March 29, 2004
Dear Friends,

We just wanted to send a little update, to let you know some of the things God is doing in Panimaquin.

At this moment, Dalila (17), who worked with us as a teacher's aide for nearly 3 years is attending 9th grade on Saturdays and Practical Nursing on Sundays. After she has had all her major nursing classes (6 months), she will switch to on hands in the hospital for the last 6 months 5 days/week.

Dalila completed a nurses aide class in January, so we encouraged her to immediately enroll in the practical nursing class while everything was fresh in her mind. She dreams of continuing for her RN in the future.
 

Bety, who worked with us full time until her husband quit, is attending 10th grade in the same Christian School as Dalila on Saturdays. Please pray for her family. Edvy has not really supported them since leaving us 2 years ago, he became abusive and is now living with his Mom. The 3 oldest
children are very hurt and angry with their father's behavior and very sad that they are not here anymore.  We are visiting and counseling with Bety on an ongoing basis.
 

Juan Carlos, who quit school 2 years ago to help support his family, is working as a teacher's aide and being groomed to teach the 4 year olds. He is attending 6th grade on Saturdays also. He received Christ in early Feb.  His father Is Francisco, who is still in bondage to alcoholism. He shows
great promise and is really enjoying his relationship with Lazaro and Glendy both during the week and at church.

Cruz, orphaned at age 1 year and 2 months. His dad died one month, his mom the next of alcoholism.. His sister, then about 19 raised the four brothers. Cruz is now 15 and working with us in the same capacity as Juan Carlos. He also is attending the same school and is in 7th grade. We are hoping these teens will both grow in love of teaching and want to get their teaching credentials in the future. Cruz received Christ in late Jan and is faithfully attending church.

Flora, just began to work with our team in the factory to replace Luisa (recently widowed and encouraged to stay at home by her son who lives with her.) She worked in the factory since the beginning. Flora is the sister who raised Cruz. Interestingly, she was one of our strongest enemies and led the group who cut our water several years ago. Now, she is excited about the project and learning all the gossip she has heard and believed in the past is untrue. Isn't God good!

We have talked many times of the family of 8 sons. Domingo, Lorenzo, and Francisco are three of those sons and their wives have worked with us for years.

Domingo and Chenta (works in kitchen) lost their 29 day old daughter in early October. They are both born again, still attending the Catholic Church.

Chenta is pregnant and after a rocky start, the pregnancy is doing well. GMO took her for an ultrasound and are following her pregnancy with a GYN MD.

Lorenzo and Ana (works in the factory) are both born again, also in the Catholic Church. The father recommitted his life to Christ since his family entered our project. Ana is a strong Christian and a wonderful example of Christ's love in our project.  They are parents of Lorenzo Jr. born with cleft lip and palate 2 ½ years ago. His lip was repaired and is perfect, the palate surgery is to be done this summer. Dalila is their eldest. Their next eldest is Maricela and is in 7th grade Mon-Fri.in the school below us.

Francisco and Elsa are the parents of Selena, the girl who spent a month in the hospital over one year ago with a worm in her bile duct. Blanca and Silvia their two eldest of 8 girls are attending the same school as Maricela same grade.  The father of these men is in the hospital with what appears to be end stage Lymphoma.  He received Christ last Wed. He has been a leader of this community for years and is a precious man who has taught his sons strength with tenderness (a rare thing is this Aldea).

The Lord put this family in our path within a month of our arrival here.  One other thing, Elsa's mom is in the hospital receiving radiation for pain control for end stage Ovarian Cancer. Berta received Christ and God is restoring this very dysfunctional family. Both Berta and her husband have lived on the streets bound to Alcoholism. God shared her cancer is unto death, but reconciliation will be completed in this entire family during this illness. GMO is paying for the
radiation treatments (50)

Ilma has worked with us in the kitchen since the project began. She and her husband Inocente attend the other full gospel church in our village. Their eldest daughter Roxana is a teacher's aide with us. Loyda attends 7th grade with the other 3 girls. She actually started in the project our first year.

So, that is just a small update of what your gifts are doing here in
Panimaquin.  What a Blessing!

In Him,
Bernard, Trish, and Sarah
 

P.S. Photo Of Trish and Sarah: