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June 2006
Hola!
It’s early June and in Piedras Negras we are already in the 100 degree plus
heat. Everyone says, “Oh, but it’s a dry heat.” I guess this wet stuff running down my face is a figment
of my imagination. The kids don’t’ mind it. They want the windows down and no wir conditioning in the car not
matter how hot it is. Speaking of the kids, we now have 28. We received quite a few in the month of April, three sibling groups
totaling 9 children. These little ones have come to us from the most dire of circumstances: two sisters who were made to beg
on the streets to make money for their parents; other children removed from dangerous home situations – drugs, prostitution,
physical and emotional abuse; others abandoned, homeless, hungry and scared. It is amaing to see how quickly these children
melt right into the family. Our house parents, Ricardo and Karla, are simply awesome. They have a God-given gift of wisdom
well beyond their years. Ricardo’s mom has been working here for a while now. And Karla’s dad, who had been visiting
decided he just had to stay and is now doing maintenance and cleaning. All the kids are crazy about them. Ricardo is still
leading a devotional every night and each Saturday morning. He plays the guitar and they all have a great time singing worship
songs. The kids seem to think “louder is better”, but they have a great time singing. He is great a keeping their
attention and they are quick with answers to his questions about scripture and their faith.
You might wonder how you get 28 kids from different places and difficult backgrounds
to become a cohesive family unit. I do not have a definitive answer but I know that it really happens at the Casa. The older
kids take care of the younger ones. Those that have been here the longest take the new ones under their wing, teaching them
the ropes. It is not always smooth and completely seamless but it honestly works very well. The older kids don’t’
complain about taking care of the little ones. They like knowing that we thinkg they are responsible and trustworthy. We try
to give the older kids extra privileges, going to the store, pool parties at the Pastor’s ranch, Etc… Visitors
are truly amazed at how well they all get along.
We find ourselves spending lots of time at the dentist office. Most of the children
have very bad teeth, stemming from a combination of malnutrition and neglect. Fortunately there are several Christian dentists
in Piedras that give free or greatly discounted dental care. Dr. Federico Berlanga has provided braces for tow of our girls
without charge. Dr. Rene Martinez has put braces on one child and has done many fillings at not cost to us. Dr. Trevino has
pulled and filled teeth at no charge. Dr. Jesus Morales, a specialist in children’s dentistry, has provided extensive
work on three of the kids at half the cost. We thank them for their service to God in the caring for the children of Mexico.
Waiting room time gives us a chance to talk to the kids. We have conversations about families, their brothers and sisters
– some of who are not with us. They share their feelings about the orphanage and their aspirations for the future.
As is the custom here, on the Saturday before Easter the local Methodist churches
gathered at the Los Abuelos Ranch for baptisms in the river. It is a beautiful location for such a meaningful service. We
were blessed to see ten of our young people receive the sacrament of baptism along with 49 other believers. On April 10th
perla, (she is our oldest and has been with us since we opened the Casa doors) celebrated her 15th birthday and
a wonderful Quincenera. I can tell you, if you have never attended one of these you cannot imagine how elaborate and steeped
in tradition they are! I was honored to escort Perla down the aisle of San Pablo
Methodist Church where Pastor
Miguel De Leon presided. Everyone dressed to the nines – I had a chance to dust off the old tux; the Casa guys wore
black slacks and starched white shirts, and all the girls wore matching pink formals. After the ceremony everyone retired
to the fellowship hall for the party – lots of food, music and gifts. Perla was absolutely beautiful and beaming. Then,
on June 10th, Cassia Adams, daughter of Roy and Michelle Adams, the founders of Hands and Feet Ministries, Inc.,
celebrated her Quincenera at San Pablo church. Cassia arrived
at the church in an amazing antique car. Roy, all dapper in
his tuxedo with hair clicked back, escorted his stunning daughter down the aisle with the Casa girls, dressed in their pink
gowns, as her attendants. And Destiny, Cassia’s little sister, was the precious flower girl. The reception was grand
with music, food and fellowship.
Spring break and summer vacation mean that it is time for mission teams in Piedras.
It was great to be with McKendree U.M.C., our home church, the first week in April. The team stuccoed the back fence wall,
laid block on the front fence wall, worked in the new parents’ house and laid block in the new septic tank. They also
led a terrific VBS> I was extremely grateful to have Pete Sternberg return to Mexico. Pete was with me on the team that poured the foundation of the orphanage.
He now has seen those precious little feet running and playing on that floor. The week was capped off by a great night at
Las Cabinitas Restaurant. Pete Magnus did his usual schmoozing and had everything set up and ready to go. We celebrated a
couple of birthdays Mexican style, at too much and just had a lot of fun.
The San Antonio
community has become a vital of support for the House of Mercy. Alamo Heights U.M.C., Coker U.M.C. and University U.M.C. each
have sent a couple of teams already this year. Being in such close proximity they are able to make it down for weekend trips.
They have been instrumental in finishing up the parents’ house, the fence walls and the new septic tank. Alamo Heights worked
on the medical clinic, finishing up the block work on the outer walls. A team of 23 young people from Aldersgate U.M.C. in
Abilene, TX came the first
week of June. They put the final touches on Ricardo and Karla’s house and started moving their furniture in. They also
completed the stucco on the back wall, painted the eaves on our house and helped the Mexican workers form and pour the bond
beam on the front fence. Yewell and Yolanda Cox, directors of Cross-Health Ministries in san
Antonio, are always providing the Casa with donations of food and medical supplies. Northpointe Church
of Adiarsville, GA along with McKendree UMC in Lawrenceville, GA, continue to amaze and bless this ministry. And it doesn’t stop there – thanks
go out to Our Lady of Refuge Church – History Makers Youth Group and First UMC of Eagle Pass, TX, the First Baptist
Church of Ballinger, TX, Stephenville UMC in Suwannee, GA< Rehoboth Baptist Church Preschool of Decatur, GA, First UMC
in Lawrenceville, GA – and many, many more. We are truly blessed!
On the home front, Erin finished her second year
at Trinity on May 8th. She and I traveled back to Atlanta,
catching up with Karen who was there speaking to churches on behalf of the House of Mercy. The McLaughlin family has graciously
given Erin a very nice place to stay again this year – many, many thanks to Mike, Lynn,
Laura & Melissa! After working in Atlanta this summer, Erin will leave for Costa Rica to begin her junior year study abroad program.
During her second semester she will be in the border towns in both Arizona and Mexico. While we were home we had the amazing opportunity
to take a family photograph which included five generations of my family: my grandmother, my mother, myself, Melissa and Ava:
a rare and wonderful blessing. Rob, Melissa and Ava are all doing very well. Ava is now 6 months old and the prettiest, most
wonderful grandbaby ever! After celebrating Mother’s Day with Melissa and Erin, Karen and I took a brief junket to sunny
Florida. We visited with two little sisters that are being
adopted from the Casa by a wonderful Christian family. It was so wonderful to see them so happy and well adjusted in their
new home. They are a blessing beyond words to their new mom and dad as well as to their two new big brothers.
We are extremely happy here in Mexico.
Every night we go out and look up and say how hard it is to believe that we are looking up at stars from the yard of our house
in Piedras Negras. God has blessed us so tremendously. We see first hand how God’s love changes the lives of these children
not just for now but for eternity. We are thankful for your generous financial support of our ministry, which makes it all
possible.
David & Karen
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