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| Symphonies of Hope Chris & Coleen Anderson P.O. Box 1061, Pharr, TX 78577 In the U.S. : 608 - 313 - HOPE Message phone in U.S. : 956-781-5133 Email: chriscoleen@symphoniesofhope.org Email: chriscoleen@choirsoffaith.org |
| SymphoniesOfHope.Org ChoirsOfFaith.Org SinfoniasDeEsperanza.Org CorosDeFe.Org |
| Orchestras & Choirs Serving in God's Love |
| Perhaps one of our journeys to Guatemala that we remember most vividly is our second. We knew enough Spanish to begin talking more in depth with villagers and we made our first visit to the poorer families of the southern coast. We all remember encountering 2 little girls by the name of Marta and Rosario (Chaya). At the time these little girls seemed to have such a bleak future. They had no mother, their father was in the US, and they were for the most part abandoned —with occasional attention from a Grandmother. It didn’t seem as though anyone really cared for them, nor did it seem that anyone ever would. The families in this situation have had many struggles and still there are many hardships -but now 5 years later, it is truly marvelous to see some of the changes that have occurred in the life of Rosario. These changes didn’t take place because of hundreds of dollars of US aid or some large organization - they came about because Rosario was unofficially adopted by another mother (named Blanca) who saw the need. Blanca has very deliberately tried to encourage and teach Rosario in ways that are right and true. She and Rosario together have begun to put God more at the center of their lives—and in a community where alcohol and poverty play a large role—that is not always easy. Though there is no father at home, we admired seeing Blanca care for her two children (Gonzalo and Frieda) and Rosario. Blanca is now the “mother of the orchestra” and Rosario is one of the leaders. So many times we return to families of the past only to find more relationships destroyed and God left out of the picture. How encouraging it is to see a mother and daughter together enjoying one another’ s company and the blessings of a growing faith. Martha— Rosario’s sister, recently moved to Blanca's house as well. She has been abused by an uncle and faces many struggles adjusting to a more normal family life. — prayers for her would be especially appreciated. |
| Martha and Sarah in 2003 and then in 2007 |
| Rosario (Chaya) in 2003 and again in 2007 |
| Rosario and Blanca making tortillas by hand in their kitchen.(2007) |
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