January lasted around two months for us. It was completely filled. On January 4, we flew back to Guatemala after being in Alabama for two and a half weeks with my family. A couple of days later, we joined in on Jay’s family’s yearly beach trip. Overall, it was a great way to start the year. After being at the beach for a couple of days, we headed back to San Antonio to pack up our house because on February 1 we moved! Those weeks in between the move were incredibly difficult.
We had an amazing team visit, but because our contract with our old house was over, we had to move. The house was also smaller than we needed. So, Daryl and Wanda led this team since it was the week before our big move. We love leading teams, so we jumped in a couple of days so that we could still be a part.
During the week leading up to the team, we lost a significant supporter. First off, we are so incredibly thankful for the time they gave, but we are so underfunded that this is a huge hit. However, we know God writes our story. He knew this was going to happen. We don’t know what’s next, but He does. So we pray that God shows us the actions we need to take, and then believe and trust that God will do the rest.
The day after that, we learned of some serious problems in the adult home.
Some backstory…. In case you don’t know, we are the interim directors of the adult home. In December 2022, the directors of the adult home at the time called Jay (while he was in Alabama) and told them they were quitting. I was moving there the next month, and we were preparing for our weddings. The directors agreed to stay on until the end of January. Jay and I knew there was no one else, so we committed to being the directors for three months. Two years later we are still here, but there is now promise. At the end of this month, the adult home is moving to Parramos (45 min away). We informed the board and ministry that we could not be directors from that far away. We are struggling with things happening because of us not living in that home, so being further was not an option. Daryl and Wanda will be directing once that move happens. There is also a family who is praying and fundraising to move down in July and become directors!!! This is a huge-answered prayer.
So, we learned of serious allegations in the home. Immediately, Jay and I jumped into action trying to come up with a plan so that this worker could be fired that day. They should not be in the home and create such an unhealthy environment for the adults. We created back-up plans to the back-up plans, held meetings, and spoke with the adults to hear what was happening to them under this care. This just so happened to be the day that I told Jay we HAD to spend packing because we were so behind because of all the other things going on… that did not happen. This was a heavy day that ended with Jay and I questioning if we did the right thing taking on the adult home. In so many ways we have failed it. It’s really hard to see the consequences of our actions being consequences to the adults. We never knew two years later we would still be leading, and we haven’t been able to give the time they deserve to the home. And we will carry that.
The day after was team shopping, which was just an exhausting day because of the longer drive, the heat of Esquintla, and a couple of hours shopping with a seven-month-old who wanted to eat every sample she saw.
Now for the God part. This was an incredibly difficult week, but God. We are seeing incredible improvements in the adult home and we have had staff step up in new roles and say how important these adults are and how they deserve amazing care. We have had people reach out to us to walk with us and grieve with us all the things of this week. The timing for Jay and Katie to be in the home in those moments is nothing short of God. God led us to an incredible house for an incredible price, and we are so thankful for our new home.
Now for the week of the move. Spoiler, it did not go as planned. Deisy from the Fulp home went to be with Jesus. This was no shocker. We had been praying for her to be healed because she was in pain. She had only gotten worse, and it broke all our hearts to see her in this way. Deisy carried the scars of abuse that she faced. She was a neurotypical child who had heart problems that were unknown. We never were able to meet her as that kid. We knew the child who could not walk, talk, and was in pain. I am so thankful that she is free of the pain of this world, she knew too much of it, and deserved none of it.
Moving day. We are so incredibly thankful to all those who stepped up to help us on this day– we were not prepared. We kept having to put off packing because all these things kept happening that were more time-sensitive than packing. We had so many people who helped throw things in bags and boxes, move furniture, and bust open our concrete walls to install our sink. No one complained or made us feel bad for it, they just helped. And we needed that.
We have had a lot of downs these past few weeks, but we also had so much good. If you could pray for us in these ways–
- Financially– we would love to be at a point where we had a little savings so that when things happen or go wrong, it doesn’t completely end us.
- We are both feeling the extreme guilt of the adult home. If you could pray that we hear God and make the right decisions for them as we hire staff and get ready for the transition of directors
- We are exhausted and would love a boring week… but that doesn’t happen in Guatemala.
Now we are gearing up for our next team that comes tonight, so we will move to the property with them. This week is also the move of the Fulp home to the property, then next week the Chapin home moves houses. If you could pray for a smooth week for all of these things happening.
If you feel led to give, here are the ways.
Our donate link on our website– jaykelsie.com There is also a link for those to give from Canada.
Venmo- Kelsie-wester
Paypal- kgwester@gmail.com
Thank you for all your prayer and support!
Love the Fulps!
