Educational Opportunity Overcomes Tragic Circumstances

By MJ Zelaya- Until recently, our children didn’t have the opportunity to get an education in a school that wasn’t public. Guatemala public schools can be overcrowded, and the education is sub-par. Now, thanks to El Shaddai Christian School and some generous donors, more and more of our kids are...

Read More

“I Love This Job!”

By Arwen McGilvra- Lorena is the Supervisor of House 6 at Dorie’s Promise. Coming from a big family, the third of six siblings, she understands what it takes to love and support the children in our home. She started working at Dorie’s Promise in 2005, and, as she puts it, “I came to Dorie’s...

Read More

She Smiles All the Time

By Arwen McGilvra- We’d like you to meet one of the adorable babies in our home. Sandi is a very active little girl who is just beginning to take her first steps. You can see her around the home pulling her little stride-ride toy. She smiles all the time and is a very friendly and kind baby....

Read More

Seeing Poverty

Poverty. It’s ugly. So ugly, in fact, that we shield ourselves from it. In the U.S., a person making less than $11,344 a year falls into the poverty category. Yet in Guatemala, the average income is around $2,800*. Poverty is rampant in Guatemala; it’s one of the poorest countries in...

Read More

On The Passing Of My Friend Alex

By Bradley Burck- Sitting in a crowded restaurant on Father’s Day, I heard my cell phone ping — a new email had just arrived. It was Sunday and I was surrounded by family, enjoying a day meant to celebrate fatherhood, so I was not about to look at it. But at that moment, I heard a little voice in...

Read More

Beautiful Backyard After One More Try

By Bradley Burck- You need to have a look at the pictures of what we’ve done to the backyard. After years of trying to grow grass and failing, we brought in landscaping professionals. The results – FANTASTIC! Have a look at these pictures. Abel who has spent a lot of time over the years watering...

Read More

A Heart for Orphans

We have many great staff members on our team. It would be impossible to do what we do — serve the children in our home and the community around us — without them. Alejandra Diaz is the Director of Dorie’s Promise and has been part of the team for more than eight years. If you’ve met her, you know...

Read More

Meet Dolce Maria

Dulce is a very special child to us — she was born premature, so we have been closely watching her growth. There has been an incredible progress in Dulce’s health, thanks to the care of the special mothers and special attention from our doctor. She is a fighter — she has been fighting to survive...

Read More

Education Report

By Claudia Roncal- Today, I want to give you a report on the educational programs in which our children at Dorie’s Promise are involved.  These programs cover three main areas: Home schooling, Preschool, and our School Support Program. Home Schooling Mirna, our 15-year-old student, is the only...

Read More

Health Report

By Dr. Francisco Castro-Barillas- I want to give you a report on our Health Program at Dorie’s Promise, outlining our achievements in the previous year and our successful support of the care provided to our children.  This program has been an invaluable support to Forever Changed and Dorie’s...

Read More

A New School Year, A New School

By Pablo Villagran- Like children across the world, ours are excited about the beginning of a new school year. But this year we are celebrating something more: an increase in scholarships that allowed 11 of our students to enroll at El Shaddai in January. Three residents on scholarship this...

Read More

The Children of House 5

By Bradley Burck- When I go to Guatemala the first place I go to visit is House 5 to see the special needs children.  One of the children my wife and I have made it a point to sponsor – his name is Alex.  I also love Efrain and Miguel. Here's what is special about these...

Read More