First of all is this family here. From the left, this is Emma, 12; Osman, 15; and Edgar, 11. They are siblings who came to live at Didasko seven years ago. Some years before that, their parents illegally moved to Canada where their father was sent to a prison for some crime. Soon after, their mother, while pregnant with twins, was committed to a mental institution, and later the children were deported back to Honduras. They were then put in an orphanage where they were severely abused. Then the orphanage kicked them out because they were too much of a handful, so they were placed in Didasko. Years later, one of the other kid's mother's was visiting (the children were removed because she couldn't afford to take care of them) and happened to mention that Emma, Edgar, and Osman were her nephews and niece. So through this woman the directors learned that their mother was released from the institution and deported. Since she came back to Honduras, she had gotten pregnant by another man. After giving birth, she walked into a Pulperia (convenient store) and asked if the woman behind the counter would like to buy her child for Lps 300 (about $15) and the radio. Praise God, this woman was a good woman and said yes. So this child has since been adopted and has a chance at a normal life (comparatively speaking). Anyway, all this to say, these kids seem to be quite a handful for Rhonda and the directors, Jorge and Rosa. However, I almost can't imagine this place without them. They are all such an important part of this family here! Please pray for them that they will seek God in their future lives, that God will reveal Himself to them and that they will be attentive to Him.
Next, I'm going to tell a story Rhonda told me. A couple of months ago, Jorge, Rosa and Rhonda went to lunch with a woman who wanted to put her infant in an orphanage. She told them that she couldn't work and care for an infant; and if she couldn't work, then she'd have no money for her little girl anyway. Initially Jorge told her that with Didasko's staff and facilities, they couldn't take on a baby. But because his heart went out to this woman, he made her the offer to come and live at Didasko. She would help take care of the other children, and although they couldn't pay her much she would get food, clothing, and housing. And the best part of all is that she would get to keep her little girl - that she could take care of her, while helping around the orphanage. The woman shook her head, and as Rhonda told me this, I could see the emotion in her eyes: the woman said, "No, quiero dejarle." Rhonda said she'll never forget those words as long as she lives. It means, "No, I want to leave her." The directors' hearts broke for this little angel. Rosa then leaned over to Rhonda and whispered, "If we take her, where will she stay?" Rhonda immediately replied that she would take her, that she could handle her, and that she could live in her house. So they began the paperwork. Everything was all filled out, and ready to go for this baby to move to Didasko when Jorge asked about her medical history. Although the mother didn't want to tell the whole truth, eventually she told them that the girl had a hernia and was in severe pain. Unfortunately, Didasko couldn't take on a child with such medical problems. At any moment, if she had a problem, she would need to be rushed to the hospital and Didasko is 45 minutes away from the nearest. Jorge told the woman that if she went to the hospital, the surgery could be done for free and after the girl had recovered, they would take her. The woman then asked for the names of other orphanages. Rhonda said she hated to let her walk out the door. They haven't heard from her since.
The last story is about a thirteen year old girl who asked Jesus to come into her heart last night. While saying good night to these angels, this girl left the room while the others were praying. Rhonda followed her to ask what was wrong. They sat down together, and we (Tracy, Amy and I) headed back to the house. Rhonda told us later that the girl admitted to her that during their prayers she began to hear the lies of Satan that she was all alone and that there was no point to being here any longer. She wanted to end her life right there. Rhonda felt that her Spanish was inadequate to handle this kind of thing, so she prayed that God would help her through this, and then she prayed aloud with the girl. Rhonda told her that Satan was spreading lies in her mind and that Jesus was knocking on the door to heart. She told her that all she had to do was open it up to Him. Well, then Jorge walked up and asked what was wrong. After a little coaxing, she opened up to him about this matter. He looked straight at the girl and asked her, "Do have Jesus in your heart? Because unless you open the door for Him, He won't come in." How amazing that he would use the same analogy! The girl shook her head no, that she didn't have Jesus in her heart. When asked if she wanted to accept Him. She shook her head yes. Then Jorge prayed over her, and then led her through what we might call The Sinner's Prayer, and then she prayed on her own. Rhonda said it was a powerful moment in all of their lives. Now we're praying for the girl that she can learn and grow in Him who strengthens her. Please pray with us for this beautiful child of God.
Thank you for your prayers, love and support!
Always,
Allie
More pics from Roatan, Campamento, and Didasko can be found here and here.
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