Always in Training

Since Dec 18^th we have been blessed with family, friends and teams visiting and serving with us in Guatemala.  It has been great to share this experience with so many people. In the midst of this busyness we had to find a new house to live in because we are getting closer to opening the baby house!

Last week we had an awesome team from Foundations Church in Loveland, CO here to serve with us. One of the things we did was go to the city and serve at a feeding center that we have done some work at and is run by Pastor Araceli. The feeding center is a place that provides one meal a day to people in the community. For the majority of the people that come here, this is their only meal of the day. So the long distance they walk to get there is not a problem for them.

Every time we go to the feeding center we meet new people and hear new heart breaking stories.  This time was different………….

We were at the feeding center with the Foundations team and we say these two women walk in with a young girl and a baby boy that appeared to be a new born. Of course this precious baby boy caught the eye of most of us there. As a group formed around these ladies to see this baby, their story started to be revealed to us. The older woman carrying the baby was the baby’s grandmother. The other lady that appeared to be in her late twenties was the baby’s aunt. The young girl (who looked to be 10) was 13 and she was the baby’s mom. As soon as I heard this part of the story I felt my body almost crumble.

The Grandmother of the baby boy shared the story with us. Her 13 year old daughter had been raped. They do not know the man that did it. While hearing this story I watched the young girl with emptiness in her eyes and a blank stare on her face.

We noticed that they were feeding the baby a bottle of sugar water and found out that is all that they had been giving him for 40 days (that’s how old he was) because they could not afford formula and the mother was having problems nursing him. One of the ladies on the team was a nurse and was able to explain that this was not good for the baby and tried to help the mom and grandma understand what they needed to do for him.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the 13 year old girl.  She had the look of someone who was in shock or walking in a daze. She looked at me for a moment and I motioned her to come sit beside me. She walked over and sat down. I then placed my arm around her and slowly pulled her against me. My eyes swelled up with tears. I closed my eyes and pictured our daughter Alyssa who is 13 years old. 

 I could not imagine her going through what this girl was. How could this be? She is still a child/teen. What does her future hold for her and her baby boy? It took everything in me to hold it together that day.

Yesterday we met another amazing servant here in Guatemala! He is a Guatemalan man that runs a ministry to serve people on the streets or living in the dump. As he shared his testimony with us, he made a statement that keeps replaying in my head. He said, “everything we go through in life, is like training for the next job God has for us”. Over the last few months here, I have seen that come full circle for me. Some of the hardest things I have been through in my past, I am now being faced with people going through a similar situation. I was not able to help that young girl. I was able to hold her in my arms, hurt for her and know a small piece of the fear and pain she might be feeling that comes along with being a young mother.

Today Sean's Mom (visiting for Christmas) and I spent the afternoon at a small clinic here in Guatemala. As I sat in the small dark room I started to gain a different perspective.

A young girl from a small village far away from Guatemala City heard of Mimi's House through some other missionaries. This young girl was pregnant but knew it would not be an option for her to keep her baby. She had no means to care for this new baby and she didn't have family that could support her. a few months into the pregnancy she had decided that she would have Mimi's House take the baby.

Friday she was admitted into the clinic and ended up having to have a c-section. This morning the baby was able to go home to Mimi's house and the young mother is still in the clinic healing.

We sat in her room as she tried to sleep. We could tell she was in pain but with my limited Spanish couldn't offer much support. We would rub her head, adjust her blankets and try to show her we cared. My heart was breaking for her. This story hit close to home for me.

I had my oldest daughter when I was young and thank God I had the resources and a family that rallied around me for support. As I look at my beautiful daughter Mikayla, I am so thankful for every minute I have had with her. I remember how scared I was when I found out I was pregnant.

But what if I had nothing and could not feed her or care for her and what if I didn't have family willing to help? What would I have done?

Then years later I got to be on the other end of it. We adopted a beautiful little girl who's young birth Mom told me through a translator "It is not that I don't love her, I just don't have the means to care for her". Aubryella is such a gift to us and we are blessed to have her in our life!

When we first moved here and I started hearing about all these women giving up their babies. I must admit I was a little judgemental with the thoughts that went through my head. Then one day here Aubryella said to me "Mommy, why didn't my Mom want me?"
 I asked her what she would do if she got a new puppy and she could not feed it or take care of it and it was crying because it was hungry and thirsty. Would she keep it or give it to a family that could care for it?  She quickly responded with "I would give it to a family that could care for it so it wouldn't be sad"
My answer brought her peace and she moved on. I wasn't really sure it brought me peace.

Today baby Emily was brought home, to Mimi's house.

As I sat with the young birth mom I realized this was not easy for her. Who am I to judge if this is right or wrong. Maybe we are supposed to bear one anothers burdens Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
and open our hands to the needy and poor  Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Today I feel like I have a better understanding....... every story and circumstance is different and I don't have to understand it, I shouldn't try to. Our job is to be there to help. To support her as she heals physically and emotionally and to continue to support Mimi's house who has opened a home for children like Emily who deserve a chance and a forever family.

Merry Christmas

This Christmas was a little different for the Cherry family. We didn't have many decorations, but we love our very little Christmas tree that we do have.

We didn't bake Christmas cookies with my family and the cousins, but some new good friends invited us over to make cookies.

We didn't go to the candle light service on Christmas Eve and then enjoy dinner with our family, but some friends invited us to their Christmas Eve celebration and we all had a great time.

It didn't snow Christmas Eve, but we saw the most AMAZING firework show we had ever seen. Words can not even explain how amazing it was.

We didn't wake up Christmas morning and open presents with the whole family watching, but we were incredibly blessed to have Sean's Mom , Aunt and Uncle join us here for Christmas and share in the joy of the kids opening their gifts.

We didn't get dressed up and join the entire family for a Christmas meal and games today, but we had some good friends that we shared a Christmas lunch with and celebrated a common interest of the new baby home getting ready to open.

Though many things were different this year one thing remains CHRISTmas is a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! So in a different country, with different traditions, we celebrate Him!

 

 
The Season of Giving has always been a happy time of year for me! I love giving gifts to people, gifts that have meaning and bring a smile to their face. As a child it always felt better to receive the gift than to give it. Not for my nephews, I am so proud of them!

My oldest nephews Cody and Austin have led their church two times in collecting items for “the least of these” in Guatemala.  The first time they collected shoes for kids in a village and the second time they collected baby supplies for the new baby home. Both times it was their idea and they took the initiative to get their church involved.

Then there are my youngest nephews, Jacob and Andrew. They were saving up their money to buy a new video game. When the opportunity came for them to give a little money to help the baby home get started, they came to their parents, with their little piggy banks and they decided to give ALL their money to the baby home!

During this Season of Giving I am asking you to consider giving a small gift to help get supplies we need for the baby home. We need cribs, window coverings, high chairs, changing tables, diapers, formula, and rocking chairs to just name a few things. This is all stuff that we are required to have to open up the baby home. We can’t do this on our own.

I have a goal to raise $5000 by Christmas! If 1000 people gave $5, that is all it would take! I know there are needs everywhere, including right where you are. That is why I am asking everyone to play a small part and maybe ask 5 of your friends to do the same? In 5 minutes, you can make a donation online or stick it in the mail and help bring the abandoned babies of Guatemala home! Please know that 100% of your donation will go directly to the baby home. Gifts for the baby home are not used to support our family.

For your 5 min donation go to https://www.justgive.org/basket?acton=donate&ein=26-3624540 and put baby home in the “designate donation” box. Or you can mail it to:

Catalyst Resources International (Baby Home on memo line)

PO Box 967

% David Greene

West Chester, OH 45071

IF you decide to participate in this tax deductible donation and get other people to do the same, please share your stories with us as it is such an encouragement to us! You can email us at cherryfamily@photasministries.com

Here are 5 reasons I ask you to give…….......................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If we all give a little, together we can help a lot.

 

Not just holding babies

Well, we got the baby home and are moving forward! A couple weeks ago we stepped foot into the future baby home for the first time. Since then we have been busy! With help of our Guatemalan friends, we have been cleaning and painting and cleaning and cutting down trees and cleaning and slowly purchasing things we need in the house, and working to get hot water (still don't have) and cleaning some more.

It has been a busy couple weeks but I have seen a transformation in this home and in only a couple weeks! It's amazing! I am amazed at how hard these people work and how many countless hours they have willingly put in. What a difference they have made.

One of the projects we did with a few of our friends that were here visiting us was to help carry blocks to the area where our new team house is being built. Just so you know, these block are heavy. These men that work here carry these around like it's no big deal. Me on the other hand, I thought I might die! I was sweating and hurting and had blisters all over my hands.

We had a good process going. Two of them would carry the blocks from the pile in the parking area to the edge of the yard then the rest of us would carry them from the edge of the yard to where they are building. This worked well for a while but then I started realizing that from where I was working, there was no end in sight! I couldn't see the pile of blocks so I had no idea how much progress we were making and when (if ever) we would be done. I needed to know so I offered to switch with someone on the other side. Surely this would be easier for me to know. As soon as I got to the other side, I was so discouraged. The pile we had left was SO big! :(

Isn't that how we are? We always want to see what's on the other side. We want to know the results or when it will end. I think sometimes God allows us to not see because that is what is better for us. I can think of many things that I wouldn't have done if I knew how hard it would be but then in the end, I was glad I did it.
   
So as we move forward with getting the baby home ready, 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by believing and not by seeing.". We trust His word, His plan and His way.

For those of you that think all we do is hold babies everyday, you now know that is not true. :)
I did manage to get some baby time in and met a sweet little baby boy that is a year old. He was recently taken to an orphanage because his mom tried to sell him to a man and the police found out about it. This sweet little boy stole my heart. His beautiful eye, with long lashes were full of tears and fear. They had taken him to a Dr and said he had worms and was malnourished. I know he will be ok because the lady that runs the orphanage is amazing and she will make sure he is cared for.
But I just don't get it and it continues to break my heart. 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by believing and not by seeing.".

How quickly we forget

This morning Sean and I went to chapel at the kids school. Every Wednesday they have chapel and then split up by class and gender for discipleship after chapel. Sean leads 9^th grade boys and I help lead 7^th grade girls. Today the speaker in chapel talked about the bible story where Jesus and his disciples were on a boat and a big storm came up. While the disciples were freaking out Jesus was sleeping. They woke him up in a panic. Jesus calmed the storm and said “Why are you so afraid, where is your faith?”  

The speakers message was about how we go through storms in our life, and sometimes it might feel like God is sleeping but His promise is to never leave us and we have to trust Him.

After chapel and discipleship class my friend Jenn and I decided to go have lunch. While we were sitting in the restaurant eating we noticed that we were having an earthquake. Now this happens often in Guatemala, we have felt 4 in the short time we have been here. We looked around the restaurant and noticed other people looking around too. The earth quake kept going and started to get progressively worse. As we looked around, we started to notice fear on everyone’s faces. As it continued to get worse and we heard dishes breaking on the floor, a panic filled the room. People started diving under tables and running out of the restaurant. My friend grabbed my hand and we ran out as fast as we could while the ground was still shaking.

I wish that I could tell you I felt complete peace and completely trusted God in this moment. But that is not true. As soon as the earth quake finished, I was so scared. I was scared to go back in the restaurant, I was shaking terribly and couldn’t even eat my lunch. I sat in the chair worrying about whether or not it would happen again, and what if it was worse this time? Was my family ok? Were they scared?

Just 1 hour before this 7.5 earthquake, we had just heard a message, that when everything was ok, made me feel safe and strong, like I could conquer the world with Jesus by my side. Why is it that when we are in the storm, it is so easy to lose sight of that?

Today everyone woke up after another presidential election. Some people are very happy with the results and others are feeling discouraged and maybe even fearful. For some people, this could feel like a storm. If we can stay focused on the big picture and remember that we serve a God that is a rock for us and will never leave or forsake us,  that should bring us peace and comfort.

 

Tonight I pray that when I am in the storm, I will stand strong and trust His word. I pray that all the people affected by this particular storm and all the storms in the world right now, will find peace in Him.

 

Please pray for this little girl

Today we have heavy eyes, but even heavier hearts. Last night a little girl, 2 1/2 years old was dropped off at Mimi's House. Not for a couple hours, for the rest of her life. Her Mom did not want to care for her anymore. Within a matter of 30 minutes this little girls world was turned upside down.

As we all tried hard to distract her, nothing worked. She continued to cry for "Mama" and point in the direction where she knew she had last seen her Mom. Words can not even describe this moment. The fear in her eyes was indescribable. Eventually she gave up the fight, buried herself in my chest and fell asleep.

As I layed in bed with her, I could not fall asleep. I was so sad for this little precious girl. I tried to come up with every reason in my mind why this happens. Nothing made sense to me. As I began to pray for her and her mother, I started to think about the message we had just heard at Church an hour before she arrived here. We had been going through a series called "When God?" by Andy Stanley for the last three weeks. He tells the story of Lazaras, a man Jesus said was the greatest who ever lived. And yet, even this man struggled with God's inattentiveness.  But the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead offers a picture of hope in the midst of a hopeless situation. If we continue to trust God through our pain or lack of understanding, he will eventually show His glory.

Today, I have seen His glory! As I played a small part in helping this sweet little girl adjust last night, I knew that my role moving forward would be different. As much as I would LOVE to be the person to fill the void in this lovable girls life, I know that I can not commit to being here with her the rest of her life.  But God has given me a front row seat to see an awesome ministry with BEAUTIFUL people who have stepped up for this girl in such a short time with short notice.
 They took her to the Doctor today and determined she was pretty sick with an ear infection, throat infection a fever and a bad cough. She started her medicine and is a different girl this afternoon! They have played with her, hugged her and made her smile.

She was not safe where she was but by the Glory of God, She is safe and with her forever family at Mimi's House!!