Anabela and her Hijas! September 15, 2009

Anabela, Lucia and Carla.

Spanish school in Antigua is going well. I feel like all of us are adjusting to the culture by learning the language, the ways of Guatemala and the specific culture for our area by submerging ourselves in these classes. They are not easy, but they are enjoyable. When we come home and our heads feel like they are going to explode with information we know weʼve had a good day. Most days after lunch we are then doing a few lessons with the kids in math, writing, reading. We try to take a walk and be out in the streets of Magdalena keeping our presence known and observing the ways of our town. Still feel really strong that Magdalenaʼs people are our neighbors whom we want to help, learn from, and become friends with as we both become more comfortable with each other. One village adjacent to Magdalena is Buena Vista, which is another location that we know we are going to have a presence in daily. DeepStream has already been used to physically connect funds from the states to; build homes, provide food, clothes, shoes, medical assistance, sports programs to the sweet people in this very poor village. The kids ask often to go visit Buena, but our time here these few weeks is focused, at least for the next 2 months in Antigua at CSA- our language school.

Mark and I have the same teacher, Anabela Ponce fuerte who has 2 daughters ages 7 and 4, Carla and Lucia. Even though we have only met the family a week ago, we have known them for about a year now. This connection is nothing short of amazing and just like God to do for us as He knows we are seeking to help people wherever we go. I struggled with being in Antigua so often when I knew we were to be in Magdalena and Buena, but God has made my doubts dissipate by connecting us with Anabela. Brock took classes at CSA last September. His teacher told him of a fellow teacher (maestra), whose daughter has a very large tumor on her arm needing attention but the family has no means, nor was there a doctor who had knowledge of how to handle the case. Brock let the need be known and families from the states helped her financially get to Denver where a doctor performed the first stage of surgery on Carla. That was last January. Now 9 months later we are connected again with Anabela and her daughter Carla who needs to make several more trips back to Denver as her tumor is so large is needs to be shrunk slowly before it can be removed. Carla also has growths of blood vessels bright red moles, which as she grows are growing too. Her sister, Lucia has a cyst of some sort on her eyeball that needs attention. Anabela tells us she is saving her money so she can update their Visas so they can travel back to the states to start improving Carlaʼs quality of life. Although she is 7 she is not in school as her condition is too dangerous and the school says they cannot accept her. After 5 days of conversation with Anabela about her life, meeting her daughters and knowing the unique connection from the past we are burdened to help this family. The pay Anabela receives from CSA is enough for food, clothing and shelter to which she is thankful, but to help her daughter she needs financial help. We feel it is not a coincidence that once again DeepStream has been connected with this family. We plan to use our energies and whatever resources we can raise to help this family.

1. We will continue to go to school at CSA for the 2 months even though it is very expensive as we are enabling Anabela to have steady income by being her students.

2. We plan to buy bread and pastries from Anabela as she is also studying to be a baker to have a second income.

3. We plan to bring her fruits and some meat weekly as she only has enough money to buy beans, eggs, tortillas, herbs and supplies for her cooking classes.

4. We plan to allow her to share her burdens with us during our 4 hour classes and to assure her we are praying for her and her family.

5. We plan to help her get her Visas, to get to Denver, to stick with her until Carlaʼs treatments are complete.

So as we update you on our journey in Guatemala this is heaviness we want to share with you. This family needs our help. They are doing what they can to help themselves, but we all know that sometimes we just need each other. Us being Anabelaʼs students is not a coincidence and is part of a plan we feel God has set in motion for His people to
help. Please consider how your family, your class, your church, your friends can help the Ponce fuerte family. We have only shared with Anabela that we will tell others to pray so even if you commit to pray for her let us know so we can share your names and maybe a picture of you guys with them. We have attached a picture so you can see the
family, the condition of Carla and visualize the situation. For now we close with hearts overflowing with love, appreciation, sadness, excitement, and hope. Thank you very much and please, be in touch.

Because of Jesus, Gina

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