Arol: our little English language lover

Originally posted November 30, 2013

By Michael Carson

-AROL IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Many kids would feel overwhelmed by living in a house with parents whose first language is different than their own. But Arol seems to be thrilled by it. It only makes him want to learn more English so that he can always know what we’re saying.

John is still learning Spanish day by day, and Arol used to ask me three or four times a day how to say something in English. Now, he almost never asks me. John’s learning Spanish, and Arol’s learning how to maneuver around the words he doesn’t know.

Arols is always one of the teacher’s favorites, no matter the year or subject. He’s a sweet boy who loves to learn English and demonstrate how much he knows. I love thinking about how two years ago he was a 9-year-old who couldn’t read or write, and now he’s learning to do both in two languages.

The bilingual school where Arol and several of our other kids attend has become a second home for our kids. Arol may complain about doing homework, but he adores his teachers and the administration at Interamerican. And he loves to learn. He will start third grade in February, and now he’s old enough to be on the school soccer team. He’s thrilled!

Arol has a lot of emotional issues still to work through, but I’m thrilled to say he’s moving forward in a positive way with school and with us.

Please sponsor this sweet boy to spend Christmas with us and his BC family on the beaches of Amapala. He can’t stop talking about it!

Linda’s family: seeking a blessing for an overwhelmed mother

Originally posted November 28, 2013

-LINDA’S FAMILY IS NOW SPONSORED FOR CHRISTMAS-

Though they don’t live in our building, the beautiful family of girls pictured above is one that is very near and dear to our ministry. Only now, that family boasts three more members than it did just two weeks ago.

Linda, along with her daughters Sandra, Escarleth and Perla frequently visit our ministry throughout the week. But this week Linda stopped by with two extra girls in tow. After talking to us about her financial struggles of trying to keep up with her living expenses, she said that the two girls with her were also her daughters. They, along with their older sister, had recently come to live with her after the grandmother they had been living with passed away.

So now Linda has three extra mouths to feed on top of those she was already struggling to maintain. You could see the strain and worry in Linda’s eyes as she talked to us about the best plan for the future. Linda loves her family. But, in reality, she does not have the income to provide for them all, nor many skills currently to gain better employment. She will have to make some tough decisions soon regarding her children’s future, which may include placing some of her girls in a children’s home for a time after the beginning of the year.

Linda has dealt with several struggles in her past, including drug addiction and abusive relationships, but has come a long way from where she once was. She wants a better life for her family, but it’s a struggle every day to get there. Our prayer is that she continues to rely on God to push forward even when it seems like one thing after another is stacked against her.

In Honduras, it is a big deal for everyone to wear their new clothes on Christmas. And with the new additions to Linda’s family, there is no way she will be able to afford that for every child. Though they won’t be going to the beach with us, we would love to be able to sponsor Linda’s family to give each of her daughters a new outfit for Christmas. That way, they can find some joy and normalcy in celebrating the Christmas holiday together before potentially big changes in the new year.

Please consider donating $125 to sponsor this beloved, struggling family for Christmas. It would be a much appreciated blessing for a weary, overwhelmed mother.

Mirna: A newly returned familiar face

Originally posted November 27, 2016

By Courtney Mathews

-MIRNA IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

Mirna is a sweet soul that we have known for a long time, but with whom we’ve only recently reuinited.

We first met Mirna three years ago when she and her sister Edis began visiting our ministry on nights that we served meals. And we got to know and love her even more when she and Edis’s family moved into the building.

We were blessed to have Mirna as part of our first Beach Christmas. Then, following the birth of her baby, she decided to go stay with other family for a while. Mirna has recently returned to the city and is working at a job in the market during the week to provide money to send back to her family.

We have loved having her friendly face back at the building. She is always ready with a cheerful hug and a smile when she returns home from work and is quick to ask us how we are doing.

Our favorite charm of Amapala

Originally posted November 27, 2013

By Courtney Mathews

-DIASTAFANO’S FAMILY IS SPONSORED FOR CHRISTMAS-

Amapala isn’t a beach that we love for its resort-style amenities. In fact, we love it more for the lack thereof. It’s simple and rustic nature are what we consider to be its charms.

So while there’s no assortment of five-star restaurants on hand, to us there is something even better: a tiny beach shack held together by wood, rope and plastic and manned by one of the nicest families you’ll ever meet.

The family, headed by father Diestafano and mother Hermalinda, has played host to our crazy Breaking Chains family for the past two Beach Christmases. They are always ready, fridge stocked full of glass bottled soda and waving to us as our boat arrives on the beach. And they continue to be gracious and share their smiles even in the middle of us ordering 40 plates of food per meal.

The undertaking of the weekend is truly a family affair. Diestafano and his older boys are charged with making the fresh catches for the trip. And, when their boat returns with nets full of fish and shrimp for our crew to devour, Hermalinda and her girls begin the cooking. At first, you may have to get used to eating a fish with the face still attached, but you’ll get over it quickly. Because it’s delicious.

Diestafano’s family is more than just the family that makes our food. They have become our friends. Throughout the trip, their kids will join our kids in building sandcastles or playing soccer on the beach. And the parents will bond over watching their beautiful children splashing in the waves.

For the past two years, we have been able to bless Diestafano’s family with small gifts during our trip, and we would like to do so again this year. We are seeking an additional $125 sponsorship to provide those gifts.

Edis: a mother finally learning to read

Originally posted November 27, 2013

By Michael Carson

-EDIS IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

There are few people in the building I have more confidence in than Edis. I would trust her with just about anything. She’s not perfect, but she’s a loving, kind mother of four I thank God I have in my life.

Early this year my mom’s class began giving to Breaking Chains to provide a cleaning job for Edis at our building. Along with her job and ability to add income for her family, she also started school in February and is learning how to read. She has “tried classes” maybe a half dozen times, and she said she never felt like it clicked. She never felt like anyone cared.

Now Edis can read on a first grade level, and in February she will continue learning. She may not know a lot still, but she is willing to be taught. And there’s a light in her eyes now when she tells she what she knows. What a God thing that is.

Please give this wonderful mother of four a relaxing few days at the beach with her husband and kids. She has had a year of hard work, and she’s earned a little relaxation.

Yahaira: A weary, dedicated mother

Originally posted November 26, 2013

By Michael Carson

-YAHAIRA IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2013-

I have loved getting to know our teens, especially the ones who have been with us the longest. I feel like they understand me, and I understand them, even when they mess up. I feel this is probably the most about Yahaira. I hurt when she hurts, and she hurts when I hurt. And I have hurt for her over the past few weeks as her little boy Angel has been in the hospital.

In a recent accident, Yahaira’s son Angel burned his arm and part of his back after playing too close to some hot water just a few weeks ago. It all happened in an instant, and all were instantly terrified.

Since November 9, Angel has been recuperating in the hospital, and Yahaira has been at his side every day, talking to the doctors and taking care of him. She has barely slept, but she just keeps saying, “I can’t leave him.”

Yahaira told me the doctors are supposed to do skin grafts on Tuesday, but they’re in a public hospital. Doctors’ words aren’t always the most reliable, and often things take longer than they say. Please pray Angel gets the best care possible and continues to improve, slowly but steadily.

We’re not sure Yahaira will be able to attend Beach Christmas, but we would still like to get her presents and make sure her Christmas with Angel is special, even if they’re not able to vacation at the beach with us.