Christmas 2006
It was Christmas of 2006, and we were in Juarez for our 2nd Christmas Over the Border mission. This year it was different though. It wasn’t just our family blessing 20 children with Christmas gifts. This year it was three families blessing over 70 children. It was incredible to have a team beyond our own family, and it was great to serve so many of His children. Admittedly I was a little stressed with the responsibility, but most things went smooth.
Most of the group stayed at the YWAM facility in Juarez, while our family again stayed at Casa de la Nueva Vida. The team spent Christmas Eve at the respective locations, and we watched a movie in Spanish. The children had a great time, and I believe that His love was shown during this experience for them.
The most difficult aspect of the trip was moving. We had 3 different vehicles and I didn’t know my way around that well. There were several times back and forth between our locations, and then there were the two border crossing –never a fun thing.
On Christmas day we were going to drive across town to another home that I had visited earlier in the year, but I had only been there one time. We would again be in our three vehicle convoy, and my directions didn’t seem that detailed and my memory worse yet.
We did arrive downtown without a hitch, at least to the right neighborhood, but we couldn’t find the home. We drove around, and around, and around again, but we couldn’t find it. I knew that the Girls Home was in this vicinity, but where had I gone wrong? We decided to stop for directions; something that is always a last resort for a guy. After knocking on a few doors we found someone willing to talk to us, but it was in Spanish. I quickly dialed Sergio on our phone knowing that he could translate for us, and handed the phone to our new-found Spanish-speaking friend. After several nods, a grunt, and eventually a smile, he hung up and started for my car. What else could we do, but agree to go!
After everyone regained their positions in their vehicles, my new friend pointed to my dash and said in broken English, “Brother”. I didn’t understand, but acknowledged him. He did it again, “Brother”. I then realized that he was pointing to the Bible on my dash. He then pointed at himself, me, and then 3 different houses on the same street with a “Brother” each time and finally in broken English “Christians”.
Wow, what were the chances that this gentleman and I would meet, or will ever meet again, but for that moment he was an encourager as we finally made it to our destination just several blocks away. We thanked our new friend, and I watched as he walked around the corner on his way back home. We were only two blocks away, but would have never found this place without this ‘Brother’.
FACT: Juarez, Mexico is home to 29 children homes. Many of these children are oirphaned and others have been taken away from their parents. Mexico is home to 1.6 million Orphans. Global Orphan Relief has completed 5 missions to Juarez, Mexico, to serve these children. For more information see www.globalorphanrelief.org.