A Lesson Learned

More than a week ago, a Guatemalan social worker came to the Children's Home to talk to Oralia and Sebastian about Elias (the little boy that they found. See our October newsletter for more details). The social worker was going to recommend that Elias stay at the Home until he was 18 if Oralia and Sebastian would agree to that commitment. They did agree so the next step was waiting for the Judge's rule on the situation. The Judge is in Chimaltenango and is the judge over these type of children issues as well as adoption issues in Guatemala.

Last Thursday, when we arrived at the Home, Oralia and Sebastian were not there. The kids told us that they were taking Elias to live with an uncle. Apparently this uncle had gone to Chimaltenango to talk to the judge. The social worker had found that all of Elias's family, mother, father, aunts, uncles etc., had drinking problems except for this one uncle. He told the judge that he wanted Elias to live with him. The judge ruled in his favor.

There was a sadness over the Home all day. The kids would not admit that they were sad but they were picking at each other. One little boy hit one of the girls in the face. Two of the teenage girls got into a fight. It was a very somber day. It was a hard day for us as well. Don loved to play with Elias. He would tell him to come to him and then throw him up in the air causing him to giggle. The Sunday prior, Don had stopped at the Home before clinic and Elias changed the game a little. Instead of coming, he wanted Don to chase after him and then he would giggle. His absence was felt very strongly all day.

When Oralia and Sebastian returned, I asked Oralia if it was all ok. She said she didn't believe so. Elias cried when they dropped him off and was asking for "Mama" which was not his real mom but Oralia. We have never seen Oralia and Sebastian so sad.

We learned alot about the Home last Thursday. We learned how hard life is there. We learned why they don't trust people. Because everyone always leaves. Teams come from the United States bearing gifts and playing with them, but they always leave and most of them, they will never see again. We are praying for wisdom in our relationships with the kids at the Home. We pray that they learn to trust in the One who will never leave them. We pray that living with his uncle will be a good thing for Elias. The social worker will go and check on him in a couple months and if he is thin or things aren't good, he may come back to the Home.

This same judge in Chimaltenango also made a statement against Abi's adoption. The Fickers are flying to Quiche today to meet with the adoption committee so that they can be ruled as fit parents. Then the attitude of the judge won't have as much impact on Abi's adoption. Please pray that this all goes well and for the steps that the Lord has for them in continuing the process of the adoption.

Thursday was a very discouraging day. What can we do here Lord that will make a difference? The Lord led us to John Chapter 21 where Jesus is asking Peter if he loves him. Peter answers "Yes" three times and Jesus's responses to him are "Feed my lambs" or "Take care of my sheep" or "Feed my sheep". Our job here is not to fix all of these problems but to develop relationships that will point the people here to Jesus. Our job is to take care of the Lord's people by helping them to trust and by loving them with the compassion of the Lord. Please pray against discouragement and that the Lord would continue to lead us in what He has for us here.