I’m finally sharing my newsletter which might have been ready a month ago…
This might read more like a short ministry/life summary than the fun moments I usually share about!
On the ground:
Over the past few years, I’ve been privileged to work with an exceptional dietitian form the states
who consults with our kids who struggle the most to gain weight.
This is often a slow process with many setbacks and
adjustments to their plan.
Recently however, we had a photoshoot highlighting all the progress our high attention kids have made! Each has made remarkable progress over the last year.
This reminds me that sometimes when we feel spiritually stuck, we have to step back to see just how far God has brought us. We must always look back and thank God for how much he has done, and thank him for this.
With our nutrition kiddos, we are celebrating Jenny who is no longer malnourished!
I thought you might be interested in:
I’m moving to Quiche! (Ok, by the time I am posting this newsletter, I’ve kind of arrived already!!)
Quiche is a department north of where I live now, and is quite a bit farther from resources. I am excited to get to join friends and fellow missionaries Peniel and Stephanie Tix in their work at Sion for the next year.
SION (“Zion” in English) is an evangelical ministry where maternity and nutrition services are offered to the town of San Andrés Sajcabajá, and surrounding villages in the mountains.
Although I love the work I get to do now loving our kids, God has prepared an excellent team to care for them, and in this season I’ll be learning to slow down while continuing to engage with families on a heart level.
I’ve been Encouraged by:
This has been a challenging few months for many reasons. Among illness, sick kiddos and
complicated medication adjustments, and loss, God share with us something extra special- Ruavis Smiling!
Ruavis has microcephaly, cerebral palsy, and dystonia. He used to smile all the time, but he grew, he lost abilities he had before while gaining painfully tight muscles and spasms. He has been
in pain for years, and has only smiled one time outside of a seizure.
Until the last several weeks that is!
Ruavis has hit just the right medication mix that he is more alert than before, relaxed rather than in pain, and he has been smiling!
For we who know him, this has been deeply encouraging– his smiles are a priceless commodity!
Prayer requests:
We are processing the loss of 5 of our kids in the last year. A few weeks ago we lost baby Manuelito, a
downs baby who had brought so much healing to us after the loss of Kevin before Christmas. Manuelito was the typical downs baby- joyful and incredibly happy, lighting up the room and instantly turning around someone bad day.
Further, Guatemala is under a national health emergency with the epidemic presentation of Dengue. This is a
mosquito born, painful fever that has the potential to become haemorrhagic. I’m currently recovering from round 4 with covid, round 1 with dengue, and the loss of Manuelito all inside a month.
Basically- God is good, and I am wiped out!
Thank God for a chunky Jenny, a smiling Ruavis, and such love as only He can give!