Joni Lobos Family

Joni & Glenda live in the lowest part of Buena Vista with their 2 daughters Liliana (4) and Dulce (1.5).  Joni made their home, which is primarily made of dried mud bricks, with some old sheets of tin filling in some gaps.

This family is extremely needy.  They lack all of the basics - good shelter, kitchen, bathroom, food, etc.  Liliana is deaf and cannot talk.  She has never been diagnosed, so it remains unknown if she was born deaf or if something happened along the way.

Joni and Mike (home #24) are brothers and live very close to one another.  Once we saw that their conditions are basically identical, we decided to do both homes, so long as we had the resources.  When the sponsorship (who chose to stay anonymous) came in, we began construction right away.

Now moved into their new home, we pray that it symbolizes a fresh start for this family.  With friends from Destiny Center building them a kitchen and a stove, they will be able to experience some relief from many of the challenges that made life so difficult.

As we get to know them better, we have been made aware of some situations within their home that need to be dealt with.  We pray for God to open those doors so we can apporach them as friends who genuinely love and care for them.  While these friendships take time, we hope that God may graciously allow them to be built quickly so that some of the issues can be addressed.

For now, we celebrate with them as they are finally off of dirt floors, out of a smoke filled house, and protected from the cold mountain nights.