God has been gracious to us in our time in Mexico and yesterday was no different. Greg finished up his lectures on Angelology and I began mine on Soteriology. We have had some great interactions and it is clear that the students of SBP have been well taught and that they themselves go above and beyond in studying the Word and reading good material.
One of the axioms of ministry/mission trips is that things do not always go as planned. Such is the case for Amber, Karis and Aubrey’s ministry to the Boys’ and Girls’ homes. When we initially started having conversation with Kevin about serving for the week we were here, we assumed that we would be able to do five-day-club style ministry with them. We had not considered that the children would still be in school and that coming home from school and doing what seemed like more school would not be a good idea. So Amber, Karis, Aubrey, Andrea and Lili (and sometimes Greg, Kevin, and I) have spent the evenings visiting with and loving the kids and house parents of these homes. We’ve played games, brought gifts from Stateside supporters, watched soccer practice, and had many encouraging spiritual conversations with our new friends.
One of the passions that God had given to Kevin and Andrea many years ago was to help with orphans in Mexico. After many years of serving existing children’s homes, God granted the Bults’ desire to open a home in which they could be directly involved. Through the help of many people and US churches (including New Community Church, our former church in St. Louis!) they were able to secure a home and begin remodeling it for use as a boys’ home. As the process moved along Kevin and Andrea knew they needed to find house parents for this home. After a series of ups and downs in this arena, they came in contact with Niños De Mexico, which has been ministering in the area of children’s home since 1967. As a result not only has God been gracious in letting them get New Beginnings Boys’ Home started, shortly thereafter they were able to get New Life Girls’ home started as well! Currently there are 10 boys and 9 girls who live in each home respectively.
It has been a joy to see how God is protecting these children and through this ministry bringing them the Good News of Jesus Christ in such a Christ-centered environment. We have been grateful to participate in a small way what God is doing here in caring for the least of these.
