In November 2019 Luis and Yauri and 4 children moved from Guárico, Venezuela to Arauca, Colombia. The economic crisis in Venezuela drove them from their country seeking a better place to provide for their children. However the fight to survive continued in Arauca. While food was ready available, jobs were not. They now had to pay rent and electricity and most months the income did not cover food and rent. Luis made and sold plátano chips in the streets all the while searching for a real job.

In Arauca Luis and Yauri began attending church services and both became Christians. Later Luis met the American missionary team living in Arauca and Yauri began attending our women's Bible study. Through our weekly contact we formed a close relationship with Yauri and the children .

Towards the end of 2021 Yauri informed us that she was pregnant. Yauri had battled chronic Anemia which added complications to her pregnancy. Her hemoglobin levels dropped dangerously low. The special diet recommended by the doctor, was not affordable for the family. Somehow she was able to receive a couple of blood transfusions to boost hemoglobin levels and baby Marilin arrived safely on August 18, 2022. In March of 2022 Yauri's oldest daughter Yaudeivis, who had stayed behind with family in Venezuela, was reunited with her family in Arauca. After the birth of Marilin, the family now numbered 8!

Poor diet and breastfeeding all took a toll on Yauri and her health began to decline. In March of 2024, Yauri began having attacks of severe abdominal pain as well as irregular, heavy bleeding.

On March 30, Luis finally got hired as a night watchmen. Working nights outside would not be easy, but Luis was eager to be able to provide for his family. He would start as a fill in worker and then eventually get his own route.

In April Yauri began having an increase

in attacks of pain. An ultrasound on April 17 revealed ovarion cysts that would require surgery to remove the cysts and the ovary. Due to blood loss her hemoglobin levels had dropped to an 8. Surgery would not be possible unless the hemoglobin levels could be raised to a safe level.

Now the complications really began. Arauca is a small city and the hospital has no blood bank. So no blood transfusions to raise the hemoglobin levels. Other treatment to raise the levels were not helping.

To complicate matters more, Colombia has a government run healthcare system. Everyone must have health insurance to receive medical care. And as a foreigner you must have received temporary residency in Colombia to be affiliated with an insurance agency. Yauri's documents are still in process. That means paying all medical costs out of pocket.

By the middle of May a tension was beginning to form between Luis ' work and Yauri's care. She often had attacks of pain in the night and he was worried that she would have one while he was gone. He still had not been given a regular route and had never received any wages for the weeks he worked. It was finally decided to give up the job and stay at home full time to care for Yauri and do the housework/ childcare.

The big question was how to pursue treatment without having health insurance. Appointments with specialists, transfer to a better hospital in Colombia, even basic care in the local ER would be nearly impossible to obtain. On the advice of a Venezuelan nurse friend, Luis and Yauri traveled an hour to Guasdualito, VZ on May 14. Possibly the hospital there would have a blood bank and could do surgery. Yes, they could do blood transfusions

but the doctors were concerned that Yauri's condition had advanced too far for surgery. Severe fluid retention pointed to kidneys not functioning properly and they were suspicious of leukemia. What a blow to receive this news!

The next weeks involved locating and making appointments with a Urologist and a Hematologist, both in Guasdualito. The hematologist confirmed advanced Leukemias. The urologist found infection in the kidneys as well as kidney stones. Yauri was sent home to do 20 rounds of IV treatments, administered by a nurse. She was put on a strict diet and told to rest.

Although Yauri says she feels better on the IV's, she still has regular attacks of ovarian pain. The fluid retention has gotten worse.

We would like to take Yauri to San Cristóbal, VZ where there are much better hospitals and specialists. Yes good healthcare is still available in Venezuela if you are able to pay for it. So this week Lord willing Luis and Yauri plan to travel to San Cristóbal. Travel Expenses will be approximately $125 and the initial intervention ( exams and a procedure to take off retained fluids) was projected at $1,000. Food, hotel, and taxis will be additional expenses as well as a Nanny to stay with the children at home. Right now the doctor is saying a 3 day stay in San Cristóbal but I expect it could be a several week stay.

All donations will be used for Yauri's medical expenses and the family's living expenses since Luis is currently without a job. (The family's current living expenses - rent, groceries, and medical expenses for Yauri have been $200 - $300 a week. Luis gives me a daily account of expenses each day.)

Please pray for healing for Yauri. Pray that God would give Luis strength and wisdom as father and husband to carry this huge load. And pray for the children: Deivis 14, Yaudeivis 12, Luis Eduardo 9, Luismari 7, Luismariel 4, Marilin 23 months - they desperately want their mother to be well again!