Pedro asked that we share the current events of his family so we can join them in prayer.

About a month ago at work, Jacinto (Pedro’s son) was being questioned about money that was missing.  He works for a pharmaceutical vendor and has always been applauded for his diligent work.  They did an audit and found over Q10,000 (about $1,300) missing in various forms.  All employees were questioned and even submitted to lie detector tests.  Jacinto passed and was offered a promotion to take the place of the store supervisor who was getting fired for the missing money.  Since nobody knew, at that point, what was happening with the money, Jacinto declined, not wanting to be held responsible for that money or any future money that might be stolen from the company.  As a result, he was dismissed from his position and found jobless.  His baby boy just turned 1 and because of the house fire they survived a couple of years ago, his diploma no longer exists.  His professor agreed to help him get another one at the end of this school year when there are new graduates…but what is he to do until then?  His main desire is to be able to save up to buy a small piece of land and build a house for his family.

Mr. & Mrs. Jacinto Perez

A couple of Juanita’s (Jacinto’s mom) brothers currently reside illegally in the US and work, sending money back to the family which is now more financially stable as a result.  At the time all this happened to Jacinto, the family got word that his cousin arrived safely in the US to work with them and Jacinto began to contemplate doing the same.  Pedro and Juanita tried to talk him out of it, encouraging him to trust in God to provide.  The uncles agreed to send the necessary money to pay their friend to take Jacinto north through Mexico and he saw that as a sign of God providing a way for him to go.  They gave it to him as a gift, without needing to worry about paying it back if the trip didn’t pan out.

On Wednesday of Holy Week, Jacinto called Pedro from Mexico saying they were at the border and waiting for safe passage.  In about 5-6 days the friend said they would be on the other side in the US with Jacinto’s uncles.  On Friday one uncle called Pedro and asked if he had heard from Jacinto and Pedro told him about the phone call on Wednesday night.  “Well,” they informed Pedro, “he just called us from immigration.  They caught him at the border and now he is in holding as they investigate his case.”  They said that the border patrol will ask him why he was trying to cross, etc. and he can try to petition to let him stay and work, but nothing is certain.  Now, the family must wait to find out if he gets sent back to Guatemala or is able to stay in the US.

Pedro says that Jacinto and Eva agreed with this plan and that Jacinto was only going to save up enough money for a house and then return to buy the land and build it.  We know that some husbands/fathers go and never come back.  Pedro even told him not to ever forget about his family here, as they know others who left and started a new life.  Pedro also said that as strange as it may seem, he’s glad that they know where Jacinto is, he is safe and provided for, and not lost in the desert or kidnapped by coyotes, or worse.

Their prayer request is that we would be praying for Jacinto’s safety and health and most of all God’s will in this situation.  Many know of the sensitive nature of the “immigration situation” but in Guatemala, the landscape is quite different.  Please pray as we continue to minister to this family in this difficult time and help us to help them see there are better options than going to the US for work.