Here's our family testimony: Byron and Cindy Gigler
Like many families, my wife, Cindy, and I dreamed of removing ourselves from our comfort zone to do something extraordinary for our Heavenly Father with our three children. To celebrate Easter, during the spring of 2002., we decided to join a short-term mission team with our children to visit Casa de Ninos Frank Gonzales Children's Home in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. This was our very first trip as a family travelling outside the continental United States.
Our children were the youngest members on the team, which caused us some concern in the beginning. We believed they would become frustrated with the required training for the trip. To our surprise, son, Aaron, age 11; daughters Natalie, age 13 and Elizabeth, age 15, breezed through their training responsibilities with flying colors. By the time we boarded our flight to Mexico, our kids had bonded tightly with the other team members.
We will always remember our arrival at the children's home in Tepic, Mexico. The excitement, the noise, the chaos witnessed all around us when we first drove up to the home was simply wonderful. The children immediately ran up to our kids and genuine friendships began. As I look back on our experience at the "casa", I am constantly reminded of scenes where our children were interacting with their new friends. Each day, during our seven day stay, our three children could be found deeply involved in the lives of the "casa kids". They loved every minute of their time together.
Our last evening with the children was exceedingly sad. Saying our goodbyes to their new friends was difficult with everyone filled with tears. After being bombarded by our kids in their request for our entire family to come back to the "casa" the very next year at Easter, mom and dad readily agreed.
Our second trip to the Casa de Ninos, a year later, was as wonderful as the first. Upon our arrival, it was as if we had never left. The children picked up right they left off the year before. Our daughter, Natalie, had even corresponded with one of the casa children during our year away. Experiencing the love of these children is something our children will never forget.
Before we traveled to Mexico, we thought we could, somehow, be a blessing to the children. As it turned out, WE were there ones who were mightily blessed by the out pouring of love shown to us by the casa children. Eleven years later, our children still speak with fondness and excitement about their friends in Mexico.
Have a blessed day!
Like many families, my wife, Cindy, and I dreamed of removing ourselves from our comfort zone to do something extraordinary for our Heavenly Father with our three children. To celebrate Easter, during the spring of 2002., we decided to join a short-term mission team with our children to visit Casa de Ninos Frank Gonzales Children's Home in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. This was our very first trip as a family travelling outside the continental United States.
Our children were the youngest members on the team, which caused us some concern in the beginning. We believed they would become frustrated with the required training for the trip. To our surprise, son, Aaron, age 11; daughters Natalie, age 13 and Elizabeth, age 15, breezed through their training responsibilities with flying colors. By the time we boarded our flight to Mexico, our kids had bonded tightly with the other team members.
We will always remember our arrival at the children's home in Tepic, Mexico. The excitement, the noise, the chaos witnessed all around us when we first drove up to the home was simply wonderful. The children immediately ran up to our kids and genuine friendships began. As I look back on our experience at the "casa", I am constantly reminded of scenes where our children were interacting with their new friends. Each day, during our seven day stay, our three children could be found deeply involved in the lives of the "casa kids". They loved every minute of their time together.
Our last evening with the children was exceedingly sad. Saying our goodbyes to their new friends was difficult with everyone filled with tears. After being bombarded by our kids in their request for our entire family to come back to the "casa" the very next year at Easter, mom and dad readily agreed.
Our second trip to the Casa de Ninos, a year later, was as wonderful as the first. Upon our arrival, it was as if we had never left. The children picked up right they left off the year before. Our daughter, Natalie, had even corresponded with one of the casa children during our year away. Experiencing the love of these children is something our children will never forget.
Before we traveled to Mexico, we thought we could, somehow, be a blessing to the children. As it turned out, WE were there ones who were mightily blessed by the out pouring of love shown to us by the casa children. Eleven years later, our children still speak with fondness and excitement about their friends in Mexico.
Have a blessed day!
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