Guatemala 2025 - Day 4 at CadaNiño

Day 4: Meet Madison (black shirt)… she’s MY GIRL! We started sponsoring her last year and we have been writing ever since. Madison attends an after school program at CadaNiño. These kids live in a red zone – the mark of a neighborhood noted for gang violence and crime. At CadaNiño, there is more than tutoring, a hot homecooked meal, bible lessons, game time, and STEM classes. There is safety. Inside the four walls of the community center, there are no rivals. And the kids are empowered to then minister to the widowed and elderly in their neighborhood – they deliver food, pray, and help with projects. (I stole Ronne’s words again). Iris went the day before and found Madison as well. She knew that was T’s girlfriend and come on… how cute is that last picture!?!? It took us both a second to recognize each other but there was A LOT of hugging once we did. I’m waiting on pics of us together… (this is when I regret my phone staying in my bag) but at one point she hugged me and told me how much she loved me (her English is FAR better than my Spanish). She’s a typical teen (giggled a lot and was VERY interested in pictures with Tristan! Look out Iris! 🤣) We did the skit, played A LOT of games and did another home visit. Again, there is NO WAY to prepare your heart. We took a tuk tuk (kind of like a moped with a tiny covered cart) and entered the home of the bravest mom I have ever met. Her son was stricken with Guillain-Barré syndrome and was suddenly paralyzed. One of the leaders at CadaNiño, Luke, told us that his Father had experienced the same thing in the States years before. He was made for such a time as this. He bravely walked the road with him. Luke visited, texted, he was his best friend when no one else was. Luke is a caregiver, an artist, a friend, but also a husband, and empath (I filled him in on that one) and he looks more like Jesus than most people I know. He didn’t want to go on that mission trip so many years ago… his mama pushed him… and he was forever changed. Big and small, what we do matters. I can’t offer Madison much, but daily, I offer her my prayers and my heart. The rest is up to God. Thank You, Lord for email!













Madison, I will miss you so much!!!


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