It’s laughter that you hear from
the little boy on the well-built playground overlooking the city of Antigua,
Guatemala. And the smile from ear
to ear as the little boy throws the ball over the fence so that a care worker
has to retrieve it every single time.
But this is new life for these
little boys. Their lives strands
were formed of deceit and confusion, linked with lies and half-truths. Wrapped within is a tale of greed and
neglect and, ultimately, human kindness- the story of five children, stranded
throughout the country of Guatemala but rescued and brought to
restoration. These are their
stories:
Alanjendra- They call her the princess of the
house. She was abandoned at the
hospital by her
mother. She was
born premature and only weighing three pounds. When taken to the children’s home weighing three pounds they
thought she was a few weeks old but found out she was two months. Malnourished, abandoned, never swaddled,
She is now lovingly cared for and is 6 months of age and growing everyday.
ALEX– Was
born with fetal alcohol 
syndrome. His parents abandoned him when he was just a few months old. He was sent to this children’s home in
hopes that he would survive just one more day. Each day steps were taken to bring him back to health. Because of this disability he has a
hard time focusing and functioning like a healthy child but with this home his
life becomes brighter and brighter each day.
Danny: Was
found in the pouring rain out on the streets of Guatemala. No site of hope or even
knowing what
hope is he was all alone. He was
neglected by his family and put out on the streets to find survival on his own
at the age of three months. And
rescued and brought to this children’s home to learn what hope is and to be
loved.
Manuelito- Is four years old and living in
this children’s home. His father
beat him, slashing his nose 
open, having to have reconstruction surgery. If you ask Manuel what happened to his
nose he would tell you that his dad beat him. He is bright, charming, full of four-year-old energy and
living in this loving children’s home. Despite the life he lived before this home, you
wouldn’t even be able to tell because of the laughter he brings this home.
Martin- Was abandoned by his
fifteen-year-old mother. As you
can tell by his picture he has many disabilities. This little man brings life to anyone who is
in his
presence. You can hear his giggle throughout the house. He might have a hard time growing up
but he now lives in a safe and secure environment.
The five children knew nothing of
what life they were about to live when they stepped into this children’s
home. They knew only that they
were in a strange place and a tall, smiling man and his wife and two children
were beckoning to them be loved.
They didn’t know that after rough
nights, a feel of loss and confusion that they would call this place home and
these people family.
This is just one day of
ministry. This was just one day
that five loving, caring, laughing children blessed me and I couldn’t be more
honored. My thoughts can’t find an
end when it comes to thoughts of what lives these children could live if they
weren’t brought to this home. I
can find myself upset or angry but then I am reminded of these five smiling
faces. That get to eat, they are
held, they are loved, they are bathed and I am thankful for that.
Since my time in Antigua I have
spent ministry days with Team Prisma in Chimaltenango, Guatemala and now I am
spending the next week revisiting Puerto Barrios where I was able to minister
on my WR experience in July 2010. This week I will be with Team B.R.A.D.Y and Hineni. Keep us in your prayers as we continual to walk in the ways the Lord has called us too. Thank you for your prayers and
stay tuned!
