Sweet baby Victor

Sweet Baby Victor was brought to Eagle's Nest on January 20, 2016 from the hospital down the road.  He was ten days old.  Pedro and a few of us went as soon as we found out to see him he was there.

Marta, (one of the Mama's) had him bathed, in clean clothes, and was giving him a bottle of warm milk when we walked in.  We guessed his weight to be around six pounds at the most.  He was very tiny. 

                                                 Pedro with Victor shortly after he arrived.

                                              Audrey gladly took over cuddling Victor.

                                           Bundled up and cozy after being bathed and fed.

Any other time I would of taken a turn to hold him but I had developed a bad cough and didn't want to take any chances.  So I took some photos, admired from afar, and thanked God he was at Eagle's Nest where he would get the love and care he needed. 

For the next week I saw him several times a day but still refrained from holding him since my cough was lingering.  (Although Mama Clarita had given me the okay!)  He got lots of love and attention from the Mama's, volunteers, and team members that were at Eagle's Nest. 
 

I finally felt it was safe to hold him the day I left Eagle's Nest.  It was my lucky day for not only did I get to hold him but it was time for his bottle so I got to feed him.  So grateful for the time I had to love on him. 

Over the last couple of weeks he became ill and was taken to the Hospital down the road.  They originally said he had pneumonia, then they said he didn't.  They ran tests and it was decided he needed to go to Guatemala City to for special testing and care to see what was going on with him.

Unfortunately as he was being transported, in an ambulance to the City, this past Saturday.  Mama Agripina, who has been with Eagle's Nest for many years, was with him in the ambulance.  Test results have shown that he suffered from a heart issue of some kind.

Yesterday, on Valentine's day, a service for baby Victor was held at the Church at Eagle's Nest.

(which held in the school building that is next door to the Home)

I have only been to one service for a baby of a dear friend a few years ago.  It was the most most heart wrenching service I have ever attended.

How in the world do you explain the death of a baby to a young child or a teenager when you can not make sense of it yourself?

The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken.

He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.  Psalm 34:18

So, yesterday as I was going about my day, I thought, prayed and wept for my sweet friends

and all the kids at Eagle's Nest. 

 

The colorful Cemetery across the mountainside from Eagle's Nest is where he was laid to rest.

I am beyond grateful that this sweet little boy was at Eagle's Nest getting so much love and care during his brief stay on this earth. 

Please keep the Mama's, the Children and all those at Eagle's Nest in your prayers.

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  Revelation 21:4

New Baby at Eagle's Nest

We got a new baby at Eagle's Nest this week.  His name is Victor.  He is very tiny, guessing 6 lbs.  He was brought here from the hospital down the road and was ten days old.  His mother didn't want him. 

I am so thankful that he is at Eagle's Nest and will get the love and care he needs while they courts decide the next step.

                                              Mama Clarita and Joselito

                                           Papa Larry and Joselito

Joselito used to live here at EN with his brothers, Nahum and Eliceo.  I can't go into all the details but he is no longer here.  The courts placed him  in another children's home in Guatemala City.  They have brought him out to visit his brothers a few times and I am thankful I was here to see him.

                                            Eliceo, Joselito, Nahum

Eliceo and Nahum were excited to see him when they got home from school.  It was good to see them laugh and spend time together. Our prayer is that he be given the medication that he needs and that he be loved and cared for at the other Home. 

Chema , on the far right, has been with Eagle's Nest for ten years.  He oversees all the grounds construction, repair, and building projects.  He has a great group of men that not only work hard on the property but that also love on the kids. When the team from Lynden, WA was here last week they had Chema share his testimony with us.  It was touching to hear him speak of his love of Eagle's Nest and his gratefulness for being a part of it's growth and to see what God has done here.  It was a very moving testimony.  Just like any well run business or organization - it takes a lot of behind the scenes work to make sure things run smoothly, and Chema and his crew do a fantastic job.

Always so many stories to share but never enough time.  For those of you that have Facebook I have posted more photos there.  Thank you for your support, encouragement and prayers.  They have been  felt.  Blessings, Denise

                             Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with
                                                   one another in love.  Eph 4:2

Driving in Guate

Time is flying by.  Days are full - loving my time here.  Seldom do I take photos of work projects - but lots of them going on.  The team here from Lynden WA is awesome and I enjoy getting to see folks that I have to know over the past few years.  Lots of painting and cleaning going on.  The guys have been welding and doing construction repair.  Of course always lots of playing, loving on kids, and helping with homework now that school has started.

             Valerie and Joselyn in their pj's getting ready for bath time.

              Valeria and Elana making play food out of a flower.

I suppose you can say I am now officially Guatemalan - I have driven three times now.  First time with Pedro and boys, second time with the awesome intern Courtney (pronounced Cournney here:)

and the third time I drove alone to pick the boys up from school.  Have been wanting to drive

the past couple times I have been here, just never have for it is a bit different driving here than in the States.  No seat belts required, although we do wear them, sometimes:)

They don't have a limit on how many people can squeeze into a van or the back of a truck.
The side doors of vans used for shuttles or seldom closed since someone is always hanging out of it
trying to get more riders. 

The stops signs are usually on the other side of the road, BUT not always.  Could be on any of the four corners that you are approaching.  Cars, buses and trucks share the road and sometimes get very close.

                                                 Hauling carrots to the Market.

The kids took a selfie when I picked them up after school. Cute except for Eliceo sticking his tongue out.  The kids did help me maneuver through some very tight spots going home!! Lots of traffic at school time and the road leading up to Eagle's Nest is not always wide enough for two cars.  Can get very interesting. 

Thank you for your prayers and support

Blessings,

Denise

Hair cuts for the Girls

We were able to take the girls out to get haircuts a couple days ago.  Very seldom do they go a salon to get it cut, it is usually Felis, Claire, or sometimes a team member brings a stylist that cuts hair.  
Getting off the property doesn't happen very often for the kids so it was a special treat for them.

This is a before photo of the girls hair - and as we waited on curb for the salon to open.

They didn't know till we were in the van that we were going to get haircuts and they weren't real excited when Pedro said all of them needed to get hair cut shorter.  But they started looking at hair styles and picked out what they wanted - for the most part. 

                                           Rosita was all smiles and was first in the chair.

                                                               Diana

                                      

Paola had never gotten her hair cut outside of the Home, she is 10 years old.  She picked out a haircut

that had bangs cut straight across her forehead.  But I notice since it has been cut she puts them to the side.  It looks good and she will get used to it, plus they will grow out quickly.

Jenny had very long hair and wanted a style that was short in front and long in back. 

Wendy didn't pick out a specific style that I recall, just got a trim to get rid of the dead ends.

Claudia picked out the most drastic hairstyle - very short in the back with long wisps in the front.

As you can see she was all smiles as well.  The plan was to get manicures for them also but we ran out of time so the two oldest girls got a mani, the others got nails painted, and Paola got a manicure

since she had never had one before.

For those that don't have any background on Eagle' Nest it is on top of a mountain in Sololá and since international adoptions have stopped and the kids can only be adopted from Guatemalan's.  The odds of that happening with the older children is slim to none.  They spend 24/7 on the same property.  They live here, they eat here,  the school is here,  church is here.  (the five older kids go to school off the property)They don't get to have sleepovers with girlfriends, they don't go to movies with their friends/families, they don't have phones to play games on and text their friends.  Don't get me wrong, they have a very good life here it is just different than most in the States.  Being able to provide funds from sponsors for these type of treats to happen is very, very special and very much appreciated. 

Papa Pedro hung with us the entire time - they acted like they were sleeping in the one photo but Paola didn't get the memo that eyes were to be open on the next one.  They love spending time with Papa Pedro - can you imagine basically raising 50 kids - WOW!!

                         Here is front and back of Claudia's haircut - it really is adorable.
Here is a group photo of the girls after the new haircuts.

Afterwards we got them a pastry treat which was also a big hit.  The plan was for me to take the two younger girls and get haircuts for them today but I was very much under the weather all day.  Thank goodness Courtney, a short term intern here, was able to go with them today.

Irma and Christina with their new haircuts - they choose candy, chips, and soda for treat afterwards.

School was to start tomorrow hence the need for the new haircuts.  I new president was elected and they anticipate strikes tomorrow so school has been cancelled.  It now starts Monday.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Denise

Sweet time with Special Kids

What a great day.  I was able to spend time with a few of the Special Needs children here at the Home.  Erick and Ingrid are siblings that were placed in the the home last year. They have both grown and changed so much since I was here last year, thanks to all the loving care they get here at Eagle's Nest.  Teams have brought in wheelchairs that are specifically set up for them.  They receive therapy several times a week and they will attend school in the Special Needs class that starts Friday.

 

Erick loves being outside so I grabbed him up and carried him all around.  We sat outside and looked at the lake and the beautiful flowers.  He thought it was so funny when I sniffed the roses to smell them.  We walked around inside the school and then we went to the playground so I could swing him in a special swing.  So thankful for the team that brought the swing and got it hung so the Special Needs kids can swing.  He absolutely loved it. 

When we got back inside I sat down to play with the babies - and to my surprise I looked up and Ingrid was walking down the hall with the help of a Mama!  I have never seen her walk and was so excited - she was too!  Her feet crossover so she had to concentrate and try hard to get the left

foot to go in front of the right.   She was not able to walk at all last year when I was here - she was confined to a wheelchair or laying on the floor.  Once again so thankful for the team that brought the wheelchairs that are adjusted specifically to her needs. 

 Sweet baby Eliceo (they call him Chello) was so tiny last year.  He has grown but is still very small.  He keeps getting pneumonia and has been so sick he has been hospitalized several times.  It was so good to see him smiling and happy today and he has the most gorgeous, long, eyelashes!.

Hopefully he will stay well and won't have to make any more trips to the hospital.

Santiago (with Ingrid) was brought to the home in December.  He has a bad cold now and they are giving him breathing treatments (once again thanks to the teams that bring those supplies for the Home).  He looks to be around two but when I asked his age they said he was four years old.

I saw him crawling on the floor and asked if he could walk and the Mama said no.

She then went and got the special walker he can use.  It took a bit of coaxing to get him

to let me walk down the hall with him instead of the Mama - well actually he was happy

if I just held one hand and he held walker with the other.  We made two full laps down the hall, that is fairly long by the way.  He was smiling and giggling the entire time.  I would say "bravo, bravo" and then applause and he would start clapping.  Was just adorable!   I also got several thumbs up but

was never fast enough to catch on camera.  But I was able to catch him clapping, so very sweet.

Was a small part of the day and so thankful I was able to spend time with them all.
Hopefully will be able to do that on a regular basis for the rest of my stay. 
Please remember I am not a writer, just sharing from my heart.

So many stories to share, never enough time.  Or should I say I can't keep my eyes open long enough to share more.  Thanks for the prayers and encouragement to serve here - it is a blessing.

               Speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.  Prov 31:9