Beginnings

As I shared in my last blog, our group home is now officially licensed. As a a result, the calls are coming in seeking placement for children with special needs. On the day we received the resolution back from CNA we were called about two children needing a home. Since then we have received two additional calls and have gone to visit one of the children awaiting placement with another child to visit on Monday.

Whenever we receive a call from another group home, we have to visit the child, ask to see his/her paperwork, and determine if they are a good fit for our home. While our official license states that we are equipped to accept children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and down syndrome, we are better equipped to care for most special needs than the typical orphanage here. Our ministry works with all types of special needs, and we have been told by CNA  that we are not limited in the disabilities we can accept.

On Wednesday we went with our Social Worker, Edy Tum, to visit some of the local judges and courts to introduce our home to them and show that we are a safe place for children. In each place we were greeted enthusiastically. We are the first ministry licensed to care for children with special needs in quite a long time, and the only one within the department of Sacatapequez. So, it appears our home will fill-up quickly. Therefore, we are trying to discern which children can most benefit from our home and care.

In addition to the children about which we have been called, we are also visiting with two other children whose families are unable to take care of them. One is Rafael, who is one of the sponsored children in our ministry. His mother and grandmother are unable to provide the care he needs, and he spends most of his time in their cramped home in a small crib. We have spoken with his mother and she is coming to our home tomorrow for a tour and to make her final decision. If she agrees, she will sign the necessary papers to allow the courts to place him in our home.

The same is true for Jenny, a little girl who was orphaned last year when her father passed away. (Her mother died 4 years ago.) Currently her grandmother is caring for her, but she no longer feels able to deal with Jenny’s special needs. So, we are hoping that Jenny will be a part of our home soon. Her grandmother lives right here in San Antonio, so this would enable her and Jenny’s little brother to visit her regularly. Please pray about these situations. Ask God to guide the right children into our home.

Over the last 16 months I have fretted and complained to God about the slowness of our licensing process. I cannot tell you how frustrated I have been as we experienced delay after delay. But looking back I now see (Surprise!) that God’s timing is perfect. Because of those delays Wanda and I were able to enjoy a wonderful time away celebrating our 25th anniversary before facing the increased work-load that the group home will demand. In addition, two wonderful young ladies, Emily Abner and Emily Stagnaro, came to us on Saturday as a part of the current team. When the rest of the team departs tomorrow they will be staying behind for the next nine months to serve with us. Their presence as volunteers will enable us to delay the hiring of additional staff and save money during a time that money is tight. God’s timing is, indeed, perfect.

Meanwhile, the rest of our ministry here is hopping. Currently we have the last team of the summer season with us, and they will be flying out tomorrow. We welcome teams year-round, but during the rest of the year they tend to be much fewer and far between.

April Clark has done a fantastic job this year of overseeing our teams. She has handled all the communication, scheduling and leadership in this area of our ministry and that has been a HUGE blessing to our ministry and me personally. Due, in large part, to her oversight, we had the best team season ever this summer. Even in the midst of our growing pains and learning to work together she kept things running smoothly and efficiently.

As a result, we have decided to up the volume of teams we accept each year. Since I am now able to step away from much of the hands-on work with the groups and focus on other areas of ministry, we can handle more groups. We are passionate about short-term service trips because we believe they open the eyes of believers and the church to the world around them and motivate them to live missionally. In the next year we hope to double our number of teams from around 12 – 14 a year to around 24. So, if you would like to put together a team for your family, church, or youth group, please write to April at april@hopeforhome.org.

In the last month we have done our normal visits with families while also delivering seven new wheelchairs to children and adults. This is my favorite part of this ministry as we see people gain a new element of freedom. Four weeks ago we delivered wheelchairs to two adult siblings who had been unable to leave their home for years. When we visited them yesterday, they were thrilled to tell us that every day they get to go outside now that they have chairs. Their family was even able to take them to a local soccer game last week, and they were still beaming about it. It is amazing what a simple wheelchair can do to change a life.

One area in which we need prayer is for our vehicle situation. I am currently shopping for a new 4-wheel drive vehicle as I can no longer put off the purchase. (A special donation designated toward this purchase will cover the cost.) Please pray that God will lead us to the right truck quickly as my 4-Runner is gasping what may be its last breaths. Meanwhile, we are seeking God for His provision for a second van as we are out of passenger space and have not even received our first child. Please join us in praying for God’s provision in that area. (And you might want to pray for additional parking space as well!)

That is all for now. As the children begin arriving in our home I will take the time to introduce them to you here.

Blessings from Guate!

Daryl