BIG changes in ministry

Big changes.

We are excited to share some big changes with you! We are nervous, excited, fearful, but we know these are all in God’s plan and with that we can rest easy. So we want to share with you our stories, each in our own words

Here is my story:

For years now, Ive always known children would be a big part of my life. In this ministry, children are a huge part of my life! We are closer and closer to completing construction on the Women and Children Center and excitement is almost too much to contain!

But there is something bigger I want to share with you. For quite some time now, the Lord has been working on me. He has been working with my leadership role of Finding Hope, my future in Honduras and what life looks like as a 27 year old single missionary woman.

It’s not been easy. Every day brings its own struggles. I do know however, I am where I am meant to be and every single day is worth it.

So, as this ministry grows, as I grow and realize my place in this world, who I am is becoming more. Its not about me. I have so much love and I feel called to share that love with others. With those who have no one to love them. With that being said, IM GOING TO BE A FOSTER MOMMY!!!

I began the process in February (application and requirements) and found out yesterday that I was accepted!

Yes, I know, its going to be hard. Its the first thing people tell me. Foster care is all about loving a child that might leave. But Im called to do so. Im called to bear the pain of loving a child for the time they are in my arms and forever keeping them in my heart. 

For those of you who are foster mommys, I need you! I need your support! Your words, your advice and most of all your prayers. Pray for the little ones who will be in my care and pray for their little tiny hearts! 

As of June 1, I will begin accepting girls! I will accept one at a time ages 0-4. In Honduras, the foster care system does not help financially with the children. Therefore, I need you to pray for diapers, formula, medicine, doctors visits, and everything else an infant/child needs! The Lord is good, and He provides!

Lastly, I want to share exciting news from Haille! As of August of last year Haille has been studying to become a CNA in Honduras. She has LOVED it! So much so that she wants to continue in her studies and begin studying Medicine in a university in Ceiba. She will have 8 years of schooling - 1 year in Ceiba, 6 years in San Pedro Sula, and 1 year of residency. Please follow her blog to read more about her decision!

https://haillekrieg.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/big-ministry-update-for-2016/

As of June, Haille will move on with her studies and at the same time I will accept my first child. These are BIG ministry changes which means we need BIG prayers. 

If you like to find out other ways you can help, please message me privately or send an email to info@findinghopehonduras.org

"Your son has a cerebral paralysis"

Those were the words Gaby heard Thursday morning. I sat next to her with her son on my lap as we both listened to the Doctors strong words.

...

About a week ago Gaby came to me wondering if I could recommend a pediatrician. She wanted to take her son in for a check up, her mothers intuition told her something was wrong. Her son, Josias, is 10 months old. He cant hold his head up, cant use his hands and can barely stand with someone holding him up. "Im concerned he isn't growing as fast as other babies his age" she said. So, I recommend a pediatrician in Ceiba and she went immediately. 

A few days ago, I got a phone call. She asked if I would accompany her to another doctors appointment, but this time at a rehabilitation center. We went on Thursday. As we sat in with the doctor, he told us the news. "Your son has a high risk form of cerebral paralysis." He was concerned, however, asking Gaby why she had waited until now to bring her son in. 

So here's what happened. Gaby attended all her checkups. She never missed a shot, vitamins, advice. At Josias 6 month check up the nurse told Gaby that her baby was "slower than most" but that he would grow into it. At a 10 month check up the nurse (the same nurse) told Gaby her son was behind, that he had a problem. Gaby, frustrated because the nurse told her he would "grow into it" is now telling her that her son has a serious issue. 

And thats the problem with the health center in Porvenir. They just dont care...Every morning starting at 5 am, people line up at the door to get a spot for the day. Doors open at 7 am. They only accept 15 people. If you dont get a spot, you have to come 2 hours early the following day. Then you wait all day until its your turn. If you leave, you loose your spot. Once you get inside, its chaos. There is only one doctor. The nurses do their daily routines. Its get it done and go home type attitude. Lack of knowledge is another problem. Ive had people go in with appendicitis and get diagnosed with a kidney problem.  Medicine? Forget it. Explanations or further information on a sickness? Dont even try. 

So when Gaby heard that her son was actually sick 4 months later, as any mother would be, she was frustrated. 

We left the rehabilitation center. They gave her a 3 month check up date and appointments twice a week with the physical therapist. As we walk out to the car, I asked her was she was thinking, or feeling. She just shook her head and said, 'nothing'. I wondered if she really understood how severe his condition really is. 

Then we got in the car and shut the door. Tears began to stream down her face. She picked up her sons hand and kissed him. We sat there in silence for a few minutes. Her heart was broken. "I didnt mean to wait to get him help" she says. "I just want him to be better". 

I tried to comfort her, telling her she did the best she could with the resources and information she had. I was hurting for her. 

The following day she had her first therapy with Josias. The therapist began explaining the process of his hands and feet massage. She expressed how important it is to do the therapy everyday at home. I watched from outside, seeing her smile, loving her child just how he is. 

Gaby is one of the 25 women in our beading program. She is one of the 25 fighting for the little things in life. She makes bracelets to buy diapers, formula and now, to be able to bus into town for her sons therapy. Id love to be able to tell her its pay day! Id love to sell some of her bracelets as well as for the other 24 women. 

Please, pray for Gaby, Josias and every women in the program. Because they all struggle, we all struggle. But we all deserve a chance. 

My meeting with the ladies

In 2013, I began a program aimed at empowering women to provide for their families. It all started with a piece of paper pulled out of the trash and 3 women willing to learn. 

I had no idea what I was doing. I was never good at being the center of attention. But on this day, I had 15 women staring me in the eye, wondering why this gringa was there. A few weeks later, production had begun with 3 women (of the 15) determined to turn their bracelets into a profit. 

Its now 2016, and we have 25 women producing beautiful stories. I call them stories because each bracelet is one. Its their unique soul, heart and love. Each women has a struggle. Each cry tears of pain and suffering. But every single woman whom is a part of this program has the desire. To succeed. To become someone. To thrive. 

Last week I had a meeting with one of the two groups of women. We meet on rickety benches in front of Sandras house. Little kids ran around in muddy feet, chickens were making a ruckus next door and the neighbor was diligently working on fixing her mud wall that collapsed into a gaping hole to her house. There we sat and began to talk about men. Seems like that's a common topic of conversation with us. The women always laugh when we talk about men. Its funny to them that I am 27 years old and not married with 6 kids. I tell them Im waiting for my prince to come sweep me off my feet. They tell me he doesnt exist. 

I hear from the ladies that one of the women got back together with her abusive ex-husband. My heart sank. WHY, I asked. Why would she get back together with the man that took a machete to her? Why would she put her kids in that situation? After knowing that he was sleeping with another woman, why would she go back to him? They tell me that he is also controlling her life. None of them have seen her in weeks. Shes not allowed to answer her phone and she is not allowed to leave her house...without his permission. This is the same man who took his kids mattresses away just to punish her. They slept on the floor. The dirt floor. 

"So she is back with him?" I asked "What benefit is she getting from being with him?!" I responded angrily. 

That's when I learned why. "Catalina, she is back with him because what is she going to do without him? She doesnt work. Were not selling enough bracelets to maintain ourselves. Her kids need to eat and if she doesnt go back to him, they will starve."

I didn't know how to respond.

"This is the reality of women in Honduras" Onoria began to explain. "Even though you might get a black eye, or a broken wrist, you have to tolerate your situation. Being a women is hard in this country. We dont have the rights, the resources or the finances to separate us from an abusive husband. At least tolerating the situation, we get the necessities we need from our husbands."

You see, in Honduras, men work and women stay home to cook and clean. Even though children grow up, get married and move out of the house, they cant come back home or rely on mom and dad to help. With mom and dad struggling each day, there is no way their child, who is physically and mentally abused by her husband can come to ask for help. So what is the solution? Go back to him. Pretend that your fine. Tolerate it. And pray to God for help.

Soraya told me the story of her sister. She used to walk the streets with sunglasses on to cover up her black eye. She made excuses, saying she fell, or got hit by accident. Xiomara knew the real story. "Catalina, I wanted to help my sister. I love her. But I could barely scrape enough rice and beans each day to feed my kids." Then she says "...Thank the Lord my sisters husband is dead. He was shot and killed by gangs. That was the only way my sister would be free"

I sat and listened. The women talked and compared stories for about half an hour. 

Without mentioning the bracelets, I brought up a scenario. What if these women had jobs? Secure jobs? What if they brought in enough money weekly to pay for the school expenses, food, medicine, clothes and other necessities for their families? Then could they be "free"?

Every single women there responded with a sigh of relief. YES. Even though it was a 'what if' situation, their faces lit up. Like what a dream that would be. With a solid weekly income they wouldn't have to deal with abusive husbands. They could take their kids and give them what every mother wants to provide. 

Could you imagine not knowing where your next meal came from? Not knowing if your kids would be able to go to school next month because you dont have a backpack for them?

And thats why Im writing this blog. I heard their cries. I know their worries. I also know we can change that. When I started this program, my goal was to provide these 25 women with an income. Give them back what they never knew was theirs. Make them proud. Proud to be mommies and proud to provide.

I know that by selling their products, it gives them that much more hope to continue. To not give up. To be the woman the bible says she is "far more precious than jewels."

This is my plea. With a sadness, a deep, deep sadness in my heart. Will you please join us in this journey? We need you. Help us sell these bracelets that tell their stories. From a listening ear and a breaking heart, please. Each bracelet sold, one woman receives $5. This $5 can feed her family, buy her kids notebooks and pencils for school or pay for the medicine her newborn baby needs. It is crucial. 

We haven't sold bracelets in quite some time. We need a way to expand our market and get new customers to purchase our products. I need YOU to help me do so. While I am on the field working with the women, I need YOU to help market.

Do you have ideas you can share? Do you have access to groups, organizations, corporations, that can help these women? 

Last year each women sold on average 150 bracelets. Thats 750 dollars. EACH. Times that by 25 and that gives you over 18,000 dollars sold in bracelets. One hundred percent went back to the women. One hundred percent went back to their families and their communities. BIG THINGS HAPPENED. Lets make it happen again this year.


**A huge shout out to the Vennam's who run our Etsy site statesite

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FindingHopeHonduras

**Thank you to Maureen Regier who has sold thousands of bracelets in Canada by attending conferences, womens events and other activities. Maureen, you are a true advocate for Finding Hope and an awesome representative! This would not happen without you!

End of the year Newsletter 2015