A few minor changes…

As we are approaching the end of the year and a full year of being here, we have so many different things to reflect back on and be grateful for this year.

Guatemala has been everything we expected it to be, but even better. We’ve gotten sick, we’ve learned Spanish (and a little bit of Spanish sign language and Kaqchikel), we’ve made many new friends, and we’ve witnessed miracles. We’ve settled into our jobs and roles here and finally got settled into our home in late August. When I look back on this year, I am overwhelmed with all God has done for us, in us, and through us.

We are so grateful for our supporters… without you, none of this would have been possible! You have prayed for us, encouraged us, and held us up in the moments where we’ve gotten discouraged or tired. Although we’re looking forward to a visit back in the states, I’m already excited to come back in 2017 and hit the ground running with our ministry.

There are a few exciting changes going on with what we do… A few new volunteers are coming in 2017, so that will allow me more time to do a few other things within the hospital. I am planning to start an English class one night each week for the hospital employees, and I also want to be more intentional about doing devotions with the moms within the hospital. Bryan and I also want to start routinely visiting the senior center to sing songs with them, we’re hoping to do this every other Sunday.

Our biggest change is going to be how we are receiving our donations. We have partnered with an organization called Mission Quest that is run by missionaries and for missionaries, and they will be handling all of our financial donations. This is such a big blessing because it will relieve some of the burden of the work for Hope of Life in 2017, and it will also allow us and all of our sponsors to access what contributions have been made. Possibly my favorite thing is that we have our own link, so the money will easily go directly to us.

To give a tax deductible donation, go directly to our site at missionquest.org/118
You can also mail checks and find additional ways to easily give here.

Tomorrow, I plan on posting again for tangible donations we are looking for in 2017, so stay tuned for that!

We pray that you are being blessed through our ministry just as we’ve been blessed through your generosity.
You are loved.
-Whitney

Sana, Santiago, Carmelina, Daniel y Abelando <3

11.29.16

One of the best things about our donors is getting to share what we’ve been able to do with that support. I am so thankful for that and to express that I have to tell a short story.

Back in March, Whitney and I were back in the U.S. using up some free flight vouchers that we had. Just before coming back I had noticed that kitchen at the hospital, elderly home & Kelly’s House were in serious need of an improvement in the blender department. This is something that is easily ignored by the average person. But to me, a chef, I notice these things. When you have a crummy blender and need to puree foods, you have to add a lot of water, then to keep it from being too thin, you have to thicken it up again. The problem with this is that the kids end up with a lot less of the nutrients that they need because it’s so watered down. They also end up breaking fast. This is why in the restaurant industry you buy the nice commercial blenders like Vitamix or BlendTec. These blenders are made to puree soups, meats, beans, whatever. I’ve seen them even blend car keys!

All this to say, I knew we needed a Vitamix. I knew I couldn’t afford to buy one. So I posted about the need of Facebook and asked if anyone would be willing to purchase one or help purchase one. I don’t know who responded first or how fast it was but I want to thank everyone that helped purchase or purchased a Vitamix. Thank you (in no particular order): Jeremy & Paula Watts, Matt & Christine Simmons, Paul & Erica Sheets, & Paul & Katrina Dysart.

Thank you all so much for your radical generosity! Thanks to you all we were able to purchase 2 Vitamix blenders and a BlendTec blender. Children at Kelly’s House & the hospital that are unable to properly chew foods or feed themselves have pureed foods that aren’t watered down so that they’re able to get the nutrition that they greatly need. And those at the elderly home can still enjoy food even if it’s pureed because it still has its original taste because it hasn’t been watered down.

On behalf of myself and all of the cooks, thank you so much for your giving

before & after

One of the blenders at Kelly’s House on the left and the new Vitamix on the right!

A couple of the cooks from Kelly’s House with the new blender.

The nutritionist that works on planning foods for those at the elderly home and hospital is on the left and the other 4 ladies are cooks at the elderly home

The head of the elderly home got in for a picture too!

We are all so thankful for your generosity!

-Bryan

11.28.16

Here’s a Cyber Monday deal for you…

Did you know that on average, it costs more than $12,000 a year to raise a child in the US? Here in Guatemala, you can sponsor a child for only $35 a month and dramatically change the trajectory of their life.

In a country where the median annual income is under $2,000 USD and many children go to work out of necessity before even completing middle school, child sponsorship gives them access to education, healthcare, and food. When you sponsor a child through Hope of Life, you also have the option to contact the child, write them letters and send gifts… and if you’re ever here to visit us in Guatemala, Hope of Life will arrange for you to see your sponsored child too! How cool is that?!

This season, let’s exchange consumption for compassion and use our resources to bless others.

If you feel called to do something for those who are struggling in the states, let me know and I’ll be happy to connect you with reputable organizations that we supported before moving here. If you feel called to sponsor us in our ministry, you can find out more about that HERE.

Daily, Yolanda uses my phone to take about 100 pictures.... — Daily, Yolanda uses my phone to take about 100 pictures….

I don't mind at all though because I love looking through them at the end of the day. — I don’t mind at all though because I love looking through them at the end of the day.

Plus you get to see sweet things like Yolanda kissing Juanito's squishy cheeks! <3 !!! — Plus you get to see sweet things like Yolanda kissing Juanito’s squishy cheeks!

Juanita is 9 years old and is at the hospital for medical issues. She loves to help with the babies!

Everybody loves Diego.. He's 3 years old and deaf, but has no problems communicating what he wants and when he wants it! He has a rare genetic disorder called Russel Silver Syndrome. I love his giggles and hugs! And he's one of the smartest kids I know! — Everybody loves Diego.. He’s 3 years old and deaf, but has no problems communicating what he wants and when he wants it! He has a rare genetic disorder called Russel Silver Syndrome. I love his giggles and hugs! And he’s one of the smartest kids I know!

Crowd favorites -- Delmy and Herminio. Delmy is 9 years old with VACTERL association and phocomelia, but that doesn't stop her from moving about and holding conversations with anybody about anything! — Crowd favorites — Delmy and Herminio. Delmy is 9 years old with VACTERL association and phocomelia, but that doesn’t stop her from moving about and holding conversations with anybody about anything!

Yolanda and my sweet Auner! Auner had his finally surgery for cleft palate repair a few months ago. Since then, he has become very vocal and talkative! We practice sounds daily so he can learn to speak more clearly.

Rosario & Erika -- sweet partners in crime waiting for their nails to dry! — Rosario & Erika — sweet partners in crime waiting for their nails to dry!

Cute little Erika... could just squeeze you <3 — Cute little Erika… could just squeeze you <3

Diego saw everyone else getting their nails done and wanted his toenails painted too!! Hahahaha Nora painted them with clear polish.

The nannies in our hospital are wonderful!

They love the kids and are so patient with each of them. You can show love to these kids too by sponsoring them today!

Today, I want to thank Len Picha & family, Edna Thompson, and Ken & Ginny Thelan for sponsoring us!!!! Your generosity goes beyond what you are giving to us, and filters into the lives of each and every one of these children you see. Because you give, we are able to work with these children on a daily basis. Being around them all day every week allows me to target their specific needs and help them to develop in areas they are behind. Some children need help with speech (Yolanda and Diego are deaf, Auner has speech disabilities from a late repair to a cleft palate), some children need therapy (Herminio has hip dysplasia, Isaac has cerebral palsy, Rosario is just learning to walk) and other children need emotional support and love (Erika and Juanita). Every child you see has a story, and every child you see has a specific need. I communicate with the doctors and therapists to help make sure the children are getting the best therapy available to them, and each of them are thriving.. even here in rural Guatemala where our resources are limited. Because you send us, you allow these kids to grow to their fullest potential and to hear about Christ’s love for each of them every day.

Matthew 25:40 says that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Christ. So I challenge each of my readers this holiday season– what are you going to do? Will you spend your money on things that only bring 5 minutes of fleeting happiness? Or will you do something bigger than yourself… and give knowing that your money is changing a life.

Stay blessed.
-Whitney

**TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHILD SPONSORSHIP, VISIT https://www.hopeoflifeintl.org/sponsor/

11.22.16

I’m writing this post a little late tonight (its 10:00 here) but in California, it’s only 8:00 which is good because my post is about thanking a friend of mine from California.

I met David Behoteguy back in January of this year. Whitney and I were still new to this whole being missionaries thing and hadn’t moved into our home yet and I hadn’t really settled into my position in the kitchen. Dave loves to build stuff. He’s an engineer, owns his own plastics design & manufacturing company, he’s really smart, and really creative. But Dave also loves coffee. So when he heard that we were building a cafe, he knew he was the man to help. Since I was free, I offered to help him build it. I’ll be honest, I’m not the greatest construction worker. I can lift some heavy(ish) stuff, paint, and drive a nail or two but I don’t trust myself to do a project alone. But David let me help anyways. We worked all week cutting whatever boards we could find at the carpenter shop, then put them up with whatever screws we could find, and just slowly but surely, often with less than typical tools or materials, we got it done.

This is Antonio (Tono) & myself working one evening at the Cafe. What you don’t see is to the right where our espresso machine is which David and I inaugurated back in January after we finished the job!

Fast forward to this past August. David came back with his wonderful wife Anne and he had a couple of free days later in the week. I had mentioned how I would love some input on making shelves for our kitchen at our home and that was enough. David and I came up to the house, took some measurements, planned it out and went looking for the materials. Just like with the cafe, we had to “Guatemala” a few things. To Guatemala something basically means making due with whatever you have available and finding a way to get things done. We went to the carpenter shop, found the boards, made the cuts, & got it done. I had actually thought I could have done it on my own before I actually helped in doing it. There is NO WAY I could have done this without Dave & if I had tried, there’s no way it would have turned out this well. The shelves look fantastic, we have our pots & pans hanging, & we stole an idea that he told us from his house in CA and hung our coffee cups. When you go from having a huge kitchen in VA with tons of cabinet and counter space to a small kitchen with 2 cabinets and 2 counters, you really got to get creative. Dave is that creative. I’m so blessed to have met him and his wife this year and become good friends with them. Thank you Dave Behoteguy, for taking time away from a million other things that you could have been doing around the ministry and back in CA to help a young missionary couple feel a lot more at home in a far different place than they had been used to. Thanks for helping us make a house a home!

Planning & measuring

Before pose

Making cuts on boards that were longer than the saw, but we made it happen.

Working hard all morning and afternoon deserves a little nap after lunch!

The finished product! Thanks again Dave!
–Bryan

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