Trusting in the Lord for the Big and the Little things...

Been hearing lots of things about the economy in the states. Some really scary perdictions of 1 of 3 people will lose their home in 2009. Or the amount of people that will lose their job. I don't know if it will come true. None of us knows the future. It reminds me of my friend Robles. I think that is how you spell her name. She was telling me how someone had encouraged her recently to trust God for everything. Two weeks ago she was unable to go to work because she didn't have 30 pesos for the bus (about $3.00). Her husband is not currently working and they are without. They rely on her to work. When day on the way to work, she prayed for the money to come and go for the next week. She got off the bus and found 20 pesos in the street. As she walked to our gate, she found another 10 pesos. 30 pesos in total, exactly what she prayed for. God was, is and will provide for us. He will show us where to go, what to do, what to say. He knows our going out and our coming in. He knows it all, we just need to trust.

Praise God for how he provides

Inside of the old pick up.
The old pick up with the name of the children's home on the side
5The almost new 15 passenger van.


Here is the picture of the new van that God provided the children at Rayitos de Luz. These precious kids were riding in an old beat up pick up truck. All 12-15 of them were smooshed in back. Not a bit safe. God, through many of you, provided not just for a better vehicle but the best. This van is 1 year old. It was a rental so it has some mileage on it, however its in great condition. The inside is nice but kid friendly. Praise God for how he is carrying for these kids. Now Esteban and Puri can ride knowing their children are safe.

West Kirk Presbyterian Church

This is our family with Sasha and Jonah Mudlaff

This past week Greg and I had the privilege to work side by side with a group from Iowa. Greg's good friend from Seminary, Michael Mudlaff is the pastor at West Kirk Pres. His wife, Sasha, and one of their four sons, Jonah, joined 9 others from their church to come serve in Monterrey this week. God blessed them with such great days of working hard, playing with the kids, hiking with them at a local park, throwing a birthday party, serving lunch to a poor community, buying gifts for a couple with twins and delivering food to a children's home. God is so big. He could see that all of these things are done by himself, but I love how He chooses to use us and bless us and teach us and love us in the process. I love how God does exciting things in people's lives. I love how a group can come with fears or certain expectations and leaves with deep changes in thoughts, perspectives, and a new sense of how to live outside their comfort zones. Groups inevitable leave with a deeper trust in God, a wonder in how He works things to His good and give us joy and strength in the process. West Kirk was no exception. Praise God for how He both used them and grew them. I am richer for being apart. Praise God.

Introducing Andrea and Priscilla

These twins girl belong to Cony and Edgar from Manantial de Amor. They are so precious. Please pray for Andrea that was born with some heart issues. I think Cony said she had a murmur but not sure exactly. Its a condition that may need surgery and they will check at 3 months. The doctors say she may grow out of it in time. Will you pray with us that God will allow her to grow out of it. Please also lift Edgar, Cony, Damaris, Hannah and the twins. They are directors of the boys and girls home of Manantial de Amor. They don't take a salary and depend on the Lord to provide all their needs. They have no savings, no retirement, no health care. I could go on and on. We are praying that God would bring people to help support this young family faithfully serving Jesus and caring for many kids. Currently there are 6 girls living in the girls home with them and 18 boys in the boys home. The homes they live in are in bad conditions. They deseparately need to move. We serve a big God and are praying to see how He will provide for MdA and the family of Edgar and Cony.

Juniper Tree Clinic dedication and the first medical group to use it

Recently we dedicated our medical clinic and hosted our first medical group to use the clinic. We've had medical groups before however now we have a place on our campus to work out of. The group of 4 doctors, a pharmist and an assistant treated about 120 kids from our casa hogars, and 175 people from the Cadereyta, a impoverished community that we work with. They also saw staff, jovenes and workers from Back2 Back. All of this in three days. We were blessed by their service and God worked things out so smoothly. To God be the Glory.

Fall Festival 2008

Can you find our boys?

A Walk to Remember.....

Yesterday morning I went with three other staff women to walk and pray through a dorm at one of the children's homes. One of our staff women, Mandy, has a strong burden for these older boys who live in the dorm. There are 17 boys who range in age from 12-15 years of age. Recently two of the boys have made attempts to kill themselves. As we went I really had no idea what to expect, just that we were praying for boys who are hurting in a way I couldn't imagine.
When we arrived at the children's home, the encargadas (workers) were in prayer. We decided to pray outside in the palapa (a shelter with a thatched roof). As we sat down, Lola joined us. Lola is a 30 something year old woman with down's syndrome. I said to her, "Vamos orar" which means "lets pray". She knelt on her knees to pray. After 5 minutes I was convicted by her postition and went on my knees. 20-30 minutes later she was still on her knees as I had switched to various position before finally resting on my bottom. The Lord taught me a lot through her actions. The picture of her tiny body curled up on the palapa concrete floor will not soon leave my mind.
After praying in the palapa, we recieved permission to walk through the dormitory to pray. Before entering we spoke with Mareno about the trouble some of the boys were having. He described how the two boys had made attempts and how that trickles down to the rest of the boys. He spoke of how the workers pray daily for these boys and pray that they can see God through them. His humility was obvious as he described their needs and care for these boys. Personally it seems like a daunting task. I was convicted to pray more for all of the workers of the children's home we serve.
As we began to walk and pray I became so overwhelmed with emotion. I felt hurt like I hadn't before. We first walked into a room of the older boys. The first bed had a "tweety bird" on the pillow. I couldn't help but think of all of the reasons he had that. Did someone special give it to him. Mom, Dad, someone else. Was he frightened at night and this helped him through the rough times. The next bed had several blankets. You could smell urine throughout the room. I couldn't help but pray for these boys when they were sick at night with no one to help them. Or the embarrassment of wetting your bed at that age and in front of 7 other boys. I wondered of the spiritual attacks that happened at night. Mental messages that they are nothing, or no one cares. Its those times in bed that your mind is flooded with those kids of thoughts.
We then prayed in the other room where we found 9 beds. In the few belongings that each boy owned more questions came about. Why did he draw a skull on his shelf? This was one of the boys who attempted to kill himself. I lingered longer here, praying for him to find his identity with Christ. Lord, put someone in his life to show him You Love Him. Help him to see it. Help them all to see it. As I touched walls and beds and chairs that they sat on I was overwhelmed with hurt and wondering what a typical day would be like. I kept thinking that this is such an age where you doubt everything, have a hard time liking anything, and spend most of your time protecting yourselve because if you don't no one else will.
Can you tell I was impacted heavily? I can't stop thinking about it, even though my life is full of so many other things. I am convicted to pray more. For the kids, the workers, the families, so much work to do. Will you join me?