Mexico has changed their laws concerning children especially those that are in institutions. The local welfare agencies are instructed by the Federal government to find others family members that would be willing to take the children in. The last few months we have had several new children at Casa de Niños but they have only stayed with us for a few days or weeks. This brings to us a new challenge in having a positive impact on these little lives. With so little time to gain trust, see their character and personality, understand a little of their inner hurts, we need your prayers for God's wisdom. Our main goal is showing love to them as most come to us with a poor understanding of what love is. Love is that incredible power that can form good character and greatly help a life to be a very productive person in society. Showing true love allows us to leave something wonderful inside each child that comes to us. Blessings to you and have a great day!

She lived the very early years of childhood with a mother that was unable mentally to care for her. Mayan started out her life without a father, and with a mother that was not capable of providing even the very basic necessities of life. Like many children that arrive at Casa de Niños Mayan did not have even the "luxuries" that we take for granted like: three meals a day, bed to sleep on, running hot water, refrigerator, clean clothes, toys that did not come out of someone's garbage, couch to snuggle with mom or dad, and the list goes on. Many of our children have the feeling of being pitied, rejected, stared at, convinced that you will never amount to anything, instead of just having fun with your friends. Things like these mentioned can remain buried deep within for a long time. Providing a loving stable environment is a big responsibility we parents have in regards to our children. They need us to be there for them providing those important things. A warm hug and having fun together doing special things help form character in our children. Encouragement and guidance are needed. Mayan missed these things early. She has spent many years at Casa de Niños where we have shown and taught her God’s love, giving her wonderful memories, and special times. The next thing in her life we want to send her to a YWAM discipleship course of 6 months where she would live on their base and have wonderful opportunities to grow, adding things to her character that will benefit her the rest of her life. We ask for you support in this event in her life. It will cost her about $2500 dollars, but we feel a very worthwhile investment. Blessings to you all! Please consider being a part in this.

There is hardly a more enjoyable thing than a bonfire on a cool night. We occasionally have a gathering around a fire at the Casa. This night in particular was a prayer service that we decided to do in this special way. The fire helps set the pleasant mode. The fire brings warmth and light to a cool dark nighttime. Many of the children come from very dark pasts that are not enjoyable to remember, and some have a very cold feeling that comes to them when one talks about love. Part of our work at Casa de Niños is rewriting the definition of love that is in their hearts, and giving them some wonderfully bright memories that can bring a sparkle in their little eyes.
We all have wonderful memories of bonfires or campfires where fun, laughter, and joy mix in the air with the smoke. That is what makes such a sweet aroma to our God when we offer up to him an atmosphere of love, that same love that He showed to us when he came to earth living a life that brought wonderful abundant life to us all. Have a very blessed day!

We have been learning through classes that Irma gives on raising children, that the mission of a parent should be to help discover the gifts within our children. God has helped us to better ourselves in what we do here at the Casa. I know we all wish that we could have had more knowledge about being good parents back when parenting was new to us. My wife is an excellent teacher and has gained much knowledge over the years, and God uses her at the Casa teaching our workers and some outsiders that want to be part of her classes. We need to do a better job as parents at whatever stage we are at. It is never too late!

I have been working harder to help our children find, identify, and use the gifts that they have within. On Sundays I have a class with the adults and teens. I like to ask different people from the class to share either a few minutes or more if they desire. In these times I have seen one of our teen girls who is just 14 years old really excel in this area of sharing and teaching. She is the only one that when asked to share will ask for the whole time. Most will just use no more than 5 minutes. I have been so impressed with her effort and the creativity she puts into her class. This past Sunday she really did a fantastic job. People were blessed and touched in the service. During the service she was moved to tears as she began to share something from her heart. I know these opportunities help shape her character and all those that make that commitment to prepare and seek God are eternally changed as they allow God to flow through them. Lives transformed is the reason that God brings these little ones to us.

 Blessings to you all and have a wonderful Christmas season!

Daniela is a very special girl to us here at Casa de Niños. One of her most notable gifts is being very helpful. She is the first one to volunteer for many things and even sometimes in class or devotion time she will raise her hand very quickly even without knowing the answer to the question. Daniela has spent the last 6 years of her life with us so we have seen part of her growing up process Daniela does have a slight mental deficiency that slows her down in her academic development and her speaking.
This week we had the joy of celebrating her quinceaños in a wonderful  event. The place where the event was held was donated, and just about everything that was part of this special day was donated including the meal. A big thank you to everyone! This past year we were able to locate the grandmother of Daniela and we brought her to spend this time with Daniela. We were reminded by Daniela many times before her party to not forget her grandmother.
Pray for God's guidance in Daniela's life and that many wonderful opportunities will be opened for her.