Radical Missions December Newsletter |
Radical Missions does not employ executives or have any other payroll or administrative expenses. Our organization is run by volunteers and missionaries. All donations go to help real Guatemalans in Guatemala. We are a 501(c)3 organization registered with the IRS. Donations made to Radical Missions are tax deductible. |
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Email us to learn more about ways you can help make a real difference here, and also reduce the amount of money you need to pay the IRS for the 2023 tax year. Or, click below to make a one-time or monthly donation. Every $1 makes a huge difference!
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Mishell becomes a US Citizen |
In 2007, Tim and I were working at Casa Aleluya, a children's home in
Guatemala. We had seen many children come through those doors, each one with a story of hardship, but none like the tiny baby girl who would change our lives forever. She was only three months old, weighing less than 3 pounds—so small and fragile that it broke our hearts to even think about how much she had already endured.
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Her name was Mishell. She had been abandoned at a public hospital, with little hope for survival. From the moment we held her in our arms, we knew she was special. Her tiny body was weak, but there was a strength in her eyes, something fighting to survive. We couldn’t explain it, but we knew God had placed her in our path for a reason.
Days went by as we cared for her, trying to nurse her back to health, praying for her to gain weight, to grow stronger. But there was something wrong, something we couldn’t see. And that’s when Elizabeth entered our lives.
Elizabeth was a woman we had met through our ministry work. She came to visit us one day, and as soon as she saw Mishell, her eyes filled with concern. Elizabeth was a Nurse Practitioner and had a lot of experience, a gift for seeing what others might miss. She picked up Mishell, looked at her closely, and suddenly said, “She’s not breathing right.” |
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It was a moment of realization that shook us. We hadn’t noticed, but Mishell wasn’t just weak—she was struggling to breathe. Elizabeth’s quick observation saved her life. Mishell’s lungs were full of fluid, and she needed urgent medical attention. If it hadn’t been for Elizabeth, we may have lost her.
That moment felt like a miracle—a divine intervention that we couldn’t deny. God had sent Elizabeth to us at exactly the right time, and because of her, Mishell survived. The journey from that day forward was long and full of challenges, but Mishell grew stronger each day. Her frail little body began to thrive, and she became a part of our family in every way. |
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Years passed, and the love we shared with Mishell only grew. The adoption process was slow, often frustrating, but we never gave up. Mishell had become our daughter in every sense of the word, and nothing would stand in the way of making that official. After 17 long years, the adoption was finally complete.
Mishell is no longer that fragile baby we held in our arms so long ago. She’s a beautiful, strong young woman, full of life and ready to face the world. And on June 18th, something extraordinary happened—Mishell traveled to the United States to receive her Citizenship from the United States and met Elizabeth for the first time since she was a baby. |
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For years, Mishell had heard the story of how Elizabeth had saved her life, but she had never met her in person. Now, 17 years later, Mishell was about to walk into Elizabeth’s home, not as the weak baby she once was, but as a testament to God’s grace, His provision, and the love that brought us all together.
As I watched Mishell pack her bags for the trip, I couldn't help but think about that day in 2007 when we first held her. So much has changed since then, but the one thing that hasn’t is the deep sense of purpose we felt when God placed Mishell in our arms. Receiving her Citizenship and meeting Elizabeth was a full-circle moment for all of us, a chance to give thanks, to reflect, and to celebrate the life of a little girl who defied the odds.
Seventeen years ago, we couldn’t have imagined this day would come. But as Mishell prepared for her journey, we could see clearly how God’s hand has been in every step of her life. |
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of Mishell's journey. As the saying goes, it takes a village.
As always, your prayer is much appreciated. Thank you again for your past support. Please prayerfully consider making a monthly gift of any amount using this link here:
...one life at a time |
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