Suyapa: Beyond the wall

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By Courtney Mathews

-SUYAPA IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Suyapa has four children that live with her at Breaking Chains: Yahaira, Brayan, Axel and Angi. But you might not know it if you were just eavesdropping – because she doesn’t like for the children to call her “mom.” That, coupled with her tough exterior, might lead you to believe that she is distant from her children. But that’s far from the truth.

Suyapa puts on a hard front. Her past life experiences have taught her to do so. But if you can see past the initial wall, you are sure to witness several sweet moments. Like her kneeling to re-tie the strings on Angi’s dress that have come undone from skipping around the building. Or walking hand-in-hand with her mentally challenged teenage son Brayan as she leads him down the stairs to help him take a bath. Or smiling with pride as her son Axel walks across the stage at Kindergarten graduation.

She loves her children. And more than anything else, they are the reason she presses forward. Suyapa certainly has her ups and downs. She has her attempts and failures, and she and we both share frustrations with one another. But through all of Suyapa’s inconsistency, her adoration for her family is constant. It’s a peek through the crack in her tough shell, and what can be glimpsed on the other side is beautiful.

Miguel: Making the uphill climb

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By Amber Foster

-MIGUEL IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Those of you that know me, know that I talk about Miguel A LOT. He has become another of the children of my heart. This has been a really rough year for us both.

At the beginning of the year, Miguel fell hard back into his life of cocaine and theft and did a lot of hurtful things. In April, he decided that he needed to get his life back on track, so he made the very difficult decision to go to rehab.

Since April he has been fighting an uphill battle to take his life back from his addictions and give it to God. There have been a lot of setbacks, and it seemed almost impossible at times that he was going to complete a month without falling off of the wagon, however briefly. I am so thrilled to tell you that he is now 3 months clean and doing  well. He is spending a lot of time in God’s word and writes daily trying to rid himself of the pain and hate he has carried his whole life.

I have rarely met anyone with a sweeter heart, so in tune to the feelings of others. Beach Christmas is a time when our kids can just be kids, without the pressure, pain, and temptations of the street so nearby. I am very excited to celebrate with Miguel all that God has done in his life this year. Please consider sponsoring him. 

Escarlen: one beautiful frustration

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By Michael Carson

-ESCARLEN IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

If you ever have to tutor our little Escarlen, you might end the time early wanting to pull your hair out. Her attention span can occasionally make a gnat look like its got it all together. But when you have a conversation with this little gift from God, you will fall in love with her kind spirit and mostly unintentionally hilarious personality.

Escarlen may be a little mess, but she has the sweetest heart. This year a boy started at Interamerican who was in 4th grade, but he had never been in bilingual school before. Administration decided to put him in second grade for a time to catch him up. The kids in second grade made fun of this little boy. Escarlen scolded the other kids and reminded them they had all been in that same situation.

Our little gem knew what it felt like to be made fun of for being different or not as quick as other kids. She remembered how bad that felt, and she wasn’t going to let that fourth grader feel like she had felt.

I pray to God this shows us a glimpse of what Escarlen’s future looks like – fighting for those who came from places and situations she knows, fighting for those who can’t fight on their own.

Please reward this little girl’s heart and give her a special Christmas vacation with her family. Would you sponsor this little one with such a beautiful heart for others?

Tobasqui: a rambunctious ball of fun

Originally posted November 21, 2013

By Michael Carson

-TOBASQUI IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Tobasqui is maybe the most photogenic child I have ever met. Check out last year’s Beach Christmas album if you want to see proof. He is a happy little boy who never meets a stranger and is always ready to run, play or the kick the ball with anyone who wants to play.

This little ball of energy finished his first year of school in Pre-K this year, and he loved it. We’re hoping he, his sister Henyi and his mother Martha can continue to be a part of our ministry long after they move out. We love these three even if they’re a pretty ornery crew!

Tobasqui’s family celebrated Beach Christmas with us last year, and it was the happiest I have ever seen them.

Ashley – Our sweet, babbling toddler

Originally posted November 20, 2013

By Amber Foster

-ASHLEY IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

When Little Miss Ashley lived with us last year, she was quite the diva. Rarely letting anyone but her mom hold her, but still stealing our hearts with her precious smile and tiny frame.

With the addition of a sister (Lesli) to the family, Ashley has opened up and become a hilarious little actress. Ashley and I have become buddies over the past two months.  I love watching her sly smirk as she runs off to hide from me, knowing I’m looking for my morning hugs and kisses. She is at the language learning stage where she will just talk away, completely unintelligible words but conveying so much meaning.

Ashley has become one of my favorite little ones at the building and I’m very excited to see what God does with her life. She has a mother that loves her dearly and only wants the best for her and that is such a blessing in the very selfish world that we live in. 

Henyi: Beauty and brains

Originally posted November 30, 2013

By Courtney Mathews

-HENYI IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

The little Honduran girls connected with our ministry are typically associated with being sweet. However, because of their economic status and typically minimally educated parents, they aren’t always associated with academic success. Henyi, however, is known for carrying both of those traits.

We came to know Henyi a year ago when her mother began coming to church and then subsequently moved the family into our building. We fell in love with her smile and quickly learned that behind that bright smile lay an even brighter intellect.

Although Henyi is in only in public school, she excels as a student and sometimes seems to know just as much English as our bilingual school students. She makes good grades and is very responsible in completing her homework. We hope to be able to sponsor her to attend a private school next year based on her academic level. She has an insatiable curiosity and a talent for art – we could decorate whole walls in the building with the pictures and cards she has made for us.

Henyi definitely has her ornery moments, but she has a undeniably sweet heart that led ‘her to be one of the favorites of our summer group visitors.  Henyi’s father was killed a few years ago, and now she and her brother Tobasqui are being raised by their single mother Martha. In many ways, the cards are stacked against Henyi. But our prayer is that God continues to motivate this sweet and intelligent girl to continue pursuing her education and provide a better life for her family.