IMMUNIZATIONS:
This past month I've been working on getting all of the kids caught up on their immunizations. Out of the 30 kids only 4 had shot records and even those 4 were not up to date. So let's just say I spent many hours coaxing kids into coming with me to get their shots! haha I even got to hold a few down (more like half of the kids-they were scared) while the doctors gave them the shots.
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| Milton revising his card |
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| A treat for the kids after their shots! |
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?
I feel that so often the world is obsessed with job titles and names. And yet those titles and names really don't describe who we are.
The other day I had just arrived at the orphanage after a good 5 hours running back and forth to the Health Center getting the kids their vaccinations (everything takes longer in Mexico). I come into the office and find a new psychologist in there talking with one of the younger boys Brian. I introduce myself and she asks me what my role is at the orphanage. I didn't really know how to respond. So I told her I teach them how to read, help with homework, give bible studies, help organize the office work, sometimes I cook, etc. I turn to Brian and ask him what he would say my "role" is and he simply states "she loves us".
I thought it was such a beautiful answer. We are sometimes so focused on all of the little things, when really only one thing matters: love. Our main focus should be loving Jesus and loving others.
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| Hanging out with Milton |
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| Making Banana Bread with Braulio + Coby |
FORGIVENESS:
Last Friday night I was doing homework with the kids and two of the younger boys (Miguel + Brian) start to fight. They keep threatening eachother and things get pretty out of control. So I carry Miguel upstairs and sit down on the bunkbed with him and try to calm him down by getting him to breathe slower and to stop yelling. And then I start to pray for him out loud. He slowly starts to calm down and eventually is under control. I tell him to lay down and to relax and rest and to pray to God to help him understand the situation. I go downstairs to find Brian and do the same with him. And then I return upstairs with Miguel to talk with him and I bring along the Jesus Storybook Bible to read afterwards. We pray and just as we start reading Brian comes upstairs to join us. I ask the kids if we can talk about what happened and they agree.
We pray and then I start talking to them to figure out what had happened between them. Miguel interrupts me and asks me "Can I ask a question?". I say "yes". And Miguel turns to Brian and asks: "Will you forgive me?". Brian turns to me and has a huge grin on his face and says "yes". Brian then turns to Miguel and asks for forgiveness as well and Miguel says "yes". They both turn to me with huge smiles and give me a hug. To be honest I almost lost it. I cried out of joy and amazement. The boys wanted reconciliation and were able to forgive eachother without me intervening. They had turned to God and saw His justice, forgiveness and love and put it into action.
It was a beautiful moment that really humbled me. So the three of us sat there hugging eachother for a few minutes (which seemed like hours) and then we started reading the kid's Bible. After reading for a good hour, Miguel turned to me and asked: "When I am a grown up and a daddy, can you buy me this Bible to read with my children?". These kids truly break your heart and teach you more than you could ever imagine.
HOMEWORK TIME:
The past couple of weeks we have been focusing on a bunch of structural changes at the orphanage: putting in more organization, order and a schedule. It has definitely been a challenge, but as you can see by the following video things are definitely improving!
Thank you for your love, encouragement, prayers and support that allows me to serve these children that God loves so much.
