Tis The Season Of Changes...

I have often referred to the words of Solomon since I have been down here in Mexico; in particular, those found in the book of Ecclesiastes…

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (3:1).

As our 4th year of being down here in Mexico is coming to a close, lots of changes have taken, and are continuing to take, place.  As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take moment to share with you some those changes, new seasons, and ways that you can continue to pray for us down here!

Over the past 4 years, we have had the blessing of being able to provide jobs for 14 individuals here in Bachiniva.  On top of that, we’ve had a number of different interns, volunteers, and missionaries help, serve, and minister to the children as well.

Some of those have served with us for a short period of time, others, from the very beginning.  Anytime someone leaves or moves on to something new, I tend to worry a bit or wonder how things are going to get covered.  However, I’m not worrying about that anymore, because I know the Lord always works things out in his perfect timing, in the midst of different times and seasons.

Staff and Volunteer Personnel…

Jairo Gonzalez, has worked for us for the past 2 years.  I’ve actually known Jairo since he was a little boy.  Jairo has served as our children’s administrator.  He’s done an incredible job overseeing the children’s school schedule, meetings, doctors appointments, government issues, etc.  During his time of working here, he met his wife Jessie and they were married this past June.   Last week, Jairo received his paperwork to be able travel to the USA and become a resident.  We are very happy for Jairo.  Although we will miss him greatly, the opportunity he has now to experience things in the states for the first time will be very exciting.

Jose Nieves, my cousin, has played an invaluable role here at the orphanage from the beginning.  He is one of the board members of our Mexico non-profit as well as serving as the assistant director.  Nieves’ schedule continually became more challenging as he balanced working at the orphanage and serving as the youth pastor at Capilla Calvario de Bachiniva.  A few months ago, the Lord began stirring on Nieves’ and his wife’s hearts to minister to the Tarahumara Indians up near the Sierra Madres.  After continual prayer and seeking the Lord’s will, God revealed His plan for Nieves and his family.  A tremendous door opened up to take over pastoring a small church in the town of San Juanito (about 3 hours away).

Currently, Nieves is helping out here at the orphanage 3 days a week, the church 1 day a week, and then he and his family spend the weekend up in San Juanito.  As soon as they finish remodeling their place to stay, they will move up to San Juanito full-time.  We are REALLY excited for this and what doors might open with Nieves being up there.  Most of our children come from the Sierra Madres and San Juanito is sort of the hub for all those smaller villages.

Amanda Wiebe, first came to intern at the orphanage almost 2 years ago.  It was during that time that the Lord called her to the mission field full time.  After raising support from her home back in Canada, she moved down and lived onsite as our girls side dorm steward.  Amanda’s heart to see the young gals of the casa come to know Christ is tremendous.  God used her in a powerful way during those years.  Now, God has put a number of other things on her heart, including moving out into the local town, as well as, ministering to the mothers of our children.  She still helps out 2 days a week, however, she wants to devote most of her time to helping out at the church and continually being a light to the Tarahumara mothers both here in Bachiniva and in other towns.

The Heist family moved down to Bachiniva 2 years ago with the intention to serve full-time at the orphanage.  The Lord, however, had other plans, and as they got settled into their new home in Mexico, the need for them to serve full-time at the church was very evident.  Pastor Luis and his family spent a year up in El Paso while applying for his US citizenship.  During that time, Isaac and Tara oversaw the worship and children’s ministry along with helping in other various areas.  Upon the Vargas family’s return, the Lord once again began redirecting steps and opening the door for them to serve more here at the orphanage.  Isaac has been a huge blessing already, helping me with administrative stuff 3 days a week.  We are excited to see what other opportunities open up for them to serve here more.

Sanchez Living Quarters…

One of the hardest things for our family when we moved down to Bachiniva was leaving our lovely little 917 West Main house in Puyallup, WA.  You could say we downsized a little bit, going from an 1100 square foot, 3 bedroom, 1 bath house to 2 small rooms in the church.  We started off with bunkbeds, Jackie and I on the bottom and Ayantu up top.  After 3 months of that, we moved into a bigger room in the church, which allowed us to have a little more privacy.  The only draw back was having to walk across the path to shower inside the church.  When we moved into the orphanage, 3 years ago, we had the biggest room yet we still needed to walk through the orphanage to get to the bathroom.

Fortunately, all that has come to an end as our new, lovely, wonderful house is complete and finished.  We were able to move in the week of Thanksgiving.  We cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have privacy, Ayantu not sleeping in a closet anymore, AND only have to walk a few feet to our own bathroom.  WE can’t thank all those enough, who dedicated their time, effort and finances to help build our family a home.  Hopefully you all will be able to come down at some point for a visit, meal, or just to sit on our couches and have a cup of coffee.

Christmas and the New Year…

Each Christmas has been a little different for us over the years because we never know which of the children will actually be with us.  Friday will be the last day of school and the children will have 2 weeks of vacation.  Most of their mothers of family members will begin trickling in this weekend to pickup their children.  Normally this would seem to be a positive and joyous occasion, which for some children it is.  However, most of our children will be leaving the safety, security, warmth, and love of our home to spend two weeks in random places, poor living conditions, inconsistent meals, and with a lack of proper supervision and love.  As much as we would love the children to be in our care, we know that time with their family is important.  This is why we pray and ask you to join us for all of our kids who will be leaving the home.  Please pray for their safety, health, well being, as well as for their families, that somehow Christ would shine bright in their lives this Christmas season.  Also, please pray for those few children that will stay here with us who are true orphans and have no biological family to spend time with.

I think that is about it for this holiday post.  Thank you again for a year of support, prayers, visits, and encouragement.  I am already excited to see the greater things that are still to come in 2017.

For those of you who have asked or are wondering in what ways you can be involved with Christmas and the children: this year, we are purchasing most of the gifts, clothes, jackets, etc. down here in Mexico.  We don’t have anymore trips up to the states for the remainder of the year so mailing presents or items for the children won’t work out this year.  If, however, you would like to donate money specifically for presents and festivities during Christmas, you can do so via PayPal, through our website www.thehouseofblessing.org, or you can mail a check made out to “House of Blessing” to 1902 South Meridian Puyallup Washington 98371.

Praying you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Late 30's...

Last Saturday I turned 37 years old.  Yes, I know, I’m officially in my late 30’s now.  It was a rather splendid day filled with lots of homemade cards, gifts and hugs from 19 children.  I was able to relax a little bit, take all the kids out for pizza, work in our house and then eat some homemade strawberry shortcake (my absolute favorite).  Overall it was a wonderful day.

However, there was something unique that occurred that cool brisk Saturday.  Actually, it was something rather difficult and heart breaking.  There I was setting up Ayantu’s new bed set, in her new room, in our soon to be done new house.  One of our boys, Osvaldo, walked in and asked if it was the right time to call his mom.  He had been missing her a lot of late and wanted to know when she was coming to visit.  Truth be told, she wasn’t.  In fact just a few days earlier, she had called Jackie and shared that she left her job and home (which was about 5 minutes away from the orphanage) to go back up to the Sierra Madres.

We contemplated how to break the news to Osvaldo, but that Saturday, he would hear the news himself from his mom.  They chit chatted on the phone for a bit before she told him she left and wasn’t sure if she was coming back.  The mood in the room clearly changed and so did the roles it seemed.  Osvaldo was very concerned about his mom, “Do you have money? Did you find a job?  Do you have food?” were some of the questions he was asking her.  His mother sort of chuckled and said she wasn’t sure but thought she’d be fine.  It was as if Osvaldo was the worried parent, in that moment, looking out for his child (his mother).

They talked for a bit longer and then hung up.  Osvaldo came back into the room to hand me the phone.  I asked if he was okay.  He said, yes, but I knew that wasn’t the case.  I put my hand on his shoulder and said, are you sure?  And then Osvaldo sort of collapsed in my lap, sobbing on my shoulder.  Gosh, these are the moments that make this job, this calling, so difficult.  There we sat for 2 or 3 minutes as this young 10 year old boy cried out every last tear.  When he was done, he sort of lifted his head.  I looked him in the eyes and told him how much we love him, we are here for him, and then I prayed over him.  When all was said and done, I asked him if he wanted to go out and play some more, or hangout with Jackie.  “I want to be with Jackie” he responded, and then they both left the house.

So yes, my 37th birthday will be memorable, however, not because of the presents or food or activities that took place.  But because of that moment holding Osvaldo in my arms.  

This job has left me speechless so many times as I often can’t find the words to say to these hurt and broken children.  Thankfully, I can meditate on and treasure the words of our Heavenly Father, and the hope that they can bring these kids in their greatest time of need.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me (Psalm 27:10).

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me (Isaiah 49:15-16).

Please pray for Osvaldo this week....

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

How do I even begin to summarize all the events that have taken place the past 10 days?  I probably need to start with this amazing verse found in the Psalms, because I have had to cling to it with my everything.

"From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).

My heart has been beyond overwhelmed in light of all the difficult trials that have come across our path here at the orphanage.  We are in the heart of the rainy season and it has been one of the worst ones yet.  The rains have brought massive storms, flooding and destruction.

It all seemed to start about a week and a half ago when our truck and 15 passenger van got stuck in the mud and water.  It had rained so much that the rivers breached the banks and flooded our fields, creating a flash flood which began washing away our road.  We were able to pull out the vehicles with Pastor Luis' giant 4x4 truck (nicknamed "Black Beauty").  However, that night seemed to set forth in motion a week of vehicles getting stuck over 15 times, somewhere on our property.

One of those was the Coca Cola truck that delivers our bottled water.  It was as if he had hit quicksand.  His truck quickly sank about 3 feet in the middle of our road.  For the next 3 days, all sorts of trucks, tractors, backhoes, tow trucks, and a slew of people tried to get the massive truck out, but to no avail.

Fortunately, last Friday they were finally able to get the truck out of the road and to safety.  Unfortunately, what suffered the most during this whole ordeal was our poor little road, which is no longer a road.  It is completely destroyed and undriveable.  We now have to park both of our 15 passenger vans out near the main road and walk back and forth to get the kids to and from school, as well as bring supplies in to the orphanage.  Boy, do wheelbarrows come in handy when you’re hauling groceries, propane tanks, bottled water, and other supplies back to the house.

Our new route to walk to the vans.

Coca Cola bought pallets and created a new walking path for the children!

One little ray of hope we received during this time was a new 15 passenger van.  We’ve desperately been in need of another one for our growing family and had been earnestly praying and searching for one.  It’s kind of funny how right in the midst of chaos, the Lord blesses us with a new van.  It reminds me of what Job cried out….

“…the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

The Lord gave us a new van…and also took away our road.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Our new van, Rhonda!

The other major problem that came as a result of the massive rain, involved our septic tank system.  The girls’ side septic tank is now completely destroyed as well.  It all started one night as Jackie, another worker, and myself spent 4 hours cleaning up septic water that had backed up into our building.  There was so much rain and water that it not only flooded our tanks but also lifted one up about 5 feet above ground.  This of course broke other pipes and important pieces, which has now left us operating on a broken system on life support.  Fortunately, somehow (basically by a miracle), the one remaining tank is still functioning a little, which is allowing us to still use the bathrooms, showers, etc.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any water because our main water line busted as well.  During the whole fiasco of trying to get trucks unstuck from our road, one of the back hoes sank and busted the main water line…which is now in the process of being repaired.

So, yes, it has definitely been a rough week and a half.  Yes, we feel beat up and discouraged.  BUT…we are hopeful in our Lord!

"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8).

There are so many other stories to share, prayer requests, and needs.  Please continue to follow along our adventure via the blog and especially Facebook.  Thank you so much to you all for your kind words, and especially for your prayers.  They are definitely felt and needed.  It’s amazing to see the continual support we have from people all over the world!

Many of you have asked specifically of how you might be able to help aside from praying.  All of these challenges have brought up a number of unexpected expenses.  If you would like to donate specifically for the repairs that are being done OR needed to be done, you can do so through our website, www.thehouseofblessing.org or mail a check, made out to HOB, to the following address, 1902 South Meridian Puyallup WA 98371.

Thanks so much...talk with you soon!