A Day in Los Guido

It has been a while since we have posted to our blog and we have much to share. First, many of you know that Emily lost her uncle Jay tragically in a plane crash in Virginia last week. Emily flew there to attend the funeral. We appreciate prayers for the Youngquist family in this difficult time.

Before Emily left last week we had a unique opportunity to spend a whole day in the Los Guido community in the southern part of San Jose. As you've read before, this is one of the most desperate communities in this area due to extreme poverty, drugs, gang activity, domestic violence. Families have few options for a better life. Roblealto has plans to build a new child care center right in the midst of Los Guido which would immediately change the lives of 250 children and their families. With their children cared for during the day, mothers could find work and help provide for their families. The vast majority of families in Los Guido are single parent families and so the provision of quality Christian child care would make an enormous difference. Currently Roblealto is launching a campaign to raise the $600,000 necessary for the first stage of the center. You will find details, pictures and video at www.roblealto.org, as well as an opportunity to give.

During our day in Los Guido we visited three homes, listened to their stories of need, and than shared with them the hope that soon the Roblealto child care center could be built. We then prayed with the families holding hands together. What we learned about Los Guido that day will stay with us for a long time and will provide added encouragement for us as we research Christian grants and communicate with Roblealto's partner churches. Here is what we experienced:

• Los Guido has 30,000 people living in poverty and at risk situations.
• Most families are led by a single parent, making employment very difficult.
• The condition of the homes were difficult to see, especially as 3 or 4 families lived together in one small house.
• The people of Los Guido are surrounded by realities such as unemployment, gang violence, domestic abuse, poor sewage and water services, child protitution, and child labor.
• The families are stuck in a cycle of poverty with little hope of getting out.
  
• That being said, we were welcomed into homes with smiles, hospitality, faith and hope.

Emily and I were stuck with a sense of God's presence as we experienced the Los Guido community first hand. It is clear that in some of the darkest places on earth the light of Christ shines strongest. Our prayer is that with the help of donations from many sources, large and small, God will answer the prayers of the people of Los Guido for Roblealto's services. We thank the families for their permission to share their stories and pictures with you and on the Roblealto website.

God bless all of you back in the States and in Canada as the winter season winds down. We look forward to a visit from Joan and Krista in just a few weeks! It will be great to share some time together.