Talk of the Town

We were surprised with an unexpected visit from the president (mayor) of Carmen Hill on Wednesday. "The whole community is talking about you guys" he told us, and he was sorry he hadn't stopped by sooner to say thank you for helping the children. We had no idea that Carmen Hill was a small town atmosphere, where "word gets around". We thought we were going unnoticed, But here we were, and everyone new it, and loved it. The president offered his support in any way.

A Father to the Fatherless

We have had the time of our lives here with the girls. For 10 years they have not had a dad. I think they have stored up all the hugs and kisses they would have given their dad and unleashed them on me this week. Our girls are the most sweetest and strongest I have met. We have not seen one argument, and not once in 10 days have they cried (even when Clavel-9 was bit by a dog and even when Angelica-7 scraped her hand in a bad fall) These girls are a treasure. And not just as our daughters, but the destiny we see in them. You see, God will raise up children, even orphans, from the dust and ashes and make them sit with nobles and give them places of honor. As we show them the Father's heart, they can see that God is a father. The King is their dad!

"God is Jordan"

It is written...... "Dios es Jordan" by our 10 year old Clavel. She wrote it in the fresh concrete we laid down for thier new shower. When I saw it, I immediatly thought "thats blasphemy"!!!!.....but from a 10 year old?????? I sat in the garden and thought about this, And then broke down weeping. You see, I had been asking myself a question in the last 6 months. I had been asking "How well do I represent the most loving, kind, compassionate being to ever exist?" I beleive this was my answer. That God was presented in such a way, that Clavel mistaked me for Him! Jesus said "if you have seen me, you have seen the Father" Clavel had seen the Father. This my friends, was a defining moment in my life and our ministry. And so, I used it as a teaching moment for my sweet Clavel, and I am no longer God, just Papa.........and that is just fine with me..............

"Thank God with every Flush"

This was our only request as we finished up the bathroom for the Girls and thier mom. "Please remember these blessings came from the Lord." We told them, and thank God every time you flush the toilet!!! Wow, Juana (the widow mom) had not had a sink all her 36 years. The first morning she was up at 6 am cleaning dishes in a bucket huched over on the dirt floor, she had one (very dull) knife, and not much else. Jennie took her to buy some more silverware and kitchen stuff and Juana came back a different person. One morning, while we were praying she said she sees me as her childrens father and sees Jennie as the mother she never had- a caring giving mom that plays with her children. She turned her life over to God that day...she put her trust in Him and gave Him her life. You can see a change in her now....what an amazing thing that God does!

Lots of Tears

It is our last morning and I have 5 ladies asleep in my Hotel room. One of them is my most precious wife, who loves these girls deeply and made such a sacrafice for them.....To leave her own and give like she has.....The girls just hang on her, they call here momita........Its clasico...........

Last night, we had a most incredible experience. Rosemary, our 18 year old, was thanking me and kept saying this is too good to be true....that she cant even believe it .........I told her it wasnt about the things we brought them, but about the love that she is experiencing. I told her about the hole that we all have, that only God can fill....some try, with drugs, sex, adventure, work, alcohol and even riches..."but they never fill that hole.....Only God can fill that hole" I told her how when I was 23 I had 3 girlfriends, sold drugs, lied to everyone, got drunk nearly daily, and how I had a nice car and plenty of money.....but I wasnt complete......I told her that for me it was like stepping off a cliff and trusting that someone I couldnt see, and had never met, would catch me. "He caught me!" And all those things left my life and even my own dreams were too small for what God had for me.

There was silence............and then she just kept repeating INCREDIBLY<> Incredible!

And as we leave, thank you for all your support and prayers. And thank you Jenson, Miles, Spencer, Zachary, and Grahm for letting us go. I have to leave my 5 girls but get to see my 5 boys. There will be buckets of tears today as we leave our girls. But they are in Good hands....even God's hands.........I will just miss them so much.