For the last few months we have been fighting a battle to get Angelita and Thania to eat. Both of them came to us suffering the effects of malnutrition. Both of them have had their growth severely stunted by a lack of nourishment, with Thania (age 13) being about the size of a skinny four year old and Angelita (age 7) looking like a 2 1/2 year old. Both of them are still under 20 pounds, in spite of many hours of coaxing bottles of special formula into them.
Thania has been our greatest concern, as she is so very weak and susceptible to every illness that comes along. We are currently battling her fourth infection in as many months, and her wrists are only slightly larger in diameter than my thumbs. She can barely raise her head.
So, after a few months of consulting with our doctor, we finally decided to have both Thania and Angelita placed on feeding tubes. This enables us to get the nutrition they need into their body without the trauma for force feeding them. It also cuts the amount of time we spend feeding them from about 12 man-hours a day to about two.
But, along with the benefits come challenges. Thania does not like having the tube and has pulled it out twice now. On Saturday morning Angelita had a grande mal seizure and in her spasms yanked her tub almost all the way out. Each time a feeding tube gets pulled it requires a delicate reinsertion and testing to make sure the tube is in the stomach and not their lungs. I confess that I hate doing this and usually feel exhausted by the end. But, as difficult as it is for me, it is a cake walk compared to what the girls go through.
I would ask you to please be in prayer for these little ones, especially Thania. She is still so weak that a significant respiratory illness or basic infection could threaten her life. Please pray that God will heal and strengthen them both and help them gain weight.
Our Ministry Coordinator, April Clark, has recently returned from an extended stay in the States, and I am glad to have her back! While she was there she spoke is several churches regarding our ministry and was able to raise additional support for this work. Now that she is back, she is hard at work preparing for team season.
Speaking of team season, it is approaching rapidly. A number of you have expressed interest in bringing groups this Summer, so if you have not begun the process, please do so immediately. Just send an e-mail message to april@hopeforhome.org.
Our goal for leading teams was to bring down people to help children with special needs, but recently God has been showing us another opportunity that we have. In the last year we hosted two families that brought along a child with special needs. One of these children has spina bifida and another has autism. Most missions trips are closed to families of children with disabilities, but because of our unique ministry we were able to accommodate them, and everyone had a meaningful and life-changing trip.
So, this is a special invitation to those families who have one or more members with special needs. If you have decided that short-term missions are closed to you, I want you to know that they are not. We can custom-design a trip for you and your family to allow your entire family to participate and make a difference. So, if you are interested, write to April Clark at april@hopeforhome.org.
I have been off the road for the last few months except for trips related to Hogar de la Esperanza. Dale Beyer has assumed most of the responsibility for our rural village ministry. But tomorrow I will be heading up to the lake for a visit to San Pablo La Laguna. I am looking forward to spending time with families and catching up with them again. These trips always fan my flames and give me a fresh burst of energy. At the same time, my absence creates greater challenges and workload for Wanda, so please keep her in your prayers.
That´s all for now. Blessings from Guate!
Daryl, Wanda and the Crew