For the past month we’ve spent three days a week serving at The Great Commission Children’s Home. This is not a typical orphanage. But when Sean (American) and Glendy (Guatemalen) began this mission they knew God was calling them to a new way of serving orphans – providing quality care in a family-style environment. Six children have become family members in addition to their two sons.
The kids typically come in as babies with wild stories of abandonment (left in gutters, plastic bags, etc). Under Guatemalan law Sean and Glendy have strict regulations (for years, adoption had gotten out-of-hand in Guatemala, so much so that there were operations getting women pregnant in order to sell their children for over $40,000). The house is kept impeccably clean, they have to hire nannies (which is a ministry in itself – all the nannies that work there have become Christians since coming!), and they constantly work with the law, social workers and
psychologists. At any moment the judge could drop in unannounced for inspection, so they spend time every day in preparation while at the same time looking after kids. (I’m talking spring cleaning every week!)
psychologists. At any moment the judge could drop in unannounced for inspection, so they spend time every day in preparation while at the same time looking after kids. (I’m talking spring cleaning every week!)
Angela B. made an excellent point, “what if we spent that much time, put that much effort into being prepared for Christ’s coming?”
At first I wondered what we were doing serving at a home with only six kids (and seven of us). But looking back on it, I see…
-God opened my eyes to a different way to raise “orphans”. These kiddos are LOVED well, fed well, educated and invested in.
-I love Judith, Elma, Mildred, Diego, and Evelyn – the nannies and grounds worker. We cooked, shoveled, laughed, and danced together. I can honestly say we refreshed each other.
-Our team shoveled out a basketball court from the side of a mountain. And we were able to bless the family since we saved on other areas this month, with the cement to pave it. (That means YOU helped give these kiddos a basketball court! And I can tell you, at age 2 1/2 Danny is already an excellent athlete.)
-The days when one or two teammembers had to stay back for health reasons, bath time with three boys … well, lets just say that was a challenge. My appreciation and admiration has just increased 10-fold for mothers. Hats off to you!
-I got to witness a real-life Proverbs 31 woman. More on her in the next blog!
The video above was also part of our “blessing package” to the family. Sean leaves in a couple weeks to do fundraising in the States. We put together an updated promo video for him. Please pray for his travels. And our travels!
We leave for Honduras tomorrow!
