Flexibility

God has been teaching me a lot lately about letting go.  Letting go and realizing that I am not in control.  This past month has been a whirlwind and has flown by.  I've had a lot of learning moments and opportunities.  Living in a foreign country is absolutely amazing and I wouldn't trade it for a thing, but it is not always as glorious as it may sound.


PAPERWORK IN MEXICO...
About 2 weeks ago I went to the downtown offices to renew my health insurance here in Mexico.  After traveling 1 hour to the office on the bus, waiting in line for a number for 30 minutes and waiting another 2 hours until my number is called to talk to an associate, I am told that I need to go to another office to get a few tests done before I can renew my insurance.  So I jump on a bus and travel another hour.  Ask 5 different people where to get the tests done.  They send me from office to office; nobody has the answers.  Finally I decide to go upstairs to talk to the director.  After talking with the director I am able to set up appointments with the appropriate people.  That day I left the house at 6am and got home at 5pm.  Just to do one thing-renew my health insurance.  Welcome to a normal day in Mexico!  Paperwork takes about 5 times longer here than it does back in the US.  I'm a perfectionist.  I like to do things well and efficiently.  God is definitely refining me and teaching me to simply let go of the things I cannot control.

SICK
Later that same week I got really sick.  Tortas Ahogadas didn't agree with my stomach :(
I spent 3 full days in bed.  I literally slept the entire day and night for 3 days straight.  I was completely useless and couldn't do anything.  I wanted so badly to go to the orphanage or El Humedo or to complete the things on my 'to-do-list'.  For me it was a frustrating few days being sick, because I wasn't being 'productive'.  But God kept reminding me that I can do nothing apart from Him and that it doesn't depend on me.

Later that weekend when I was finally starting to feel better some friends came over and made pancakes.  They also brought over a guitar and we were able to sing worship songs and praise God.  It was what I needed.  So reassuring to know that God knows exactly what I need even when I don't.

Singing worship with friends

7/11
That weekend I wasn't feeling 100%, but I really felt like God was telling me to go to El Humedo that Saturday.  My friends from church normally pick me up at the 7/11 near my house on to way to El Humedo.  So I got there at the normal time, but later got a call that they would be a little late.  Now in the US 'a little late' is normally 5-10 minutes, but in Mexico you never know how long; it could be 15 minutes to 1 hour.  So I wait and about 45 minutes later my friends arrive.  I'm not going to lie, even though I've lived in Mexico for 3 years now I still have that 'gringo' side that appreciates timeliness.  But God had a different plan for those 45 minutes.  I went into the 7/11 to buy a coffee for my friend and a little street boy, Alonso, followed me in asking me for change.  I told him that I could buy him something for lunch and he agreed.  After perusing the 7/11 for a few minutes he decided on a burrito, a coke and a candy.  A well-rounded nutritional meal for a 6 year old haha

We went outside and sat down on the curb and started talking.  Not 2 minutes into the conversation and his friend Christian comes over and joins us.  Alonso shares his lunch with Christian and we talk about their families, how they clean windshields to make money during the day, how they want to go to school, how Christian used to live in an orphanage, etc..  I shared with them about how I work in orphanages and how my dream one day is to start my own.  They were pretty surprised and asked why?  I was able to share with them how much God loves them and how He has also given me a great love for kids like them  My friends pulled up to the 7/11 and I said goodbye the the boys and we drove off.  Christian and Alonso returned to the streets to wash windshields.  As we pulled away Alonso jumped up and down waving goodbye with a huge smile on his face.  I'll never forget him jumping around like a crazy kid at the 7/11.  Seeing Alonso's joy in being able to have lunch and talk for 45 minutes really reminded me why I'm here in Mexico- to serve and love these kids as God has loved us.

Our team in El Humedo

EL HUMEDO

Some of the girls

That same afternoon we arrive at El Humedo and realize that we don't have the keys to get into the house.  So we had no way to get inside where we had all of the materials and projects.  And of course this day we are short 5 teachers and have twice the amount of kids as normal.  We don't have any of materials, arts + crafts, etc. to give the class.  There is a huge dust storm outside with dirt flying all over the place.  Despite the irony of the name of this little town "El Humedo" (Humid), this town is nothing but dirt and dust.  God is good though.  Amidst all of the craziness, He makes it all work perfectly.  It may not have been the class we had planned on giving, but it turned out to be one of the best.  The kids payed attention and had a great time.  Each kid ran home to bring crayons, colored pencils and paper to do the craft we had planned.  It was really exciting to see the kids come together and unite in working together in sharing their materials.  These kids literally have nothing.  They barely make it by eating rice and beans and yet they were willing to share their prized school supplies with the other kids.  

The younger boys + girls in El Humedo

The older girls (10+ years) in El Humedo

CONFERENCE:
Next week I have the opportunity to attend a conference put on by Christian Alliance for Orphans and Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, MX.  Speakers are coming from both the US and Mexico and will be discussing the following subjects:

• global orphan crisis
• fatherless generation
• child development in orphans
• beyond the walls of institutions
• children's homes in mexico
• the spectrum of orphan care
• helping without hurting
• panels of social workers + gov't officials on orphanages, adoption, etc.

I am more than thrilled for this opportunity to learn and network with other orphanages in Mexico.  I am also excited for this trip because two of the directors from an orphanage in Chapala will be attending the conference with me.

ORPHANAGE IN CHAPALA

As I mentioned a couple of months I have been in contact with the directors of an amazing orphanage in Chapala.  I visited them again this past Monday to talk with the directors and observe.  Thank you all for your prayers for direction and discernment about possibly moving to Chapala to work with them.  Every time I meet with them it is a constant confirmation that He is calling me to serve there; so many little details coming together that truly surprise all of us.  They have shared with me various needs that they have and what they are looking for and it is honestly scary how God has given me the various abilities and skills to fill their needs.  They have the same vision of being a gospel centered orphanage focused on holistic care.  Starting this week I am going to be traveling to Chapala every Friday to start working more with the directors and to start implementing a new program with the volunteers to train them on how to work with orphans.  This will be a great opportunity to start working with them on a more regular basis and to get to know the kids better.  My plan as of now is to continue pulling out slowly of my various activities here in Guadalajara; as I look for others to continue the work at Kids in Victory orphanage and in El Humedo, I plan on moving to Chapala to work with this new orphanage sometime in the near future.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

~Please join me in praying that God would provide more people to serve at Kids in Victory orphanage.  Praise God that He has brought this group of women (in the picture below) to focus on the kids' education at Kids in Victory.

Exhausted after a 7 hour meeting planning and organizing with these amazing women committed to the education project at Kids in Victory orphanage

~Pray that He would provide more people to serve in El Humedo.

~Pray for this transition as I slowly start to get more involved in the children's home in Chapala.

~Pray that God would open my mind at the conference and that He would provide networking opportunities.

~Pray for a project at our church this week.  Joni and Friends has come to our church and is giving away wheelchairs, walkers, etc to children and adults who live in poverty from all over the state of Jalisco.  This week I am translating for the different therapists and orthopedic surgeons who have come from the US to head up this project.

Maicol

'Calolo' came back to the orphanage after 2 years!

 

Coby fishing

El Humedo- building the city of Jericho after reading the story of Joshua

El Humedo- Carol drew all of the kids + names on the whiteboard

A Father's Search

Wednesday morning.   A man knocked on the front door of the orphanage.  He introduced himself very politely and professionally and went into the office to talk to the director and his wife.  He has been going from orphanage to orphanage in the whole state of Jalisco for the past few years looking for his son, Maicol.  The last time he saw Maicol was when he was 3 years old and since his mom didn't give Maicol his dad's last name, it has been a long process in tracking him down with the governmental agencies.

Today was the day.  The day that the father's search would end.  He had found his son.  After years of searching, he had finally found what was taken from him.

Maicol and his two younger brothers (from different fathers) have been in orphanages for most of their lives because the government deemed their mother as unfit/unable to care for them.

Maicol with his homemade bow + arrow

When Maicol was introduced to his father, his demeanor changed drastically.  His face glowed.  They are 2 peas in a pod.  The same smile, teeth, facial expressions, posture, even to the way they tilt their heads to the side when they talk.  They talked and caught up in the office for an hour or so.  And when he came out of that office, Maicol was a different boy.

I cannot even begin to fathom what that moment must have been like for Maicol.  All of his life in an orphanage with his younger brothers.  His family torn apart.  Never expecting to be reunited with his mom, much less his dad who he had only met once.

But his dad was looking for him.  Searching.  Going from orphanage to orphanage looking for his lost son.  I will never forget what Maicol's dad told him:  "You are my son.  I accept you fully as my son.  Now it is your choice if you want to accept me as your father."

Years without hearing from his family.  Never knowing his father.  Never expecting this moment.  And now Maicol is told that he is loved and accepted by his father whom he has never known.  What a beautiful example of the gospel.

God seeking out each and every one of His children.  And we open the door to see our loving father open his arms to us and embrace us as his beloved child.

Maicol and his youngest brother, Miguel

Maicol's dad has started the legal process to take Maicol out of the orphanage.  Like any kid Maicol desires to be with his father, but Maicol is not like most kids.  Maicol truly looks out for and loves his younger brothers.  Maicol told me that he wants to go with his dad, but cannot because he does not want to leave his younger brothers at the orphanage (since they have different fathers).  They have been his only family for his whole life.  They have always been by his side.  They are family.  And he cannot leave them.  Maicol has the opportunity of a lifetime-to leave the orphanage, have a normal family and a normal life with amazing opportunities.  But he is willing to lay it all aside to be with his family-Jorge, Miguelito and the other kids at the orphanage.


As I left the orphanage that day Maicol and another boy accompanied me to the bus stop.  Talking with Maicol was so encouraging.  His heart truly reflects the heart of God.  He is willing to lay down his life, his dreams and these amazing opportunities to serve and love his brothers.  I was brought to tears, hearing him talk about how good and faithful God is.  Maicol recognizes God's goodness to him.

On the bus ride home I broke down in tears.  Maicol's face.  I cannot even explain or express what I saw in Maicol's face.  Amazement.  Surprise.  Joy.  Sadness.  Confusion.  Shock.  But what I saw is a young boy who for the first time in his life understood that he has a Father who is loving and faithful.

This is why I am here in Mexico.  My dream is to see more kids like Maicol understand how much God loves them and to see them transformed and restored.

Sadly, most orphans are never going to experience what Maicol has experienced.  Their biological parents are not looking for them.

I want to mobilize people to seek these kids out.  To love them as their own.  I want to see Maicol's face and heart in all of these children.  My dream is to see these children experience God's love and faithfulness like Maicol has.  I desire to see restoration and healing in these kids lives.

God has brought some amazing opportunities in my path.  He surprises me each day with the people He brings into my life.  People who desire to start orphanage, but don't know how.  People who want to start food-kitchens for orphans and impoverished children, but know how.  Families that desire to adopt children.  Women who desire to love and serve orphans, but don't know where.  My church here desires to open an orphanage/food kitchen in a small town (El Húmedo) we are working in, but doesn't know how to start/operate it.  A group of women that serves together in implementing an education program at Kids in Victory orphanage, but with a larger dream of implementing a similar program in all orphanages in the state of Jalisco.

I don't know why God is putting all of these people and opportunities in my path.  Our dream is start our own orphanage.  I have had the opportunity to train and learn from many orphanages here in Mexico.  And now I have the opportunity to train and serve at an amazingly organized and well-established orphanage in Chapala.  

I don't know why God has given me so many opportunities to train and learn.  But the other day I was talking with a lady from church about all of the opportunities and how I was unsure and yet excited for what God has in store.  And she said something that really stuck with me.  

She said, "Your dream is to start an orphanage.  And that is amazing.  But maybe God is preparing you to train and prepare other people to start orphanages.  Instead of just starting your own orphanage, maybe God has also sent you here to raise up and train leaders to start orphanages, to seek out families in the church to adopt children, to train and connect people to orphanages and food-kitchens to serve at, etc.".  

I don't know what God has next, but the beauty of it all is that His plan is grander and greater than any of my plans.

I am honestly in complete awe of what God is doing.  Ever since the beginning of 2013, God has brought us so many people and opportunities.  He is moving.  And I want to be like Maicol, in awe of how good and loving God is and also willing to lay down my life and my dreams for Him.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH:

El Húmedo

El Húmedo

El Húmedo

El Húmedo

 

El Húmedo

El Húmedo

Rodrigo + Coby are best buds

Jonathan-the jokester of the orphanage

Goofing around with the kids!

These boys bring me so much joy!

Brayan and Miguel in "jail"

@ the movies with Jorge + Carlos for their birthdays!

Coby is learning how to write his name!

Education classes with our group of volunteers!

Please join us in praying for the kids at the orphanage, Kids in Victory.
Pray for our meeting with the directors of Kids in Victory Orphanage to explain to them through a formal presentation the education project we are desire to implement at the orphanage.
Pray for the mission in El Húmedo and the church's desire to start a soup kitchen.
Pray for Maicol and his dad.
Pray that God would continue giving us wisdom, discernment and direction as to our next steps. 

Also, if you get the chance check out this interesting article about 6 Ways You Can Support Missionaries.

What is a Family?

Does a family just consist of a mom, dad and kids?  How about a mixed family?  Extended family?  How would you define 'family'?

Since graduating from college at the end of 2008,  I've lived far away from my 'immediate family'.  However I've seen and experienced that God provides other families for us as well. 

FAMILY = KIDS IN VICTORY ORPHANAGE

When we think of orphans we often think of boys and girls with no parents, no family, no home.  However the 'orphans' I know are the complete opposite.  These kids truly have a family.  They may not be blood related, but they are family.  They live together, take turns doing chores, borrow each others toys, eat dinner together, help each other with homework, read together, etc..  The director and his wife truly are these kids' parents.  This past week the director, Fer, has been in the hospital for pneumonia and tuberculosis.  Please pray for him.  Imagine a father of 30 kids being away from home for over a week.  Doctors say he needs about 2 more weeks of supervision before he is released.  It has been so encouraging to see all of the kids come together in unity though.  They pray for him each day and all of the older kids are really stepping up to do extra chores to help out.  It is such a blessing to be able to be a part of this family in the times of rejoicing and in the hard times as well.

The other day one of the younger boys, Brayan, wrote me a letter.  In it he says: "You are my family."  I have really felt part of the orphanage family over the past couple of years, however it really hit me when I read that I was his 'familia'.  Brayan, like all of the kids at the orphanage, did not have a normal, healthy family relationship.  Creating a new Christ-centered family for these kids is so important.  This type of redeemed family gives them security, unity, acceptance, love and truly demonstrates to them that God has chosen them and adopted them as sons and daughters. 
I am more than blessed to call Brayan and all of the other kids: "mi familia".

FAMILY = CHURCH
God has also blessed me with an awesome church family here in Guadalajara.  I have really been able to get plugged into woman's bible study who have challenged me and supported me. We've all grown so much together and I have learned to share life on a deeper level with them.  It is so encouraging to see the young adults wanting to truly live for Jesus and serve others.

Church friends

Every Saturday a bunch of us from church go to a small impoverished part of town (El Humedo) to give bible studies to the kids.  Two weeks ago a bunch of doctors and dentists came with us to do medical checkups, dental checkups, to prescribe medications and to perform basic dental operations.  While the doctors checked the patients, we gave classes and did activities with the kids in the community.  It was a long day, but a lot of fun getting to know to kids on a deeper level in one-on-one conversation.

Giving classes while the dentists + doctors work

Dentists at work

Singing + dancing with the kids

FAMILY = TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS
A family consists of different members playing different roles.  At the orphanage Kids in Victory the directors and other staff do an outstanding job at providing for the basic needs of the kids.  However we have seen a lesser focus/attention to the school/academic situation.  It is hard for Tania and I to tackle this problem on our own, but God has provided a team, better yet a family, to work together.  We have been heading up a program to organize all of the volunteers at the orphanage to really channel their efforts into educational activities to help the kids learn responsibility and to really pursue and understand the importance of education.  We are conditioning a room upstairs in the orphanage to be fully dedicated as the 'education room' so that we can help with homework, work on reading comprehension skills, math, problem solving, arts + crafts activities, etc..  

It is so encouraging to see such a diverse group of people come together to help with project.  We've got a group of teachers from the US who teach at a Christian school here in Guadalajara that is helping us learn how to better tutor and guide the kids.  Another group of mothers who want to dedicate time each week to working with the boys.  Other volunteers from universities, high schools and the community in general.  The biggest help thus far has been a woman, Maroly, who is helping us head up the project.  She has such a passion for God and for loving and serving kids in orphanages.  It has been so encouraging and uplifting to build a relationship with her and we are excited to see what God has planned for all of us in working together in the future.

Part of the group planning the education project

FAMILY = ORPHANAGE IN CHAPALA 
This past week we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in Chapala, about an hour outside of Guadalajara.  Chapala is an absolutely beautiful city.  We met with the founder and the director of the orphanage and they gave us a tour and explained the way they run and function.  We also shared with them our vision of starting an orphanage and what we are currently involved in.  It was so encouraging to see God working in and through these two women.  They live and breathe passion for God and orphans.  This orphanage is one of the best run orphanages I have seen: very organized and well structured, but it is also such a tranquil and peaceful environment for the kids to grow up.  The staff is truly walking by faith and trusting God as they raise the children.  They are very focused on spiritual growth, healing, education, holistic attention and the importance of a family environment. 

Honestly all of the dreams/ideas that I have had for an orphanage these past 3 years I saw being put into practice here at this orphanage.  The directors actually invited us to move to Chapala to work with them!  Please pray for us as we seek God about this opportunity and for His timing and will.

FAMILY = SUPPORTERS (YOU!)
I am so grateful that God has blessed me with all of you.  Your prayers, encouragement and financial support play such an important role in my life.  Times get tough down here, but I am always so refreshed knowing that I have a group of friends, family and partners in ministry that is truly dedicated to caring for and loving the orphans and impoverished children of Mexico.  Thank you for being a part of my family.

Starting off the New Year...

ORPHANOS:

I apologize for the late update.  This has been a busy holiday season as we transition into a new ministry and I wanted to wait on the update until things had become more official and finalized.  I am excited and proud to announce that Orphanos (a non-profit focused on serving orphans) has accepted me as a missionary.  I am now a part of the Orphanos family!  Please check out the website to see where we are serving and to read more about the organization.  http://www.orphanos.org/

It is such a blessing to see an organization like Orphanos that is so dedicated to serving and loving orphans and missionaries around the world.  If you are interested in supporting financially please visit the Giving Site.  The easiest and most cost-effective way for us to receive donations is through the "Electronic Fund Transfer".  If you have any specific questions, please let me know.

These past few months we were in the process of starting our own non-profit, but during the process we realized the great amount of time and work needed to dedicate to running the non-profit administratively.  I feel that God is calling me to dedicate my time to working with the kids and to continue networking here in Guadalajara as we seek to start an orphanage.  It has been such a blessing to find Orphanos who is dedicated to sending out missionaries and doing all of that administrative work of a non-profit FREE OF CHARGE so that we as missionaries can do what God has called us to do without being bogged down with admin stuff.  So 100% of your donation goes straight to the field.  What a blessing!

ACTIVITIES:

Michel doing HW

Things are moving right along down here in Guadalajara as Tania and I seek out new opportunities to serve and train with orphanages and kids in poverty. We continue to serve at Kids in Victory orphanage and are currently planning a meeting for this month with all of the volunteers at the orphanage.  We the volunteers to share about how they are serving and what ideas and ambitions they have for the upcoming year.  We want to unite the volunteers so that we can serve together and encourage each other as we love these kids.

PEN-PALS:  My best friend is a high school Spanish teacher and each year her students write letters to the orphanage boys to practice their Spanish and to get to know the kids.  The kids absolutely love having pen-pals!  Check out some of them writing their letters:

Coby writing his letter

Rodrigo writing to his new pen-pal

Miguel reading his letter

THE BOYS ABSOLUTELY LOVE DOGS!!!

Jorge

Luis

FUN ACTIVITIES THAT REMIND ME OF MY CHILDHOOD:

Pogs!  or better known as "tazos" in Mexico

Building forts with blankets and boxes

matchbox car ramps

fire pit-roasting marshmallows

Hanging out with Coby, Jorge & Rodrigo

With Maicol

CHRISTMAS WITH THE FAMILY:

Proud of my not so little brother

I have been truly blessed this Christmas season.  For the past 4 years I have spent Christmas in Mexico.  And please don't get me wrong; I love being spending the holidays in Mexico, but especially around Christmas it is extra special to be with family.  This year I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas in the US with my family.  I flew back for my younger brother's graduation from the Marine Corp.  It was an awesome experience to see him accomplish his goal of being chosen for the MOS Field of Intelligence.  I had shared with orphanage boys about my brother joining the Marines and they were honestly more excited than I was!  They asked me a million questions.  I think the Marines gives people a sense of belonging.  It shows them that there is something greater to fight for and strive towards.  It gives them motivation to go forward and to seek justice.

My family

The Marines and being a follower of Jesus actually have a lot of similarities if you think about it.  However one grand difference I noted: the driving motivation.  The marine recruits in boot camp are motivated by fear.  Fear of punishment and fear of humiliation by the drill instructor.  They strive to earn their identity as a US Marine and during boot-camp their drill instructors motivate them towards this identity through fear.

However we as Christians are motivated by love.  First God gives us our identity as His children; we don't earn it.  We are consequentially motivated by His love for us.  We are motivated to love others because we have experienced a love greater than any fear and greater than any love we could ever imagine.

Thank you for your constant prayers, support and encouragement as I seek to love these children as God has loved me.

November Update

As Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I wanted to take this blog update to thank you.

I know there have been a lot of changes recently here in the ministry here in Guadalajara as Tania and I feel called to start an orphanage as we branch off from the youth program that the Enfoque Ciudad team is starting. 

Thank you for your encouragement in this transition.
Thank you for your generous financial support.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for believing in this vision to start an orphanage.
Thank you for taking the time to read these blog updates.

There are a lot of different ministries and organizations to support and follow.  There are other organizations that have over 100 staff.  They have been together for over 10+ years.  They have hi-tech websites.  Thank you for choosing to support us.  We're not a big ministry.  In fact we're quite the opposite- we are a team of 2.  We don't have hi-tech websites.  I'm not the best with my words or at expressing the vision.  We're not great and amazing people.

But I can tell you one thing: we desire to be faithful to what God has called us to do-start an orphanage in Guadalajara, Mexico.  

I wish I could give you a time-frame and a list of definite answers, but I can't.  I don't know fully what it is going to look like or when.  But in the meantime we will remain faithful in serving at Kids in Victory Orphanage.  We are also participating in an outreach in El Humedo for a very impoverished community of children Saturday afternoons.  Tania and I plan to start a class on Saturday mornings for the kids who don't go to school and don't know how to read.  As teachers with an organization (INEA) we can teach them and they can earn their elementary and middle school degrees.  As we reach out to these communities, we will continue to make connections and contacts here in Mexico to start the orphanage. 

A couple of weeks ago we moved to a new house in a safer neighborhood, because unfortunately the old neighborhood has gotten pretty dangerous with a lot of robberies, car thefts, assaults, shootings, etc.  Unfortunately that meant moving farther away from the Kids in Victory Orphanage.  We still go quite regularly to the orphanage, but for the few days while we moved and got settled into the apartment we didn't get the chance to visit the kids.  A few days later we went to the orphanage and were greeted by a million hugs and kisses from the kids.  We had previously told the kids that we were going to move, so they understood why we hadn't come in a few days.

Coby

However one of the boys, Coby, didn't quite understand fully.  He was the first to greet me with a giant hug for a few minutes almost crying.
 I asked him, "Coby what happened?".
 He said in broken Spanish, "You no go home on airplane?"

He thought I was going back "home" to the US forever.  It broke my heart.  In these kids' lives so many people come and go.  They are used to being abandoned and left alone.  This is one of the reasons we want to start an orphanage.  We want to give these kids stability where they know they are safe and loved in a family.  We want to show them through our actions that God is a loving God who does not give up on us.  The Jesus Storybook Bible puts is so well:

"You see, Jesus was showing people that God would always love them-with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. 

So they didn't need to hide anymore, or be afraid, or ashamed.  They could stop running away from God.  And they could run to him instead.  As a little child runs into her daddy's arms." 

The beauty of that quote above is that it doesn't just apply to the orphan kids.  It applies to us as well.  God's love for us never stops.  It is not based on what we do or say.  We need not hide or be afraid or be ashamed.  We can trust Him and rest in His love and grace.