The kids from Rayitos de Luz...

We got word today that the kids are moving in to their new home today! The kids of Rayitos de Luz were living in an 800 sq ft home and God fulfilled His promise to these kids today. They are moving into a 4 bedroom home that is safe and wonderful, a place they call "The Promiseland".
Go check out their story... God is so good!
http://www.littleraysoflight.com/history/

Random pictures...

Matthew 19:13-14

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

~This picture is a wall at Del Norte Children's Home

Was it hard to take your daughter on a mission trip?

I have been asked this question many times since we got home. I have put some thought into an answer. Obviously the decision to take your child on a mission should be Spirit-led and covered in prayer. So, out of obedience to God's call on not just our lives but on Kendall's life, we took her.
It was hard. Parenting your kids in your own home in your own country is hard. Taking a mission trip w/o them is hard. So, yep, it's hard.
But I can tell you what I believe. God has seeds He wants to plant in your children. He wants to use you to plant them. Even if it is really hard.
There were so many teachable moments when we were working together. At one point Kendall and I were w/o a job to do. I said, "Okay, lets get a trash bag and pick up all the garbage around here." K was not happy about picking up trash. You know what I could tell her, "Sometimes serving God is not doing the things you really enjoy. Whatever you do, do your work for the Lord." After a while she was happy to be picking up trash. I'd like to say that happy attitude followed her for the rest of the day but it did not. But do you think I will continue to remind her of this moment? You betcha. "Hey, Peanut, remember when we were picking up trash in Mexico? It was pretty gross, huh? Well, remember what Jesus said about the first being last and the last being first? Do you think picking up trash makes you first or last in Jesus' eyes?"
I think it was hard. I was frustrated with her at times. It was hard to give grace and bear with one another in love. But it was worth it. If all we accomplished this week with our daughter was for her to follow our example as we followed the example of Christ, it was worth it.
But I know that was not all we accomplished and I know that the fruit of the seeds that were planted may not come for many years. I will still be plugging along as her mom. Trying my hardest to put feet to His passion and trying my hardest to bring her up in the way she should go. I pray I will have the great privilege of seeing the good works that the Lord has set out for her future. I hope this encourages you to pray about taking your kid on a mission trip. God Bless!

God's Promises to the Orphan...

These are all from the NIV version unless otherwise specified.
(Thank you, Kathy Couch, for sending me this list.)
-Psalm 82:3 - Defend their cause
-Psalm 82:4 - Rescue them
-Psalm 82:4 - Deliver them
-Psalm 113:7 - Lift them up
-Psalm 68:5 - Be their Father
-Psalm 68:6 - Give them a home
-Isaiah 49:15 - Not to forget them
-Hosea 14:3 - Give them compassion
-Deuteronomy 10:18 - Give them food and clothing
-Deuteronomy 10:18 - Give them justice
-Psalm 10:14 - Be their helper
-Psalm 140:12 - Secure justice for them
-Psalm 140:12 - Uphold their cause
-Exodus 22:22-23 - Will hear them
-Deuteronomy 14:29 - Give them food
-Psalm 10:18 - Vindicate them (NASB)
-Not to leave them- Jeremiah 49:11, Psalm 27:10
-Come to them- John 14:18
-Lead them out-John 10:3
-Extend mercy towards them-Hosea 14:3, Isaiah 63:9, Romans 9:15
--Incline his ear- Isaiah 37:17
 

Beth's Book

http://www.familychristian.com/shop/product.asp?prodID=56802
Beth wrote a book that will be released in August 12th. All the profits will be used to support the ministry.
It's called, "Reckless Faith".

Reckless Faith - Beth Guckenberger - Gaby's Story

We heard this story from one of the staff members, Bryan, who was visiting the Monterrey campus from the home office. I was going to try and repeat it but I found Beth telling it on GodTube and she is an amazing story-teller so, check it out. Grab some tissue before you do.

Oh, How He Loves Us So...

One of the new songs we learned on our trip during worship time...

Isaiah 58:6-12

God be the solution...

We will run... we will run... we will run with the solution....
We will be your hands and be your feet.

Bridging the Generation Gap in Our Team....

Psalm 43:3

Send forth your light and your truth,

let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

 

We are on the road home and we will be back in Texas soon!

Emergency Baptism

After debriefing last night we were talking to Tim and Cathy about baptism.  Denise and I have not been baptized.  Tim and Cathy were really urging us to get baptized.  They told us to wake them up if we changed our minds and Tim would baptize us.  But we said we'd think about it for next time.  My stomach felt butterflies.  So, we went back to the dorm, took a shower, put on pj's and got in bed.  But I couldn't shake the thought.  And we kept talking about it.  Finally, I said, "Let's just do it."  We woke up John.  "John, we need the emergency phone key.  We need to have a baptism."  I'm sure it was the first time John had been woken up at midnight for an emergency baptism.  But we couldn't get the emergency phone to work.  Denise turned around and said, "Well, I guess it wasn't meant to be."  But I knew it was for me.  I went back to the dorm and put my swim suit on.  They found Jim and Betty and told them what was going on. Lee ran back in and got on his swim suit and woke up Terry.  Denise just didn't feel it was the right time for her.  Jim and Betty rounded up a few interns to witness. 

Then we waded into the pool and Lee baptized me.  I knew it was the Holy Spirit urging me because I felt Him saying, "Get off the fence, Heather."  And that was the same urging I felt the day I prayed to receive Him.  Lee prayed with me to receive Christ in the Fazolli's parking lot.  And now Lee baptized me in a swimming pool in Monterrey, Mexico at 12:20 AM.

Earlier that night as we were worshiping looking at the mountains I was thinking two things...

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help."  Psalm 121:1

"Humble yourself therefore under God's mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time."  1 Peter 5:6

 

 

Little feet...

Remember what I was saying about the little shoes??

 

These are the little feet that will wear them.

 

"I will not leave you as orphans;  I will come to you."  John 14:18

Just wanted to say we a safe and the weather is fine

Several people have been concerned about the hurricane, but I am writing this message right now sitting outside on a picnic bench.  We are very inland with mountains all around.  We could see big storm clouds but they did not make it over the mountains.  We will probably get some rain tonight and maybe some thunderstorms but other than that we should not see much.  I just wanted to right this and calm any fears that anyone might have.

Hosanna

This was a great day.  We worked hard all afternoon (Lee shoveled gravel, Kendall painted, and I pulled wiring) and then we had a pool party for some of the kids from the children's home.  We made hamburgesas and nachos.  The kids were so excited to get to swim.  We were concerned that the rain wouldn't hold off but it did.  At times the black rain clouds were so thick and threatening that we could not see the mountain.  Kendall has a picture in her pillowcase (I don't think she knows that I know she has it) that a little boy at Del Norte colored for her.  I catch her pulling it out and looking at it and then folding it up and putting it back.  She was having a hard time yesterday but I talked to her about how God can't use her for His glory if she keeps all her feelings built up and doesn't talk to Him about them.  After that she had a completely different attitude.  It's so beautiful here.  Tonight at worship they said that if you were tired you could stay seated during worship.  But there were these teenage girls who went and stood on the grass barefoot.  Kendall and I watched them standing there a minute and we went and joined them.  It was a beautiful view of the mountains, black clouds rolling by, cool grass on our toes, and I just felt so much peace.  Then Lee came and joined us, too. 

We are safe from the storms but the people in the squatters villages and the people in Cadereyta and places like it will need prayers.  

~H

"Break my heart for what breaks yours.  Everything I am for your kingdom's cause.  As I walk from earth to eternity."

Sleeping babies...

Everyone say, "Awww..."

Oscar

Today we took 30+ kids to the movie theater.  We were assigned kids to keep track of.  I had my Kendall, Mexican Kendall, and a little 3-year old guy named Oscar.  He held my hand tightly until about 10 minutes into the film when he slumped over in his seat and I brought his little head to rest in my lap.  After the film he was still groggy when we were coming down the stairs and another girl grabbed his hand and pulled him to a woman that was unfamiliar.  I asked Gabo what was going on.  He said that was their mother and she worked here at the mall.  She had 3 girls and 2 boys.  All of them lived at Del Norte.  She walked with us all the way back to the bus and then she kissed her kids good bye.  The girl that was the second oldest sat next to me and I pulled Oscar into my lap.  Silent tears flowed down her little face but when I reached to comfort her she pulled away.  I just prayed silently for them.  Oscar just slumped in my arms.  Back at Del Norte, Oscar and I sat in the little green chairs and he looked so sad but he didn't cry.  His oldest sister brought him candy and I asked him if he wanted a Polaroid or to color with me.  But he just shook his head.  Finally, he just stood up and started crying as hard as he could I tried to pick him up and comfort him but he was kicking and fighting my embrace.  I sadly laid him on the floor and he buried his little face in the tile and said, "Mama!  Mamma!"  Over and over he sobbed for her. 

It was the most heart breaking thing I have ever seen.  I felt completely helpless to comfort him.  But I knew that God could... so I just prayed.  I leaned over and I prayed out loud through his sobbing.  I'd like to say that he stopped but he did not and I felt I was about to cry, too.  Nancy took him and she held him on his bed and after a while he seemed to calm down. 

Please pray for those 5 kids tonight who are hurting so bad after seeing their mama for 10 minutes today.

~Heather

 

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15

Here are Kendall's dirty dogs after a long day of hard work yesterday.

Del Norte

The day at Del Norte was allot of fun.  We took the kids to the movie and it went better than expected.  The really hard part was saying good bye.  What makes it bearable is that we can come back and there are other groups visiting them on a very regular basis.

 

Please continue to pray for our peace and our fruitfulness.

 

-Lee 

Psalm 71:20-21

So today was pretty awesome.  Some of you know that 2 years ago Lee and I came down here to Monterrey with FOG and Time ministries.  We were praying that somehow God would give us a clear answer on whether we should adopt.  And one day when we visited an orphanage you can imagine our surprise to find a little Mexican girl with a very un-Mexican name... Kendall, our oldest daughter's name.  We felt that was a pretty clear sign.  And some of you also know that as we have been trying to adopt this year we have seen allot of doors shut and we have felt discouraged.  One of our prayers this week was that we would feel renewed in our passion to keep pushing forward in our adoption.

So, imagine my absolute delight when we pulled up today at the very same orphanage we had visited 2 summers before.  But would our Kendall be there?  I was so excited when I saw they had built a wall and painted murals of each child.  I looked for her name and there it was.  But the older kids were at VBS and would be back around lunch time.  And when they walked in, I saw her.  Her eyes were the same and this was the girl I had prayed for.  I was so thrilled.

I am attaching a picture of our daughter, Kendall, folding laundry with Kendall.  They are the same exact age. 

And 2 years ago there was a baby girl who had just arrived there a week or so before we arrived to visit.  She was crying and afraid and so sweet.  We loved on her and rocked her and prayed for her.  Her big brown eyes reminded me so much of my baby girl, Karlee.  Well, God is good because I found her, too.  She's the picture of the baby blowing bubbles.  She's doing great and she is still just as precious. 

 

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up.  You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."  Psalm  71:20-21 

I think about these sweet kids and the troubles they have seen and yet they do not seem bitter or sad.  I see that God is restoring their lives, bringing them up, and comforting them.