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“Now to Him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
His work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
This
morning as I sat in our apartment overlooking the grounds, I
was reminded of Al Sanchez and his influence here at Prince
of peace. Over 23 years ago, God gave Al a dream to
provide a loving, safe, Christian home for Guatemalan girls.
I noticed the dresser and chest built by Al in those early
years which are still being used in our home today. I
thought of all of the progress that has been made over the
years. At the beginning, our apartment was used as the
office and kitchen while the lower level was the first house
for the girls.
After a long battle of various health issues, Al went home
to be with the Lord on June 30th at 4:00 AM. The passage
reminds me that God does things which we cannot imagine. Al
could not have imagined that 23 years later his dream would
become a reality.
The Scripture is also true for me. Seven years ago Lana
and I only hoped that, with God’s help, we could take a
struggling program with 23 girls to the next level. We
believed that it was God’s call for us to come here. Our
beginning balance in the Home’s bank account was only
$128.00. I thought that this was surely a joke. I could not
have imagined that seven years later these things would have
happened: 55 girls (18 of the girls are in Independent
Living), staff of 20, renovation of all existing buildings,
new home for Independent Living, additions to two houses and
school, new apartments (in progress) , new Clinic, new
vehicles, and other new programs.
Let me share another new opportunity which I could never
have imagined. Two weeks ago we had an appointment with two
officials of the US Embassy. Mr. Darrell Brock of Kentucky
was instrumental in arranging our meeting. We were most
cordially received. One of the officials said he would like
to visit the Home. We were delighted. Our girls in
Independent Living prepared a delicious lunch and he and a
friend presented a program now available to girls who wish
to study in community colleges in the U.S. This door of
opportunity opened at an opportune time for our older girls.
This would be a dream come true for some of them. The
Embassy is working in conjunction with Guatemalan offices to
train bilingual girls to work in tourism and agricultural.
Could we have imagined this? God sometimes blows us away
with plans and dreams “immeasurably more than we could ask
or imagine”. Isn’t He good? — Paul and Lana |
