Not an Ordinary Day

Not by a longshot.

La Tribu de Jesus (The Tribe of Jesus) is an orphanage in one of Tijuana's poor valleys. Edith and Fernando are the parents to 50+ kids. They have one regular helper, Cindy the missionary, and a few ladies from the neighbourhood who come and wash dishes or clothes, or clean up in exchange for food for them and their kids. They can have as many as 75 kids hanging around as parents who work from7am to late at night leave their kids there, otherwise they'd be home alone.





The kids were looking a little dirty today. The reason being that their "bathtub" is a trench in the middle of the barn that serves as laundry room, kitchen, storage and living room. The water comes from a rain barrel that is outside temperature at best, and it has been pretty cool here (lows of 7C highs of 13C). I would have said room temperature, except that room temperature IS outside temperature. The barn they live in has a roof (that doesn't connect at the crest) but no walls below- just fencing and plastic over 70% of it. It is personally overwhelming to see the hordes of kids running around with so little adult help- and so little personal attention. Make no mistake, Edith and Fernando love these kids- they have given over their lives to help those in need- but 2 parents can only give so much personal atention when spread out amongst 50+ kids.




So as soon as you get there, the kids come flocking to you to see if you will hold them, talk with them, love them, push them on a swing- anythign really.










Shar and I started off pushing 4 kids on swings- back and forth, back and forth. Then one little girl and one boy gave us a tour.

It's a huge property that they are renting right now, but 60% is unuseable as is because of the slope it's on. We went first to the boys cabin. they have 5 bunk beds and 2 queen sized beds and this cabin sleeps 20 boys. It looked ok for a cabin and at least the roof does not leak. The girls rooms do leak- so 30+ of them are packed into 2 rooms with 4 beds. One girl told us she had 6 kids on her bed last night.





We also went to the "bathroom". It is 3 walls with 5 toilets in it. No roof, no door, nothing separating toilets.

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Belin is about 3 years old. She must have some sort of allergies or something because she has a perpetual leaky nose. She also has eczema on her face and it look very "chapped". Almost as soon as we got there- and for most of the time we spent there- Belin hung around with me. She came to me with arms wide open and said something about a "papa" or daddy. I don't think she was calling me her daddy, just asking if I was one or if I knew where hers was. Either that or she was asking me about potatoes cuz the words sound almost the same. Either way, I got all choked up, picked her up and she smiled and hung onto me or around us most of the rest of the day.


You know, I've watched the "Compassion" commercials on TV and felt sad. But I was able to change the channel. We can't change the channnel here. The need is so overwhelming. I kept thinking to myself- what can we do? This is not even the ministry we are called here to be primarily involved with, but the need is so HUGE! So, personally, we're going to go visit regularly. I'm bringing them a Christmas tree tomorrow (you can buy real douglas fir trees here!) I'm going to start doing a Blog like this for them to post pics of the kids- regular updates as to their needs (They don't always have enough food to eat or soap, or toothpaste or toilet paper etc.). Beyond that, I thought what can one family do? The little we could give financially would not be a drop in a bucket to cover the needs.

But then I thought... we are not here alone. We have partners at home who are with us on this field in a very real sense.

Will you pray with us for La Tribu?
Pray that the kids would have enough food to eat.
Pray that they would have a useful bathroom built soon.
Pray for walls for their home.
Pray that the kids would experience the Love of Jesus through His people.
Pray for many of the parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol and cannot care for their kids.
Pray for those parents who are so self-absorbed that their kids get woefully neglected and need La Tribu.
Pray for Edith and Fernando, for strength, stamina and unconditional love for their kids.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers into His fields.
Pray that we would be a blessing to the children and the workers.

Thank you so much for partnering with us. It is an incredible privilege to represent you here. Your part in this ministry is invaluable. Today, we loved orphans together in Jesus Name.

Until next time,

your partners, the McDonald's