Founder's Thoughts

A Word From Papa Stan

We have now completed the first half-year of operating the ministry of Rocsana’s Hope here in Guatemala. It has been an exciting 6 months and what’s more, it is only the beginning of a ministry that we truly believe is going to make a difference in the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of young ladies.

The ministry now has three young ladies who are living here and preparing for their futures. Diana was the first to come to us in April and she has adjusted really well to being here. She is currently enrolled in classes for English as well as a free class on how to do nails. She loves that kind of thing and is excelling. Next came Fabiana in May. Fabiana was trying to make it on the street with her brother and was not doing well. She was accepted into our program. She is a go-getter and is doing really well. Besides working a job up the street, she is enrolling for classes next year and is working towards becoming a teacher of history and art. Finally, Darling was accepted into our program the first week of June. She cried a lot her first day but since has adjusted wonderfully. She is still enrolled in and attending school at the high school level and will be done with this year in October, after which she might need another year before she can graduate.

Every girls’ situation is different but they all have a similar heart. They are grateful to be here and thankful that they get to be a part of a program that is going to impact the rest of their lives. What a joy this has been. God is so good.

From The Girls

A Personal Message From Fabiana

My name is Fabiana Quiñones. I’m 20 years old. My birthday is on Sept 28. My mom died when I was 4. My dad is absent in my life. I’ve never met him until last year and I don’t have any communication with him after that.

My grandpa took care of me for 15 years after my mom died but I couldn’t continue to live with him because his wife has never accepted my brothers and me because we are not her grandchildren. I swear she was trying hard to make my life impossible. I was miserable and I couldn’t stand it anymore. So one day I left their house and tried to be on my own. But I didn’t have other home to go to, it was very difficult for me to survive. It’s very hard to get a job and good salary in Guatemala, especially when you do not have the support of anyone.

I finally found a job at a fast-food restaurant early this year that was up the street from Rocsana’s Hope. I saw Esther one day when she was buying Chinese food next door to my work. I wanted to talk with her, but I was afraid she wouldn’t understand my English. I finally decided to talk to her. I was a little shy, but she understood almost everything I was trying to tell her. I told her I was taking free painting and English classes at the local Community Center. She said she would like to be my friend, so I can practice my English with her. We exchanged WhatsApp and Facebook info and we started talking to each other almost every day after that.

One day Esther told me something about a place where they will help girls like me. But I wasn’t interested at first because I thought it was like a boarding school. I was in boarding schools my whole life and I didn’t want to be in boarding school again, so I told her I appreciate her trying to help me but no thanks…

Two weeks after that I lost my job because my boss was threatened by the gang people who demanded a large sum of money. They said if we do not give them the money, they will kill everyone that works there. My boss got scared because she has a son, so she closed the restaurant immediately. I started looking for other job, but I couldn’t find anyone who would hire me, and life had become very difficult for me. I was about to be homeless because the place I was staying at the time will soon not be available for me anymore and for weeks, I don’t have any water in the house because I don’t have money to pay for water.

Esther took a lot of interest in me and she asked me about my life often, so I told her and my situation. She told me there is a reason why we met. She asked me to come hang out at RH so I can learn more English and it would help me to find work. On May 17, Esther invited me to RH’s Open House. She explained to me again what RH was about. I met Jeff and Papa Stan, Mama Denise and Denise’s parents, Allen and Janice Seimears, and Cristina Gulotta (Mama Denise’s parents and Cristina were here to visit.) Everyone was very nice to me. They gave me food and I made cakes and pies with Mama Denise’s Dad. It was very fun! That day, I shared with Papa Stan about my situation and he told me he would be very happy to help me. And so..4 days later. I am here at Rocana’s Hope.

I’m very grateful for God because He puts Esther in my life. I am grateful for everyone at Rocsana’s Hope for giving me a loving family, happiness, love, the opportunity to continue to study and especially they help me to know and follow God.

Sponsor Fabiana
Fundraiser For Fabiana
Ministry News

A Huge Need Met!

Since we made the full-time move back to Guatemala in February, we have been relying on help from friends and cheap rentals when needed in order to get around and do all of the things we need to do. Our houseparents have a single cab pickup truck that their family of five goes to church in. They have another vehicle that is in the shop right now so for now their truck is it for them.

Jeff and Esther raised some of their personal support to purchase a Hyundai Terracan that they were able to purchase a little over a month ago. They got one with third row seating so that we can transport the girls along with Alberto and Rocsana to church on Sundays as well as any classes or activities during the week.

Sundays have been especially difficult trying to figure out how to get everyone to church so what we have been doing is making multiple trips. It has been working but also has been a real challenge. We had some money that had been previously given towards a vehicle but not enough for a decent one. Our friends from the First Baptist Church of Ark City asked us what needs we have and so we shared with them our need for a ministry vehicle that we could use to transport the girls. They came through in a huge way and, coupled with the other money, we were finally able to purchase a Kia Sorento Diesel SUV with third row seating just this past week. The girls were so excited that they wanted to with us when we finalized the deal on the vehicle. We had a blast and the girls all rode with me when we picked it up back to San Lucas. The Kia has a sunroof that opens up and so we did that and the girls just loved sticking their heads out on occasion while we were stopped in traffic. I really enjoyed watching them enjoy a vehicle that finally has the room to help them.

Needless to say we are deeply grateful for the people that we will probably never know that helped give to this need and help to meet it. So we give thanks and express gratefulness to God for how He touched people to help and give and we are asking God to bless them as only He can.

Ministry Bus Project
Ministry Home Remodel
Mission Teams

Thank You FBC of Ark City, Kansas

June 8-15 Rocsana’s Hope hosted a mission team from the First Baptist Church of Ark City, Kansas.  The team was composed of 15 people who each took a week out of their summer to come and help in the process of getting our house ready for more girls as well as participate in several ministry opportunities which included orphan ministry, school visits, and hospital visitation.  The team did a fantastic job with each and every one of the things that they did and we are deeply grateful for how God used them to change lives as well as helping us take a big step forward on the many work projects we have here to do at Rocsana’s Hope.  Many of the team shared with us the life changing experiences that they had during their time with us and how amazing their week was.  It was an incredible blessing to see the team get close to our girls and especially the last night when we did a final program for them.  There were many tears shed and the goodbyes were tough, but the memories will be forever.

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts and we look forward to having you join us again in the future.  We love and appreciate every single one of you!

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Ministry News

Rocsana’s Hope Welcomes Two New Girls!

Fabiana, on the left, came to be with us at Rocsana’s Hope on Monday, May 19th and has been an absolute gem and a huge blessing. Her mom died when she was very little and her dad is in prison. She was living with her maternal grandfather until he remarried and his new wife no longer wanted her with them so she was forced to leave. She slept where she could until Esther met her on the street. One thing led to another and we decided to invite her to come and be a part of our ministry. She accepted with deep gratitude and has already been such a huge blessing to all of us here. She is so excited that she actually gets to have a future with hope.

Darling, on the right, was accepted into our program on June 1st of this year. She was in a government orphanage. In March of 2017 there was a fire at a government orphanage in Guatemala City that saw 40 girls lose their lives. Darling was in that orphanage when the fire occurred but through God’s grace survived the incident. She turned 18 and would have otherwise had to live on the street but for the efforts of Myrna, a lady who works for the government that now knows about Rocsana’s Hope. She asked if we would be willing to take her, and we did with joy. Darling has responded to the loving atmosphere we have here and she is doing wonderfully.

Sponsor Fabiana
Sponsor Darling