Mexico Day Six

Friday morning we woke up and started deboning the turkey that the other group had cooked the night before. They put all the leftover veggies and meat in a huge pot and made soup. There is a lady that runs a soup kitchen and they were bringing it to her to feed the children she serves. Somehow one of our leaders connected with her the night before. We had no idea who this woman was or what she did, but one of the leaders felt compelled to hug on her and talk to her. She shared her incredible story with him and we planned on going out the next day (today).

We got to her place and I started crying the minute I stepped foot on her property. She lives right in the same neighborhood as all the kids and families she serves. She lives right along side them on the dump. She has the same kind of fence around her property as they do (not 10 foot concrete walls). She is an American and was living in California. Four years ago she and her husband (who was born in Mexico) sold everything they had and bought the property they occupy. They slept in their car until they could build a grass hut. They held services outside in the sand. They all sat on old two by fours in the dirt and worshipped God. A couple of years ago the pastor of the church where our group was staying happened to hear about some crazy American living with and feeding the children so he went over to see her. She was receiving no support and they were paying for everything out of the money they had from selling their possessions. He connected her with a couple teams from the US and they built a small church, a small classroom and a house with a feeding area and large kitchen for them.

This couple followed the Holy Spirit when He asked them to sell everything and serve the children of Mexico. They are doing His work there and showing the true love of the Father. They teach the kids English and literacy in Spanish. They feed them. They teach them about Jesus. When a child begins to come to the “center” regularly they go their home and connect with the parent or parents. They ask them to participate and contribute. She runs a tight ship and she requires the kids to behave and learn about Jesus. It is amazing. She asks that parents help at least one day a week. She gives the kids toys and rewards when they learn scripture or the books of the Bible. There were kids all over the place, but they were very sweet and well behaved. They fed every kid that came in. She knew them. She knew their stories and their families and she and her husband love them.

They teach the mothers how to care for their children as well. They also help them learn a skill so that they can get a job. They teach them that you can take care of kids whether you are rich or poor. It is so cool. She has no regular church support. There is no “sending church” or flood of American dollars to help this program. There aren’t glossy fliers and power points. They do have an email address though! They rely on God and what He will do.





As if that wasn’t enough for the day…we had the grand opening of the church that the construction team had been working on. They had poured a cement floor, built and put on a roof, installed doors and windows all in 7 days. It wasn’t creation itself but it was pretty awesome. We had the service at night with only the light from the work lights the guys had been using. A kid in the house by the church had tapped into electricity somewhere and they were able to plug in an extension cord. They didn’t have power in the kitchen that they were making hot dogs in so they did it on a propane burner by candle light. The kitchen was also a person’s house. It was a unique experience. I went outside in the dark and looked up at all the stars (you can see them there) and thought about how life looked when Jesus was here. I wondered what it was like when He and the apostles were together. It was good enough for Jesus. No electricity, out in the desert with the cool night breeze and quiet all around. The lights were glowing inside the church and it was filled with people. There were old men and families and anyone else who lived out there.
Ed and I gave our testimony again. God is so good. We fed them hot dogs and gave them all the gifts that people sent. It was really special. I could go on and on about how great the kids are down here.



Ed and a group of guys had brought over 18 kids from the edge of the neighborhood. They were so fun. They were just a bunch of rowdy teenage boys. One of them watches his 2 year old sister all day. She came with him tonight as well. It was such a joy to see our guys having so much fun with them. One kid said how special it was that they were hanging out with them because there are so many groups of Americans that come and no one ever spends any time with them. The guys told them it is all about Jesus!!!
What an awesome way to end the week.