Across Country Borders and State Lines
- Roselands
- Apr 15, 2025
- 5 min read
Time in Ecuador
Ximena was able to travel to Ecuador for a week to visit our kids, Erick and Mayumi, and our grandson, Judah. She was also able to visit her grandmother, who was diagnosed with rapidly progressing dementia a few months ago. We had been praying that she would still be able to recognize Ximena, but sadly that didn't happen.
It was a sweet time to spend with the kids and family. We were nervous for her to travel, as things in Manta have become a lot more dangerous with a huge increase of homicides and kidnappings (although Memphis still beats Ecuador as being worse in number of homicides!). Thankfully, everything went well and she was able to safely arrive back in Memphis this morning!
Southern US, Northern US, and Belize
Every two years, we do the Texas Tour to visit our supporters in Texas, but we rarely venture out to see everyone else who are spread across the US. This year, we decided to change that!!! It started with visiting with the Eaton family in Corinth, MS. Also, when things changed for Peyton on the date we were supposed to go to Chicago, he ended up flying to Memphis to spend his birthday with us.
Then, we headed to Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and East Tennessee before heading back to Memphis. We drove almost 3,000 miles, but it was worth it to see supporters who we haven't seen in years!!! And our Texas Tour is coming up in June 2025!
While we were travelling, the kids were on Spring Break and went on a mission trip with Harvest Church to Belize. OK...OK...it's kind of cheating, because their grandparents are there too! They had a great time and helped interpreting for the other team members on the trip. Santi was even able to share his testimony for the first time in Spanish at one of the churches there!
Claudia and Nathaly
Claudia and Nathaly are now 18!!! We are so thankful to continue to be in both of their lives and be in more regular communication. As soon as they turned 18, they moved out and started living on their own. We were so excited when they reached out to come and visit! It was so fun having them in our home again and just to hear their laughter and joking around.
Both of them dropped out of school as soon as they left their foster homes. We strongly encouraged her to reach out to the school to see if she could finish the last 3 months of her senior year of high school. She thankfully followed up on our advice and the school is allowing her to graduate if she completes some online videos and takes the ACT. Please be praying that Claudia will follow through on it and that they will both find positive friendships over these next few months!!!
Mentoring Benjamin
Richard has continued to mentor Benjamin* through Youth Villages. It has been a difficult few months as Benjamin* has had some behavior issues that have caused our meetings to get canceled. But at the same time, he has been through so much! It was one dumb, 13-year old mistake that landed him in juvenile detention for a year and now in state-custody until he is 18. He is hoping to be transfered to another group home on the other side of TN to be closer to his mom. Please be praying for wisdom for Richard to encourage Benjamin* and allow him to see that there are other paths that he can follow!
Adoption Video Shoot
Richard was able to serve at another adoption video shoot for children in Memphis who no longer have parents in their lives and are just waiting to be adopted or age out of the system at age 18. These shoots increase their likelihood of adoption by 50%!!! There were a few special kids that day who Richard was able to spend time with and let them know that someone knows their name and thinks they are special. There are still around 120 kids in Memphis who are just waiting to be adopted and stuck in the system until that happens. Please join us in praying for them!!!
Isaiah 117 House
Richard has been involved with this project for almost 3 years and it is finally coming to fruition!!! He helped bring the first Isaiah 117 House to Memphis, which is a home where foster children are taken on removal day, helping to reduce the trauma and pain that they experience on one of the worst days of their lives.
We are in the final stretch before the home will receive the first foster children! We have been helping a lot lately, helping to put the last touches to make it a home, like hanging curtains, putting together furniture, and even hanging a hammock in the backyard! We are excited to be able to change the way that foster care begins for the kids in Memphis!
Clothing Galore!
One of the ministries that we both are heavily involved with is Threads of Hope. It is a clothing closet for foster children that helps give them the dignity of "shopping" for their own clothing after being removed from their home. We sort, wash, and prepare the best clothing possible to make their shopping experience feel special.
This year, as part of a DNOW service project with The Orchard Church, their middle schoolers helped to sort some of the donated clothing for Threads. Richard was able to share with them how traumatic removal day can be for foster kids, not only losing their parent(s), but usually their clothing and personal belongings that were familiar to them.
Julian
Julian has continued to come over to our house after-school or whenever Marelyn needs help with him. Marelyn is doing her best to keep him in a safe, home environment, but he has started to act out at school, which led to a 3-day suspension this past week. Please be praying for his heart and mind to find ways to express himself that don't hurt people around him and for wisdom for Marelyn in how to parent him.
Thank you for reading and for praying for us!
Richard and Ximena
*We are in need of new supporters, especially for our ministry expenses, as we continue to do more in our community. Here are the links:
Family Support: CLICK HERE!
Ministry Expenses Support: CLICK HERE!
*BONUS*
As you can see, the kids are all grown up!!! Santi is now 6 feet and is turning 16 this summer. We are in the throes of mini-heart attacks while he does the hours for his license. Lani is 14 and finishing out her soccer season before she joins Santi in
marching band in May!
Prayer Requests:
Claudia/Nathaly: Please be praying that Claudia will follow through on finishing her last year of high school and that both of them will find positive friendships over these next few months!!!
Julian: Please be praying for his heart and mind to find ways to express himself that don't hurt people around him and for wisdom for Marelyn in how to parent him.
Texas Tour: Please be praying in advance for the month of June, as we visit supporters in Texas and share with people about our ministry.
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