We heard yesterday from Aminta’s brother, Fredy, that next week the judge presiding over the case will determine sentencing for all involved with the case.

We had to ask some questions to determine how the law works in Guatemala to decipher the process. These last weeks Aminta accompanied by her brother and daughter had to attend daily hearings and be present for everyone’s case to be presented. In this process, Aminta was able to speak her side.

I’m an active member of my church and leader of prayer gatherings. I am a single mom with a humble home just trying to follow God and raise my children. The only thing I am guilty of is treating a former family member with access to my account, which I had no knowledge that she would use it to launder money from gang extortions.

Now that the court has heard everyone’s side of the story, the Ministry of the Public (prosecution) suggests charges against each defendant and appropriate sentencing. Fredy told us that against Aminta, they suggested 20 years in prison and an exorbitant amount of money as a fine. The court is now in recess and next week starting Monday the defense attorneys will appeal against the sentencing with closing arguments and then the judge will make a determination.

Throughout this process, the judge has shown kindness and mercy to Aminta, as she is a humble senior citizen standing in the ranks of a bunch of young, disrespectful criminals. The judge cannot pardon her before the process is complete and Aminta has complied with all of the requirements including a biweekly bus ride to San Marcos (where she was originally charged and her hometown) which takes an entire day and about $20 worth of bus fare to sign and confirm that she has not fled the country as they allowed her to remain on “house arrest” during the trial instead of being locked up as she originally was for about a week or two in the beginning of all this in 2018.

We are praying for God’s mercy, truth, and favor next week. Please join us in praying for Aminta and her family. We can’t imagine how stressful this weekend will be, now knowing what she is facing and not knowing what the judge’s final verdict will be. She is fully submitted to the Lord and trusts that whatever happens, it is His will, but it certainly doesn’t make this whole process easy and her family is greatly frightened for her. This has been a long, hard process that has seemed completely unjust as she was only trying to help a former daughter-in-law by giving her access to her bank account to receive some money to pay rent.