Four years ago Shesita (or Shes, as we call her now), a Guatemalan PT student at the time, walked into our clinic to complete her research to finish her degree and become a licensed physical therapist. Not long into her time with us, she started volunteering more than the required days to complete her research. By the end of the year, we didn’t want her to leave. Today, Shes is the director of our therapy program at ASELSI.

Everyone loves Shes. Why is that? I’m thinking a big part of it has to do with her story, faith, and servant’s heart. If you’re not familiar with her story, check out this video we made four years ago to introduce you to her and help us bring her on staff at ASELSI.

Shes, serving with ASELSI as a volunteer, stepped in to lead our team when my mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Her presence at ASELSI allowed me to be home during that time with my family. I’m grateful for her and that gift and so much more.

Shes strengthens our team with her love, joy, hope, compassion, commitment, joy, desire for unity, and hunger to learn. Her gifts and skills strengthen and build us all up. Her connections and relationships with people in the community and country have been key as we move forward. Shes and I often discuss cultural differences between the U.S. and Guatemala and also within Guatemala and the impact those differences have on what we do. We encourage and push one another.

A friend and fellow therapist, after visiting us said, “I can see now how valuable Shesita is to your team. You need her to go where you want to go with the ministry.”

An intern described our working relationship like this: “It’s like the bus driver and his helper: they completely trust one another and need each other.” Agreeing with her, “And we take turns being the driver and the helper,” I added.

Shes, like the rest of our team, faces difficulties. Through them, I’ve seen her lean into the faith she holds so strongly, walk with integrity, and encourage others when she could use some encouragement. For all these reasons and more, as I think about Shes this week, I think of courage, hope, and joy.