In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35
I got out of bed and fumbled around in the darkness to get dressed for the day. I grabbed Bryan’s sweatshirt since mine was somewhere buried beneath two weeks of scrubs in my clothes hamper. Reaching into my drawer, I grabbed a pair of socks from the pile. As I sat down to put my socks on, I couldn’t contain my happiness. “My lucky pizza socks!” I thought to myself. These weren’t any ordinary socks, they were MY pizza socks that I once won $300 while wearing them. I happily wiggled my feet into the socks more than certain that it was going to be a good day. Continue reading My Lucky Pizza Socks
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….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!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!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!Cute little Erika… could just squeeze you <3Diego 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/
