Searching For More [Than Just Toys]

I know I just posted a post yesterday, but, after what happened today, I had to share this:

I was outside chilling with Carlos and Jesús today, and, once again, I noticed a kid in the barranco (valley or ravine. It's where the people in this area throw their trash). This kid, however, seemed to be throwing bottles at someone. I thought he was trying to hit someone with them. Once he went down the ravine a bit, I walked over to it to see who else was down there.

He was with two other girls, whom I presumed were his sisters. Turns out, he was throwing the bottles to his older sister, who would inspect them, then toss them or keep them. It didn't look like she kept any of them, though. At one point, she smelled one of them. I really had no idea what they were doing. My mind went back to the day I met the one kid, Miguel (again, don't be confused with this Miguel). I thought that these kids were doing the same thing as him. After confirming with Carlos and Jesús about what the kids were doing, I felt the strongest pull to talk to them. I noticed that the oldest girl saw me looking at them, so I had to wait for the right moment to talk to them. Part of me didn't want to bother them, but I just kept saying to myself, "I have to talk to them, I have to talk to them..." Once I saw that they stopped and were talking to someone, I decided that I needed to go then. While I was walking to where the kids were, I asked for God to move me where He wanted me to go. Part of me expected God to stop me, only because I thought it was me wanting to talk to them. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not because of me that I'm here. It's because God gave me the heart, compassion, and the calling to help these kids.

As I got closer to them, I noticed that they had received a bag of rolls from the guy they talked to (I learned later that the guy they talked to worked at a rehab center. That's where he got the rolls from). As I got closer, I asked, "Wait, wait!" The three turned around and looked at me. "Why were looking in the trash over there?"
The oldest girl answered for the three of them, "We were looking for toys for her (referring to her little sister)." I thought to myself, That can't be true. They had to have been looking for something to sell or something like that. Even if that it was true, that's definitely not a good place to be looking for toys.
"Oh. What's your name?"
I can't remember the girls's names, but the boy's name is José. I can't remember the girl's names because they were names I hadn't heard before. I wanted to know their names, but, now thinking about it, I felt that might have been too forward. I don't know. I just wanted to help them.
"Oh, ok. Well, in the future, if you ever need help with anything, no matter what (I said this to show them that they wouldn't be a bother to me), I can help you. I live in the church over there, and, whenever you need to, come to the church, and we can help you."
"Ok, thank you."
She actually said something different, but then changed it to thank you. I'm not sure what it was, but I really hope it wasn't something like, "Yeah, right." For some reason, I feel that it was, but I really don't know.

As I walked away, I heard them say, "Hey, boy!" I turned around and went back to them. The older girl asked me if I could give her a dollar. She thought about what the word was in English, and then asked me. I guess she thought that I only had dollars since I was American. Oh, stereotypes. I'm not really sure why she said dollar in English when the word is the same in Spanish. She used the English pronunciation, too. Hmmm. I told her that I only had pesos and asked her what she needed them for. She said to buy two kilos of tortillas. I only had fifteen pesos on me that I could give to them, and  I told her about one of the stores that sells two kilos for eighteen pesos, which is pretty cheap (I accidentally said sixteen, though. I really hope everything went ok, still). She said that was fine, said thanks, and walked away.

I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. The older girl looked about 13 or 14, the boy was between 8 and 10, and the younger girl looked about 5. They all had ratted, dirty clothes. I knew that they had to be in the same situation as Miguel. About halfway back to the church, I froze. I just stood there as my eyes watered up. I couldn't get the thought out of my head that the only things they were possibly going to eat today were those rolls and some tortillas. I have no idea where they live or even if they have a place to live. I have no idea who their parents might be or if their parents even care about them. All I wanted to do in that moment was cry for them. I couldn't imagine living like that. Now, thinking about all of the times that I complained when I was younger about a certain food I don't like or a toy I didn't like, and my mom saying to me, "You better appreciate what you have. There's kids out there who don't have any of these things." Here they were. Right in front of me. And I talked to them. I just want to find them and bring them here to the church and help them with whatever they need. I want to be able to show them God's love and tell them how much God loves them and cares for them, truly. I want to let them know that there's more to live than what they're living.

Unfortunately, I can't hunt them down. I mean, I could walk up to every house and look for them, but then I'd probably get the cops called on me. Not about to let that happen. That's why there's such a great need for an orphanage in this area. There isn't one. The closest one that I know of is by the beach, and that's 40 minutes in a car, 1 1/2 hours by taxi, and I don't even know how long it would take to walk there. Pastor Elvis and I have been discussing it, and we are already making plans for an orphanage. Of course, it's just plans right now. We're looking to buy this one building two houses over from the church, plus adding two buildings like it to make the orphanage. Unfortunately, it costs a lot. We need your help:

1. Pray for us. A lot. Pray for God to bless us or send someone our way to bless us with what we need to start the orphanage. Pray that God continues to show us what we need to do to get it started. Pray that God opens the doors for us to get started.
2. If you can, donate. Anything is appreciated. Truly. We are starting a separate fund for just the orphanage. Anything that is donated for the orphanage will only go towards the orphanage.

Also, please, please pray for those kids. I truly cannot stop thinking about them. Pray that they actually come  to the church. I forgot to tell them about the program this Saturday (figures), but please pray that they somehow come to it. Pray that they come around here again so that I can tell them about it and help them more. More importantly, pray that they see that it's not me who's doing this. It's God who led me to do it. It's God who loves and cares so deeply for them. I do, too, but only because God has changed my heart, not me. Also pray that Miguel comes back around here, too. I've been saving bottles for him, and I have too many to fit in the bag. I need to give them to him. Also, I need to help him, too. All of these kids need God's amazing, indescribable love, and I won't stop until they all have it.

February 2013 Newsletter

Here's the newsletter for the church that I made! Unfortunately, it took me five hours to do. Hopefully, it won't take me that long to do the next one. EDIT: If you saw this already, I changed it so that it would fit on the blog page, plus, I fixed a couple typos.

Searching For More

About two days ago, I was chillin' with Carlos outside waiting for lunch to be ready. I think we might have been playing canicas or something. Anyway, once we finished a round of canicas, I looked up and saw a boy looking through the trash. He had a big bag with him, too. I remember seeing him the week before, but I think he might have been with someone, like a sister or something, so I didn't approach him before. Someone had told me that they were looking for bottles to sell. I thought maybe they were doing it for themselves to earn a quick buck, so that's the other reason I didn't approach him.

This time felt different.

I felt before that I should have approached him, but I thought that might have been my oh-look-a-kid-I-don't-know senses tingling, and that it was me that wanted to talk to him. I mean, of course I want to help all of the kids and get to know them all, but I didn't want to bother him and whoever was with him if it was just that. This time, I felt a strong pull to talk to him. God was telling me to. Estefani, Carlos's sister, was telling me that lunch was ready, but I didn't care. I was not about to put this off. I walked over to him and said, "Hey!"
He responded with a timid, "Hi."
"What are you doing?" I asked him, even though I was sure of what he was doing.
"Looking for bottles."
"Oh. Well, I don't think I have any to give you." I wanted to ask him why, but I didn't want to be too forward. "What's your name?"
"Miguel." (Don't be confused with the other Miguel. Many people here are named Miguel.)
"Nice to meet you. My name is Daniel. And, if you need something, I live in the church here, so, if you want, come to the church if you need something or help with something, ok?"
I'm not sure if he answered to me, but I think he might have just said ok. I then went to Carlos's house to eat lunch. Of course, I totally forgot to mention to Miguel about the kids' program the next day. Figures. Anyway, I told Carlos's dad about what happened, and he said that Miguel was just looking for bottles to sell. I knew that, but I told him that I felt something different, like there was more to the story.

Today, after discussing some things with Pastor Elvis, I mentioned this incident to him. He told me that whenever a kid does that, it's because his dad or mom told him to. Once the kid finds all the bottles he can carry, he brings them to his parent, the parent sells them, and then the parent uses that money for drugs or alcohol. I was a little set back when he said that. I had never really approached a kid who had been in that type of situation. If I had, I wasn't aware. Now, to know that this kid was probably lived this scenario gave me a deep compassion for him. Recalling the incident, I remember his pants and his shirt being dirty, and his face was dirty, too. No, it wasn't because kids just get dirty here. Yes, people are poor here, and kids do get dirty, but they normally stay clean and have clean clothes. He was neither clean nor had clean clothes. Plus, it was about 11 in the morning, so it was a bit early for a kid to have all of his clothes, plus his face, dirty. The point is, him being dirty didn't seem normal. I explained this to Pastor Elvis, and he told me that is why it would be great to have an orphanage here. Apparently, there's a lot more kids who live in that situation just around here. I have no idea how many more live that way in other areas. Thousands, possibly millions. Seriously. Last time I checked, there are 10 million orphans living in Mexico, and those are just the ones accounted for. A child is considered an orphan when one of their parents is dead, not both, so there are probably a lot more. Orphanages aren't only for orphans, though. They're also for abandoned or neglected children, which I feel Miguel is. Therefore, an orphanage here would be a great thing. The closest one in this area, that I know of, is about 40 minutes away in a car, an hour and a half/two hours by taxi, and I have no idea how long it would be to walk there. When we have one, it'll be close to the church here, which is great. Pastor Elvis and I are praying and planning this currently, but it's going to take a lot of praying and planning.

Please pray:

1) For a plan for the orphanage to come together at the right time.
2) For a building/land for the orphanage. We have one in mind, so pray that God will reveal to us if it's the right one. If not, then for God to show us another one.
3) For Miguel to come by here again. I feel dumb for not remembering to tell him about the program here, and I want to have the chance to invite him. Also, I know that he, in life, is searching for more than just bottles. He's searching for answers: Why he lives the way he lives. Why his parent(s) do what they do. If anyone really cares about him. If there's more to the life he's living.

Everyone thinks these things at one time or another. For that, they need to know that there is a loving, caring, merciful Heavenly Father who truly cares about their innermost being and only wants what's best for them. They need to know, as well, that God isn't doing this to them: it's Satan who's causing these things. They need to experience His amazing love and faithfulness and grace. Without Him, their lives are a complete mess, like a disassembled 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. But, with God, all the pieces come together. It takes time, but, once they learn how to put the pieces together, the mess is no more, but it's now a beautiful illustration of what God has done for them. Please join us in prayer, as we seek out the best plan to help kids like Miguel. Also, if you feel led to, donate to help start the orphanage. Unfortunately, these things cost money, as everything does, so we need all the financial help we can get. Make sure to clarify that it's meant to go towards the orphanage and not me, and I will make sure that it goes to the correct person for that. With all of your help, I know things will come together.

God's Got Bigger Plans

I've been back in Mexico for two weeks, and, man, has it been awesome. So much has happened in just these two weeks that if I were to type it all, no one would read it all, so I'm going to spare all the fine details.

None of the kids knew when I was coming back, so when I showed up, they were ecstatic. Well, most of them. Carlos, of course, was the most happy of them all. I got his reaction on video, which I'll be posting on my Facebook soon, and possibly on YouTube.

Me and Carlos wearing our Mexico soccer jerseys.
Trust me, he's happier than he looks.

The second day being back, I went over with pastor Elvis about everything I'll be doing, and I was really surprised at what he told me. I thought that I would just be helping out a lot more with the kids programs and stuff like that. Nope. I'm the kids' pastor. PASTOR. Never thought I'd be called that. Also, he wants me to be involved a lot more with the worship team. Before, I was just playing my acoustic and singing whenever they wanted me to. Now, Pastor Elvis wants me to start leading things with the worship team. Leading. Being the front man. Again, something else I've never considered myself. Although I haven't considered myself these things, I know I can do them. I have the ability to. I just need the courage, haha.

Ever since I've talked to Pastor Elvis, so many things have been running through my head: more ideas for the kids' program, another kids' service, starting a soccer team with the kids. I know that I need to take things one step at a time, but, now, I'm really excited to be pretty much in charge of the kids' program. I've been renovating things in the Saturday kids' program, such as adding Juegos Locos, which is pretty much like the games I did when I was at the Dallas Metro Dream Center, and adding the quiet seat prize, which will hopefully help keep the kids quiet during the lesson time. Hopefully. For example, if one of the teachers sees one of the kids being really quiet and paying really good attention, they'll get a ticket, and once they have enough tickets, they can get a prize. I think that's how it's going to work. I'm going to introduce it to them tomorrow, so, hopefully, it'll go over well. Also, Two days out of the week opened up, so, once I'm able to in the future, I'll do another kids' program in the evening on Wednesday and have soccer practice on Mondays. That'll give the kids things to do during the week so that they'll stay out of trouble and get more of Jesus, and more of Jesus is always a good thing.

We've also had two kids' programs so far. There were twenty-five kids at the first one and twenty-six at the second one. I was told that once I left, there were only ten kids that would come to the program. Now, it's doubled. Gloria a Dios. And I'm not going to stop there, either, haha. With the new things I've added to the program, I'm sure more kids will come, and that means more kids will receive Jesus. The best.

Anyway, that's enough for now. I'll be posting a lot of videos and possibly pictures on my Facebook, so look for those! Hopefully, I'll be getting better internet soon to do just that, haha.