Simon Says...

ENGLISH CLASSES:

A few weeks ago we started teaching English classes at Kids in Victory orphanage.  It has been a lot of fun with the kids!  They are so eager to learn.  We're still working on the basics (colors, numbers, etc).  The kids love playing "Simon Says" in English.  We put together workbooks for them to do activities and play games as they learn English.  

It is so funny to hear their pronunciation in English! 

• blue= blup
• green = grin
• orange = orangay
• black = blag
• white = wide

Darren + I teaching the English class

JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLES:

Orphanage in Chapala, Jalisco

Kids in Victory Orphanage in Guadalajara, Jalisco

Thank you all for your donations to our fundraiser to buy Jesus Storybook Bibles for orphans here in Mexico.  We have started delivering the bibles to various orphanages.  The kids have fallen in love with them!  Thank you for making this possible!

Before the kids go to school in the morning we've been reading the Jesus Storybook Bible to them and they absolutely love it!  It has been really great to read with the kids and ask questions, discuss, etc.

NEW STAFF MEMBER + ROOMMATE!

As some of you know these past 2 years have been pretty hard for me.  I've been the only girl on the team and living alone.  God has taught me a lot about fully depending on Him, but it has been a long and trying process.  But God's timing is perfect and He brought another girl to the team this past month: my friend Tania.  It has been a huge blessing to work with and live with Tania.  It really is true that it is better to do things in 'twos' and that is why Jesus sent the disiciples out in 'twos'.  It has been great to be able to show her the ropes of what it looks like to serve at an orphanage and to hear her outside perspective on things.  

Tania giving a bible study at our house

Rodrigo forming words with syllables

I'M APPLYING FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY:

Now that I've been in Mexico for over 2 years I am elegible for a special type of visa that is the next step in obtaining Mexican citizenship.  So I'll have dual citizenship.  There are basically 3 steps: 

1) NON-IMMIGRANT.  I fulfill this requirement this August.

2) IMMIGRANT (permanent resident): I am currently applying for this visa which states that I have the intention of staying in Mexico and obtaining dual citizenship.  Once I am an "immigrant" for 2 years I can apply for dual citizenship.

3) DUAL CITIZENSHIP: The naturalization process if 6 months.  I will have to take a Mexican history course, pass a language test, etc.  This would give me full privileges as other Mexicans (passport, identification card, voting, etc).  This opens a huge door with the people as we truly assimilate into their culture.

We are pursuing this because we want to do things correctly and legally.  As well it is important to really be a part of a culture like Paul writes in Corinth: 

“19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings”.-1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

There is a high fee in order to apply for the immigrant status.  So I am hoping to post about it and see if you would consider supporting me in this big step of faith so that I can be a permanent missionary in Mexico.

*Mexican Step 2 Immigrant Visa Fee        $251.00

*Mexican Step 2 Immigration Fee            $264.00

*TOTAL                                                    $551.00

If you'd like to support in this please (1) mail in a check or (2) go to our website: www.enfoqueciudad.org/give.

ENFOQUE CIUDAD
1802 LIMA DRIVE
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93405

Thank you for all of your support and prayers.

It's the Little Things that Make a Difference

We are entering into a time of transition as we look to start construction of our youth-orphanage program in August.  I have really been challenged to look at my schedule and figure out how I want to best invest my time as we start transitioning into focusing more the youth-orphanage program construction.  Unfortunately I am the type of person that wants to please everybody, so I typically say "yes" to anything anybody asks me.  I have really been convicted though that this really does no good to me nor the people I say "yes" to.  When I say "yes" to something, I am saying "no" to another.  If you have a few minutes please check out the beginning of this sermon by Francis Chan on "First Things First" in the book of Haggai.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-DSjmvIIEs

There are a lot of needs at the Kids in Victory orphanage where we are serving at.  30 kids.  Each kid has various unmet needs.  Seeing those needs, I have tried to help them all.  So I've taken on a million different projects and I've found that even though I'm doing a lot, I'm not doing it well.  God has really convicted me on investing well in these kids.  So instead of taking on a lot of projects, I'm really trying to focus on taking on a few things, but really pouring myself into that fully.  In doing so I have found that I actually have more joy and peace in the little moments.

Last Wednesday the kids were in a devotional in the living room.  I was sitting and reflecting in the adjoining dining room as they sang.  An 8 year old boy Brian comes up to me and gives me a hug.  He then looks at me in the eyes and asks me to forgive him for the other day when he disobeyed me.

Brian & Rene

Lets rewind a second...  The other day this sweet, little Brian was the angry, screaming Brian who was yelling at anybody and everybody.

So back to Wednesday night, Brian hugs me and asks for forgiveness for how he had treated me and for not listening to me.  He says that he wants to change, but doesn't know how.  He sits down and we start to talk.  I ask him why he asked for forgiveness?  He says that he know he was wrong when he disobeyed and that God has put us in his life to correct him and guide him because we love him.

We talk for another few minutes about how he cannot change on his own sharing with him the following example.  It would be like taping apples onto an orange tree, expecting the tree to start growing apples.  Is the orange tree going to change?  He laughs and says "of course not".  It is the same with us.  If we try to change by doing better things will it really last?  We need to change our foundation, our roots.  We can truly change and transform if we have Jesus as our foundation and He is the acting and driving force.  Brian tells me that is what he wants and the hugs me.  After about 2 seconds he pulls away, but I pull him back and keep hugging him.  He starts crying and I embrace him.  After about 5 minutes he shares with me that this was the best hug he has ever had.  He had never had a real hug before.

I'm really starting to see that it is the little things in life that go a long way.  But if I get caught up in doing, doing, doing, I lose myself.  I don't want to "find myself" in what I do, but rather I want to "lose myself" in what Jesus has done for me.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and financial support.  Please check out our Enfoque Ciudad blog with more updates on construction:  http://enfoqueciudad.org/

Orphanage Land Purchase.

“It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.” (Deuteronomy 1:25)

Land for Future Orphanage

We've been working in Guadalajara for over 2 years now and we are so excited to announce that God has opened up a door for us to start building our orphanage!  We are excited to see the impact that this program will have for Jesus here in Mexico.

Our team has spent the past few years praying, serving, visioning and fundraising to purchase this land for our orphanage project.  Our nonprofit, Enfoque Ciudad, has purchased a piece of land measuring 1.24 acres or 5,000 m²    

The land is on the outskirts of Guadalajara in a town called Tonalá.  It is located about 5 minutes off of the main freeway, near schools, other housing developments and is located in a generally safe area.  It is near the Parque Barranca (park + cliff) Oblatos Huentitán and overlooks the Río Santiago (The James River). 

Thank you for your generous contributions allowing us to further this work in starting an orphanage.  We couldn't have down this without you!  

Check out the following 3-D DESIGN RENDERINGS for the construction:

Side View

Bird's Eye View

Street View

There will be 2 houses built for the boys + girls as well an administration building (kitchen, offices, etc).  Spread around the land will be: a soccer field, a basketball/volleyball court, swing-sets, playground equipment, a lake, a gated swimming pool, tether-ball court, wall-ball court, benches, hammocks, trees, grass areas, etc.

THE TEAM:

Enfoque Ciudad Team

In these past 2 years I have really learned the importance of a team.  We are all very different and gifted in various areas.  To be completely honest with you, I had no involvement in the land purchase.  And that is probably a good thing!  The team leaders (Darren + Justin) are amazing businessmen and are very wise leaders who took charge.  I am so thankful for them and how faithful and devoted they were to finding this land and doing all of the work in this process of buying the land.  I could not have done it.  That is why I think it is so cool to see how God brought together this team with such strong leaders and brought me to the team to help and serve them in the little things.

THE VIEW:

I'm not going to lie.  The view is breathtaking.  Many people generally think of Mexico as being pure desert and horses or as a huge dangerous city.  And yes, there are big cities here and every now and then a horse does walk down my street!  

However "como México no hay dos" (Like Mexico there is not two).  Mexico is an absolutely beautiful country.  I am so excited to raise and take care of these kids at this location.  It is such a healing environment and a true refuge for these kids who have suffered and been abused.

We have really been blown away at how gracious God has been to us in this.  And we want to thank you for how committed and faithful you have been in financial support and prayer.

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." 

(Philippians 1:3-5)

Valentine's Day, Transformation, Redemption

VALENTINE'S DAY:
In Mexico they celebrate Valentine's Day as "The Day of Love and Friendship".  We had a lot of fun with the kids.  We had a pizza party and made the kids little valentine's with personal notes.  They were so excited to read them!

Also, some of the kids made me little cards as well :)

For each kid's birthdays I try to take each of them out with a friend to the movies, coffee, lunch, or something fun that they want to do.  One of the little boys, Brayan, doesn't have a birth certificate and so he doesn't technically have a birthday.  A couple of months ago he asked me when we were going to celebrate his birthday.  So I told him that he would be my "date" on Valentine's Day.  So on Valentine's Day I took him and a friend out to breakfast.  They loved it!  They are not used to going out to eat so once we were done, he asked me "Where is the kitchen?".  I asked him "Why?".  He said that he wanted to take his plates to the kitchen to wash them!  :)  Too funny!  The waitress got a kick out of it as well!

Valentine's breakfast

JESUS ADRIAN ROMERO CONCERT:

The group at the concert!

Last week one of the most famous Mexican christian singers (Jesus Adrian Romero) came to Guadalajara.  We took 2 of the older boys, Christian + Nestor.  It was their first concert and they loved it!  We chose these 2 kids because we have seen the most transformation in them over the past few months.  You can really see that they are seeking Jesus.  Throughout the concert the singer shared with us about certain life struggles, battles, victories, etc.  Before the last song he shared about the importance of forgiveness and the role of a father.  This impacted the entire crowd, especially the 2 kids.  He shared how our biological father really affects our view of God as our Father.  He asked for forgiveness as a "father" to all of us, saying..

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to listen."
"I'm sorry I was there physically, but wasn't there emotionally for you."
"I'm sorry I hit you, yelled at you."
"I'm sorry I didn't provide for you as I should have."
"I'm sorry I didn't love you as I should have."

It was an emotional time for the kids.  It really reminded me that you granting forgiveness to somebody is you deciding to forgive and giving the control over to God.  For these kids they grew up being abandoned by their fathers and their family.  They were physically, emotionally, sexually abused by the people that were supposed to protect and love them unconditionally.  Forgiveness and redemption is something very difficult for these kids to grasp onto.  But these two kids really left impacted by the singer's words.  After lots of tears, hugs and praying for the kids we all left the concert transformed.

The boys: pensive and reflective after the show.

REDEMPTION GROUP/BIBLE STUDY:

Over the past year God has really put on my heart abuse victims.  I attended a conference last year put on by Mending the Soul about working with abuse victims and I am currently studying a Master's degree online in Family Counseling at a christian mexican university (in Spanish) that my dad has generously offered to pay for.  Over the past few weeks I have really seen that training/studying come into play.  A couple of the older kids we took to the concert have confided in me about their past and how they want to address it and seek healing in Jesus.  I had the opportunity to share with them the following verse:

Deuteronomy 7:7-8
⁷ It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,  

⁸ but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

For these kids it is almost unfathomable that somebody would choose them, that somebody would love them.  Their entire lives they have been rejected and thrown away as if they were nothing and had no value.  I love the translation in spanish because it says that the Lord "se encariño" (grew fond of you).  He did this because "te ama" (He loves you).  It really paints a beautiful picture of the fact that we're really not anything great or special, but that God sees us and sets his love on us and chooses us, because He loves us.  He keeps His word.  He does not lie.  He is strong with a mighty, powerful and yet loving hand.  He redeems us from slavery.  He redeems us.  

We talked a lot about what it looks like to be redeemed.  What it means that God is our Redeemer.  He pulls us out of slavery and frees us, but He also redeems us.  He gives us something better.  He gives us a purpose, freedom, identity.  He gives us a new life.  He gives us Himself.

The kids loved the conversation so much that they asked if we could do something like it everyday! This week I'm starting a "redemption group" (bible study) with them.  We're going to look at different aspects of God (His love, wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, faithfulness, eternity) and how abuse distorts our view of God and the truth about God that we find in the Bible.  I'm excited to see how God will work in their hearts and in mine.

OTHER EVENTS THIS MONTH:

For Chuy's 18th birthday we went to a nearby college campus and had lunch.  After completing high school, he wants to study at this university!!!  He had a blast and said that this was the best birthday he has ever had!

University Visit

Playing baseball with the kids at the park!

Hanging around

Playing in the backyard

I took the girls out the other day to a Arts + Craft Store!

They had a lot of fun putting together a b-day gift
for their grandma (orphanage director's wife)

The orphanage directors-We took all of the kids to the circus!

Orphanage Family Photo!

Thank you for playing such an important role in the transformation of these kids' lives!

Also, check out other ministry updates on the Jesus Storybook Bible fundraiser, etc at: http://darrenhurst.blogspot.com/

Muchas Gracias + Teachable Moments

MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!

MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!  Thank you all for your donations to our Christmas Project!  It was a huge success!  We were able to purchase with your donations the following:

• 2 fridges
•  8 industrial cooking pots + kitchen utensils
• 12 iron benches + 2 iron tables + 8 iron chairs 
• 1 large steel shelf with 8 green plastic tubs for the kitchen
• 30 plastic cups + plates + bowls, 36 forks + spoons
• 2 white board for English class + bible studies
• 3 wall collages of family orphanage photos
•  mexican clay pots + plants + bamboo trees
• 10 file-portfolios for office
• 5 packages of 12 kilo laundry soap
• 12- 2.8 liter bottles of dish soap
• 10 boxes of 90 eggs 
• 4 boxes of 12 kilos of chicken
• 10 boxes of 24 toilet paper rolls
• 50m extension cord + 4 smoke detectors
• Mops + brooms
• 50 t-shirts w/ the orphanage logo
• 4 small trashcans + 2 large trashcans
•  2 boxes of 500 small trash bags + 3 boxes of 100 large black trash bags
• 1 outdoor barbeque

Also an amazing family from Missouri worked together with their church to buy new clothes, school supplies and toys for the orphanage! Such a blessing!  
Check out the pictures below... 

Showing the kids the new gifts!

The guys putting together the grill

Handing out gifts to the kids

TEACHABLE MOMENTS:

Everyday here we have numerous opportunities to share the gospel and teach the kids.  I'm not just referring to teaching them through Bible studies, classes, doing homework, etc., but rather through the everyday little things.

FOLDING CLOTHES:
For Christmas the kids received a bunch of new clothes!  One of the younger boys (Cesar) wanted to learn how to fold his clothes correctly.  So I got the opportunity to sit down with him for 20 minutes or so and teach him how to fold his clothes, but more importantly we got to talk about why it is important to take care of our things.  It was a great opportunity to see how much God has blessed us and how we should take care of all that He was given us, but not to "hold onto" and "worship" those physical materials.

Maicol painting 1 Peter 2

GETTING PICKED ON:
A couple of weeks ago I witnessed one of the older boys picking on Maicol (age 12).  It is always hard to deal with these kind of situations, because the boys get frustrated, angry and want to fight back.  I had the cool opportunity to share with Maicol the following verses from 1 Peter 2:21-25.  It paints such a beautiful picture of how Jesus reacted to suffering, insults, threats, etc.  Maicol was really able to start to understand what it looks like to trust God as the Judge who judges with justice and righteousness.




Also it was really cool to see Maicol start to look at the fact that "by Jesus' wounds we have been healed".  The majority of these kids have been abused (physically, sexually, emotionally, through neglect) and so it is such a huge deal for them to see that JESUS TRULY HEALS US!

"To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
       'He committed no sin,
       and no deceit was found in his mouth.'
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to sins
and live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were like sheep going astray,
but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

1 Peter 2:21-25

Maicol's artwork

Also, please check out our fundraiser going on to send down Jesus Storybook Bibles to orphans in Mexico:  www.adoptbible.com