By Arwen McGilvra & Pablo Villagran
I’d like you to meet a free-spirited little six-year-old. Jack is an active little boy living in our home who likes to play tag, sing songs, and go on field trips with our mission teams. He loves pancakes and the colors red and blue. He likes to kiss and hug his teacher and Special Mothers, who say that overall Jack is obedient, sensitive, and loving.
Children come to our home for a variety of reasons — most are sad … tragic, even. But some are puzzling. That’s the case with Jack. He was moved to Dorie’s Promise from a government home: he and another boy there looked so much alike, even had the same name, that they kept being confused with each other. So it was decided to separate them. Jack has been at Dorie’s Promise for almost a year now.
Sometimes when the children come to us, we do not have much information about their past or about the situations in which they lived. When Jack arrived, we were only told that he needed to be transferred from the state orphanage. We attended different hearings in the process, but never learned much about his family.
That recently changed when we were informed that he has family living about 10 hours away … and they want Jack back. Not knowing much about his family leaves us with a lot of questions.
- What will his life be like with family members he doesn’t know?
- Will they be able to provide a safe home and good education for him?
- Will it be difficult for him to adjust to his new life?
In the last hearing, we asked the judge to give us the chance to keep Jack at Dorie’s Promise until he finishes the school year. We are praying for Jack, for his family, and for the decision that will be made in the next hearing.
Above all, we want the children here to be in a safe home with love and care.
While he’s been here, Jack has blossomed into a talkative, outgoing boy who is full of curiosity. He enjoys participating in devotionals. He is a good observer and pays special attention to small details. Jack has a tender heart — which can sometimes lead to temper tantrums, but he is learning to control those outbursts. His special mothers have a song they sing to help him calm down. It’s called Cuando Obedezco, or, I Will Obey.
Cuando obedezco lo que dice Jesucristo
me hago fuerte y crezco al oir su voz
y si el diablo dice no le obedezcas
lo callo le digo obedeceré
Cuando obedezco lo que dice mi papito
me hago fuerte y crezco al oir su voz
y si el diablo dice no le obedezcas
lo callo le digo obedeceré
Cuando obedezco lo que dice mi mamita
me hago fuerte y crezco al oir su voz
y si el diablo dice no le obedezcas
lo callo le digo obedeceré
(or in English)
When I obey what Jesus says
I become strong and grow to hear His voice
and if the devil says not to obey
I will ignore him and I will obey!
When I obey what my daddy says I
become strong and grow to hear his voice
and if the devil says not to obey
I will ignore him and I will obey!
When I obey what my mommy says
I become strong and grow to hear her voice
and if the devil says not to obey
I will ignore him and I will obey!
For the time that Jack is still with us, he needs the support of sponsors. People who have a heart for children like Jack — children who have been forgotten by a wider world. When you sponsor Jack, you are reaching out to an orphan in need.
Dorie’s Promise Guatemala is a place filled with love and care. It is a place where joy is a daily experience, and where orphaned children find safety and security. But most of all, it is a place where children who have never known love can grow up knowing that God loves them no matter what and has a plan for their lives.
Thank you for being part of our family and for caring for Jack!
We go further than just delivering water filters we also provide families with sinks called pilas. Running water is unknown in the homes of the poorer families. The pilas give families the ability to wash their food, clothes, hands, and bodies with uncontaminated water.
The statistics are depressing; 380,000 orphans in Guatemala. The highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in Latin America. 26% of children don’t receive any schooling. Malnutrition claims the lives of 38 children under the age of 5 every day. 1.6 million children living in poverty.
to allow our team members the ability to build relationships with the children of Dorie’s Promise as well as the surrounding communities. Each part of your schedule has been designed with this is mind.
Dulce
Mirna, our 15-year-old student, is the only child currently involved in our home schooling program. She participates in a distance education program, and receives teaching based on a 3rd grade level curriculum. Her curriculum covers the following subjects:
Our preschool program serves seven children between ages 5-7. The objective for the program is to give all children an education that meets or exceeds national standards while meeting specific individual needs.
The school support program includes four boys and eleven girls who attend schools outside of Dorie’s Promise. This program provides needed interventions for girls and boys who may need additional assistance integrating into a new and challenging academic and social environment.
Our medical program has accomplished many achievements in 2012. We have fulfilled all administrative, Health Program, and clinical duties. One hundred percent of the illnesses at Dorie’s Promise have been solved satisfactorily and have not returned or resulted in complications thanks to early interventions, preventive measures, and close monitoring. Every child continues to receive comprehensive, personalized pediatric medical attention. In 2012, their health needs were properly attended to on a daily and as-needed basis and continue to be. Not a single dangerous infectious disease outbreak has happened since 2007 (before my arrival). Every new child presenting to Dorie’s Promise with acute undernourishment has fully recovered within two weeks of coming into our care.
A part of what makes her truly amazing is the smile she gives to Forever Changed missionary groups when they arrive at the ghetto to serve. She always meets us with a large group of neighbors she has gathered together to help with donated supplies. Then she guides the missionaries to homes in the community that have the greatest needs, and we pray with her for the families that we serve. During the day, she often organizes a soccer game with the older children in the community, and sets up piñatas for the little ones. Her tostadas and guacamole are always provided to our missionaries as a thank you gift.
Principal Lopez has observed the positive changes the high-quality academic environment made in the lives of the three students from Dorie’s Promise.
The key to changing Guatemala is education, says Claudia, who is pleased that some students who ordinarily wouldn’t have access to private school will be able to attend.