We want to introduce you to Juan William– but before we get to him…

We weren’t actually looking for him—but God has a way of connecting us with the people we need to meet, even when we don’t know it yet.

We’ve been experiencing a bit of a drought here, which isn’t good for the land but did give us a rare opportunity.

After a solid week without rain, we felt it might finally be safe to visit some families in a community we love—one that is usually too cut off for us after the rains. With new tires on the car and assurances that “the way is good,” we set off up the mountain.

Daniel knows this road well and drove at least half of it toward the community where he taught last year.

But motos are not cars, and I vividly remember the vehicle nearly sliding off the road after rain last year. So we went carefully. (Photo from last year in the mud)

We had an ambitious list of moms we hoped to see, and supplies in case ALL of them worked out! But… we also had a more focused priority list of three we really wanted to reach.

But God, as always, directed our steps.

Our first mom didn’t answer. Good start.

That led us to the second, F—who assured us the way was good.

So we continued on… only to discover that the way was, in fact, not so good.

It’s difficult to judge what a “good road” looks like when you’ve never driven it, and don’t let photos fool you- it was worse than it looked!

Thankfully, it was still walkable—though steep—and we made our way up and found her without too much trouble. F was happy to see us and grateful for a checkup just two days before her next appointment– going all that way at nine months pregnant.

While we stepped aside to do her ultrasound, I heard Daniel calling to ask how far the next mom lived, and how the roads were. We try to see who is on this mountain before going over to the next one!

He spoke in K’iche’, but his voice sounded unusually heavy.

That’s when F told us she knew exactly who he was asking for—a neighbor, M, who had lost her baby just two weeks earlier.

We finished the visit with F and she directed us in how to find her friend.

We packed away the baby items we had brought for M, and instead carried only hygiene supplies and extra food for another family we didn’t think we would have a chance to see as the time grew later.

God knew what that food would be needed for.

M’s husband was home and shared that he had been away working when his wife became ill. Her condition worsened quickly, and she was taken to the hospital, where they told her that her baby had died. It was a heavy moment.

As we asked how she was doing, they opened up about many of their struggles. We also took time to talk through post–C-section care.

M showed me her stitches, and her husband mentioned they had been told the stitches could come out—but they didn’t know how to do it safely.

And this is how God works in small but meaningful ways.

Daniel ran back to the car and grabbed my general medical bag so I could remove her stitches and teach her how to care for the area properly- using the same unscented soap we had brought for her postpartum care.

Sometimes we can’t do much—but in this moment, something simple spared her from a long, difficult journey over rough roads just to get this done safely.

As we were leaving, M’s husband came running after us and asked if we could do anything to help his nephew talk.

Daniel gently cautioned me that in such remote areas, some families can hold a belief that a foreigner’s presence might bring miraculous healing. So we approached the conversation carefully and spent time explaining what was likely going on.

Then we set off to find the little boy who was “just next door– the way is easy!”

That turned out to be quite the climb. While the distance wasn’t far, we hiked a few hundred feet up through the woods to reach him. We would have turned back a few times for lack of anything close to a house or trail — if it weren’t for our young guide.

Finally, there was a house at the top of the next hill.

That brings us to our new little friend: Juan William. (Photo and name shared with permission from his mom.)

He wasn’t on our list—but God had other plans.

Juan’s mom shared that he was born early and that he was “born dead.”

He is now six years old. He can walk and take care of basic needs, but he does not speak.

Within minutes, it became clear that he could hear well and that his challenges were likely consistent with mild to moderate cerebral palsy.

Juan’s father left when his needs became apparent, so his mom is now raising him and his younger brother on her own. She loves him deeply, but life has become increasingly difficult. Juan will wander after her if she leaves, and with the steep terrain, it has become dangerous. At times, she feels she has no choice but to lock him in a room when she is away.

She asked us what medicine could make him talk.

We spent time gently explaining what likely happened at birth and why there isn’t a medicine that can “fix” or cure his speech.

It’s hard—so hard—to sit with a mother as she comes to understand that her child’s condition won’t simply go away.

So we just sat with Juan and he played with Daniel’s beard laughing.

The roads out here are rough—even after a dry week. We would love to continue checking in on Juan William, and encouraging his mom, though, it may need to be by moto until the rainy season has fully passed.

Still, we trust that God goes ahead of us—on every road, to every home, and into every life we’re invited to step into.

Oh- and after everything else, we finally reached A- the first mom on our list, and were able to quickly see her too!

She also assured us the way was good…

And do you know?

It was worth it to share some art and stickers with some little friends!