It was during our drive to church one beautiful Sunday morning in August, 1987 that the Holy Spirit spoke to my wife, Julie. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the Holy Spirit put into her mind the thought "what a difference a small child would make in our lifestyle." 

     Our call to El Salvador as missionaries came after I made a brief trip to San Salvador in July, 1984 to visit with friends. The following morning after I returned to Antigua, Guatemala where I was taking language courses, I called Julie and told her that I felt God was calling us to go to El Salvador. She was in agreement. God had completely taken me out of the secular world of business and placed us in a position that I felt most uncomfortable, the idea of living completely by faith. I had never done this before, nor did I ask Him for the opportunity. Julie and I were not supported by any organization or church denomination. God called us, and it was He who sent us out. After liquidating our business and paying the bills, we arrived in San Salvador, El Salvador February 6, 1986 with very limited funds. 

     For the next six months, very little financial support arrived. When the remaining funds available were only enough to pay our expenses back to the states, I prayed and had a conversation with the Lord. I said, "You brought us here, and we intend to stay whatever happens, we will not turn and run." The Holy Spirit said in return, "I am not in your past, I am in your future. Look for me there and I will guide you." I did, and He did. 

     As we walked up the steps to the church that Sunday morning, Pastor David Gruver introduced us to Ken and Pam Rundle with the remark that we were the ones they needed to see. Little did we know at the time, but our future would be greatly entwined. The Rundles were looking for someone to be foster parents for a severely malnourished baby girl 14 months old and weighing nine pounds. Julie and I looked at each other and without saying a word knew that we were the ones they were seeking. 

     Monday morning, the four of us took Karla Francisca Salmerón from the government orphanage directly to a doctor for a checkup. He told us that Karla had to be in a hospital immediately. What he did not say was that he did not think Karla would survive the day. We placed Karla in the best local pediatric hospital in San Salvador. 

     Julie never left Karla's hospital room. She ministered to Karla both spiritually and physically. Karla had many things wrong with her. Being severally malnourished - III Grade - Karla had double pneumonia and pseudomonas infections - either one capable of causing death in such a child as bad as she. Due to her malnourished state her immune system was diminished. She was very vulnerable. After the first week, the hospital staff began to come by and see this miracle child who defied the odds. Dr. Rafael Ruiz, one of the country's finest pediatricians specializing in malnutrition made the comment that he was doing nothing that this child should live. He said, looking and pointing upward, "there is a higher power keeping her alive." We nodded in agreement knowing this from the very beginning.. We wondered what God was doing? 

     Well within the second week, politicians from the opposing political parties dropped by to see Karla. Catholics and evangelicals also stopped by and prayed for this little girl who was abused and rejected by parents. Such a bonding had begun to form between us that Julie and I decided that if Karla survived, we would adopt her. An attorney offered to do the adoption at cost. Little Karla's big brown eyes would follow us across the room. A weak smile would form in the corners of her mouth. She began to understand what love was. A sign written above her bed instructed everyone to use gloves because of the infectious nature of her disease. You can administer medicines using gloves, but not love. A kiss on the cheek, a rub of noses, a loving caress, was all Karla needed to know that she was cared for. This Julie and I did with abandonment to our well being.  

     After two and a half weeks, we noticed that Karla appeared to have improved. I urged Julie to leave the hospital for a breath of fresh air, a good meal, and a change of scenery. We left the hospital for a few hours. Dr. Ruiz located us to inform us of Karla's death. When we returned to her room, her little hands were folded on her chest. She was wrapped in a blanket with two candles nearby. For a moment, we were devastated. Early Monday morning, we placed Karla in a small wooden casket and took her body back to the government orphanage crying deeply within ourselves not being able to hold back the tears. 

     That same morning, we were asked to please, please take another baby. It was inconceivable to think of taking another child after losing Karla, but we said, "yes, we will". We left the orphanage with another baby, José Vidal Cruz. He was four months old and weighed six pounds. José had a fever of 104 degrees caused by a kidney infection caused by a reflux. Through caring for José, God showed us that Karla was the seed that died that others would live. It was not His intention for us to adopt Karla, but to develop a special bond with these malnourished children and begin a nutritional center for severely malnourished infants. Having done so, hundreds of babies, many such as Karla, have passed through our center and have left healthy and happy. Karla continues to live on in our memories. God has blessed us with a personal friendship with Dr. Ruiz. As a physician whose love for these babies has no boundaries, he has committed his medical services to us at no cost for the past ten years.  

     Looking into the dark and pleading eyes of malnourished babies is seeing Jesus at the Cross. Restoring the child to health and happiness is touching Him in all His glory. Perhaps we were directed to El Salvador for such a time as this.