Brokenhearted

This past Monday I was privileged to go to a Casa Hogar Del Norte to hold beautiful babies.... it is too little to say that my heart was broken by the experience.

There are seven babies under the age of one at this children's home along with many other older kids. My roomates and I went in the morning (it was MLK day so I was off of school) just to hold the babies. I spent most of my time with a four month old named Dante. He loved being held! The workers at the children's home love and care for these babies, but with so many kids and babies to care for these little ones spend a lot of time in thier cribs by themselves.

Baby Dante

Dante was full of smiles the minute he caught my gaze. He fed off of constant attention for the hour that I was with him. Several cribs away there was another little girl, slightly older. She seemed entirely unresponsive to whatever I would try to do to get her to laugh. She simply sat in my roomate's lap. I wondered if she was the victim of her mother's substance abuse. The most emotion I saw out of her was when we put her back in her crib. Then she bawled.

The worst part was leaving. We had to put the kids back in their cribs and both of these babies started pitifully crying. I couldn't help but think that I was just another person leaving in thier lives. I tried to comfort the babies as best I could before I scooted out the door, but they had been ruined by our attention and were desperate to find more. The caretakers just shrugged as I said I was sorry about the upset babies. They were working hard on getting lunch for the older kids before school. I sadly knew that the babies would just have to cry it out and learn to find comfort themselves. My heart is broken! A person must have to be really desperate to leave thier baby so alone. The little girl a few cribs down from Dante

Please pray! There are hundreds of orphans that we work with here, not to mention the thousands in this world. What a heartbreaking experience to be dropped of by your parents with perfect strangers... I know the wounds go deeper than we know.
Sleepy Kevin

Life after Christmas

Hello all!

It is hard to believe that Christmas is over and gone and January is almost gone as well! Where does time go? The last time I had a chance to update this blog was right before I left for Christmas break back home with my family. It was a wonderfully restful two weeks. I was able to think, pray, and visit with many great friends. This break was just what I needed to get myself centered again on why God has me here in Mexico. I felt like God spoke many good things to my heart for the rest of this year and next. I am excited to see what He has up His sleeve :)

Since being back in Mexico I have been full fledged back into the swing of things. It seems that there is never a dull moment here. We started the new year off with a goodbye party for a dear family that has been on staff with B2B for almost 4 years. I taught two of their kids. The Guckenburgers will be moving to Nigeria next month to be apart of the new B2B ministry there. It was a hard goodbye as we all feel like family here. Please pray for them and their ministry in Nigeria. Also pray for the hole we have here as a result of their departure.

Corrie and John Guckenberger at their going away party

Last Sunday I had the privilege to help lead a group to Rio 3. This is another impoverished community that we work with and probably the biggest. One of the things I felt God was revealing to me over break was the heart he has placed in me for the poor. I love the poor! I think I always have. There is something about these people that draws my heart and causes me to have great compassion on them. I've been realizing that I need to spend more time with the people in these communities. I'm not sure how that will totally work as I work full time on campus at the school. However I am trying to find more ways to get the the Rios as much as I can.

Last Sunday happened to be Olga's birthday. Olga is an amazing Rio woman with a heart of gold for the Lord. Olga lives in the Rio with her family and volunteers at the small church that is there and that B2B helps to support. She knows over 100 families by name and is an amazing net worker. She is constantly finding ways to help meet the overabundant needs in the Rio. On Sunday we brought her a birthday cake to celebrate the day. She insisted on serving it up to all the people and children who were hanging around the church. It was a very fun party!

Olga serving up her birthday cake

I was in charge of the donation clothing distribution at the Rio. We piled high the tables with shirts, pants, sweaters, and shoes. At the end of the day there was nothing left.

Shoes to give away

I loved my day at the Rio. It was technically my day off that I could have spent relaxing at home, but I new that God wanted me to be apart of the ministry there that day. I felt so rejuvenated afterward which is a huge testimony to Him and His amazing grace.

Me hanging with some friends at Rio 3

One of the best moments of the day was meeting and praying with a young teenage mom at the Rio. Jazmin is about 18 and has at least 2 children. She was sharing with a group of us just about the hardships in her life, but also the faithfulness of the Lord. She definitely has a relationship with Jesus. Please continue to lift her up as she lives with an unbelieving husband and is taking care of two small children in a very impoverished situation.

Praying for Jazmin and her family

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I could not be here doing what God has called me to do without you all. You are a huge part of my life and the lives that God is ministering to down here. Thank you!