Over the last few weeks we have been undergoing an expansion in our ministry. Believe it or not, we have actually outgrown the downstairs of our house. On the typical day we have ten Fulps, nine children in the home, six workers and two professionals that come and go. If you are keeping count, that totals 27 people who are in and out of our home on a typical day. We found ourselves so crowded that we were tripping on one another and hindering the professional’s (therapists and psychologist) ability to effectively work with the children.
In addition to this, we found that our family had lost all sense of privacy. With our bedrooms on the main level with all the other aspects of the ministry, it was difficult for us to get away during down times. As a result, we made the decision to move our older daughters’ bedroom and Wanda and my bedroom to the second floor. This has freed us up to convert a large downstairs bedroom into a therapy/activitity/and shower area. By spreading into this area we now have 
room to work efficiently and the children have more indoor area for play (which is especially important as rainy season will begin soon). This also makes the nannies’ job easier, especially during bathing time. We have a nice walk-in shower and changing area that saves a lot of wear and tear on our workers’ backs. Wanda’s and my old bedroom has been converted into a guest room for interns and long-term workers.
With this change, we will now be hosting teams off-sight. We are still arranging the details of this, but rest assured we will still be providing a quality team experience for everyone who wants to join us.
Already we feel the difference in our home as the atmosphere is more relaxed and less crowded. In addition, Wanda and I actually have some room to breath. Our old bedroom was right off the courtyard and everyone who came and went walked right past our door. This was especially challenging on a day off or if one of us was sick, as we heard almost everything that occurred. And, knowing we were just on the other side of a door, the staff and volunteers frequently knocked to ask questions. We also had to enter the courtyard to go to our bathroom, which was an open invitation to be pulled into questions or situations. Now we are upstairs and away from much of the action.
This has been especially nice for me since I have been struggling with sickness that has forced me to spend a couple of days in bed. I had assumed that I had picked-up an intestinal parasite, as I have been dealing with stomach issues for the last six or eight weeks. When it reached a horrible peak 10 days ago, I finally broke-down and went to the doctor. Surprise! I don’t have a parasite, I have a nasty intestinal infection. I have been placed on meds, but thus far improvement has not come. But having privacy when I need it has been a blessing.
While I have not been improving, Thania has! After months of wrestling with helping her to gain weight and energy and find some happiness, we have finally made progress. Her face is rounder, her arms and legs are thicker, and she has begun to laugh and smile! This has helped our entire family and staff breathe easier.
We took Thania to a geneticist, who also happens to be a world-class pediatrician. He has agreed to treat all of our children at a reduced rate, and he really knows his stuff. He ordered additional testing on Thania and discovered a problem that, when combined with the MRI’s of her brain, seem to indicate a problem with her metabolism. As a result, he performed another blood test that is being sent to Switzerland for analysis. He is hopeful that the results will show a problem with her metabolism that can be treated with diet and medicine. If so, this will help her to gain more weight and strength.
The twins, Esther and Racquel, have adjusted wonderfully to our home. After two weeks of tantrums and pushiness failed to get them the desired results, they have settled in and are a pleasure to be around. Since most of our children are not mobile, having two toddlers around has taken some getting used to. They are playful and curious and seem to find trouble. And we are getting our exercise chasing them. There are still a lot of tests awaiting them as we try to determine a long-term prognosis and what procedures may be necessary for their care. We have been putting these off until they are feeling more secure and settled.
Last weekend we faced a challenge as the water in our home suddenly stopped flowing. It seems that the water pump that supplies our village went out and had to be replaced. So we were without water for 4 1/2 days. Trust me when I say that this was a challenge for our home. Having so many children with special needs and no working showers or washing machine stretched us to the max. Thankfully, the Beyer family opened their home to us to help, but for part of that time their water was off as well. When the water was finally restored I decided that I would never take running water for granted again!
I hope to install a roof-top cistern to help in the future. These large plastic tanks can be purchased in a variety of sizes and fill automatically when the water is working. Then, when the water is off, it provides an emergency supply. I don’t like spending the money, but I have learned that running water is not optional for our group home!
Well, that’s it for now! Blessings from Guatemala!
Daryl, Wanda and the Crew
