A Ray of Hope in Villa Central

Posted August 19, 2025

Karelyn*, a 29-year-old single mother, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders in the humble community of Villa Central. Her days are a constant struggle to feed her four children: Three daughters, ages 12, 8, and 1, and one 4-year-old son. Worry and sadness have become permanent shadows on her face, especially when her youngest daughter cries from hunger.

During our January mission trip, team members visited Jaime Mota Hospital in Barahona, where they prayed and shared the word of God with patients and their families. The Holy Spirit guided the team toward Karelyn on their visitation rounds. Ricardo saw her sitting on the side of a bed, her face filled with anguish, while her 1-year-old daughter slept, frail and delicate. “What’s wrong with the child?” Ricardo asked. Karelyn replied, “She has too much sugar in her body.” Ricardo, confused, asked, “Does she have diabetes?” Karelyn answered, “No,” and with a voice barely audible and full of shame, she confessed the painful truth: “She has too much sugar in her body… it’s because I give her sugar water in the morning, for breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner, because it’s all I have to give her.” Tears welled up in her eyes, displaying her grief and despair.

They prayed together at that moment, offering Karelyn’s soul the hope that God was in control of her baby. Afterward, Ricardo asked for her phone number. However, Karelyn didn’t have a cell phone, and the description of her home in Villa Central was so vague it would be almost impossible to locate. They parted with faith that their paths would cross again.

More than a month passed with no success in finding her. Ricardo didn’t give up, but the community of Villa Central was large, and finding Karelyn was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Until one day, while Ricardo was assisting with a medical mission team in the same community, a young woman approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hello, do you remember me?” she said. Ricardo’s eyes widened with surprise and joy. It was Karelyn! “Of course, I do! I’ve been looking for you for over a month!” he exclaimed.

Karelyn led him to her humble home. Ricardo, with the invaluable help of his friend Chis, who seems to know every corner of Villa Central, arrived directly at the house. The small, bare kitchen with an empty refrigerator confirmed the painful reality Karelyn had shared. Ricardo didn’t hesitate: he brought them food and clothes for her children, a small relief for the great burden they carried.

Today, Karelyn’s story is a beacon of hope. Ricardo is coordinating with a community pastor to ensure that Karelyn and her family, and perhaps other families in the same situation, receive food regularly.
You can help Karelyn and many other families facing the same need, through your gifts to our Rice & Beans Fund.

Every bit of help can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most!

*We’re using a pseudonym to protect the family’s privacy.