About two weeks ago we received news that Juanita and Katy were caught in Texas and deported back to Guatemala.

Once we found out the ladies returned, we went to go visit them. Juanita has been greatly traumatized by the ordeal. One of the reasons the family was greatly concerned about Katy and her taking the trip is that Juanita has had various medical struggles this past year. This trip did not help her at all. Her feet are badly bruised as well as her knees. Having to run and hide in different shacks in the desert took a toll on her already ailing body. Additionally, the stories she heard of kidnap and abuse along the way severely frightened her. She has begun to open up to us and talk about things, but she does not currently want to see a counselor to help her through the trauma. She is struggling to sleep at night and seems to be displaying symptoms of depression. Additionally, she is struggling with the notion that she borrowed money to pay the coyotes for the trip which she intended on being able to pay back once she got some work in the US, but now that isn’t possible.

Katy, on the other hand, is determined to find a way to try again. Initially, Juanita only went to help protect Katy so she didn’t have to travel alone, but Juanita swears she is never going again. We will continue to work with the family to convince Katy not to go but to instead stay in Guatemala as is our goal for all the families we serve.

Jacinto recently was laid off from his job for lack of business. Right now, he and Pedro are up in Nebaj (their home village) to see if there is a way they could work there. The increasing toll the coronavirus is taking on the already weak economy is affecting many families who are seemingly in these life-or-death situations where we are trying to help them survive and stay the course instead of making decisions to take extreme measures, but sometimes the psychology of it all mixed with a desire to help their families creates an environment where it is sometimes difficult as they feel they simply have to choose the lesser of two evils.

Please pray for God to use us to minister to this family and that the Lord would help them overcome their fear and allow us to serve them well.