Friday, July 27, 2007

Chicken Pox




No we are not putting on a play or doing and indigenous dance. Some of the kids have Chicken Pox. At this point it is just itchy. It is interesting having so many with it at once. Praying that this is the last round.
God bless you all.
In His grasp
Patti Sue

The Children Having Fun at the Property

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Dear Prayer Warriors,
It is a beautiful morning, I didn’t get to go for a walk this morning as it was raining at 6 am but looks like now it will be a nice day.

Yesterday was very busy. I thought we were going to get away with only one case of Chicken Pox but it now looks like Nathaniel, and Nicole have them and Dubieska and Moíses are running fevers. Chicken Pox is not really a big deal and doesn’t last very long, best for them to have it now while they are young.

We have been taking all the kids to the eye doctor. 8 last week and 10 yesterday, we will try to finish them up today. Also taking them to the dentist this week, it is a lot of work but just one of those things that have to be done.

Working on plans for the land dedication on August 4th, I have a meeting with the board this evening to firm up the plans. Duane Jones from CornerStone is coming in on the 31st and will be here through the 6th. He is the director of CornerStone and I am looking forward to getting to talk and pray with him.

A church has sent $10,000 directly to Fundacion Casa de Fe so the land will be paid for around the 1st of August. God is so good.

Craig and a great group of workers pored concrete for the bridge we needed to access the property on Monday. Dr. Wes King from Baños loaned us his concrete mixer and Luke and Paul Slaughter were there to help. I really love seeing the Body of Christ coming together to do His work.

We are caring for 25 kids right now and we are very full. The 3 brothers went home with their mother last week. She said her village thought she sold the kids and she wanted to show them that they were alright and she would bring them back on Wednesday (today) if she brings them back that will be 28. We really need to get started on the Multi-use Building, sewer system and water tower.

We have a group of 26 coming from Youth World on the 31st. That is a really big group so pray we can keep them busy and that they will grow closer to God during there time here.

God bless you all for your prayers.
In His grasp
Patti Sue

Saturday, July 21, 2007




I have attached a blog that was done buy Celeste Welch. Her thoughts some how put things into perspective. Many have asked me why don’t you just close the doors and not accept any more children. The answer is in the faces of these precious gifts from God. I must have faith that God will provide everything, not just food and clothing but also if needed He will provide space, space for one more.


Yesterday a little girl was dropped off by police. She is about 2 and has round cheeks - well fed, no apparent problems. She was found very dirty and alone on the street in Puyo. Patti Sue thinks she is Quechua. It is possible she is lost and her parents will come looking for her. A while back there was a girl brought in - she was found on a bus in Shell and was later reunited with her mom in Cuenca (which is very far away) who had been looking for her. I remember being amazed that the police here cared enough to make this happen.

Last night, we went out for Pinchos with the Slaughter family, a short term girl from Alaska, and Patti Sue. It was great food and we had a nice time. When we got home the phone rang and Patti Sue asked if I wanted to go along with her to the hospital. I went down stairs and again had a tiny girl put on my lap. This time she was two though! When Patti Sue got back from Pinchos, the workers told her "a new girl came" - Patti Sue said "I know" (thinking of the pudgy little girl that came earlier in the day) - then realized it was indeed yet another little girl. We named her Rebecca. She has a severe cleft pallet, but had surgery a while back to correct her lips. She was extremely malnourished . Her legs and bottom looked like those of an infant. But she is very alert and loves to be held. While at the hospital, the nurse told me to follow her to have Rebecca weighed - we followed the trail of blood on the ground into an emergency room with a young man who had apparently almost cut his foot off with a machete (the scale was a couple of feet from him and inches from the blood filled bowl). Rebecca weighed about 10-11lbs. We took her back to Casa de Fe and she was placed in a warm bed, wrapped in a cozy blanket. We are praying we can find someone to correct her cleft pallet. Also, if anyone is able to get special nipples for bottle feeding children with cleft pallets - that would be something that would be nice to have down here.

Patti Sue reminded me that I had asked before we came down why she doesn't send some of the children somewhere else - since Casa de Fe is so full - my heart was saying that the children I had seen and grown to love there needed the space and more individualized attention - but after being down here, holding these precious new children I suddenly understand that there really is no decision to be made. A child is brought in and a request is given to take in the child - and you see this child - this beautiful child who was created by God, who is loved dearly - and there is just no question - not only do you say yes, but you see it as a privilege to be able to hold, feed, and love this child whom the world has cast off or given up on.

Little Sara's mom came by again yesterday to nurse Sara - please be praying for this beautiful little girl, be praying for her mom to recover well and for her milk supply to stay plentiful so she can be reunited with her little girl and her family.

They will be mixing and putting the concrete on the bridge Monday. Praying for good weather!

God bless all of you for your prayers and please don’t hesitate to share these prayer requests with your prayer partners.
In His grasp
Patti Sue

Friday, July 20, 2007


Dear Prayer Warriors,
I have sent out many updates this week and I have felt the strength of your prayers.
This morning the mother of Nixon, Michael and Alexis came she said that her village has accused her of selling her boys so she has taken them back to show everyone that they are fine. She says she will bring them back on Wednesday as she can see that they are very well cared for, better than she can do alone. After she left with the boys I went up to the property to talk to the guy who sold us the land and also see how the bridge was coming. They had all the forms ready to pour this morning and we had a very heavy rain last night so they were straightening the forms and making sure everything was ready. When I arrived home there was another beautiful little girl the police had brought. They said they found her yesterday very dirty and alone. She looks to be about 2 years old, we have no name but Ines is calling her Patti. She is not malnourished and looks like she has been well cared for, please pray that the police can find her parents, I am sure they are worried about her.
Photo attached.
In His grasp
Patti Sue

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Dear Prayer Warriors,
We are doing well. 26 kids are a lot to handle in 2 houses but the caregivers are very organized. We have a group here from Youth World and they have been taking the kids to the park and doing crafts with the kids. Some of them went up to the property yesterday and helped with the bridge and swimming area. They will be here again today.

Maribel didn’t get to go to the beach because of the chicken pox and then when they were getting ready to load the bus Geovani decided not to go because he didn’t know any of the kids. Well maybe next year.

If any of the other kids are going to get chicken pox it will start this coming week. Please pray for the kids and the caregivers. It is a normal childhood thing but with this many kids it will be a lot of work. Also pray that little Sarita doesn’t get them. We have been told if her mother had them that she will have the antibodies from her for at lease 8 months.

Work on the property is moving ahead. The bridge is about half done and the swimming area is dug out. Please pray for money to come in to pay for the 3rd hector of land and start the multi use building. Craig and I will be talking to the Youth World Group tonight please pray that our words will be anointed.

God bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers.
In His grasp
Patti Sue


Dear Prayer Warriors,
Yesterday was an especially difficult day. We started out taking kids to see the eye doctor. A pediatric entomologist is visiting and the hospital offered to have all the kids eyes checked for free. We got 8 of 26 done yesterday.

I had to take Dubieska to tell how she was treated by her Aunt and Uncle whom she refers to as Mom and Dad. She was a very brave little 6 year old. As I held her in my lap she recounted how she was beaten with sticks, hot sauce put in her eyes and privet parts. All I could do was sit there and hold her. I prayed for strength for her and that I wouldn’t cry. When we were finished they put her finger print on the statement and we went and got ice cream.

When we got home Sara’s mother was at the house with her grandmother who didn’t speak Spanish. For some reason she thought we were stealing babies and selling them for body parts. One of the ladies who works for me talked to her and explained that we don’t steal children or sell them. Sara’s mother wanted to take her where she is living in a room with no bed only a piece of plastic on the floor. She will soon be taking Sara out to the jungle to live with her parents and family but we talked her into leaving her with us until she was ready to go back to her home. Sara’s mother is 15 and her father is 33. He is asking for a blood test of Sara.

By the evening I was emotionally drained. We have a ladies prayer time this morning and I am really looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time at the feet of Jesus.
God bless you all for holding me up.
In His grasp
Patti Sue

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Please continue to pray for Marlin. They had to put her on a ventilator and it can be difficult to get young children off of ventilators once they are on. The last time she was on the ventilator she did real well and was off in less than 12 hours but the longer she is on the harder it is to get her off. I know Marlin is a fighter and that God is in control. When I left the hospital I saw tears in the eyes of the young lady who cares for Marlin on a regular basis. Please pray for the care givers, nurses and doctors also.
In His grasp
Patti Sue
Dear Prayer Warriors,
Marlin is back in the hospital with an as of yet undetermined infection. Please pray they can get her on the right antibiotic and she will be home soon.
Delfin (Robinson) has a cold but was sent home with some cold medicine.
Amanda has a sore under her tongue and is on antibiotics and Tylenol.

And then during all of this a beautiful 6 year old girl arrived. Her name is Dubiaska. Her Grandmother filed molestation charges against her Uncle who was taking care of her at the time. The police are investigating and in the mean time she will stay with us. She has a beautiful smile and sweet spirit. She looks small for her age but seems healthy. (Photo attached)

Craig is busy working and planning on the property. Please pray we will be able to get the materials needed to put in the bridge. Also pray that we can get the plans done for the multi-use building.

We are working on the adoptability paperwork for Rosa and Jefferson. Please pray that the investigations go well and quickly.

Cristian is very close to being adoptable.

God bless you all for your dedication to pray for the work here at Casa de Fe.
In His grasp
Patti Sue
Dear Prayer Warriors,
We are doing really great.
Haven't had anyone in the hospital for over a month. Everyone is healthy and the virus that was going through the house seems to have run it's course.
The Welches are settling in and Craig is chomping at the bit to get started on the building.
We have a family coming on the 9th please pray the road will be open so I can get to Quito and they can get back here.
We have had no trouble getting fruits and vegetables and although it has been rumored that gas wasn't getting through we did get 3 tanks of gas today and I filled up my car yesterday.
Your prayers are so very important.
Please pray for the planing and funding of the building project. We have decided to build the multi-use building first as it will enable us to get on the property with all the kids the fastest.

I made you all a prayer calender for July. As it is already the 2nd I didn't put photos on the 1st and 2nd. Let me know if you like it and if it helps you pray for the kids.
God bless you all.
In His grasp
Patti Sue