Back To School...

For those of you who follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you have met our newest little addition, Esmi.  Esmi is 7 years old and she is the sister of Tonio (who is also with us).  She came into our care two weeks ago.  Her father was killed 4 years ago and Esmi's mother is hoping for a better life and future for both Esmi and Tonio.  Esmi is a beautiful and bright, yet very feisty young gal.  We were able to enroll her right away in school and she is doing great thus far.

Speaking of school, it has been exactly a month since the children started school and all 10 of them are doing well.  Although some of are below the average student their age, learning wise, they are enjoying school and seem eager to learn how to read, write, count, etc!

Our days now are quite different, especially in the morning.  Getting 10 children ready for school can be a little tricky.  Wakeup call is at 6:30 AM.  The kids do a great job of getting dressed, making their beds and prepping their backpacks.  We have breakfast at 7:00 and then walk the kids to catch the bus @ 7:40 AM.  After school is probably the most important time of our day.  The entire staff ceases doing their normal work duties and we spend 2-3 hours with the kids, tutoring and assisting them with their homework.  I do my best to only help the elementary kids because I can understand their homework, especially math.  I made the mistake onetime of trying to help the junior high kids and I was very humbled.  At the age of 34, I have no clue how to do decimals, fractions, etc.  It brought me back to my days of schooling and algebra…days that I try not to think about!

Waiting for the "Independence Parade"...(I think my wife is the most excited)

The older students were required to march in the parade...

As our family continues to grow, so do the needs.  To fully and adequately care for a child at Casa de Bendicion, it costs $200 a month.  This enables each child to have the proper care from the staff, food, clothes, school uniforms and supplies, medical and dental check-ups, private tutoring as well as money to help teach the children how to save and tithe.  God has been faithful to provide 14 families, individuals and churches, thus far, that help support our children anywhere from $40-$100 a month.  Our prayerful desire would be that every child would be fully supported on a monthly basis.

This is where I would ask that if you, or your family, or church, might be interested in knowing more about this, or, have a tugging on your heart to help, please let me know.  I don’t want to create just another “program” where people can “sponsor” a child on a monthly basis for “X” amount of dollars.  We really want to build a relationship between the children at the orphanage, and those that support them.  The support we are looking for is not just money.  Obviously, when we moved down here, it was in faith, trusting that God would provide, and move and those hearts HE desires, to come alongside us.  As I look back over the past 2 years, it is UNBELIEVABLE how God has been faithful to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The number of churches, families and individuals that continue to come alongside us, pray for us, visit us, etc, grows daily.  I am confident that as God continues to bring the children, He will continue to bring the finances and resources as well.

As we are seeking a commitment from people, we are making a commitment as well.  We want to make sure that you have all the up to date information regarding the child you are supporting.  Every 1-2 months we want to provide you an update with photos, prayer requests and praise reports, school report as well as an overall update of how your child is doing.  We also pray that one day you might be able to join a missions trip, or just come down with your family to meet your child and spend some time hanging out and serving at the orphanage.

Please take time to pray and seek the Lord on this and let me know if this is something that you would be interested in becoming a part of.

Here are the children that are still in need of monthly supporters...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly place" (Ephesians 1:3).

He Gives And Takes Away...

Job, probably one of the most afflicted men in the bible, never ceased to praise the Lord. "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of The Lord" (Job 1:20-21).

Paul, learned what it meant to be content in the Lord, no matter what the situation looked like, good or bad.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

We know that God is in control of all things, and He is absolutely perfect. So whether we are glowing on that mountain high experience, or trudging through the depths of the valley, we can rest assured our God is in control!

This past month, the Lord added greatly to our home...8 children within about a week.  How exciting it was to see these beautiful new faces and watch The Lord begin to work in their precious lives. Obviously going from 4 to 12 children was a bit of a challenge, but nevertheless, a huge blessing.

Just as the Lord has the freedom to add children to our home, He can also allow some to be removed, which is what has happened. The mother of the 4 siblings (Gael, Myra, Pablo and Adrianna) decided to take her children back. Over the short time they were with us, we had a number of meetings with the mom, sharing the Lord with her and our commitment to help care for and minister to her children. She was torn of wanting to have them with her but knowing she couldn't care for them properly.  It became apparent though, that she was changing her mind and really wanted her kids back.

We did our best to fight for the children, believing that truly the best place for them was in our care.  Unfortunately, the mother saw things differently and because she is their legal guardian we released the kids back to her.

This has been difficult, especially knowing that the children are being left home alone, and some of them are not going to school.  However, we don’t lose heart, only because we know that God is constantly working behind the scenes.  He loves those children more then anyone.  I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I do know how big of a God I serve, who through whom ALL THINGS are possible.

The 4 children left our home on a Sunday and then God brought us another young boy the following Sunday.  Truly He does “GIVE” and “TAKE AWAY”.  When we came back home from church this past Sunday, Aron’s mother was there, with her cousin Yvet and her little son Jose Antonio Diaz.  Yvet had heard about the orphanage from Aron’s mom and she wanted to bring Jose to us.  Similar to a lot of our children, Yvet is a single mom, trying to work, raise kids, etc.  She to has a desire to see Jose have a better life then the one she can give him.  So, within an hour our so, we had processed in this young boy, our 9th child. Lord willing, Jose' little 6 year old sister, will be joining us as well within a few weeks!

Brothers and sisters, there may be times when the Lord gives, and there may be times when He takes away.  May we always seek and desire to never cease to praise and bless His holy name!

Jose Antonio Diaz, 9 years old...

Jose Antonio

12 and counting...

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” (Psalm 127:4-5). I truly am a blessed man.  Just as the psalmist declares, blessings come from arrows (children) being added to your quiver (family).  That is exactly what the Lord has done once again this past week…bringing us 3 more children to care and minister to.

Pastor Luis, Kim, my dad and Erasmo took an unexpected trip back up to Corareyvo last Monday.  There had been discussion and talks of Erasmo’s sister, Maria Ana, wanting to come to the orphanage.  We hadn’t received confirmation of that, but felt like we needed to step out in faith and make the trip.  Either way, every trip up to the beautiful village is a blessing, as you get to continue sharing Jesus with individuals.

We anxiously waited for their return on Tuesday, to see if she decided to come live with us.  As the van pulled up, that beautiful afternoon, our children ran out to greet whoever was in it.  There she was, Maria Ana, looking shy and nervous, but excited to be here.  The Vargas’ then told us they had an extra surprise.  The van door opened, and out came running, Judith (Erasmo’s older sister).  With a huge smile on her face she gave me a giant hug.  WOW…I wasn’t expecting her to be there.

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Judith Maria Rascon, 15 years old...

Maria Ana

Maria Ana Rascon, 12 years old...

When we took our first trip to Corareyvo in October of 2013, we wanted both Judith and Erasmo to come down.  When we went to get Erasmo in January, I was hoping his sister would decide to come as well, however, she was gone.  Word was, she had left town with a bunch of other youth looking for work and adventures.  I was sad, discouraged, and felt like it was my fault because we didn’t bring her here in October.  However, we can take comfort knowing that with the Lord, His timing is always perfect.  No matter what the situation looks like, He works ALL things out for good.  Although I wanted her to come back in January, the Lord wanted her to be here in August!

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First time meeting Judith (last year)...drinking some coffee...

During this time, we received another call from the DIF, regarding a young man named Juan (10 years old).  Juan happened to be in the same orphanage at one point with Luisito.  The DIF felt like our home would be a perfect fit for this young man, because of the success and progress they have seen with Luisito.  So, this past Saturday, three DIF officials, Maricela (director of the DIF in Guerrero) along with Eddie and Ana, brought Juan.  Eddie and Ana are the two who first brought Luis to us in February, and they were very excited to see him again.  In fact, as we met with the two of them and Maricela, guess who was sitting comfortably with them on the couch?  Luisito!  They were amazed at how well he is doing…and very excited to see the same transformation with Juan.

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Reunited

Maricela, Eddie, Ana and Juan... Luisito...reunited with his friends...

JUan

Juan Morales Marquez, 11 years old...

Our Family

Now, we are a family of 15...13 kids (including Antu), Jackie and myself…truly a blessing!  Please continue to pray for Juan, Erasmo, Jorge, Judith, Adrianna, Maria Ana, Aaron, Myron, Sandra, Pablo, Luisito and Gael.