So, after attempting to find what I needed, I really don't have the correct program to make my newsletter for February. I'm currently in Tennessee visiting my dad, which was all kind of last minute. Once I get back to Mexico, I will be sure to make a newsletter for the month of February. So, here's a blog update for the time being:
Back in November, I had the amazing opportunity to translate for Compassionate Touch International, as they were in Tijuana doing missions for the week. One of those days, we went to the Tecate garbage dump, where people live and work. A lot of these people are living there due to drugs, which they receive inside the dump. They don't really leave the dump because they are stuck in the cycle of getting money, spending it on drugs, needing money, working in the dump, over and over and over again. They usually begin to not care about their former lives, which usually grows to the point of not caring at all, putting their families to the side or even doing away with them all together. To them, drugs are all that matter, more than living in a nice place, having a career, and even more than their own kids.
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| Me with Compassionate Touch International |
We decided to change spots from in the village outside the dump to actually inside the dump after giving food out and talking with the people there for a bit. As we were getting ready to head inside, José and Ulises showed up. They are two little boys who live in the dump. I'm pretty sure José is six or seven, and Ulises is six. The clothes they had on were pretty dirty, and they were definitely in need of a good bath. I had been praying on the way to the dump that I would be able to help some kids there, and my prayer had been answered. José had asked me, "Could we have some food?" Of course, I told him yes and began to do whatever I could to get some food for these kids. After getting them some posole, I had began talking with them. After learning their names and seeing who could jump on one foot the longest, the group was telling me that it was time to head on in the dump. As I got in the van, I looked out and told José and Ulises, "I'm coming back. Don't ever forget about God, ok?"
That night, we had a group meeting, and, just like in every meeting, we shared our testimonies from the day. It was my turn, and I shared this experience with the group. I also told them of a "vision" I had a long while back:
I was out in a field, running with two kids. One was a girl, about seven to nine years old, and the other was a boy, about two to four years old, which I was carrying in my arms. We seemed to have been running from something. We would occasionally look back, then keep running. It seemed as if I was helping them escape or rescuing them.
I had told the group about how I thought that these kids might be those kids that I would be rescuing. I told the group that I had told José and Ulises that I would be back. Then I cried for a long time. The only thing that I had on my mind in that moment was how I didn't want them living the life that they were living anymore. I could possibly help them have that stable life that they needed. I wanted to get them out of there. After that night, I felt it so heavy on my heart to help those kids. I prayed, "God, please get me back there. I have to help them."
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| Playing some Jesus music! |
Fast forward to last January. I went with some people and a few kids from the church who wanted to help back to the dump. I had been praying for God to give me the opportunity to go back and to be able to see José and Ulises. Sure enough, after being there a few minutes, I see José with a few kids coming over to where we are. I walk over to him, point at him, and say, "I know you! José, right?" He nods, then says, "He knows me!" I hung out with him, Ulises, and all of the kids that live there and got to know them so much better. After that day, God placed it on my heart to not only just go every once in a while, but to go weekly to help the kids. Hooking up with La Roca, the ministry who is starting a church there, I've been going every Thursday that I can to help the kids study, play some music, build their trust, and really just help out in whatever way possible. I'm also trying my best to get to know the situations of the kids, as well, which aren't very pretty:
- José lives with his grandma, which is Ulises's mom. José's dad is in jail, to which he has no idea why, and his mom lives in a tent on the other side of the dump, who José doesn't see much. José has a thirteen year-old brother, Hector, who is always running around doing whatever and, for some reason, does not live with him. Ulises has three other younger sisters who never seem to be clean. His mom/José's grandma never seems to be around watching them. Ulises's dad apparently lives in another house there, but I don't think Ulises is really too sure.
- Esteban and Gabriel, two other brothers that live there. are eight and seven(?) respectively. Their mom gave them up completely to their grandparents due to drugs. I have no idea if there is a father present. Looking on the situation, I don't believe so.
- Sebastian, another boy, is eight I believe. I don't know with whom he lives with.
- Angel, another boy, is around six or seven, and I also do not know with whom he lives with.
- Naun, another 13 year old boy, is always running around with José's older brother, Hector. I also am unsure where he resides.
All of these kids go to school now, thanks to La Roca for taking them there. Well, all except for Esteban, Hector, and Naun. Esteban said he's going to go soon, but Hector and Naun want nothing to do with school. I'm praying that they will change their minds. José is currently struggling a lot in school, due to not ever going to school and not really having a well-structured life. He has a really hard time staying focused. Someone has to be there with him, telling him constantly to pay attention and to do his work. If not, he gets distracted and doesn't do his work. Profesor Nacho, one of the staff from La Roca, has been helping them study, but he tends to get really impatient with the kids and yells at them, which I feel is affecting their drive to learn. The kids really are smart, but they just don't know how to use their intelligence for important things, like math and reading. I'm praying that God will continue to use me to help these kids learn and also be able to show them God's true love in the best ways possible. I'm also praying that God will show them their true worth and value in Him, whether it be through me or one of the staff at La Roca, and that they are truly loved and have a place in this world, no matter what they are going through.
I've realized now that the "vision" I had wasn't talking about physically rescuing kids, but emotionally and spiritually helping them escape from the troubles and temptations of this life and bringing them to the only true safe-haven, which is only found in Jesus Christ.
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(Left to right) Me with Gabriel, Jesusa (who doesn't live there),
Ulises, Sebastian, Esteban, and José.
Brayan, who is kneeling in front, and the other adults and kids
there came with me to help out.
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Please pray for all the kids, the people from La Roca who help these kids, and myself, as I begin this new, amazing chapter of my life reaching out to those that other people would just normally pass by.
