Dear loved ones,
They found a bat and were hitting everything but a ball! The 11 boys had come by special permission, from a nearby children’s home (not from our home in Cuernavaca), to our home base in Los Canelos. They were getting a break from their difficult situations, and I listened while I worked to that bat hitting many things before we could slip it away from them. Then there were the bicycles, we have about 10 of them at our facility, and they were rolling everywhere, insert your imagination here. All the chaos was a lot for me, but Aunt Minnie was taking care of them while I continued preparations for the coming events. We survived those 3 long days, but not one of the bicycles was functional by the end of them! It was wild. THEY were wild. And hurt, so hurt.
One of them had commented,“I don’t trust anyone!”. No wonder. I spent those 3 days thinking about those wild boys and trying to imagine what life would be like in their shoes. While trying to stir compassion rather than exasperation, a thought kept recurring to me: What will happen to these boys if they never heal?
I’ll briefly try to explain what these brave children have been through this year. Here’s the backdrop…We’ve been helping those children for over 6 years now. It’s a ministry that Minnie does to help the kids and translate for a specific U.S. group that’s been loving on them for a long time. Let’s not forget that, in the first place, their home life is so difficult that they need to be in a children’s home. As it turns out, it has been charged that the boys were being preyed upon at that children’s home, sexually abused by one of the ones who was supposed to be their caregiver. All the while “teaching” them the Bible and bringing them to church…let that sink in.
It was devastating to all of us when we heard the news that the government had come in, taking away these kids that we’ve loved for years, to protect them from yet another predator in their already difficult lives. 2 of the boys, the ones that leveled the accusations, were taken away from their peers, separated and gone in an instant, all the others were placed in another home an hour away or so…
Aunt Minnie found them! She has a very vast array of connections, and so, with some effort, we were able to go see the children. And the government officials kept hearing the name “Aunt Minnie.” The kids wanted Aunt Minnie. This saga continues…a couple of months later, the kids were obviously doing much better in our view when the government officials pulled the leadership of that children’s home out from one moment to the next. “You let the one man rape us and do nothing about it, and now you steal our parents!” one child screamed as that pastor and his wife were forced out of the home by police and government presence.
It was a scene of emotional trauma and utter devastation. I heard some of the video. And I saw how crushed these children were in the aftermath. Lifeless.
We’ve been able to continue to minister to them!! Aunt Minnie, by God’s hand, is now in direct contact with the Director of Child Protective Services (DIF) in the state. We were given special permission to bring the kids for a week with us (3 precious days with the girls, and those wild 3 days with the boys) to our mission base in Los Canelos! A week later, we were able to do a celebration XV for Regina and Rubi, who were turning 15 years old. A big deal in Mexico. Eleven of the state officials showed up for the party, including the Director! I’m sure they came to encourage the girls and further check us out. We were also hosting the kids for a camp for the next few days, along with our dear friends from MN. After the party, we inquired to the State Director about those abused boys that were separated from their peers…the boss made a text. The boys were at camp the next day! What a beautiful reunion it was, indescribable really. And then we did a camp with them, giving them all we have to show them the Lord and His love for them, even if the world is falling apart, and it feels like they can trust no one.
During the 3 not too precious days earlier with the bat and the boys, God pressed on my heart to engage those kids at camp, and as we move forward in our opportunities to help them through this time and beyond. Maybe they need to know Grandpa Gary, too. Young Mario and I sat together as camp was wrapping up. “All my dads hit.” Mario was sharing with me, letting me into his heart and a glimpse of his home life…His mom goes from abusive relationship to abusive relationship, trapped in one of the most diabolical strongholds of the enemy. Mario went through the actions as he acted out the motion of seeing his mother stab his stepfather with a knife in the chest. I listened.
I let Mario know that he was at a very important moment in his life, both for himself and his brothers and sisters. Mario leads his peers in the children’s home. And I let him know that I felt for him and could relate to at least some of his pain. The boy reached across and put his arm on my shoulder. This precious young man was reaching out to console me. I was stunned by his gesture of love, still am.
The picture of the girls and Aunt Minnie on the front of this letter (pictured along with our dear friend Mary) is my favorite picture this year. It took 7 hard months of construction to get the construction site contained enough to receive groups once again. The picture also represents those years of ministry that Aunt Minnie and our friends Al and Sandy, and our brethren from the U.S., have poured into the kids. And it is so nice to see Life in those girls’ eyes again. Smiles instead of tears.
Pictured here are Rubi and Regina on their very XV special day. The next day, camp began. Our nephew Jair held court.
Our camp, and kids’ hearts being opened once again…
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
-see Isaiah 61:1
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
New remodel for the cabins is all but done!
Anybody need a bathroom?
We’ll finish the details by the end of October…
Brother Rod and the team from Rushford, MN (Judy, Chelsea, Craig, and Mary) did a great job. We had a time, didn’t we!
We plowed on from there, and for the first time, thanks to another visit from my buddy Tom, the most recent team with Al and Sandy enjoyed air conditioning in the cabins!! AND water and water pressure that didn’t run out during camp. AND (insert a smiling, screaming hallelujah emoji right here) no septic backups!
AND the new kitchen worked like clockwork too!!
Just to mention Miracle of Life in Cuernavaca,
Things are going great there. Kids are healing and coming to know the Lord through the faithful ministry of Pastor Chayo and Betty. 12 children being cared for in every way…
Preaching at Teen Conference off-site (pictured below) was a great blessing. Many were praying. Thank you.
As I write, the golf tournament is tomorrow, looking like a nice turnout. From there, I’ll be in Falun, WI, Roseau, MN, and leave the area, visiting Rushford, MN, on my way back south.
We are poised to go up! Up with the new sanctuary and the roof system over the back. Teams and visitors are scheduled all the way into February, with that being a critical point to have ready. We need to keep moving and will need about $70k for all the roof area to come in by February.
We also have many events scheduled along the way as we build. Men’s conference and wedding in October, 2 more XV, camp, and Christmas celebration in December, a retreat for Pastors, Father-son conference scheduled for next year. The list will only grow… You get the idea. We press forward. As we build, we build lives. And God is healing hearts…
Thank you, and God bless you.
And love from,
Aunt Minnie and Gary