This is the family they know – 25 brothers
and sisters, 4 tias/aunts (girls in their 20s who stay with the kids and help
with discipline, homework, keeping things running smoothly), 3 kitchen workers,
Helen (the director). As for male figures at the orphanage, there are workers
in their 20s who are here during the day working on construction. Helen
envisions having 8 houses built, each housing 8 children and a married couple
so that the children can grow up with more of a family figure. “They really need
to be adopted,” says Helen. It struck me when she said this because, while it
seems like an obvious statement, being here makes this seem like a normal way
of life, and why would you want to take the kids away from such a good thing.
But the truth is, they do need to know what a family structure looks like.
The
orphanage is very well run- breakfast every morning at 630, young ones go to
school while the older ones work on chores, lunch, then they switch (older kids
to school and younger kids do chores and homework), dinner, play time and bed.
Their chores are never ending…hand washing laundry, sweeping leaves, washing
floors, cleaning the kitchen, hosing down dirt paths to keep the dust down,
etc. Some of the chores are more for the discipline than because the job
actually needs done every day. The kids know what is expected of them and go
about their duties without any complaining (for the most part). Karina (6yrs)
is the baby, and the oldest kids are around 22.
They are all very involved in the church, which is very alive and
active. Services last at least 2 ½ hours- starting with an awesome time of
prayer and praise (singing with dancing and flags- a beautiful picture of our
freedom in Christ). For every activity that we’ve had, there has been a great
turnout! The church has about 150 regular attenders, and at our last outreach-
prayer walking through Escopula- about 80 came to pray! I am so encouraged by
their love for God, their people, and their faithfulness! Only the orphanage
has vehicles, so they all either walk or ride bikes, some great distances (like
an hour) to come! Wow! It made me think of the USA, and how it’s so hard to get
people to participate because we are so busy with things that don’t even
matter! Here, their first priority is Jesus Christ and their church, and you
can see the fruits and how God blesses their devotion!
This church is such a great example to us of how the body of Christ
should look…starting with leadership all the way down. Pastor Miguel and his
wife Ruth are very involved, always in prayer, outstretched arms, full of love
and joy. Much is expected of the members- they follow the 12 disciples model of
Jesus. Miguel disciples 12, and the vision is for each member to be a leader of
12 and so on. There are currently 17 cell groups. Each leader first goes
through 3 training sessions. Each group follows a similar structure and
discusses the sermon more in depth and applications from it.
We
are going in to 4 of the neighboring towns- before each outreach, we spend 2 days
in prayer and evangelism- covering the area and dedicating it to the Lord,
walking through the streets declaring freedom and claiming it as the Lord’s
ground. God is blessing the outreaches- people have realized their need for
Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him, and because the church body is so
involved the new people the Lord is bringing in get connected with the church.
