Below I have a brief blog entry from our Assistant Director, Dale Beyer. But before I share that, I want to give a short update on Esperanza. Many of you have been asking how she is doing, and I have been negligent in keeping you up-to-date.
Esperanza continues to plug along. Her head size is increasing along with the cranial pressure. She has had frequent bouts of stomach problems, and our greatest challenge is to keep her from aspirating her formula, which results in respiratory problems for her.
Last night I sat with her for a long time. Everyone else was in bed and she was fussy, so I had some “Esperanza time.” I tried holding her, feeding her, burping her and rocking her. Nothing seemed to help. Finally, I laid her on a pillow next to me and simply laid my hand on her chest. She immediately reached out with both hands, grabbed two of my fingers and calmed down. She lay there contently touching my fingers until she fell asleep.
With her blindness and deafness, she seems to be lonely, and we desperately want to connect with her in ways that will help her know she is not along. Holding and touching her hands seems to accomplish this. I will also put my face close to her so that she can play with my goatee. This points of contact seem to give her the connections she seeks and help her not feel so alone.
A few nights ago I was changing her diaper to prepare her for bed. As I did so, I realized that the little sleeper she was wearing had a quote on the front that said, “I love my daddy!” At that moment, I realized that I am her daddy. The legal paperwork may not say so, but I am. I am not a caregiver, a Director, or a ministry leader to her. And she is more than just a child in our home. She has my heart and I am completely in love with her. No one could love her more than I do, and God has made me her father. I also realized what an incredible privilege that is. That God would allow me to care for this precious little girl as her father leaves me both humbled and in awe.
We don’t know how much longer we have with her, but we treasure every day. Please pray for Esperanza.
Now, a word from Dale Beyer:
Thoughts from a rookie
As I have begun to make the rounds and visit and minister physically to the families that God has led us to with the 4 wheel drive ministry, I have experienced a sort of tension or frustration with the situation. As hard as these people work and try to meet their basic needs it just never adds up. We step into the gap with medicine, food, wheelchairs, or funds for therapy or doctor visits. The frustration comes with knowing this help should be temporary so that they can keep their dignity and eventually get back on their feet, but facing the reality that they will never be able to “catch up”. This reminds me that “the poor you will always have with you” is a basic fact due to fallen creation. The responsibility of God’s people is equally basic – Bear one another’s burdens, care for the weak and poor,etc.
God calls His people to help care for those in need! Indeed, the best way is for people with a heart of love to give voluntarily to the truly needy. So what about the needy? How do they feel about being dependent on others? How can they keep their self respect? And what about the givers; how can we give out of our abundance in a way that doesn’t make us look like (or feel like) Santa Claus (Papa Noel)? How do we help people without causing them to stop trying to do anything for themselves? But most of all how can we be sure we’re giving them not just physical “bread” but also sharing the Bread of Life?
For the poor in Guatemala, life is hard, real hard, and our hope is that in helping them we can also help them to know the Lord so they will have the wonderful hope of a bright future with Him where “He will wipe away every tear, death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-5
Some highlights from our recent 4 wheel drive trips: Gaspar is 10 and has a skin condition that he was born with. Blisters and oozing drainage makes him appear “contagious”. Because of this he hasn’t ever felt accepted by anyone outside of his immediate family. Our team was humbled and blessed as Gerardo performed a simple but powerful act of love, acceptance and service to Gaspar in washing his feet! Please pray for him as we arranged for him to go to a dermatologist last week and he has begun treatment that we hope will heal him. (Note from Daryl: If you would like to sponsor Gaspar for his doctor appointment or monthly medication that the dermatologist prescribed, please write me at daryl@hopeforhome.org.)
Britani has received her orthopedic shoes, and after a month of use they are helping to straighten out her leg.
Doña Marta continues to improve. Her circulation sore, which is years old, continues to slowly but surely grow new skin.
Please pray for all of the families we meet with on a monthly basis and our interactions with them. Also please pray that they would recognize that God alone is their hope and provision for this life and the one to come. Also please pray for this weak servant as I continue to grow and learn more of the Father’s instruction to “carry one another’s burdens.”
Dale Beyer
Thanks for your prayers for all of us and for this work we do!
Daryl, Wanda and the Crew
