Stefani's Story

over the last several months, we have grown close to a particular family. kerrie, sarah and amy have really connected with the mom and girls... and guicho and i with the boys. (they have 4 boys and 3 girls.)

a couple months ago we were talking with the mom (maria) about their needs. we asked if they needed anything in particular that we could pray with them about. because everyone knows our ministry build homes, this question usually leads to being told how much they need a new house. but maria said their house was fine, that they have plenty of tortillas for food, and don't need anything like that.

then in tears she proceeded to share with us that her youngest girl, stefani (pictured to the right) has an intestinal polyp that is very dangerous. she has had it for a long time, and it causes great pain when she uses the bathroom, it bleeds frequently, and she has been told that it is cancerous.

she cried as she talked about it.

living in the kind of poverty that they do, it is almost impossible to get something like this treated. they would need to get to guatemala city to see a specialist, have tests run, etc.

they wouldn't know where to begin. they have probably never been out of their town, they don't read or write, and they don't have a dime to spare.

long story short, we (dSg) arranged appointments... and today sarah and kerrie took stefani and her mom to a specialist in guatemala city. she was officially diagnosed and we were given all of the information we needed for surgery and procedures going forward. they also took her to a lab for bloodwork and surgery prep.

be praying for her as we plan to get her scheduled for a biopsy and for surgery.

thank you god for leading us to this family and this precious little girl!

stef with her sisters and cousins

so honestly, stefani's trip to the specialist was a bit of a faith step. (stefani is pictured below)

at the time, we didn't have the money to pay for her surgery, and neither did anyone else who is here working with deepStream. we had enough to take her in for diagnosis but that was about it. in fact, a friend who was here that day gave us $80 to go towards her appointment and all of her tests.

we all knew going in that that we'd get a quote from the doctor on the surgery. we knew stefani's mom would here the amount. we knew we wouldn't have enough.

but we knew we could trust god to provide. we would tell stefani's mom that god is GOD and he can do all things.

the doctor quoted us $625.

the next day as i was checking emails, theresa (who handles our finances) had sent me an email to let us know of 2 unexpected financial gifts that had come in.

one for $550
one for $50

we had spent about $50 that day on stefani's appointment and tests, leaving $30 left from the friend that had given the donation that morning.

$30 + $50 + $550 = $630. all received the same day we took stefani to the doctor, and received the quote for $625.

for those who don't know how we live, this is an absurd amount of money for us to receive in one day!

will you join us in praise of our awesome God - who knows our needs before we need them! let this encourage all of us to step in faith first, trusting God fully to meet us there.


But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6: 30-33

stefani's surgery went great!! she was in the hospital for less than a full day, and is home and recovering well. we'll know soon the results from a biopsy on the "tumor", but for now all has been removed and she is healthy and happy. thank you to the people who donated the funds to make this special girl's life so much better. just to think she was suffering every day from the pain of this thing, and now is free from it!! praise god!!