis for each child. They also have pyschologist and doctors there for the children which is part of their education. So I am excited about this journey ahead for both of them. With the special education they will receive to meet each of their own personal needs to help them grown into a better person.
Also we are going to start Rosita back at Manos Felizes (Happy Hands). She was going to school there before she lived with us. She attented some where between 2 to 3 years there. We are going to try to get her back into school there so she can learn sign language to the fullest extent that she can. She has already learned a lot but forgets it since she does not use it daily. We know some sign lanuage here but not by any means what she needs to learn. She has started two times a week also here at the house recieving classes from one of the AIM interns. She is fluent in sign lanuage and is giving classes to Rosita.
I am thankful for these open doors for these children with special needs. I pray that these places are truly a blessing to Monica, Doris, and Rosita.

Kinder graduation

The kindergarten kiddos graduated on Friday. Monica, Fernando, and Daniela are now on to first grade.
It took a little coaxing to get the kids to go to graduation. I was headed to town with the rest of the kids to go to visitation. So they were a little upset they did not get to go see their moms or go out to eat. I reassured them this was a huge accomplishment and they should be proud! So after explaining to them all of this and that they were going to be BIG 1st graders now they were ok with going to graduation.
I have pictures that Ashley and Brenda took from the graduation. I have tired several times to get them uploaded but right now not getting the internet to cooperate with me. I will keep trying!

Brayan

Brayan getting ready to eat!

thanksgiving pic

Happy helpers....... Spent a good part of the morning with Fitto and Pamela peeling and cutting potatoes. Fitto stayed with me working until the food was cooked and ready to be served! He was washing and cleaning up after me as I made messes and running here and there for the things that I needed.

Thanksgiving meal

Daniela, Sisi, Rosita, and Cindy....................filling up their bellies
The green bean cassarole Sisi thought it was green peppers and she threw the green beans one by one under the table so she did not have to eat them. Rosita. filled her plate up two times overflowing and had sweets too!
They all loved the special day we celebrated being thankful.

Thankful

Count your blessings.................

We are blessed beyond belief! Why does it take a day like today for us to remember all that we are thankful for?

What are you thankful for today?


I want to thank all of you from BJ's Buddies (Belpre) and from Terri Tindall's family who contributed money to our thanksgiving meal which made it possible for us to celebrate today!
Many pictures were taken but bare with me as I try to get them uploaded!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

helping out

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Phil 2:4

my girls

Cindy and Pamela......all grown up!

thanksgiving!

Rosita, Brayan, Doris, Fitto, Sisi, and Johny....................................HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanks to Debby for providing the crafts for the kids!

Out of school

All of the kids are officially out of school as of last Thursday!

Still have lots of pictures I want to post but we continue to have slow internet and I am unable to upload photos. Stay tuned...........

Campfire

Roasting marshmallows
Jackson, Rosita, Fitto, and Fernando

troubles

Right now we face financial problems in the U.S. and we are unsure of the times to come. 

I truly believe that God is trying to get our attention. He is trying to bring our attention back to HIM and for us to stop basking in material things. Sometimes I am just not too sure what it will take for Him to get our attention back on HIM.

We are all guilty at some point or another..............

I pray that this is a time everyone drops to their knees and calls out to our GOD!

school

Things here at Casa are good. The kids are finishing up the school year. Some are already out and some will be done this week and others by the end of the month. 

Have been trying to upload pics since Sat. and have not had any luck. The internet does not seem to want to cooperate with me with all of this wind! 

GMA

Those of you who know me I am very close to my gma and love her dearly. She is the only grandparent I have left. The week she had to have surgery and it broke my heart that I could not be there to be there for her. She is 83 and in good health but had to go in for surgery on her knees. Just asking for your prayers for her thru all of that and that she comes thru without any problems. She is still in the hospital but hopefully this weekend will be transfered to a place to help give her therapy for the next 2 to 3 weeks.
So please as you read this say a prayer for my gma!
Thanks!

Johny

Oct. Update

October 2008

October has been a challenging month for us here in Honduras. Dorian is still recovering but it has been a slow process. God is continuing to heal and Dorian is getting back on his feet. We continue to struggle somewhat financially after Dorian's surgery. So far we have received $250 from our supporters but the surgery cost us approximately $3500 so please continue to take us before our Father that the finances will be okay. Thanks to those who have sent money and thanks for the prayers also. All of Honduras has has a rough month with torrential rains from tropical depressions. Lots have lost home and everything they owned. The cold has followed the rain and the winds are strong. Through this all, I am most thankful that God has provided for us here as Casa and Santa Ana. Rosita who came to us with no hearing and unable to talk had some more testing this month. It has been very difficult for the doctors to adequately test Rosita. But we finally have the results and she can not hear at all in one ear and only something as loud as a rock concert in the other ear. So we must find suitable school for her and we must learn sign language. Anyone who is wanting to contribute to the children for Christmas will need to send those contributions to : Casa de Esperanza PO Box 9222, Columbus, MS 39705 (Be sure to note on the check that it is for Christmas)
We are in process of raising funds for Thanksgiving meal here at Casa. I have always paid for the dinner for all the children and all the Casa staff but with the current state of finances, I will be unable to do so this year. I know there is at least one small group in Belpre Ohio who will be sending some money to help with this. Anyone wanting to help please feel free to email me for more information. The children have learned to play chickenfoot dominoes and are doing well in school when they have it. Pray for Honduras as it is election time here and everything is always in turmoil then, even more than normal. Continue to pray that Dorian and myself will continue to be His hands and feet in Honduras.

Blessings
Dorian & Karen Guido

- Show quoted text -

Christmas time.........

Starting to assembly the tree Brayan and Fitto

So the kids have decided that it is time to put up the Christmas tree. Since it is the end of the school year for the kids here they have already put up trees in their classrooms and for a while now have been ready to put it up here at the house. So this afternoon when we got home from church that is just what we did! Each of the kids were way excited, squeals of laughter and excitement were in the air for sure.

Coloring coordinating the branches

Pamela shaping the tree and filling in the bare spots

Rosita listening to the music from the christmas lights.........she said she could hear it?!?!

Putting on ornaments

Figuring out the lights

The finished Casa Christmas Tree