Iker’s Story
Iker proudly shares his summer program artwork.
Last year, Iker arrived with a big smile. He told us he was excited to have a new school. But his mother’s face told a different story — she seemed unsure, even a little sad.
As we began walking alongside her, we learned more. Mrs. Deysi is a single mother of two adult children, and Iker is her youngest. She works long days in the fields, and her older children are studying. She had no one to care for Iker during the day. Some neighbors believed she was abandoning her child to an orphanage, and their direct criticism left her feeling deeply ashamed. That uncertainty weighed heavily on her heart.
Little by little, as she experienced the mission and community of EA, her fear began to soften.
Iker is bright, curious, and very social. Before coming to EA, he often ran into the street. He struggled with limits. Listening, obeying, and following a routine were all new for him. His mother shared that many people did not want to care for him because of how restless he was. He was labeled as the “hyperactive” kid.
As a single mother, she has carried the responsibility of holding her family together on her own. In her longing to give Iker a sense of stability and belonging — and to protect him from the pain of an absent father — she made a painful decision. She told Iker that his older brother was his father and his sister was his mother. Beneath that choice was deep fear — fear of how she would answer him if he ever asked about his real father. With encouragement and support, she found the courage to speak the truth and gently correct the story. Truth became the beginning of healing in their home.
Now Iker tells his mother, “God is my Father.”
This family is experiencing the unfailing love of God. Mrs. Deysi comes ready to listen and to learn. Slowly, peace is replacing anxiety. Trust is growing. Confidence in EA is taking root. What began with truth is continuing in healing.
And you are part of that.
Because of your prayers, your generosity, and your faithfulness to walk with us, Iker has a safe place to learn boundaries. He has adults who listen to him. He has space to grow. His mother has support instead of criticism. She has community instead of isolation.
What is being restored here is more than behavior. It is identity. It is truth. It is trust. Healing is unfolding — in a home that once carried fear and shame.
Thank you for walking alongside families like Iker’s. The seeds you help plant are bearing fruit — sometimes quietly, sometimes slowly — but always with hope.
Crazy Hairstyles Day 🎉
Through activities like this, Iker is building coordination, focus, and confidence. The little boy who once struggled with limits is learning patience and self-control — clip by colorful clip. What was once restless energy is becoming steady growth in a place where he is known, guided, and deeply loved.