We've had a very busy time since last we wrote, and have been blessed by having had four mission groups down here
all helping on the second phase of our newest building, the first phase of which, containing two volunteer apartments, was completed earlier this year. Those apartments are now occupied, one by a couple of young volunteers from ADRA Germany, and the other by the Davies family, from Westbank, B.C. Monica, who was born and raised in Mexico, is a tremendous asset to the orphanage, and is working one-on-one with Panchito, while Ronnie is helping in the kitchen. Their two boys, both of whom speak fluent Spanish, travel in to Obregon each day, and attend Colegio Obregon, with the other children. Panchito goes there now also, and Monica is in class with him to help out.
Groups from Show Low, Arizona, Azure Hills,(Grand Terrace) California and Munroe, Washington SDA churches, and the SDA Academy in Newbury Park, California, have worked to further the second phase of the building, and it will, when finished provide a five bedroom house, and which can be used for more children, as demand warrants, or for volunteer and/or group accommodation. Usually, groups sleep in the sewing room and in two or three of our school classrooms.In that we now teach just a few children, here at the orphanage, we have a number of unused classrooms. Patti, our Canadian volunteer teacher, is working with children who have difficulties in learning, and she has also developed a good library, which the Colegio Obregon children, particularly, are using for homework assignments. One of her students will "graduate" in a couple of weeks, and will start in Obregon in the New Year, while some of the current kindergarten children will start in her elementary level classes.Angelika and Laura, our German volunteers, are currently looking after kindergarten, but will help Patti in elementary school, in the New Year.
Thanks to very generous offerings taken at the British Columbia Island Camp Meeting late May, and following a visit here by Avalon Adventist Academy in Port Hardy, B.C., where their cook was shocked at the difficulty Penny had keeping her stove working efficiently, we have just purchased a 6 burner, with grill and large oven, commercial stove. Usually, the three offerings are used to cover Camp Meeting expenses, but this year, a member matched the previous year's offerings, with the understanding that this year's would be used for a mission project. We're hoping to further upgrade the kitchen by installing new stainless steel counter and sinks, and buying a glass fronted display type fridge. We bought a good used one from Coca Cola, last year, and, as they haven't any used ones available at this time, they are considering selling us a new one at very favourable price.After about nine years of hard use, the original fridge, bought by students on a mission trip from Kingsway College, Oshawa, Canada, finally gave up, hence the need for a new one.
During the summer, a volunteer from Sinaloa State spent a few days with us, and laid floor tile in two of the classrooms, and in the school hall. Now that we've made enough to finish the school entirely, we are hoping for other volunteers to come down and install them, as well as in kindergarten and the sewing workshop.Already we have plans for four groups to join us in the New Year, so hopefully, there'll be someone in those groups with the necessary expertise. During the summer, we had our usual group of student volunteers from Montemorelos University, and they were such a help to Gloria and Jorge, who found they had to replace two of the three pairs of house parents during the school break.We are continually looking out for house parents, and were fortunate to have been invited to a Sonora-Sinaloa State church worker's meeting at our Camp in Magdalena, late September, and there given the opportunity to speak to the meetings, and share our needs. There was quite some interest, and we have just hired one couple whom we met then. They have taken over in House l, and the children in that House certainly needed a change and seem to be enjoying the new couple. In House 3 we have a single mom, and she does a great job with all the children, and in our church and Sabbath school activities.
Since the summer, we've lost Lupita, who was taken back by the State children's agency, and put in a State home close to where her mother now lives. Nicolas is also, hopefully temporarily, away from us, in another facility where he can get regular counseling for his serious psychiatric problems. Jorge and I visited him a couple of days ago, he was so glad to see us, but it didn't upset him when we left, so we assume he's reasonably happy there. Very briefly, we had a two year old, and our youngest ever a l4 day old brought to us by the local DIF (State Social Service) Agency. Their mother is a local hooker who clearly could not look after her children, so they were taken into care. But, three days after they arrived, and which caused no little disruption, a man claiming to be the father demanded of DIF that he be allowed to take them so back into storage went the cribs etc. Now, we're hoping that DIF will bring us more children, as we do have space, and have adequate staff, good volunteers and everything necessary to accommodate more children without really impacting on our finances. And, the younger the better, for as they get older and will go to Colegio Obregon, even with the good "family discount", education costs will increase But, the children are so much better off in the bigger school, and all are doing very well in their classes a couple of the children are getting grades in the 90% range, and one is "top of the class".
As well as the larger groups, we've had a number of individual and family visits, including the Breretons from New Zealand, Rachel Cormier from Surrey, Canada, Dave Brodeur (Loma Linda) and Rod Fleck, they scouting us out for the Chinook Winds Adventist Academy mission trip in March, and folk from Chain of Love Homes, Mexico, who are considering developing an orphanage ministry in the Guaymas/San Carlos area, where the Haas family, Puyallup, WA., is currently on a six month mission stint, where Tim does regular eye clinics. Tim joined Troy Bailey, on the Munroe mission trip a week or so ago, and they held eye clinics at the orphanage for the children, and for folk from our wider area -the local health authorities were delighted to have them provide such a great and needed service. It was a special treat for us to have Charlie Watson down with us, after his wanting to help us for the last seven years, and previously unable to get down. He came down a few days earlier than the folk from Show Low, and worked with that group on the construction project. Recently, John and Shelley Williams and family, from Safford, Arizona, paid a return visit, so they could spend some time with their sponsored child. Last week, Rafael Garcia, an old friend, and currently Director of ADRA Mexico, visited, bringing with him one of the ADRA Germany staff, who wanted to visit Angelika and Laura. Also, officers from the Conference office in Hermosillo joined us that day, and we were able to discuss the longer term future of the orphanage. It is becoming critical that we have a well established organization assume responsibility for the ministry, and the Conference is one such group which is considering how they might fill that role. We have also had discussions with International Children's Care, which currently is developing its orphanage in Valle de la Trinidad, Baja California, and are hoping some of their Board members will visit us in the next few weeks.
Again, just a week ago, we have had a flight from Canadian Forces Base, Comox, B.C., it bringing in supplies and equipment donated in Canada during the summer. As always, we so appreciate the help of the personnel of 442 Search & Rescue and Transport Squadron, and the generous support of the Ministry of Defence in Ottawa. For the customs clearances on this flight, we were helped by another orphanage, and which has Government approval for itself to import free of duty. It was good to meet the folk from Jineseki Orphanage, in Hermosillo, and we appreciated their help.We also appreciated being able to visit a Baptist orphanage in Immuris, just 40 miles south of the U.S. border, where, currently, one of our boys is getting therapy from their psychologist ah, if only we had convenient access to a qualified counselor in this area so many of our children would benefit from that type of attention, I think we could almost use a full time psychologist.
Julio is doing well in his special school, and is now able to form many more words. With continued and serious practice, we feel sure he will one day be fully able to communicate. He still volunteers to pray, and we must keep our eyes on him, to understand after which squeaky sound, he's said his "amen", so another child can have his or her turn. We've shared in the past how Panchito regularly does special music, as, of course, do many of the children. Now he is learning poems, and hand movements to help in the dramatic expression, so we expect he will soon start giving us those as specials during worship. Gloria, our Administrator's wife, has recently published a cassette tape of her poems, and it is selling quite well, and making a little money for the orphanage. Last week, at our mid-week service, Panchito delivered the message, a reasoned and inspiring short talk on "the temptations of Jesus". For a blind, paralyzed, just l4 year old, Panchito is quite a kid! Another of the boys who constantly amazes us is Angel just turned l2, and with knowledge and sometimes wisdom of someone much older. He, who'd originally not wanted to go to Colegio Obregon, now is thriving there. He so enjoys the computer and access to the world, via the Internet, and is the only one of the older children who's availed himself of the opportunity to earn some spending money at the orphanage so he can invest it in computer time.
During the summer, Patti took three of the children away for a few days, to San Carlos. They just loved staying in a hotel, the restaurant meals, the beach and the pool. When we took Reyna and Noheli there for a weekend in our trailer, Yesica was crowing over sister Noheli, that their hotel was clearly much superior to our tiny travel trailer. But, it's so good to see the children away from the orphanage environment, where they are more relaxed, and able to enjoy themselves more. Last weekend, we had them all out for the Obregon Santa Claus parade, followed by ice cream yes, in December. But, of course, here it isn't quite as cold as many of you are facing at this time. That was a fun outing, and over the Christmas break, with the Bushey family and friends (Northern California) joining us, the children will have lots of fun activities and outings.While the ocean is far too cold now for swimming, they still enjoy beach trips, especially being able to "toboggan" down the sand dunes.Thanks particularly to friends at Edmonds, WA., SDA Church, and to Acorn Developments of Westbank, B.C., Canada, we have a new (well l99l) school van, and an extended cab, long bed pickup (l988 model), both of which facilitate our taking the children on outings away from the orphanage. We all enjoy the greater mobility these two "new" vehicles have given us.
As we quickly approach the Season, and think especially of the Reason, the children, staff and volunteers join together in thanking each one of you for your prayerful support over the years, and particularly during the last twelve months.We are grateful to, and thank God for, each one of you, and we wish you and your families, a blessed, peaceful and happy Christmas, and a New Year filled with love. It is through your love, and God's great love, that we are here, living together as a large family, and we send you are our love at this special time of the year. We hope and pray that, in remembering the Season, you will especially remember the Reason our Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
In His love
Annette and Bob Mason
HOGAR DE REFUGIO INFANTIL VILLA JUAREZ, I.A.P.,
Apartado Postal No. 909,
CD.OBREGON, SONORA, MEXICO
Summer 200l
Dear friends of the orphanage:
This letter is later than normal, due to our having been involved in some long term planning for the ministry, and which was resolved only within the past week. It has been rumoured that we were leaving and we want you to know this is not the case. However, after ten years as volunteers here, we plan on slowing down, on spending less time at the orphanage, and more time on fundraising and on sponsorships from within Canada. We will be in Mexico from mid-October through early April, with a short visit home over the Christmas period.
Reach International, a Christian ministry out of Berrien Springs, MI., will assume overall management of the ministry, while Children's Health Education and Relief (CHER) of Oshawa, Canada, and Mexican Children's Relief Fund (MCRF) of Westbank, B.C., will continue to support the orphanage through child sponsorship programmes. We personally will continue our public relations activities through MCRF, in Western Canada and the U.S., while CHER will continue its fund raising, mainly in Eastern Canada. CHER will also be sponsoring a couple from Ontario, Allan and Judy Kirk, who will join us in October, as volunteers for a number of years. Our new Mexican Director, Pastor Alejandro Verdugo, from the Adventist church in Villa Juarez, has recently taken over the day to day operations, from the Mendozas, who were such a help over the past three years, during which time Gloria wrote a history of the orphanage, and which is currently being printed in English and Spanish.
Since Christmas, construction of our largest house has continued, and groups from our Safford, Arizona and Azure Hills, California, churches , with a group from Chinook Winds Academy, Calgary, Canada, have made significant progress. Many individuals also worked to have the building now almost finished, and we particularly benefited from the expertise of Sherwin and Shirley Goerlitz, of Westbank, B.C., who spent two months with us, and supervised some of the less experienced volunteers. Shirley Czaplicki and Hank Berg, from B.C., Tessa Mackintosh, with son, Alex, from Yellowknife, and Ben Cornette, with friend Sara, of Portland, also did great work on the new building. With just a small amount of interior finish remaining, we are hopeful of opening the house for more children, towards the end of this year.
Our biggest problem is still finding good house parents, and we have recently resorted to having single moms, due to not being able to find couples for the work. For three months this spring, our two German volunteers, Laura and Angelika filled in as house parents, and without them, we'd have been in a real mess. God blessed us so much, when these two dear young people joined us last September, for a year's service with us, and now that they've returned to Germany, we surely miss them. After more than three years with us, as cook, Penny Green (B.C. and Ontario) left us in February, and following three years as teacher, Patti, from Yellowknife, left in June. The Rasco family, from Sequim,WA., completed three years of devoted service, the last of which they really missed daughter, Rachel, now studying at Auburn Academy in Washington, and Rob and Renee have now also returned to the States. Each of these dear people made incredible contributions to the orphanage ministry, and we will miss them so much. Right now, we just don't know how we will manage, but God knows, and He will provide the people needed to enable the ministry to continue, and to develop.
Many of the children, helped by our friends in the SDA Church in Sequim, WA., have been attending school at Colegio Obregon and the progress they all have made there has been very gratifying. The benefits of being in a large school have been amazing, with each of the children learning an instrument, playing on team sports, and participating in special events, including the City Children's Day parade. Some of the children spent weekends with school friends in Obregon, and Jesusa took part in a five day Youth Congress in Los Mochis, Sinaloa State. Iris was the top graduating student from the elementary school, receiving the "gold" medal. Angel and Panchito also graduated with her, and they have just joined Jesusa, in Secundaria,(junior high). Angel has used his Sunday afternoon earnings (he often does extra work, rather than go to the beach) to buy computer time at school, and is one of the most intelligent kids we've come across. Panchito had to work so hard, having missed three weeks of class after Christmas, following a nasty accident in which he was seriously scalded. He also missed classes when on his annual medical check-up to Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.
In the summer, Angel, Luis Alfredo, Reyna, Francisco and Jesusa spent a week at our church Youth Camp in Magdalena, had a great time in a new environment, and made good friends with so many young people from outside the orphanage, in Sonora and Sinaloa States. That was a great experience for them all. During the year, Panchito took over organizing our Friday night worships, and has preached a few really neat sermons, in which he has involved all of the children. He also continues to inspire us with his music, and was given a new harmonica when we were in Camarillo, CA, last March. It was neat how the students from Newbury Park Academy, who'd been down on a mission trip last November, bought him exactly what he needed, yet they hadn't known his old harmonica could no longer be used. That was a miracle.
We had a sad experience in February, when Yessica and Noheli's mother arrived within a few days of Noheli's l2th. birthday, and took the girls away, after almost five years with us. Even the D.I.F. social workers think her motive was wrong, and suspect she wants the girls to work the streets. So sad, and the atmosphere at the orphanage was awful, many of the other children crying along with the two girls, but we could do nothing to stop this. Nicolas and Angelica are both, currently, at other facilities where we hope they are getting the psychological help they need, and we hope they soon will be back with us. In the Spring we took in Abraham, a cute 3 year old, and his l0 year old brother Gamaliel, and later, Karla and Blanka, two 9 year olds joined us. During the summer, a family of three, 3, 6 and l0 years old, joined us from Villa Juarez, and we have just advised D.I.F. Mexicali that we would take another family of three girls, ranging from 3 months to 5 years in age. It is great to have little ones again, as we feel we have better chance of establishing Christian values at an early age, rather than if they are a few years older.
Gabriela, who left us 5 years ago, is now in her final year at University in Montemorelos, where Jacob, who left two years ago, is in his second year at the seminary. Gina, who left us for Montemorelos about 4 years ago, is joining us for some months as a volunteer kitchen aid. She will get on well with our two young American volunteers, Tanya and Joyce, both from Monroe, WA. Tanya is working one-on-one with Panchito, while Joyce is helping in our on-site elementary school. We're hoping to get more medium term volunteers later this year, and are also looking for another Mexican couple, whom we need to staff the new house when it is finished, anticipated before Christmas.
Of course, once finished, we have to furnish that five bedroom house we have the furniture for the parents room, living room and dining room, but need to buy bunk beds for the four children's room. That will be eight sets of bunk beds, at approximately $200 US a set, and if anyone would like to help us buy these beds, we would be very pleased to hear from them. Donations could be made via:
CHER International Box 3l0l2, l300, King St.East, Oshawa, Ont., LlH 8N9, Canada, or
Reach International, Box 34, Berrien Springs, Ml. 49l03, U.S.A. Tax Receipts will be issued.
In all cases, please note the donation is for Hogar de Refugio Infantil, for the Bunk beds.
We, volunteers, staff and the children, always welcome visitors, and have appreciated the many who have just dropped in, often folk from the States and Canada driving down the International Highway to the resort cities of Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, and who take a 45 minute detour just to say "hello". Some have then decided to stay a few days, and that's even better for us. If you need directions, phone us (from outside Mexico) 0ll-52-6-4l9-0633 within Mexico, it's 0l-6-4l9-0633. We also have directions and a map on our web page: http://masonsinmexico.homestead.com/orphanage.html . We really would enjoy your visit.
In closing, we thank you for your support, whether it has been in prayer, financial, with donated supplies or equipment, or by your visiting and working along with us. "You are always in my heart. For you are partners with me in this gracious privilege that God has given me" (Paul's letter to the Philippians, Verse l,
Chapter l modern translation). May God bless you always, as He does us all, each and every day.
HOGAR DE REFUGIO INFANTIL VILLA JUAREZ, I.A.P.,
Apartado Postal No. 908, CD.OBREGON, Sonora, MEXICO
Dear Friends of the Orphanage: SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2002
Things are going well for us all, and we are so pleased to tell you that Pastor Alejandro Verdugo, and his wife, Lilia, who took over as Mexican Directors a year ago, are doing a great job, and growing so well into this new phase of their ministry. Alex pastored in Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California States, before returning to Villa Juarez, where he grew up, and where for the last few years, he pastored a number of local congregations. He was involved in the establishment of the original orphanage here in Villa Juarez, some l3 years ago, and they worked with us as volunteers when they returned from La Paz, about 8 years ago. We share management of the orphanage, and are jointly responsible to Reach International, Berrien Springs, which Adventist children's ministry has the major responsibility for the orphanage, and to the local Mexican Board, with whom we meet on a regular basis.
The Verdugos first year with us wasn't the easiest, and it started for them with the Hurricane which required evacuation for a few days, and considerable damage and clean up. Thanks to dear friends in the U.S. we have now repaired or replaced all the equipment and furniture which was damaged or destroyed, and the property and buildings look better than they have ever done in the past. We have had ongoing problems, though, with sewage disposal, and must still find some way of correcting the unsanitary and inefficient existing system. There have been some changes in staff and with our houses, and Alex's temperament has facilitated the settling in of the new house parents, and new cook. We have moved older children so that now we have one home for the older boys, one for older girls, and two homes for the younger children, where boys and girls are in the same house. There were some difficulties at Colegio Obregon, largely due to a change in the Principal, but these have now been resolved, thanks in large part to Alex's perseverance, and the assistance of our Board in Obregon. We've lost a couple of the older children, and taken in four new children since the Verdugos came with us, and while it is always difficult when children first join us, with Lilia's special love and interest, the new children settled in very quickly.
The latest addition to the orphanage family is Ana Maria an ll year old who joined us in January. She'd been living in the next State, with her alcoholic mother, and they didn't know who her father was. About l8 months ago, a fellow told his friend how, in the next village there was a little girl who looked so like the friend. He, married and with a family, investigated, and soon realized that Ana Maria was his daughter, after his meeting the mother in a bar, ten years earlier. His wife welcomed Ana Maria into the family, as the mother couldn't care for her and was very poor, and the father then legally adopted her. Things went well at first, and Ana Maria was showered with gifts and made so welcome, but as time went by, the other children in the family came to resent her, and finally said they would leave home, if she didn't leave. So, this dear little girl, brought up by an alcoholic mother, with very poor care and little love, then adopted by her natural father and shown love, and made a part of a real family, was brought to the orphanage. Imagine the pain and suffering she went through, after all she'd experienced what psychological damage has been done, no-one knows. But, Ana Maria is happy to be in the orphanage, knowing that, while her story is different, she really isn't much different from most of the other children. They are now her brothers and sisters, and she is very content to be with them. She knows that she is truly loved, by all of the staff, the other children, and the volunteers who work with us or who have visited on mission trips.
In our last letter, we mentioned our hope that another Canadian couple would be staying with us, and ultimately, would assume our roles at the orphanage. They came down last October and we'd hoped they'd stay with us for some years, but, unfortunately, at end of January, they returned to Ontario. We'd still not fully cleaned up after the hurricane, and suddenly found ourselves without a handyman but God answered prayers, and met our need, in quite a miraculous way. Though we'd not known him when the other folk left, within two weeks of their leaving, Bernie Service, of B.C. Canada, arrived to fill the gap. A very talented and energetic young retiree, Bernie quickly endeared himself to everyone, especially to the children, and he soon helped us finalize the repairs and fix up after the hurricane, as well as doing some necessary re-painting, and general fix-up.
Finally we have some decent built in "wardrobes" in Houses 2 and 3. A young people's group from Orchard City S.D.A. Church, Kelowna, Canada, came down in March and with the main purpose of building in the closets, under direction of Don Quiring and Walter Wecker. What a blessing this is to everyone in House 2, and the girls in House 3, and how envious are the children who don't have new closets in their bedrooms. Another major job was building a new "bridge" through the drainage ditch, to serve the well and the swimming pool. The original had been destroyed after the hurricane, and with very hard work, and an ingenious design, we now have a super new bridge, and well slab. The young people also did some painting, including a lovely mural on the laundry room, and inspiring backdrop to the podium in our chapel. Dr.Ken Trefz did dental work on each of the children, while we had daily VBS activities, which our children just loved. What this group achieved in a week is just outstanding, and we were truly blessed.
In April, we hosted a group from Mount Pisgah Academy, in North Carolina. While they stayed at the orphanage, and interacted with the children, developing firm friendships, the major work project was in Paredon Colorado, a Mayo Indian village, about a mile north of us. There, they worked on laying floor tile in the small SDA church, and also building an addition for Sabbath School activities. We enjoyed having the group with us, and they helped out with our mid-week service, much to the delight of the children.
As the weather warmed up, we have taken a number of trips to the beach, including one when the group from Kelowna was with us. The children so enjoy being able to get away from the confines of the orphanage property, and the beaches nearby are very appealing to everyone, even when sometimes the wind is very strong, and there is lots of blowing sand. At Easter, Bancroft Lopez, President of CHER International Canada, one of our major sponsor groups, visited, and with Bernie Service, enjoyed an outing to the beach, with the children. He has a great photo of Enrique holding his "spear", with lots of blue jellyfish stuck on the stick.
Enrique is doing so much better academically, since we started him in the INEA programme a Government plan which allows students to progress basically at their own pace, but which requires much more direction and supervision by the teacher. Dulce Maria, Ana Maria and Blanka are also on the programme, so teacher, Yessenia, has her hands full. Luis Alfredo hasn't been doing too well lately at Colegio Obregon, and he will be transferring to INEA at the start of the next school year. Panchito started last August in Junior High at Colegio Obregon, but the noise in the classroom soon proved too difficult for him to cope with, and he came back to the orphanage for classes, having his private tutor, Elizabeth a Mexican young lady, whose sister is Principal of Colegio Obregon, and who volunteered with us for the full year. Reyna graduated from elementary school and will start Junior High in late August. For the graduation trip, the class voted for a weekend at the beach in San Carlos, about two hours or so north of us. We dropped her off at school for the trip, and she was so excited to be going back there we'd taken her there for a weekend in the trailer, with Noheli, a couple of years ago, and she remembered the super time they'd had. Of course, this time, they weren't staying in a relatively luxurious trailer park, with swimming pool hot tub, great restaurant etc., but she enjoyed her graduation trip just as much.
Jesusa, now l6, and a beautiful young lady, had a difficult time with mathematics, but managed to scrape through and will go into her final year of Junior High, in August. This summer, she hopes to be able to work in Villa Juarez, or even in Obregon if no jobs are available locally, and we encourage her initiative, even though we obviously have some concerns about her going out on her own every day. Hopefully, she'll get something locally and not have to go in by bus to the City, each day. She wants to contribute towards her keep suspect that means being able to buy more fashionable clothes for herself and we welcome the initiative. Jesusa has always talked of wanting to study psychology, but we suspect she's finding the academics a little tough right now, and she's beginning to talk of a more technical type of career emergency response team, first aid, or similar. Dulce Maria is also getting to the age where she needs to decide what she might like to do in the future. She has developed beautifully over the last couple of years, and is a lovely young lady she turns l6 in November. Unfortunately, Dulce has some learning disfunctions, which has caused her real problems in her studies, so likely she will be encouraged towards a technical career maybe esthetics.
Gaby, one of our "old girls", first child from the next door village to even go into Junior High school, graduated from Montemorelos University in May, with a 4 year degree in Public Accounting. Jacob is in his second year there, in the Seminary, studying to become a Pastor. Another of our former girls, Gina, who volunteered for a month over Christmas, is now back at Montemorelos, with sister, Reyna, and considering career options. Our oldest "graduates" are beginning to make their way in the world, and we are happy for them, and proud of their accomplishments. Of course, it's not all success, and we have "lost" a few children. This Spring, after being away for l5 months receiving therapy for his problems, Nicolas returned to the orphanage, but we soon learned that nothing had changed. He is again in care of the State organization, D.I.F., who we hope will be able to get him the treatment he badly needs. We also lost Lamberto in June. He'd been with us for three years, since age four, and his mother is still in prison (life sentence). Though he'd never had a single visitor since coming with us, out of the blue an aunt showed up, and she applied to the State for adoption. While we aren't entirely sure of her motives, and have no say in the matter anyway, we are happy for him that he now has his own family, albeit in the next State. We hope he remembers some of what he learned while he was with us.
Again, this summer, we have a number of volunteers from Montemorelos University, helping out in many areas of our activities. They help in the houses, relieve as house parents when staff are away for weekends, or vacation, and also help in the kitchen. Our cook, a dear lady from Villa Juarez, is learning how to prepare nutritious vegetarian meals, and is a lovely lady. The learning process has been somewhat difficult for Rachel, and she's needed lots of help from Lilia (who is a good cook), and understanding from everyone, as we have sampled her experiments! We continue to be blessed with donations of fruit and vegetables from merchants at Obregon market.
The cost of living in Mexico continues to increase, and financially,things are tough for everyone. Prices of some staples which previously were subsidized, are now unrestricted, and we see monthly increases in the cost of tortillas, gasoline, gas and electricity costs. The peso has risen against the dollar, and since a peak in October 2000, the exchange rate has dropped by about l5%, thus meaning that we have l5% less coming in, even if we maintain the same flow of donations. The change in exchange rates, coupled with rising prices means that financially, we continue to struggle to survive. So, we are in the same position as the majority of Mexicans, and, if the ministry is to continue, we must work harder to raise awareness of our needs, and we ask for your prayers in this.
We are grateful to each one of you, for the interest you have in this ministry, for the love you have shown to the children, for the encouragement you have given us all, and for the prayers that you have sent up on our behalf. You are, indeed, partners with us in this special work with which God has entrusted us. Many of you support this ministry on a regular basis, by being sponsors of individual children through CHER, in Ontario, or through Mexican Children's Relief Fund, in B.C. Sponsorship is a special relationship between an individual and a child, and requires a commitment on the part of the sponsor , which assures the orphanage of a regular monthly income. We invite you to consider this as a means of helping the children, and ensuring the continued operation of the ministry. A number of children still need sponsors through M.C.R.F. and you can contact them at: Mexican Children's Relief Fund, 3479, Gates Road, Westbank, B.C., V4T lA2, Canada. Tax receipts are issued at year end. Reach International, Box 34, Berrien Springs, MI.49l03, U.S.A. issues U.S. tax receipts for donations. To ensure we get the donation, please specify it is for the Mexican orphanage, as Reach has projects in over 20 countries. You would make such a difference in the life of one of our children, and you, yourself, will be blessed by the special relationship which would develop. Thank you for considering helping in this important way and being special in the life of a child.
In closing, we wish you God's richest blessings, as He has blessed each one of us in the orphanage family. Our sincere best wishes to each one of you and to your families.
Annette and Bob Mason Foreign Co-Directors and Pastor Alejandro and Lilia Verdugo - Directors
Apartado Postal No. 908,
CD.OBREGON, Sonora, MEXICO
Dear friends of the Orphanage: Christmas 2003
Our news a little late this year, so we wish you every blessing for the New Year, 2004, and we do hope that you had a good Christmas holiday season. For us, at the orphanage, it was exciting, as we had group of young people from the Puyallup, WA, Adventist Church, along with their Pastor, on a mission trip. They brought lots of gifts for the children, did many different activities, and even managed to do some badly needed work around the property. Ralph and Pauline Beattie, of Okanagan Falls, Canada, have been with us for over a month now, and Ralph has been incredibly helpful, with his handyman talents, while Pauline has helped in kindergarten. Other visitors who have helped in so many ways include Vonnie and Ken McIntyre, of Pomeroy, WA, Sharyl and Stan Young of Tucson, AZ., the Millard family from Cushing, TX, the Strays from Abbotsford, Canada, and a young adults group lead by Dave Smith, of Grand Terrace, CA. That group started the major repairs needed to our sidewalks, and the Puyallup group continued with that. The Millards did some great work re-tiling in bathrooms, while the Youngs brought down the Christmas gifts which Sharyl had bought, using donations she arranged from the ladies who attend the annual Women's Retreat of the Adventist Church in Arizona - the fifth year she has done such a terrific job.
Since August, we've had our long term volunteers - Arja and Annika through ADRA Germany, and Maike and Rolf, independently,from Germany also. Arja teaches Panchito, one on one, while Annika helps in the school, and both are here till the end of the school year. Maike looked after kindergarten, but, sadly, left us just after Christmas, Rolf teaches Piano, and also does some maintenance work with Trinidad, one of our Mexican staff. For three months, we also had Priska from Abbotsford, Canada, and she worked in different areas. Each of these young people has made a tremendous contribution to the ministry, and to the wellbeing of the children, and we are blessed to have them work with us.
The children are mainly healthy and all seem very happy. We have had chicken pox affect many of the children, and of course, we have the usual colds,particularly bad with a change of seasons. Panchito has had some problems due to skin breakdown and infections, but is much better now, and we keep a close watch on him. He's doing quite well in school now, with Arja's special help, and currently seems determined that he will study to become an accountant once he finishes High School. Jesusa, now l7, goes into Obregon by bus, every day, and she is well into her one year course in "belleza"- cosmetology - and wants to be a hairdresser when she finishes. In the late summer, she became engaged to Daniel Millard, son of Pastor Larry and Francie of Texas, and they hope to get married shortly after she finishes her studies next June. And Gaby, who left us on finishing High School about six years ago, ultimately graduating from Montemorelos University with a four year degree in public accounting, will come "home" this March, to be married in our orphanage chapel.It's just a pity that Jacob, who was here much of the time Gaby was with us, hasn't finished his studies at the seminary at Montemorelos, as he could then have "done the honours". Jacob is in his third year now, and getting good grades - he'll make a fine Pastor when he graduates.
We have a new "Children's Guardian" working with DIF (Social Services) in Obregon, and he seems more interested in keeping parents happy than he is in protecting the rights of children. While, when a child is taken from the family, usually for abuse, extensive studies are made with interviews with school teachers, neighbours, the Police and the family, all to determine if the child should be taken into care, subsequently,if a parent wants the child back, no studies are made and the parent is able to take the child. We have lost five children over the past six months, and in every case, we believe the child is at risk, being allowed back with the family. In three cases, the single mothers have no homes, no job nor income, and, in one of those cases, the child came to us when her single mother was in prison for abusing her kids. After four years with us, Julio and Enrique were allowed "home" and now Julio is with his mother, while Enrique is with father, hundreds of miles away and we fear, at risk of being used by his father, as a "mule", smuggling drugs across the border into Arizona. We have objected to the new policy of the DIF people, as we firmly believe many children are being put at great risk, rather then being protected, as is the responsibility of the Children's Guardian. Pastor Alejandro has a meeting scheduled with the President of DIF in Obregon, while Bob had a meeting with the Director, about a month ago. Hopefully, we will see a change in policy, so that our other children will not be in danger of similarly being returned to parents who are not capable of looking after their children.
Our big news is that, November l8th., we received official permission to relocate onto a site at University of Navojoa/Colegio del Pacifico, some 40 miles from our current location. With the almost annual hurricanes which sometimes cause costly damages, and with the danger to the children's healths, as result of the contaminated soils, dust and water table in our immediate neighbourhood, we feel it is essential that we move to a healthier and safer location. The President and some Board members of Reach International visited in November, met with some of our orphanage Board, and also with the Rector of the University, saw the site which has been offered, and everyone agrees that this is what we must do. Currently, we are working on preliminary construction plans, while waiting on the Lord to provide the funds to enable us to move. We expect the reconstruction will cost in the order of $200,000 to $250,000, and we are hoping to start construction within the next nine months, and to be able to move before the start of the 2005-2006 Academic Year. The University has offered our children free education in their elementary school, our older kids will each work on the campus as means of helping cover the costs of secondary education, and we expect that we will get considerable help from the University students working their practicums, and from the Campus community as a whole. We are excited about the prospects of closer relationship with our Church, and know that blessings will flow both ways, to the benefit not only of our orphanage children, but to the University community as well.
Our staff is excited about the move, and we certainly hope that some of them will make the move with us. Samuel and Yessenia have been with us about 2 l/2 years, as house parents, and she as school principal. Samuel is now working on a small industry which involves many of the older children, and has started to produce a small income for the orphanage. Lucy, single mom in House l, is in her second year with us, and she has such good relationships with her children. We temporarily lost Martha, mom in House 3, in July, but she plans on rejoining us early in the New Year. Dina, a qualified early childhood education teacher, took over as mom in House 3, and she, like Martha before her, does a great job in the house, and also with her help in school and kinder. Trinidad and Marta, parents in House 4, have given us some challenges and have created problems with some of the older boys, due to a lack of real interest in the wellbeing of the children. Late summer, we almost lost Angel, who's been with us for more than half his l5 year life, due to problems in the house. Thankfully, we were able to negotiate special rates at Colegio del Pacifico, and he moved into the dorm there at end of October. He's now settled in and is doing quite well in his studies in Grade 9, the last year of Junior High. We are grateful that his former house parents, Celso and Olga, now work for the College and live on Campus, so he has a place to go to, when he needs a break from the dorm. Angel is also working under Celso's direction to cover that part of the normal fees which we are not paying - we are, in fact, paying about one third of the normal fees, so are really blessed
We thank you all for your support, your prayers and your encouragement for us, and for the children. We pray that God will continue to guide and to bless in your lives as He so richly does in ours, and in the corporate life of the orphanage. We wish for you and your family, happiness and His peace this New Year, 2004.
Pastor Alex and Lilia Verdugo Annette and Bob Mason
HOGAR DE REFUGIO INFANTIL VILLA JUAREZ, I.A.P.
Apartado Postal No.908,
CD.OBREGON, Sonora, MEXICO
CHRISTMAS 2001 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends of the orphanage:
It's been a very difficult six months, since last we wrote you, in part as a result of an almost wholesale change in staff and volunteers, and in part as a result of Hurricane Juliette, which hit the region on October lst., causing heavy damage particularly to bridges, canals and roadways in our area. We expect that vehicular access to the orphanage will remain disrupted for many months, if not even years, into the future. Currently, main roads are closed, and for access from Obregon, there is a detour for about 5 miles over farm fields fine if one knows the route, but very difficult for our visitors, especially those with R.V.'s, who find it almost impossible to get to us. The storm itself required the children to evacuate for 3 days, to a school in Villa Juarez, and while this was a difficult time, most seemed to enjoy "camping out" in the village, and they also didn't object to missing their own classes for a few days. During this time, the property was under 2 to 3 feet of water, and on our return we found that many electrical appliances had been ruined by having been submerged for so long. We lost pumps for our main and irrigation water systems, for the sump from the kitchen, and a back-up unit. Fridges, cooler, freezer and washing machines were damaged, some beyond repair, and we also lost numerous mattresses and some upholstered and wooden furniture. Our main drainage ditch was filled with mud, causing septic tanks to overflow, and we must now install more effective drainage systems to most of our buildings.
Repairs and replacements are in process, and we immediately had to replace the main water pump to ensure we had service throughout the property. Unfortunately, the village system was damaged, and our mains supply is seriously polluted. For a temporary service, we have installed a 200 gallon tank on a trailer, and have it filled at a local commercial water purification plant. This now provides for our drinking water, and for all kitchen needs a relatively costly measure, but necessary for the health of the orphanage family. Our own system is now used just for bathing, laundry and irrigation needs. As two of our 4 washing machines were destroyed by the flood water, we've had to buy our first ever new machine, and are currently coping with three serviceable machines. They seem to be working every hour of daylight, and frequently after dark and before dawn. Other repairs are being undertaken as we have funds, and are able, so it's a slow process. Little by little, however, we are getting over the effects of the Hurricane, and we are just grateful that no-one was hurt in the storm.
After three or more years volunteer service with the orphanage, Rob and Renee Rasco, Patti Herbert and Penny Green, all left us earlier this year, and they are all sorely missed. Two of our single house moms, and our cook-driver team also left early in the summer, so our Montemorelos University volunteers helped in many varied ways. Jorge and Gloria, our Mexican Directors, left us after almost 3 years, and our new Directors are Pastor Alejandro and Lilia Verdugo, from Villa Juarez, and who worked with us about six years ago as short term house parents. Only Eloisa, in House 3, of the old "team", is still with us, so with so many changes in personnel, the transition has been difficult, and this is sometimes reflected in the children's behaviour. Our new parents in House l, Maki and Ismael, are quite young but are coping remarkably well. When we first came to the orphanage, ll years ago, Maki was one of our girls, but she soon returned to her family, subsequently graduated from Colegio del Pacifico, and then, in August, married Ismael, a school teacher. Their house comprises mostly younger children, including the youngest, Abraham, who is just 3 years old. Maki is an amazingly good mum, considering she is only l9 years old!
In House 2, we have Yessenia and Samuel, a couple in their mid- 30's from Baja California. She is a very competent lady, acts as Principal for our on-site elementary school, operates the school library, and leads out in junior Sabbath School. Samuel is our driver, taking the older children, and those in special ed., to school in Obregon, each day. They have a very long day up at 4.45, breakfast at 5.l5, leave just before 6, for classes starting at 7. They leave school at 2 pm., and are home for lunch by about 3pm. It's a pity Samuel's time with us is so restricted, for he is a very skillful mechanic, electrician and general handyman we could make so much more use of him, if only he had more time! Fortunately, amongst our volunteers, we have Allan Kirk, who is also a skilled mechanic and former builder, so he spends much of his time repairing damage caused by the Hurricane.
At the start of the academic year, Tanya Bourque and Joyce Toledo came down from the Monroe, WA, S.D.A. church, Tanya now helping Yessenia in her house, during the morning, and she's just taken over kindergarten from Joyce. Unfortunately, both girls got quite sick when they first came down, likely caused by our temporarily using a village lady as our cook, and whose standards of hygiene left something to be desired. While we have replaced her, for the moment, by Gina, one of our "graduates", now 24 years old, Joyce is still ill, and has had to cut short her planned one year with us, to return home. She left just a few days ago, and we are really going to miss her. Joyce was one of the very finest volunteers we have had, always willing to do more than she was asked, and who quickly became firm friend to all of the children and staff. Her ability to learn Spanish was quite amazing, and she proved her worth to Allan and Judy Kirk, on many occasions. Another long-term volunteer is Elisabet, a 28 year old lady from Chiapas, Mexico, who is working on classes with Panchito, and who again, is such a tremendous help to us all.
The Kirks have committed an unlimited number of years to working at the orphanage, and are currently working closely with the Pastor Alejandro,and with us, as they learn how the orphanage ministry operates. Allan has taken over the repair and maintenance side of things, and will also look after landscaping, once we are able to resume this, after the Hurricane, and we've cleared the place up sufficient to allow us to cut grass again. We have planted about 40 small trees since the storm, and these so far seem to have taken they require lots of maintenance and daily watering. Allan has also been working on interior finish of our new house, and which should very soon be ready for occupancy. Of course, we need to find a suitable couple to serve as houseparents, as we plan on putting the older boys in that house. This will also enable us to take in more children, to keep the other three houses filled, and we regularly have to refuse to accept children, at this time, just because we don't have room for them. There seems to be a continual need for places in orphanages, although we are, perhaps, more selective than many, when we consider accepting new children. It seems that most of the demand is for temporary placement, while we try to take in only those children who need long term, or even permanent, homes.
In June, many of our children completed their first year at Colegio Obregon, our church school in the City. Iris was the top graduating student in the elementary level, and received the "gold" medal. Later in the summer, her mother showed up and took her back home, so we just hope her time with us has left some real impression, and she will continue her studies, as she has such potential. Also, in the summer, Angelica was taken back into a State facility where they have full-time psychological help, and which she desperately needs. Sister Jesusa naturally misses Angelica, but understands it is for her own good, and Jesusa is making the most of things. She is so helpful at the orphanage, being the oldest of our girls, save for Martha. Martha still attends her special school in the City, and waits for brother, Nicolas, to "come home". Nicky is at another facility where he, supposedly, is getting some psychological help. We hope he can, in fact, come back to us in the next little while.
Angel and Panchito also graduated from elementary school and are now in Junior High, where Angel makes great use of the computers, and uses his occasional earnings (on Sundays) to buy more computer time. Panchito found Junior High quite difficult, and, in November, he switched to the Adult Education programme, which allows students (in his case with tutoring from Elisabet) to proceed at their own pace. He's much happier now, doing quite well with his classes, and, having class at the orphanage, doesn't cause as much strain on Eloisa, who previously had to start getting him ready for school at 4 in the morning. In the afternoons, he has braille classes and practice with Tanya, who learned the system before coming down here, just so she could work with Panchito.
Five of our kids attended a church camp in Magdalena, during the summer, and they are still talking about the good time they had there, and the new friends they made. We're hoping that this can be a regular part of summer activities for the older children, in the future, depending, of course, on availability of funds. When they are not in classes, we have to find different ways to keep them all occupied, and, even in the short holidays, it sometimes gets difficult to keep them busy. Over this Christmas, we have scheduled the evening visit for the Santa Claus parade in Obregon, a daytime visit to the Parque Infantil (playground area) in the city, and a trip to the Obregon Fire Department, where they will be given the royal treatment one of our Board members is a former civilian administrator of the Department, and currently a consultant with his own office there. During the summer, and even quite recently, the children had regular outings to the beach, but, following the Hurricane, access to Huivulai Island is no longer open, and our closest decent beach is close to an hour's drive away, thus fewer visits now.
Five new children have joined us in the last few months Lupita, Aimee and Karlita, 3 sisters whose parents are separated, mother now working in Arizona and unable to care for the children, although she has visited a couple of times since they came with us. Then we have Cristian and Denise, siblings from Mexicali, two of whose brothers, Abraham and Gamaliel, came with us in the Spring. The parents are divorced, mother had the children (including a 9 month old girl) but she is a drug addict, so the children were taken into care by the State. As the grandfather lives in Villa Juarez, through our local D.I.F. (social services) the Mexicali people asked if they could be with us. Gamaliel was ll when he came with us, older than we typically accept, and we know now why we have that rule he is quite a handful, and, missing the freedom he used to have when living at home, always "stretching the boundaries"! He is a good student, though, and, when not acting up, is a nice young fellow to have around.
Julio continues at his special school, where he gets regular speech therapy. If we listen real carefully, we can actually understand some of the words he uses, but he still finds it easier to sign and, of course, none of us understand what he wants to tell us. Panchito has fully recovered from the terrible scalding he suffered last January, when he couldn't feel how hot the new showers were, and which had him off school for three weeks. As usual, we had him at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in March, and for us, a very delightful week away. When I took the morning worship at the Camarillo S.D.A. Church, Panchito played special music, and he also played in Tucson, at Catalina Hills Fellowship one Sabbath morning, and in the evening, at the Spanish Church. He's already booked for his next "foreign" appearances to play at Paradise Valley, Phoenix, February 2nd., and at Midvale Park in Tucson, on February 9th., at which time we will also be taking the worship service.
We continue to be blessed with many good friends in the Obregon Villa Juarez areas, including merchants at the wholesale market who donate fresh fruit and vegetables, every second week, and numerous bakeries and tortilla shops which donate their products every week. The local Kiwanis ladies put on a Fiesta for us earlier this month, and the Lions Club in Villa Juarez also put on a Fiesta, and donated the trees which we've recently planted. Some of the merchants are planning special gifts for Christmas, and the young people from the Obregon North church are also planning to spend an afternoon with us, and to bring Christmas gifts for each child. Thanks (again) to Sharyl and Stan Young, of Tucson, and their working with the ladies who attend the church's Arizona Women's Retreat, each of the children will again receive at least two gifts, as well as a couple of stockings well, rather, zip-lock bags filled with goodies. Santa Claus (alias Allan Kirk) will visit on "noche buena" (Christmas Eve when we will have our turkey dinner vegetarian for those who prefer) and he'll pay a return visit on the 25th. At New Years, we'll have our annual bonfire, with toasted marshmallows, hot chocolate and other snacks. We are indebted to so many people who help us on a regular basis, and, especially at this time of year, with the extra help we so appreciate for the Christmas season.
After more than ten years here, at the end of the current "season", we will pull out from the day to day responsibility for the ministry and leave that in the hands of Pastor Alejandro, and the new foreign co-director, Allan Kirk. Reach International, of Berrien Springs, MI. has assumed major responsibility for the orphanage, and Alejandro is responsible to them. Allan, a Board member of one of our sponsor groups, CHER International, will assist Alejandro and the local staff, while continuing to promote the orphanage, and all CHER's projects, when home in Ontario, during "el tiempo de calor" the hot summer months, when it would be almost impossible for him and Judy to stay here. We will continue our involvement with our other major sponsor, Mexican Children's Relief Fund, looking after sponsorships and public awareness, and we plan on visiting the orphanage every winter for about four months.
While, for everyone, the last few months have been particularly difficult, as we all have tried to understand the meaning of those horrible, tragic events of September llth., and we have, additionally, had to cope with the problems and damage caused by Hurricane Juliette, we remain confident that our God is still in control, of this world, and of our lives. At this special time of year, when we think of His love in giving us His only Son, as baby Jesus, we pray that you, too, will sense the wonder of it all, and praise Him for His goodness. May you have a blessed and peace-filled Christmas, and a New Year filled with hope and promise.
May God bless you all, Annette and Bob Mason
HOGAR DE REFUGIO INFANTIL VILLA JUAREZ,
Apartado Postal No. 908,
CD.OBREGON, Sonora, MEXICO
Masonsinmexico@hotmail.com
Dear friends of the orphanage: Summer 2004
Much has happened at the orphanage since last we wrote, and we have seen a number of changes, in children, in the staff and volunteers, It has been an interesting time for us all, and while there has on occasion been confusion, and questions as to where we were heading, we see God's hand in everything we have done, and we are assured that He is still in control, and that everything that has happened has been for the best and for His purposes. You will remember how we learned a year or so back, that where we are currently located is dangerous for the children's health, due to the level of pesticide contamination in the district, and how we felt that we had to move to a safer place. While we dreamed that it would be possible, and we even started planning for the move, the biggest hurdle, quite clearly, would be our getting the necessary funds together to enable us to rebuild on the campus of the University of Navojoa/Colegio del Pacifico, about 35 miles from our present location. Given that, even when we started the initial planning, there were months when we wondered if we would have enough money to pay the grocery bill that month, it was perhaps just a pipe dream that we would somehow be able to move.
Well, God has again proven that He is in control, that this is surely what He wants us to do, and where He wants us to go, as funds for the rebuilding are coming in, sufficient already for us to plan on starting the new building this Fall. We have been promised additional donations later this year, and we know that somehow, all the monies that we will need will be provided, just as we need them. There is still a lot of money we must raise, but we know that He will provide, as He always does. This month, a builder friend, Sherwin Goerlitz, of British Columbia, Canada, will join us for a few days and we will spend time at the orphanage, while also doing some on site planning at the new location, speak with potential materials suppliers, and check out architectural and construction techniques in the Alamos area, so we can build in similar Colonial style. We hope to employ some local builders, and also utilize older University students, thus saving us money, and also helping them earn money to pay their University expenses. Once the main structure is closed in, we hope that mission groups from Canada and the U.S. will come down to help in the finish work, so that, by the summer of 2005, the children will be able to move to a safer and healthier environment, and one where we will have access to all the activities and services that are part of the University community. There will also be many more friends to help in our programmes.
Many of you will remember Gaby, a girl who came to us about thirteen years ago from the next door Indian village, Sube y Baja. She struggled through Junior High and High schools, but ultimately graduated, went on to Montemorelos University, and graduated two years ago with a degree in Accounting. She then moved to Tijuana where she works for a British medical supplies company. In March, Gaby came home to be married in our orphanage chapel, to Abraham, whose brother, a Pastor, performed the ceremony. This was special for us all, she being the first of our kids to come home to be married, and it was also special that Sarahi and Adriana, both now also at Montemorelos, came back for the day 27 hours each way by bus just to be with us on that special day. All the children received invitations to be there, while Pastor Alejandro and Lilia, Bob and Annette, all took part in the ceremonies.
Then there's the other Gaby we wrote of her in our last letter, how she'd been allowed by the Children's Guardian to return to her mother, a drug addict, alcoholic and recently released from prison, where she'd been sent for abusing her children.We got into some trouble with the authorities for our protesting that decision, but, praise God a couple of months ago, the Guardian was forced to resign, and the new lady is much more sympathetic to the needs of the children, and we are again back in their good books. And Gaby is back with us, much happier to be at the orphanage again after a very difficult six months, where she lived in miserable circumstances, and was deprived of so many of the things we all take for granted. She's settled in very well, and we hope the recent bad experiences won't stay long in her memory.
Miriam came to us at five months of age, and, with Panchito, has been with us the longest of any of the children. About six years ago, some of you will recall, she was adopted by a couple of physicians, then living in Obregon, about 30 miles away. She was so happy to have her own family, and they treated her like a princess till the time they had problems with their oldest of their three boys, who had some psychological problems, who never accepted her as his sister, and who ultimately became quite violent to her. So, after a year with the family, she was returned to us, for her own safety, and so the family could work through their problems. There was not then any thought that, one day, she might return to the family, yet, in November last year, they again made contact and enquired about her being able to rejoin the family. That was quite a shock to us all and we thought long and hard, discussed everything with Miriam, and ultimately allowed them to make monthly visits. At Easter, she spent a week with them at their new home in Hermosillo, some three hours away, and we visited them on two occasions, including during Easter. Finally, after being convinced that things there have changed, that she would not be at risk, either of harm by living with them, or of further rejection in the future, a couple of days after her thirteenth birthday, in June, she went back to her adoptive family. We are staying in touch with her and with them, of course, and will visit whenever we are passing through Hermosillo.
In July, Jesusa completes her year's studies in a private hairdressing and cosmetology school in Obregon, and she is excited that she will be graduating. That means that she will be leaving us after six years, though we will stay in touch. She plans on moving to Hermosillo, and intends to share a place with a friend from the school, and they hope to start their own business. She's a little apprehensive at the idea of being totally independent, bus is also excited at what the future holds for her. Things are going to be very different for this lovely young lady, and we thank those of you who have specially helped her in the past. We now ask for your prayers for her, for the future, as we ask you to remember Miriam and her adoptive family also.
In June, Claudia's sponsors, Donna and Sam Goodin, from Michigan, visited for a week and were so happy to meet their little girl. Donna so generously arranged for a laptop computer and special software that will enable Panchito to work both in braille and in normal language, and he is very excited about this. Fortunately, we have volunteering with us, Daniel, a young man from Germany, who understands computers, and who has endless patience and understanding in his dealings with Panchito. Daniel is a long time friend of Arja, one of the two young ladies from ADRA Germany who spent last year with us. She and Annika left in June, while Rolf, also from Germany, left us after about five months as a volunteer. The children, and we all, were so blessed to have these dedicated young people with us, sharing in the ministry. In the coming academic year, ADRA Germany is sending us two young ladies and a young man, and we know that these young people will very quickly become indispensable members of the orphanage family.
We've received a couple of new children in the last few months, and like most others, their tales are quite sad. Marie Elena is 9 years old. Her father was 76 can you believe that?! when she was born, and her mother, 36. We don't know what happened to father, but she was badly abused by her mother, and taken into care by D.I.F. , the family services agency. While they shared some of the horrors she'd experienced, the worst is so bad they have kept it under seal in their files, as they feel it is too bad to share even with us. She's a dear little girl, has some difficulties in school but is in third grade. She's settling in quite well, and, while initially confused with the changes in her life, now seems to be very happy, and outgoing.
We look forward to the future, even though we know there will be more changes and more challenges. But, we know that, as you have encouraged and supported us in the past, you will continue to do so. We thank you for this and for your love for the children, and we pray for God's richest blessings for you all, as you have been such a blessing to each of us in the orphanage family.
Blessings, Peace and Love in Jesus.
Pastor Alejandro and Lilia Verdugo Bob and Annette Mason
