Dustin's Dream being fulfilled

Tina Parker/Herald-Leader From left, Don Chamberlain, Saul and Layla de Perez, and Karen and Gary Comiskey talked — using the Facetime application — with Danae Chamberlain, Don’s daughter and Dustin’s younger sister, during the Dustin’s Dream event held Friday at the Cypress Barn. Danae, who is a freshman at Baylor University, couldn’t make it to the event because of finals but wanted to be a part of it.
Tina Parker/Herald-Leader From left, Don Chamberlain, Saul and Layla de Perez, and Karen and Gary Comiskey talked — using the Facetime application — with Danae Chamberlain, Don’s daughter and Dustin’s younger sister, during the Dustin’s Dream event held Friday at the Cypress Barn. Danae, who is a freshman at Baylor University, couldn’t make it to the event because of finals but wanted to be a part of it.

Nearly 100 friends and family of Dustin Chamberlain packed into the Cypress Barn on Friday to hear how an organization created in his honor has positively impacted the people of Guatemala.

Hugs, handshakes and smiles were not a requirement to enter the barn, yet they were given within mere seconds of walking through the door.

Despite the love and success that filled the cypress walls, no one really wanted to be there. They'd much rather have Dustin than the event that grew from his death; however, they celebrated the accomplishments that have been completed in his honor and how the foundation has positively impacted poor Guatemalans.

Dustin was murdered three years ago in his family home, a day after he expressed his desire to provide health care to needy people. His family started an organization called Dustin's Dream Foundation, which provided funding to build a medical center in Guatemala, and scholarships to Siloam Springs and Baylor University students who are pursuing a degree in the medical field.

For the last two years, Dustin's family has hosted a chili supper to raise money to build a medical center in Guatemala. In March, the clinic, Corozon de Amor, which is built on a dump in Guatemala City, was completed. Its doctor, Layla de Perez, said she is able to treat up to 55 people a day.

Saul, who is Layla's husband, is a pastor at a Rayitos de Esperanza, a school also located on the dump.

As part of this year's celebration of Dustin's Heavenly Birthday, the couple was flown to Arkansas to provide updates on the clinic, its future, and visit with the people who donated to their clinic.

Saul and Layla sat for a question-and-answer session, and explained a normal life for those within Guatemala's capital.

Most all of the buildings are built with items found in the dump, Saul said; however, the clinic was built with cinder blocks, which is just across the playground from the three-story school.

Before the clinic, Layla had worked for the Guatemalan government hospital. She said getting her own clinic was an impossible dream.

"Dustin's Dream made many dreams a reality," Layla said. "We waited for that clinic for years and a few months ago the dream came true -- it's beautiful, clean and patients have privacy."

"Because Dustin's dream was to have a clinic in Guatemala, many people have now been blessed," she said.

"I am surprised and impressed that you don't know the people in Guatemala, but you've done all this," she said.

Saul said that the location of the clinic came directly from God through Peregrinos.

"Peregrinos, or pilgrims, are provided a program that feeds men that live on the street. I mention that because one of them led us to find the land where the clinic is," Saul said. "God used a pilgrim for us to get to the place. Peregrinos are a group of people who live outside the margin of society and we realized no one was doing anything for them."

"God used one and said, 'come and see this land' that for many nights we prayed to find," Saul said.

The clinic will expand to the second floor of the building to provide physical therapy, which is a service that is very expensive in Guatemala, Layla said.

"We have volunteers willing to help but we don't have a place for them to go," she said. "We have the desire to help patients who have heart problems and need x-rays and if we had a physical therapy office it would help with other costs."

Though the evening with Saul and Layla was a joyous remembrance of the accomplishments they have so sought for, sorrow hung over the room like a thick, dense fog.

At times, Dustin's mother, Deondra, could be seen clutching a pendant, which bore a photo of Dustin and his little sister Danae. A friend of Deondra's made the necklace and gave it to her three years ago, at Dustin's viewing.

General News on 12/17/2014