Imagine someone stopping your car in the middle of a parking lot and offering to jump on a plane to Guatemala with you, trudge through the airport with 20 suitcases, and spend a week redecorating two homes. Sound a little strange and far-fetched? Maybe, but that’s the short version of how Lisa...
As we wrap up the first week of August, we also end what should have been our last big summer mission week at Dorie’s Promise. But as you know, the summer of 2020 has not gone as anticipated for any of us. Looking back, we’re reflecting on the lasting impact of mission team gifts, even when we...
At the end of June, we celebrated another batch of birthdays at Dorie’s Promise. 🎉 We’re excited to share a little update about each of June’s birthday kids! In June, we celebrated four very special kids—Aron, Isaias, Merari, and Yohana. 🎂 Aron Last May, Aron and his two younger sisters joined our...
Every child in our home has a story, all of them difficult. Efrain’s story is especially hard, given all we know and the many things we may never know about his birth and complex medical conditions. A Baby in Need of Help Most of Efrain’s family history and birth story are a mystery to us. Even...
The past few weeks have been hard for us. We have officially been home for 4 months. Since March, our kids have been doing e-learning, the whole country has been under varying degrees of a nationwide curfew, and most businesses are shut down. Becoming anxious and extremely disappointed is fairly...
One of the best parts of the educational system in Guatemala is the practical career training students are offered during their high school years. We have two future chefs and a future doctor living in our home, waiting for the day they can hone their craft in a classroom again. Brayan, Myra, and...
Feliz Cumpleanos from Dorie’s Promise. At the end of May, we enjoyed our family birthday party in the backyard at Dorie’s Promise. We’re excited to share birthday updates about our May birthday kiddos! In May, we celebrated four very special kids—Dulce, Jimena, Manuel, and Elvis. Dulce Our sweet...
In April, Doc Castro shared an update with us about COVID-19 in Guatemala. With so many developments surrounding the virus in recent months, we asked Doc to update us again about the current situation. Today, we’re sharing his most recent update. Can you describe the current COVID-19 situation in...
As many areas in the United States begin reopening, in Guatemala we’re still under strict stay-at-home orders. We’re entering our fourth month of e-learning, daily curfews, and travel restrictions. Honestly, even with all of that, we’re missing people the most. We miss our friends, our mission...
Life during quarantine has been hard. Just like yours, our kids have been home from school since March. Public buses are shut down, we can’t travel between departments (states), and we have nationwide curfews, making our staff’s daily commutes difficult. But, amid all the difficulties, there are...
The last Friday of each month we have a big party at Dorie’s Promise. Balloons and streamers hang from the pergola in our backyard. Our kids fill the tables. We sing. We eat cake. Most importantly, we celebrate birthdays together as one big family. Today, we’re sending you birthday updates and...
The last few months have been difficult for all of us. Most of us aren’t accustomed to the uncertainty and lack of control we’ve experienced. Imagine what it feels like for children, especially children who have already overcome traumatic experiences. We’re committed to healthy, happy kids even...