This last year, Hope Caring has been very busy caring for the dozens of children we’ve been entrusted with. It has not been an easy year. Please bear with us, as this post will provide honest transparency, that can be very emotional for our readers.
It is the reality we face every day at Hope Caring.
We will begin this update by sharing 2 (of many) particularly difficult experiences of ours.
Being an orphan, in itself, is incredibly difficult.
Parents, you know how much care your children require.
Imagine them being left to largely fend for themselves, because you were no longer there.
Now, make the political, social and natural climate exceedingly harsh…
Every year our children face hunger, illness, heat, cold, flooding, need for clean water, mosquitoes, and at times… even death.
We face these challenges with little-to-no social or governmental assistance.
That is the reality at Hope Caring.
This year, we had our youngest baby ever to be brought into the orphanage. At 1 month old, the little boy was found in a dumpster. The other children immediately grew close and loved our new little boy. They were heartbroken, when after a brief period with us, he passed away from pneumonia and malnutrition as a result of the neglect he had experienced in his short time in this life. We named him Emmanuel, “God with us.“
We did the best we could (we always do) to nurture him, but he started off life at a disadvantage.
The same disadvantage all of our children face.
Currently, we are dealing with weather changes and struggling to ensure we can keep these little ones warm, and an outbreak of chicken pox.
This year, the flooding and river surges were particularly harsh.
4-year-old Synaida was swept away by the river.
After a month of difficult and emotional searching, her body was found 200 miles away.
We buried our little girl with tender hearts as the only loving gesture we had left to provide for her.
We know this is difficult to read. Trust us. It’s even more difficult to experience, firsthand.
We haven’t even told you the stories of baby Samantha, Harriette, Bivon, Blessings, Miguel and the many others…
Here’s the good news:
Because of the loving donations from our small circle of supporters, and God’s miraculous provisions, we can continue to do our best to care for our children.
We have experienced much struggle and loss, but every morning is another opportunity to care for at least 43 more precious babies that we give every ounce of our soul and strength to care for, in Jesus’ name.
We ask that you please pray for us. Help us continue to press forward. There is no other way. Contribute in any capacity you can.
The children deserve it.
They are loved, and we want to make sure they see that.
We’re here to help make that happen, with your help.
Sincerely,
Humberto Duenas, written on behalf of:
Bishop Henry Okenda
Director, Hope Caring
