A Lesson in Forgiveness

Yesterday, I was at Casa Hogar Douglas, talking to the head caregiver, Javier. He shared with me an event that happened the day before. That morning, in school, one of the older boys from the children's home was bullying one of the younger ones. Javier told me that when they returned home, he talked to the older boy and told him that he now was going to have an opportunity to seek public forgiveness for his actions. That same day, in the dining hall before they ate their meal, this young man got up in front of everyone, and asked the younger boy to forgive him. The younger boy said that he would as the entire dining hall burst into applause. Javier later asked both of these boys how they felt. Both of them said "Good!" A very simple act. 

Independence Day Party in Casa Hogar Douglas

We had a Mexican buffet for dinner

JJ from our staff did the "grito" or "shout" that is customary

The kids formed a color guard for the national anthem

Some of the kids did a traditional dance

Betty & I dressed up in traditional clothing by the Mexican flag

Sept. 16 is the Mexican Independence Day. The tradition here is to have a party on the night of the 15 and at midnight the president leads the whole country in a cheer. The end of the cheer is when the president says "Viva Mexico" and everyone else joins in with "Viva!"

This year, we had a party, organized by the church in Casa Hogar Douglas. The 60 kids that live at this children's home were so proud to open their home up to the public and host this party. They planned and worked to decorate and entertain people for the evening. We had about 100 guests who helped us celebrate Mexico's Independence Day with the children. I am so thankful that the kids had an opportunity to enjoy this evening. This is something that they might be doing if they had an opportunity to live in a home with their parents. Living in a children's home, many times they miss out on events like this that are part of their Mexican heritage. Needless to say, they were all tired at the end of the night but they were very content too. "Viva Mexico!!!"

An Opportunity To Share in Texas

This past week, Betty and I had the opportunity to share with a church in Texas about our work in Monterrey. We traveled to Brownsville, Texas on Saturday and we were able to speak in front of 1,000 people on Sunday morning. It was a great time of fellowship with the people there. We invited them to send a group to Monterrey to serve with us next year. Most of the congregation speak Spanish fluently.

Ten years ago, Betty lived across the border from Brownsville in Matamoros. Her pastor there was Pedro Medina. He is now the pastor of this church in Brownsville. For those of you that know Betty, you know that she is a prayer warrior. She developed this habit from Pedro. He teaches his congregation of the power of prayer. Seven, yes I said 7 DAYS EVERY WEEK, they have prayer in their building at 6AM. It lasts for 1-1/2 hours every day! Their congregation has experienced many great blessings. I believe one reason God has blessed them so much is because they love to pray. There really is nothing more that God wants from us but to have a relationship with Him. 

The Worship Team of The Church at Casa Hogar Douglas

I wanted to introduce you to the group of young people that we have to lead worship at the church at Casa Hogar Douglas. If you have visited the church, you may have seen them, but not been introduced to them. We have been blessed in so many ways since we have started regular church services every week. God has given us the very best, in everything that He has blessed us with.  The worship team is no exception to that. Betty and I have come to love these young people that God has brought into our lives. They are all an asset to our ministry and we give thanks for them. I want you to meet them.

Beto is our Worship Pastor and director of our worship team. He has an incredible voice. When you hear him sing, you think I could listen to him all day. He is extremely talented and can play the drums and sax as well. He told me when I first met him that his parents dedicated him as a baby to do God's work and he has felt called to serve God as an adult. He has even preached a few times. Beto just married Ruth in July in the newly remodeled chapel. He works for Lincoln Welders during the week. We are excited to see how God will use Beto & Ruth together this year.

Priscila is Betty's oldest daughter. She works for an exporter and goes to school studying communications. Pris loves to sing, like all of Betty's kids. Whether she is in the house, the car, a soccer game or in church you will probably find her singing. She has a great voice and Betty and I are proud of her.

Diego is our piano player and may be our most talented overall musician. He teaches music and is very easygoing. Nothing ever seems to bother Diego. He helped me a lot when we were purchasing the sound equipment. Diego is like many of the others in that he just loves the Lord. He is very humble and always has a kind word for everyone.

Aissa & Shaida are Betty's nieces and are 15 & 16 years old. They have been serving with us since the beginning. They both love serving the Lord by singing and we are blessed to have them as part of our team. Many of the little girls from the children's home love to "hang with them."

Carlos plays guitar and lives in Guadalupe with his wife Scarlett and their baby. He works on computers for his day job and also gives music lessons on the side. He brings the guitar "to life" when he plays it. I believe he could also be a comedian if he wanted to. Carlos is a fun person to be around.

We were blessed to have Ely with us for a few months this year. She is a bundle of energy and the kids love her. We call her 'Shakira for Jesus' after the popular Latin singer. Ely was the first one to lead us in the worship song "Te Doy Gloria." I believe that one day God will call her to be a worship leader in a big church. When that day comes, we will be able to say "she first led worship for us at Casa Hogar Douglas." This school year, Ely is studying in Argentina. We will miss her while she is gone but Diego and her in love, so we hope to see her again.

 

Anna has been one of our singers since we first started. She and her brother Jonathan were going to school here in Monterrey. Jonathan played the drums for us for a while but I don't have a picture of him. They're just good, nice young people that love to serve the Lord. They both are currently living in Texas, but we stay in touch with them through Facebook.

Reflections - Greater Things are still to come

I'll admit that when I first thought about writing this entry, I wanted to just share some reflective thoughts I have had lately. I'll also admit that sometimes those thoughts can be negative. You see, sometimes I am a little down. Everyday I see kids that are hurting. I live in a place where it is hard to see justice. Sometimes the simplest of tasks can take half a day to accomplish. I miss my family back in Ohio. And sometimes, I can even ask myself "Is it all really worth it?" When I weigh the answer to this question, I can always answer "yes!" 

Today, as I prepared to write this entry, I received the following link to this YouTube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UqyEQxb6cU

It is a promotional video that was made by one of our ministry partners. The James Fund is the non-profit ministry of Family Christian Stores. They have been huge partners with us since 2005. I consider Steve Biondo, the president of The James Fund, who does a lot of the speaking in this video, my friend. When I watched the video, I found myself coming alive. I found myself saying "yes!" It was then that I realized that while sometimes I am discouraged, God always has a way of revealing to me why it is all worth it.

As partners with us in this ministry, I hope you can view this video and be lifted up as I was. I know that you too can be discouraged from time to time and even wonder if it is all worth it. Please watch the video. I want you to be energized in knowing that many Christians all over the world are united with us.  Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your financial support. Thank you for coming and serving alongside of us. We are so thankful for your lives. We pray God's blessing on you as you have been a blessing to us!

Kevin & Poncho

This is a photo of Poncho who lives at Casa Hogar Douglas with a group member who was here this July. While he was serving with us, Kevin Baker developed a special bond with Poncho. Kevin was so impressed with Poncho's work ethic as he helped the group with their work project, that he purchased a cordless drill for him before they left. Poncho is the oldest of 5 kids in his family and they all live at Casa Hogar Douglas. He really is a great young man and is very helpful with the workers in the home. He also is very willing to help me with whatever he can as well. Often times, Poncho does not get much attention from the groups that come to serve. He is older and most of the time the younger kids get the American's attention. I'm so thankful for Kevin's act of love for Poncho. I know that it touched Poncho's heart. He had tears in his eyes when this picture was taken. It may have been the kindest thing that a man has ever done for him.

Thank you Kevin! You showed Christ's love for Poncho in a very practical way that week.

P.S... Kevin decided to sponsor one of the kids at Casa Hogar Douglas in our Shelter Kid Sponsor Program. Guess which kid he is sponsoring.

An email from a teenage girl

The following is an email message that I received from a young teenager who was here on a trip this summer. I think she learned a lot about the heart of our Heavenly Father for the orphan child. I asked her if I could share her email on my blog and she said yes. Here it is....

I am a teenage girl who has always felt that for all of my days I will glorify God. I used to think that I would be talking to the hearts of hurting teens...before I realized I have little patience for those between 12 and 18. For the past year I felt that God was calling me to the mission field overseas. I never had a second thought about going to Mexico. I fell in love with a young girl in Mexico by means of a picture that had been taken from the February trip LPV took. I was determined that God wanted me to meet her, to talk to her.  However, the day my dad lost his job, I considered not going on account of finances. Then God provided.  I continued to believe that this little girl was bringing me to Mexico. Although I said I had no expectations, I fully expected to meet her. Four months later and thousands of prayers for this little girl, I went to Monterrey. I learned the day after I arrived that 1) our group was not going to visit the home of this little girl and 2) she was not at her home. My heart broke into a million pieces, or what felt like it, anyway. I didn't even know this little girl's name and I was bawling from heartache, feeling that this child was not safe at "home" and angry that I felt so much pain for a girl I didn't know. Angry that I seriously believed a little girl brought me to Mexico. I allowed God to break my heart, though. I learned that God used that little girl to show me His heart. He allowed my heart to break so i could feel, on a miniscule scale, the pain He feels for His children. Except, He knows every single one of His children by name. I needed to hang onto that one child and feel the pain for that ONE child because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have seen the bigger picture. The statistic of orphans did not break my heart, it is a number. But for that one child, my heart shattered. God knew this. His love is far beyond my human heart. How much patience and care must He have to allow me to feel for the heart of an orhan so that I may recieve the other children with a heart broken for the right reasons?  I will tell you now, I did not meet this girl. Looking back, though, I did. I met this girl in the 10 year old that stole my heart, the 8 year olds that left their handprints on my shirt after painting, the young child I fed at Casa Hogar Douglas,  and every child I came in contact with. The broken heart is the only way to reach and reach out to the human heart. God takes a broken heart and mends it and connects it to others and even allows a heart to break so that it may break for what breaks His. If the cry of my heart is to break with the things that make God's heart break, that means some pain, but so much joy. Joy in the eyes of an orhpan accepting Christ into her heart. Joy in the hug of an orphan-a person, a friend.  Thank you, Mr. Jim, for letting God break your heart for the heart of the orphans. I don't have much, but I offer God my life, and to you and B2B, my prayers. I cannot promise  the needed $5200 for meals in Rio 3. I cannot promise a fiesta to raise this money or that I will be an intern next summer, but I offer this all to God, and can promise you that His ways are perfect everytime. I can promise that God's timing, while not mine, is perfect. And darkness does not hide light - is not darkness measured by light? May you be a light. thank you. -Lauren Ellis