The Luke 9:23 Project

Hope Renewed: Baby Wendy’s Story

Joey Soto Jr. — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:12:05 +0000

I still remember how I felt, in spite of my selfish attitude.

"This little gal is one month old... but there's no way she weighed more than 3 or 4 pounds. Little Wendy will need a miracle--luckily the Lord is in the business of miracles." Caption Written August 6, 2011.

Earlier in the day, I’d been frustrated because I’d been inconvenienced. My time had seemingly been stolen from me on my last full day of my summer in Honduras.

But at this point, all those petty feelings had subsided and given way to a whole new set of emotions: heart-broken, hopeless, humbled.

I couldn’t believe what was before my eyes.

No human being, regardless of location, race or class status should have to experience that.

I felt as though I was witnessing an unintentional, yet unavoidable post-birth abortion. Was I the only one seeing this poor baby and her immense malnutrition?

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Hopeless in Honduras

If you know me, you probably think I’m one of the most hope-filled, passionate and often too optimistic people you know.

Yet on that day, upon seeing Baby Wendy’s ghastly, nearly lifeless face and feeling her tiny, pencil-thin fingers, all hope vanished from my heart.

I simply could not believe that this precious little girl was on death row because of the misfortune of where she was born and to which two parents conceived her.

“This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” That was the singular thought that kept racing through my mind. It wasn’t fair.

My mind began to sink into despair. I just simply could not believe that in July 2011, with all the advances of mankind over the year, there are still millions of kids dying every single year from hunger.

It’s one thing to hear the stat.

It’s another to enter their home and look one of those 5.8 million square in the face. There’s something about that moment, that experience that makes your heart faint.

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Not Just Another Statistic

After I left Baby Wendy’s house, I felt the Lord prompting me to do the unthinkable.

All summer I’d been thinking and dreaming about finding “the right” child to sponsor. I thought about how I wanted to find a kid who really needed it and could excel in life as a result of my faithful funding.

"The baby on the left is one month old. The baby on the right isn't many months older... but there's an obvious difference." Caption Written in Aug. 2011.

Yet it was on the last day of my two months in Honduras that God laid the child on my heart.

I still remember turning to Pastor Geovany (a doctor by trade) and asking him if she had much hope surviving.

I still remember his response, saying that in her condition she might not make it another month.

I still remember thinking that even through the sponsorship, she could still die from her condition, whether literally or mentally.

But none of that mattered.

I (with the partnership of my then girlfriend, now bride-to-be Elizabeth) decided to take a personal leap of faith and trust that God would use our $35 a month to change the life of this little girl.

I left Baby Wendy’s house on a mission, but also broken.

Despite my usual optimism, I thought I would never see her again.

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“That’s not her…”

The months passed by and I heard few things about Baby Wendy and her two sisters we began supporting in August, with help from Mid-Campus Canvas Group at our home church, The Rock.

Baby Wendy in Dec. 2011, just 5 months after we began sponsoring her. When Pastor Geovany sent me this photo, I thought he sent me a picture of a different baby.

All I knew was that she was receiving special milk and food for her condition. But I must confess I had little hope it would have much effect. I had already handed her over to God, trusting he would use our money and prayers at his discretion.

On December 30, 2011, I received an email from Pastor Geovany with a few photos of a little baby girl.

At first, I thought it was a mistake.

To be honest, I didn’t even bother responding.

I had convinced myself that it was just a mistake. He had sent me a photo of the wrong baby, not on purpose, but by accident. An honest mistake.

I rationalized that when I returned to Honduras in March 2012, I would ask to visit the family myself to see their condition.

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Hope Renewed

After the church service concluded on our second day in Honduras, I was directed by Pastor Geovany to a woman I recognized quite well and a baby I could barely believe I also knew.

But at this point, there was no doubt.

Seeing is believing. But even seeing this baby miracle was hard to believe. God had provided so magnificently in such a short period of time. Photo taken March 24, 2012.

Seeing was believing, even though I could still barely believe that the beautiful little girl adorned in pink was that same girl on the brink of death just 8 months earlier.

The Lord taught me a very memorable lesson on that day, as a I played with Baby Wendy’s fingers and glared into her beautiful brown eyes.

He reminded me of His provision. He reminded me that He doesn’t just give up. And He reminded me that when we take a leap of faith, He’s there to see us through to the end.

So next time you’re discouraged or despairing.

Next time you’re hopeless and feeling helpless.

Remember Baby Wendy.

I know I will.

Pastor Geovany leads us back to Baby Wendy's home in March 2012. Their house is literally the size of a walk-in closet, with 5 people living and sleeping on one bed.

My beautiful fiance stares into the eyes of Baby Wendy as she's held dearly by her mother, Wendy. The two other precious girls are Baby Wendy's older sisters. Brenda, 6, (green) and Catherine, 3, (pink) are both also sponsored by Elizabeth & I and our small group at church.

Rock Honduras Spring Break Trip 2012 [Through Photos]

Joey Soto Jr. — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:26:59 +0000

A group of 20 people, mostly college students, from The Rock Church in Columbia, Missouri traveled two thousand miles south to help serve alongside its sister church in Choluteca, Honduras. While I could sit here and write a thought-provoking post about our trip, what we accomplished and what God taught us during our journey, I thought it better to start with a picture post. Enjoy the photos and leave your thoughts, encouragements, etc.

Constructing Beds & The Playground

My brother Tim & Stevi help assembly a bed. Tim came out to Honduras for the first 5 days of our mission trip to see what God was doing in the city of Choluteca. He got right involved, helping make the beds and later helping to teach in the computer class with Julio Cesar.

Megan LaManna helps stain the wood that will be used for the playground later in the week. We stained the wood to fend off any potential termite infestation. Meanwhile, Margaret Bedwell creeps into the photo in the background.

Chris Kassing shows Levi (Mission Project Coordinator) the piece of wood that will ultimately be used as the leg of the bed to make sure the cut marks are accurate. We learned quickly that "Measure Twice, Cut Once" was not a Honduran proverb. Rather, it seemed to be "Cut, then measure, realize you're wrong and then cut again.... when you realize you cut too much or too little, just change the dynamics of the project." Oddly enough, this philosophy worked quite well!

Josiah Smith helps sand the wood during the initial stages of putting the beds together. Joe and Stone Chen's wood was known for being as smooth as a baby's bottom. They took great pride in sanding well.

Stone helps direct other team members as they tried to assembly the big yellow slide on the side of the main tower for the playground. The kids went crazy about the big yellow slide, as you'll see later.

Chris Kassing helps screw in the notch for the swing set. Steph Proffer helped pain on "La Roca" to leave our mark on the project for months and years to come.

After days of watching the gringos progress on building the parquesito con juegos (park w/ toys), the kids finally were able to storm the playground and enjoy it to the fullest.

Our mission team poses for a photo with the five completed beds with mattresses in the neighborhood we gave away the beds. Each of the families that received the beds were in a dire need, with having people sleeping on the ground at night or on makeshift beds made out of cardboard or old broken mattresses.

A few kids sit on a the new bed and mattress inside their cardboard & tarp-constructed home near the river. These kids were previously sleeping on broken old mattresses directly laid on the ground.

Smiles & Memorable Moments

Katie Hayes paints a girl's nails while at Casa Hogar Vida. Katie became known as the nail polish girl among some of the locals.

Some of the chicas pose for a photo on top of what will be the Missions Hotel when it opens in May 2012. From left to right: Elizabeth Jester, Margaret Bedwell, Ami Jester, Alex Turkey, Katie Hayes, Paola Andino.

Kyle Vitican... err Vltican... err.. CHUCK WAGON plays with Jorgito while in Namisigue. Chuck & Jorgito had a tight bond form over a few short days.

Stone plays with Jorgito while in Namisigue. Jorgito became one of the poster-children for our trip. Everyone loved playing with him and especially tickling him, since he had such an adorable laugh.

Stevi & Emma pose with their soccer team put together from the girls living in or near the Casa Hogar Vida community.

Evangelism

Zane & Criz team up and share the Gospel with a women living in Limon, Choluteca, Honduras. Zane used his Spanish skills to communicate the love of Christ. Criz used his passion to help relay any concepts Zane tried to communicate that the women was having trouble understanding. They made an incredible team!

The interaction between these three, especially the mother and the baby was beyond precious. While most families in Honduras don't display great unity and mother-children intimate love, this family definitely did. And it was such an encouragement.

Zane, Criz & Steph pose with some kids outside of a house we shared God's love with during an afternoon in Limon.

Alejandra Pavon (Alex Turkey) and Ami Jester talk with a women in Limon about God's love and His Grace. Many people in Honduras believe that you have to do good deeds to earn salvation. This concept runs rampant and creates a sense of fear in the people that their salvation can be won or lost based on their whimsical actions.

Silas Acuff poses with bus driver Rony after giving away his shoes one of our last days in Honduras. The shoes fit perfectly for Rony! What an awesome display of generosity by Silas.

Baby Wendy: Hope Renewed!

Elizabeth and I getting to see our little girl Jensy (formerly 'Baby Wendy' because she had no name when we first met her in July). It's a miracle this little girl is still alive and is growing so well despite immense malnutrition.