HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU?!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, for The Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

As a Christian, this verse can be so empowering. Makes you feel like you can put on your battle armor, get on your horse, and ride into battle with your beard and chest hair flowing in the wind. But I had come to realize something else about it as I was sharing it to encourage Osman…

Osman was your typical teenager… he played soccer, hung out with friends, and probably even was known to get into his fair share of trouble until he was left paralyzed from the waist down after falling from a tree. I first met Osman when he came to our hospital several months ago after being discovered by my friend Donna Faircloth on a medical clinic. When I had first met him, he was quiet and reserved as he followed me around in his wheelchair and made small talk. Despite the evidence of a large sacral pressure ulcer, his mama was patient and kind and spent each day carefully changing and turning her disabled son.

After only about a week, I realized how talkative Osman was. He was not the quiet kid following me around, he would yell “Hola Wendy!” when he saw me, and he’s ask me to come cut his hair or read him a book. I loved spending time with Osman and his mom, and they shared a room with Valentine who I loved to visit with (I’ll share his story another day, as his is really good too.)

I know, terrible picture of me haha.. but here’s Osman and his mama with me in January. Don’t let his face fool you, he’s thrilled, but too cool to smile. 😉

Osman with a really cool Bible that was donated

Osman returned home with his mom, and life carried on until Donna had asked me to join her team from Lighthouse Church for a medical clinic and to stop in and check on Osman. She had mentioned he looked very bad and seemed depressed. When I entered his house, I found that he was severely emaciated, his ulcers had become worse, and he was very depressed at his circumstances. He hardly even smiled when I walked in, he could barely even lift his head.

We brought him right back to the hospital where he could receive the medical care and nutrition he needed. Only this time, his condition was largely brought on by hopelessness. 2 years after his accident and reality set in that he would never walk again. So he began to give up. However, I wasn’t about to stand along the sidelines and watch him waste away. I read him the book of Joshua and explained to him how it meant a lot to me, how God’s promise that “I will give you every place where you set your foot” was encouraging for me to be bold enough to pick up and move to Guatemala, and how during my difficult days I really had to depend on The Lord for strength. He loved the story too.

So day by tedious day, we worked on physical strength as well as his emotional strength. When he would tune me out and pick up his phone to play games, I would explain to him that if he kept trying, he could eventually transfer himself in and out of his wheelchair which would help his mom and allow him to move more and prevent ulcers from forming. Day by day we would do arm exercises, lifting books, bottles, and bags until he gained strength and confidence.

I laughed, as I explained it to Osman and his mom… Yeah, we look to the second part of Joshua 1:9 to empower us… but almost just as importantly, I love how it is preceded by “Have I not commanded you?” If God had the same attitude I had, it would have been in all-caps and followed by not just a question mark, but an exclamation point too… “HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU?!” I felt like saying that to Osman several times throughout his care when he felt like not doing his exercises for the day as he wasn’t seeing immediate results. “HAVE I NOT TOLD YOU?!” Osman came to appreciate this verse– the perpetual reminder to be strong, and the exasperated author (or in my case, speaker) who had to verbalize a little frustration through the process. As Osman leaned more on this verse, the darkness of depression lifted from him as he gained his strength.

He finally got healthy enough to go back home again, but I pray that this time he has a truth in his heart to encourage him through the difficult days. I pray he hears me harping “HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU?! Be strong and courageous!” as he continues his exercises to build upper body strength. I pray he knows how deeply he’s cared for, and that he will continue to grow in this.

Like Osman, you are also so very loved.
-Whitney

Layover Life

For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. [matthew 6:21]

But what if your treasures are scattered from West Virginia all the way down to Central America?

Sitting here in the Panama City airport “enjoying” an extremely long layover. As I am literally in the transition between Guatemala and USA, it so deeply resonates with how I feel- a heart being stuck in between two places that aren’t exactly right beside each other.

I am not sure why I feel so neither here nor there today. I think part of it is because we haven’t been stateside in over 6 months… and I am so so so very excited to see my nieces and nephews- to hug their necks, swing them through the air, and call them funny names. I am so excited to see my parents, grandparents, my brothers, my inlaws, our friends. I’m excited to crush a pepperoni roll from Brandywine Fox’s and eat Split Banana. Oh, American food, I’ve missed you so! Continue reading Layover Life

Heb 12:1

Have you ever just felt you are watching your life from someone else’s viewpoint? That your mind is trapped in a space that is apart from your body as you watch yourself walk through the motions of every day life – wake up, coffee, work, home, eat, sleep, repeat. Rarely feeling fulfilled, simply existing instead of just living.

I used to feel this way on occasion before coming here to Guatemala. There were nights where I ached to be here– to feel the heat upon my skin, the dust on my lips, and the orphan in my arms. In retrospect, I can say that I perhaps squandered a lot of opportunities to serve and a lot of opportunities to love others during my season of waiting. I’ve come to realize that no matter what season of life we are in, especially seasons of waiting, that we are to persevere– to love God and love others with intention and purpose… even in the small things.

All this goes to say, although I’m more content and fulfilled in my work now than I’ve ever been, life here still has its difficulties. February was a hard month… we started out the month with some sick volunteers, then came a week with a respiratory virus, and we ended the month with a bout of rotavirus sweeping through the hospital and complicating our progress with the babies who came in already malnourished and dehydrated. At one point, I had worked 18 days straight (with the exception of one day of rest after a grueling 36 hour shift without sleep.) Don’t worry, Mom… I am not working myself to death, nor have I caught myself in the middle of some scheme where I am living on a ministry and they overwork me and call it “mission work.” 🙂 I am grateful that those hours and that intensity isn’t at all what Hope of Life asks or requires of me. I do this because I am finally SO passionate about what I do. I do this because last year we lost seven babies in a week due to rotavirus and respiratory viruses. I refuse to let that happen again. I will rest for several days once it is over… for now, I am running this race with endurance.

I was talking with one of my good friends who is Guatemalan and works for the ministry. He had mentioned how it must be amazing to be in the hospital and see the physical transformations and life change that happens every day among the children we bring in. That is SO true. Every day I go in to work is a new day to open my eyes to the literally miraculous things that God is doing here at Hope of Life. Every day, new milestones are achieved — a child’s diet advances, we can finally discontinue their IV because they are able to take in fluids, a feeding tube is removed and a patient has their first real meal in a month (or possibly for the first time ever), children with cleft palate repairs are finally gaining the courage to talk and sing at 3 1/2 years old, a baby takes their first steps at age 2… I pray that I never let fatigue or habit get in the way of what my eyes witness every day.

Although my joy and fulfillment in my career is greater now than it ever has been before, I have also experienced sadness and hurt in a valley that is darker and lower than anything I had ever known. When you spend an hour resuscitating a 4 pound baby and they are transferred to another hospital, you wake up in the middle of the night worried and hurting for them. When you lose a baby and you know you did everything in your power to help them, you feel futile and empty. I am thankful for the truth in Romans 8:26 that The Holy Spirit prays for us when we don’t even have the words or the capability to form our own thoughts in our moments of loss and disparity. I am thankful for my husband who knows when I need comforted and when I need space… and also when I need 2 gallons of black dark roasted Guatemalan coffee brought to the hospital at midnight. 🙂

I love what I do. Through the miracles I see, the hurt I sometimes feel, and the exhaustion that comes with all of it, I have come to so greatly appreciate the joy of living out my calling. I am so thankful for our supporters, friends, and family who encourage us and make this possible.

I feel like this post was a lot of different emotions tacked together and never really leading to a point… but my point is this– We have all been assigned to a mission, and we have all been given a purpose. For me, in this season, my mission is Guatemala. However, that is definitely not for everyone. Your mission may be to live your life in Huntington, West Virginia and to show love to your neighbor by serving in your community, supporting local nonprofits, and getting plugged into the local church. Your mission may be to live in Fredericksburg, VA and pray for missionaries and organize short term trips to help support the long term partners across the world. Wherever you are planted, we are called to love others. We are called to “run our race with endurance” and to show others the love of Jesus regardless of how tired or ill-equipped we feel. We don’t do it because we seek some ‘eternal reward’.. we do it because we have seen, felt, and experienced the transformative and renewing grace of God and want to share with others what we have already been filled with.

John Piper said it best, “If we don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with the small things, and there is no room for the great.”

I want my soul to be filled with ‘the great.’ Don’t you?

You are loved,
Whitney

Sweet 2 month old Dominga was brought in weighing under 4 pounds. Can’t wait to get a picture to show you all how much she’s already grown. <3

Precious Deili was sick with both a respiratory virus and rotavirus. Thankful Bryan came to serve an overnight shift so that I was able to rest. <3

Deili isn’t completely out of the woods, but she is feeling MUCH better!

Erik was brought in for malnutrition as his mama, who was also malnourished, was unable to produce breastmilk.

After a few short days, Erik was more alert and gaining weight.

Gloria’s father contacted us for help after finding out his daughter was being abused by her stepfather. She was afraid of being touched, but is now safe and reunited with her biological father.

Gloria’s precious cousins who received assessments as well as food bags donated by Hope of Life.

A group donated this Bible, and Valentin was so happy to receive it and read it to the other young boys in his room.

Osman loves looking at the pictures in his Bible.

11.13.16

Cloud by day, and fire by night, we will follow you. We will worship you.

Would you mold me? Meld me, break me, use me? For I am Yours. Would you move me? Guide me, lead me, would you use me? **For I am yours.**

This afternoon, we were walking outside… and it was so cool to see the sun setting in the west behind our house, and the giant supermoon on display in the east against a backdrop of orange, pink, and purple clouds. It reminded me of a sunset that I used to see coming home from work in Culpeper. But what was cool about this one, was the presence of the moon… the same moon that would be lighting up the same skies in Virginia, although we’re thousands of miles apart.

Today, (and every day really) we are thankful for Lifepoint Church. Our roots with Lifepoint go almost 6 years back… back to when the church was only one location in Riverbend Highschool. What used to be a dream of having a campus in Culpeper, is now a reality.. and I was thankful we got to help launch that campus before coming here.

I could spend the entire month of November thanking people within the church… there is just no limit to our love that we have for this community. Through Lifepoint, we found out about the ministry we are now living and serving at. Through Lifepoint, we became generous and bold in our faith. Through Lifepoint, chains were broken that allowed us to step out of our comfort levels and into God’s plan. Through Lifepoint, we learned to live open-handed with the gifts, abilities, and finances God has given us.

Pastor Daniel and Tammie have always encouraged us to pursue our calling here. We are so thankful for your leadership, your support, and how you feed into us weekly. My Lifegroup was there to pray through the process of us moving here, and they were also there to help us pack up our house and send us here with notes of love and encouragement. (Janice, Lucille, Suzanne, Christine, Amy, Carolyn, Kate, Tori, Tracey, Hillary– you all have been SUCH a blessing!) I could seriously go on and on– The Klock’s, The Anderson’s, The Martinez family, The Rollins family, The Coopers, The Howards, The Buschurs, The Gregorys, The Rowe’s, The Brissey’s, The Tuuri’s, The Billig’s, Lifepoint Guatemala teams past and present and on and on and ON I could go. This isn’t a church of people who just believe The Word– this is a church of people who LIVE the word– who are there when you need them, who give and give generously because they know their giving will be multiplied. (Luke 6:38) If you attend Lifepoint Church, you are a supporter of ours, and we are thankful for YOU!

There are literally SO. MANY. things we do down here through our ministry. This past week, I got to participate in a small Bible Study for some of the mom’s at the hospital. Let me explain who these mom’s are so you understand this significance… When I go on rescues, we travel 3, sometimes 4, hours away into remote villages. Often times, the people in these villages are of Mayan descent, and a lot of their religion is circled around beliefs of witchcraft. The ones who are not, are very opposed to religion because of how legalistic it can be here in Guatemala. Because they often have critically ill children and are in desperate need of medical attention, they comply in returning to Hope of Life with us so they can receive care in our hospital on the ministry. In our hospital, most of our rescues babies have a mother who accompanied them here for the duration of their stay and treatment. While here, this is an awesome opportunity to witness, minister to, and show firsthand the love of Jesus.

While there has not been an official study done on this matter, I believe the mothers in the hospital is the most under-evangelized group here on our ministry. I once had a sweet friend who lived here witnessing to these mothers daily, but since she has left, the mothers have went without Bible studies and discussion… and while I could never fill my friend’s shoes, I have felt called to step up and bring applicable lessons to these women from the unreached corners of Guatemala.

This past week, we studied 1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I brought nail polish and lotion to the hospital. I showed them my hands which had chipped, cracked nail polish and how if I took the care to put on a new coat of nail polish, it covered the ugliness of the old polish and looked better at the end. I explained to them that this is how we become when our hearts are in Christ and we show love to each other… that our ugliness (sin) becomes covered by something more beautiful (grace). We took turns painting each others nails and praying over each other.

Will you join me in praying for these sweet moms? Pray for the health of their babies that I am caring for as their nurse. Pray for their strength as they are miles and miles away from their families and other children back home. Pray that I may show them love in a way that they deserve. Pray that The Lord uses my words for His glory and not my own.

A few of the sweet mamas and their new nail polish!

Sweet Candadulce and her wild, purple nails

Reinita is 15 years old and unable to walk, and loves to be pampered. Check out the colors she picked!

For some moms, this was the first time they had ever had their nails painted

Yolanda, one of our 18 year old patients who has been at St Luke's for over 3 years, was a wonderful helper in picking out nail polishes and helping me paint. — Yolanda, one of our 18 year old patients who has been at St Luke’s for over 3 years, was a wonderful helper in picking out nail polishes and helping me paint.

Thank you Lifepoint for supporting us so we can show love in a tangible way!

Lifepoint, we LOVE you. We believe in Ephesians 3:20 and that GREATER things are yet to come for YOU, and GREATER things are yet to come for US. We are the feet on the ground here, but YOU all are the prayers, the givers, and the people who set our ministry into motion.

Your love is creeping into the hearts of people from the corners of Guatemala who need it the most– and that’s all because you gave.

You are loved.
–Whitney

11.12.16

Well… a few days behind on the “thank you” train. A small part of that is due to laziness, and a larger part of that is due to the website being down and not allowing us to post. It was later today that I thought of the idea that I should have written my posts on a separate document and then posted them to the site when it was up and running again. I guess hindsight really is 20/20.

Today I want to thank Francis Asbury UMC in Sugar Grove, West Virginia!! Sugar Grove, West Virginia… the name of the small town is as cute and quaint as it sounds. It’s got my Grandaddy’s store on the corner, the volunteer fire and rescue station where many community events are held- from Thanksgiving dinners to summer lawn parties, and Francis Asbury UMC on the corner… covered in pieces of green, clear, and bright blue glass, glistening in the sun.

Francis Asbury UMC being photobombed by Dad's trooper — Francis Asbury UMC being photobombed by Dad’s trooper

This church was my first experience at church– from listening to old hymns played on the organ and memories of trying to catch the hair on fire of the girl standing in front of me during our children’s Christmas performances. I remember my grandmother singing loudly in the back, and feeling her eyes on me throughout every moment making sure I wasn’t misbehaving (which I usually did.) I remember scribbling pictures on the prayer request cards and sneaking mints out of my aunt’s pocketbook. And when I go back, not a lot has changed here. It’s still the same church, dripping with history and love and memories, and I’m so thankful for the foundation it gave me.

Although we love everyone from FAUMC, there are two people that we love MOST <3 I'm sure Grandma would kill me if she knew I took this candid photo of them, but I love how sweet they are sitting in their rocking chairs in Grandaddy's store <3 — Although we love everyone from FAUMC, there are two people that we love MOST <3 I’m sure Grandma would kill me if she knew I took this candid photo of them, but I love how sweet they are sitting in their rocking chairs in Grandaddy’s store <3

From our very first trip to Guatemala in 2012, the church has supported us. They roll only about 20 people deep, but the love and support they show us goes even deeper. We are thankful for all of you and for your continued support as we are here long term. We love you all and could not do this without you!

Which works out for me... because I LOVE making ridiculous faces! — Which works out for me… because I LOVE making ridiculous faces!

Sweet Amparo was unable to move and just stared at me with blank, empty eyes when she was brought in. After 2 months of working with her daily, she’s bright, giggly, sweet and loves to play copycat in English AND Spanish! Sweet little bilingual baby. <3

Thank you for supporting the lives and health of these children by supporting our mission.
You are loved!
Whitney

11.11.16

I wrote this post on Veterans Day. Due to issues on our server, I was unable to upload my post. So here it is a couple of days late!

Today is Veterans Day, a day where we are thankful to those veterans that we are fortunate enough to still have with us today. Active-duty, reserve, past duty, or retired. For nearly three years I worked at Quantico serving as a civilian-contracted cook for the U.S. Marine Corps. The men and women I served deserved to be thanked every day especially today. But I want to specifically thank our friend and supporter Manny Martinez and his wonderful family.

manny Manny was the team leader on our last mission trip to Guatemala, the trip that we moved to Guatemala. He was a great leader for us as a team and a he is a good friend. Before our move, Manny started financially supporting us. His and his family’s generosity have blessed us tremendously.
manny-kids We are able to do so much more than we had ever expected thanks tog generous donors like Manny and his family. I know that God will bless them for their generosity and I’m so thankful to call him a friend.

There are many other veterans that have and continue to support us. Thank you all for your support of our country and the support of our mission. team serve

11.9.16

I was messaging with my good friend Kate Terney the other day, and she asked me a question– “Have you found anyone down there that you can be real with? Like really real with?” Kate didn’t mean that in the sense that I’m unable to be myself around people– because I am really Whitney no matter where I go… sometimes even to a fault haha! No, Kate was concerned about something much deeper. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about… those super deep, emotional, sometimes even frustrating thoughts that we all get.. She wanted to make sure we had people down here that we felt comfortable being vulnerable around. The kind of version of yourself that you don’t let just anyone see… The yourself that is unfiltered, unscripted, without makeup self.

Today I am thankful for those people that I can be “real” with here in Guatemala. I’m lookin’ at YOU– Matt & Jessica Holt, Phil & Patti Monk, John & Tanya Rule, Mark & Julie Nash, Lauren Caudill, Julio & Kristina Castañeda. I’d love to say that since we all live in the same area and serve within the walls of the same ministry, that we see each other all the time… but it’s surprisingly less than you think. When it’s intentional, it’s good quality time. When it’s accidental, it’s a sweet surprise that always makes our day.

When you serve in ministry long term, it can be draining, but always so rewarding. It truly does make all the difference on whether we’d actually ‘make it’ or not when you have people in your corner that understand you, people whose hearts are connected to yours and beat to the same rhythm of ministry and serving. When one of us may witness daily miracles of hearing and progress down here, it is a celebration for all of us. When one of us grieves, all of us grieve. I’m so thankful to be able to have this circle of missionaries to encourage me, laugh with me, cry with me, and help keep my perspective aligned with the reason why we’re all here– to show Jesus in a tangible way to those who need it most.

This is an odd type of thank you, because it is to people who support us but we’re also lucky enough to have them on the ground here in Guatemala. So it’s kind of a two-fer-one type of deal 😉 For those who we formed deep connections with but left this summer, we love you too! (Jaclyn, Emma, Kate, Faith, Jenn, Sarah & Marissa) Jac Toews- you really did me in with those swedish fish and kitten unicorn rainbow socks!

Here are some sweet people that we all (collectively) get to love here:

Jaclyn, Lauren, and I with the local celebrities of St Luke's hospital-- Delmy and Herminio! — Jaclyn, Lauren, and I with the local celebrities of St Luke’s hospital– Delmy and Herminio!

SO THESE TWO HAMS... can't even handle their sweet faces!!! — SO THESE TWO HAMS… can’t even handle their sweet faces!!!

Sweet little Brenda... everyone thinks she's shy, but once you get to know her it's a different story ;) — Sweet little Brenda… everyone thinks she’s shy, but once you get to know her it’s a different story 😉

Fatima... this girl is just always straight up cheesin'!! Can't help but pick her up and squeeze her a little because she's just. that. CUTE! — Fatima… this girl is just always straight up cheesin’!! Can’t help but pick her up and squeeze her a little because she’s just. that. CUTE!

This month has a whole lot more thankfulness in store! Come back tomorrow (or maybe Friday if I’m a lazy bum and don’t do it in time tomorrow..) for some more thankfulness and Guatemala happiness!!!

To our framily that we’re thankful for here, really, thank you for all you do. For every aspect of the ministry you serve– whether it’s teaching, caring for children, fixing things, translating, leading worship… Thank you for it all. Your work is important to the kingdom, and it is important to us. We love you all and cannot imagine life here without you. Iron sharpens iron and I fully believe the best is yet to come!

You are loved.
Whitney

11.8.16

Well I’m honestly thankful to not be in the US right now. Today we drove 2+ hours into the mountains to do a medical clinic with World Help. In the past two days, the World Help team has seen over 300 patients! So awesome to see help being brought to villages where there is no access to healthcare, and no hope for mothers with sick children. On our trip back, someone mentioned election results tonight and I realized that I was so disconnected from the whole debacle.

Remember the “Apparently” kid? I feel like him today. “Apparently sometimes I don’t watch the news… Grandpa just gives me the remote after we watch the powerballlllllll.” It’s not that I’m disinterested in the welfare of our country (absentee ballots are next to impossible to get down here thanks to Guatemala not having a mailing system), but sometimes it’s hard to feel politically charged for a country that is reeking of divisiveness. As I held a 9 year old boy fighting for his life and weighing only 18 pounds, I forgot about the problems America is facing. As I braided the hair of a 9 year old girl who just lost both parents and an older sister, I wonder where we ever went wrong. I cannot be upset about the discord in our country without first being disappointed in the actions of some people who call themselves Christian.

When did we ever allow a political party to define who we are? When did we start becoming known more for what we were against, rather than what we stood FOR? When did we allow ourselves to be represented by the hatred and chastising of those who were different than us? And since when did we find it acceptable to belittle and degrade others of a differing race or opinion rather than leading them to the foot of the cross to show them WHO defines us?

And here I am writing this after Bryan and I agreed to no political posts this season so that differing views wouldn’t overshadow what The Lord is doing through our ministry….

I think tonight I might not post a specific “thank you shoutout”, because I don’t feel like tying anyones name to this post airing my frustration. In fact, I’m still writing this but toying with the notion of just scrapping the whole thing and starting over with a post about gratitude… Yet here I continue.

Fellow Christians, remember that we are represented by the banner of Christ. As the dust settles tomorrow, do you want to be remembered by the words you have spoken to some of your friends and family this election season? So you might have convinced a few people to vote for (insert preferred candidate here), but how many people have you won for Christ?

I challenge you all to remember that America is YOUR mission field. While I don’t think Jesus was some pansy who wore a dress like many children’s books portray, I DO believe he was here on this earth to bring light and love to those who were hurting. If we are following Him, shouldn’t we do the same?

Be blessed. And don’t be hateful.
-Whitney

11. 07. 16.

Personally, I don’t really like to write blogs that often. I don’t really particularly like to journal, and I’m not that great when it comes to writing thank you cards. But it never fails that after I finish writing a blog, a journal, a thank you card, or whatever I feel better about it and I’m really glad that I did it. It’s almost like exercise or something, I never want to do it, but once I start I’m enjoying it and when finished, I feel accomplished.

But writing is important. It shows you (and me) how far God has brought us. It gives me the chance to express how thankful I am to all of you that support us and it serves as a reminder in the future of God’s faithfulness in everything so if I’m ever doubting His call, His plan, His sovereignty, I can come back to the stories of His never-ending faithfulness and love.

That being said, I want to join Whitney in expressing our thanks to our supporters and specifically I want to thank Grace Christian School and particularly the class of 2005, my graduating class.

I went to Grace Christian School (GCS from here on out) from Pre-Kindergarden through 12th grade. Along the way I learned almost everything I know about God, memorized a lot of Scripture, and got into a lot of trouble. The first person that I’d like to thank is my principal Dr. Dan Brokke. Dr. Brokke always told me when I was in trouble that “the Bible says “Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth”” (Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6). He taught me that because the Lord loves me so much, He wouldn’t allow me to be like some kids who could just get away with things but that I’d get caught and that when I was punished it was out of love. I didn’t get it then, but I do now. God put that school in my life to mold me into a man that would seek after God and would answer His call to the mission field. I could go on about this and tell stories of how this showed itself time and time again in my life but I really want to thank the people in my graduating class.

We were a class of 19, only 4 girls. Four of us spent 14 years together and over half at least 10 years. We were and are brothers.

Last year when Whitney and I were ordering t-shirts, we were trying to sell as many as we could because if we could sell over 75, the price would go down pretty significantly and we would be able to raise more support. Out of nowhere, a classmate who had moved shortly after high school and someone I hadn’t kept close contact with, got on board. That’s a brother. He told me his interest in helping us and after I explained some of the boring details, he decided to buy t-shirts for our entire graduating class along with a few extras for his family. Just like that. He saw a brother in need, found out how he could help, and met that need. Thanks to him we were able to order over 75 t-shirts and were able to raise much more support than we ever could have without him. He wanted to remain anonymous in the past so I’ll continue to respect that. Thank you for serving the Lord by serving a brother.

My next brother I’d like to thank is Gregory House. Greg and I were best friends in middle school. We loved skateboarding and music. Later in high school we grew apart and in college, although we were still friends, we didn’t spend a lot of time together. Today, Greg is an excellent musician, a school teacher, and most importantly to me, a brother.

Since we first started sharing that God had called us to Guatemala and that we were moving January 2016, Greg has supported us. Scratch that, he started faithfully giving to us a month BEFORE we even moved! Greg has continued giving to us throughout the year, regardless of circumstances he or we faced, he gives. Thank you Greg for your constant support and prayer for your brother in Guatemala.

My next brother I’d like to thank is Jeremy Watts. Jeremy was in the graduating class of 19 with me but wasn’t one of the ones I spent 10+ years getting to know. Jeremy is a smart dude. Like really smart. I wouldn’t say that we weren’t friends in high school, but we weren’t close. After graduating, Jeremy went away to college and got his PhD and now is a professor in SC. Since high school we’ve kept in contact, seen each other at football games and tailgates but never were close. Back in the summer, I shared with Facebook that the kitchens here at Hope of Life needed a very expensive type of blender (Vitamix). Without hesitation Jeremy (and his wife) messaged me about the need, sent me a link to a Vitamix online and bought it and had it shipped to my family in the U.S. so I could bring it back with me when I visited home. That’s a brother. He heard about a need, saw how he could help, and met the need. Jeremy thank you so much for your generosity, serving heart, and prayers. Your giving doesn’t just benefit your brother here, but many many children as well!

Adam Shaw, brother for 14+ years. Adam and I went to school for 14 years. That’s no type error, Pre-K, Kindergarten, & 12 (sometimes grueling) years of 1st-12th grade. Adam and I have always been friends because neither of us were really any good at sports. We both played and truth be told, Adam probably was slightly better than me at all of them but neither of us were actually good enough to be starters or play many positions other than the bench. In high school and college we liked the same music and shared that bond but Adam moved to Cincinnati for school so naturally we grew apart a bit. But when we were traveling in the U.S. and were flying out of Cincinnati well before dawn, Adam refused to let us stay in a hotel and take a shuttle to the airport. He (and his awesome wife) opened his home to us, he made us some of the BEST coffee I’ve ever tasted (and I live in one of the best countries for coffee), bought and fed us some incredibly delicious food, let us hang out with his super awesome son, and to top it all off, he meticulously made us incredible coffee again around 4:00AM before driving us to the airport. Why? Because it’s what brothers do! Thank you Adam for making a place where your weary brother could rest before heading back into the field.

To avoid sounding much too much like Hulk Hogan, I want to end thanking my brothers from school by thanking my brother Caleb Huff. 14 years together in school? Scratch that, nearly 20! I’ve known Caleb longer than anyone else other than family members. We were friends throughout school and became best of friends during our later years of college. We traveled Europe together, we led Bible studies together, we played cards together, watched movies together, hunted illegally together, and much much more. Caleb knew I was going to marry Whitney well before we actually did marry because he saw the changes in me and my life. And I knew he was going to marry his wife Andrea, well before they ever got married. Our wives changed us, and so much for the better. Caleb has financially supported us this year even though he and his wife are both doctors with medical school to pay back. He’s bought us dinner, he’s opened his home to us, and has been faithful to pray and keep in touch with us. Caleb, thank you for supporting your brother in Guatemala with financial support, prayers, and the always welcome GIFs and Memes you send me and Whitney on our phones.

I don’t think I’d be here now if not for GCS and my brothers of 2005. The Bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10″Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” and in verse 12 “And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

I’m thankful for the cord of 5+ brothers from school that God has given me.

11.6.16

Wouldn’t be appropriate to give this thankful shoutout to anyone else other than BIRTHDAY GIRL STELLA CATHCART!

Yeah, I know this post is being posted a day late, but it was FOR your birthday!

Stella is the Outreach Director at Lifepoint Church. We love Stella because she is passionate in her position, she does whatever she can to advocate for us and for missions within our church. She stays in contact with us and I can always count on her to pray for us. She is bubbly, sociable, and hilarious. To know Stella is to love her!

One thing that we really love to do here in Guatemala is hang out with the families from Safe Haven Village. Safe Haven is a village of American missionaries doing family style orphan care here at Hope of Life. 2 of these families are from Lifepoint as well, and the third family that has become dear friends of ours is from Fredericksburg as well.

On Sundays, Bryan leads worship with Phil and Caleb Monk and John Rule. Usually, one of John’s kids (David or Julian) will use the computer to keep lyrics up on the screen. On Wednesdays, they do the same at the orphanage at Hope of Life.

Tuesdays, we have started having game nights with the Monk family. So fun to grow closer to the family and teach them new games. This past Sunday, we had a fun night of watching Up, eating pizza, and eating popcorn at our house. It’s little moments like this that make our lives here just feel normal. It’s moments like this that grow our bond and our community. It’s moments like this that we know God is glorified as we strengthen and empower kids who are no longer orphans as we live out James 1:27 with the families from Safe Haven.

We had so much fun watching movies on the floor!

When teams come, we get so excited to show them our "framily" in Safe Haven! — When teams come, we get so excited to show them our “framily” in Safe Haven!

Whether it's worship, soccer, games, or hanging out just teasing the kids... we are SO blessed to be here to support community and give love to these sweet families! — Whether it’s worship, soccer, games, or hanging out just teasing the kids… we are SO blessed to be here to support community and give love to these sweet families!

Thank you, belated birthday girl Stella, and thank YOU everyone else for being a part of this!

You are loved.
-Whitney

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: