Because Every Family Is Worth Fighting For
One of the questions we hear most often is, "Will the children at Casa Bernabé stay there until they become adults?"
Sometimes the answer is yes. Some of our kids are orphans. There are other kids whose cases involve abuse and dangerous circumstances that require them to remain in protective care long term.
But whenever it is safe and healthy, our greatest desire is to see children reunited with their biological families. While Casa Bernabé provides a safe, loving home for every child entrusted to our care, our prayer is always that families can be restored whenever possible.
That's where one of our most important ministries comes in: Families United.
Families United is one of seven core programs at Casa Bernabé and exists to walk alongside the biological families of the children in our care. Today, about 70% of the children at Casa Bernabé still have biological family members who maintain visitation rights, making this ministry an essential part of helping families heal.
The Families United team is made up of a dedicated social worker, Lesly, psychologist, Ana María, and a pastor, Gelvin, with additional support from our nutritionist, Arabella. Unlike our campus social workers, psychologists, and pastors who care directly for the children living at Casa Bernabé, this team focuses exclusively on strengthening the families and helping them prepare for reunification whenever possible.
Nearly every week, the team loads up their truck and heads across Guatemala, making trips into communities where many of our children once lived.
Some of these neighborhoods are considered "red zones" because of crime and gang activity. Others are tucked away in remote mountain villages that can only be reached by rough roads. Our team climb mountains, walk across rivers, and go by foot to places they would never otherwise think of visiting.
Although these trips carry risks, Casa Bernabé has earned a reputation for genuinely serving families, and the communities know why our team is there. The Families United truck proudly displays the Casa Bernabé logo, making it immediately recognizable as a ministry coming to help.
Every visit looks different because every family's story is different.
Some parents need help finding stable employment or safe housing before their children can return home. Others need practical guidance in nutrition, hygiene, or preparing healthy meals. In many cases, parents simply repeat the way they themselves were raised because they have never been shown another way to discipline or nurture their children.
Families United meets parents where they are.
Sometimes that means helping a mother start a small tortilla business so she can provide for her family. Other times it means delivering beds, clothing, toiletries, or helping children enroll in school. The team also connects families with local churches where they can find encouragement and community long after Casa Bernabé's visits become less frequent.
The work doesn't stop when the team returns to campus.
Back at Casa Bernabé, they coordinate visits and video calls between children and their families, search for relatives who may have lost contact, connect families with local resources, and prepare detailed reports for the Guatemalan courts. While judges make the final decisions regarding reunification, the Families United team provides recommendations and valuable information that helps the courts determine what is in each child's best interest.
Not every family is ready to receive help, and not every child can safely return home. But when restoration is possible, Families United faithfully walks alongside parents every step of the way, offering practical support, biblical encouragement, and the hope that broken families can be made whole.
Even after children are reunited, the ministry continues. The team visits families to provide ongoing encouragement, answer questions, and help ensure children continue to thrive in their new home.
On the occasion that a reunification is not successful, our team may also recommend to the courts that the children return to Casa Bernabé if it's what needs to happen to keep them safe.
This ministry reminds us that caring for children means caring for the people who love them, too. Restoration takes time, patience, wisdom, and the grace of God. We are grateful for a team that faithfully serves families in some of Guatemala's most difficult places, believing that no situation is beyond the reach of God's redemption.
Thank you for praying for and supporting this vital ministry. Because of your generosity, families receive practical help, children have hope for restoration, and the love of Christ reaches homes that desperately need it.
Please pray that God would protect the Families United team and their vehicle as they travel into dangerous communities throughout Guatemala.
Pray for the biological families of our children, that God would give them the strength and wisdom to make the changes necessary for healthy reunification whenever that is possible.
Pray for the many families the team visits who are facing illness, financial hardship, and other challenges, asking the Lord to provide for their needs.
Pray for Ana María, whose knee pain has made the long walks, mountain paths, and countless stairs involved in this ministry increasingly difficult. Pray that God would bring healing and strength, allowing her to continue serving the families she loves so dearly.
Thank you for walking alongside our ministry!