Life-Changing (Juarez, Mexico)
missheather April 11th, 2008
Hey all!
I never realized how difficult it is to put a life-changing experience into words. I’ve had millions (exaggerating a little) of thoughts running through my mind for the last 2 weeks and I can’t seem to focus on only one at a time. For this reason, it has taken me a little while to get this “update” to you all. 
First of all, the scripture that continued to come to my mind during the week we were in Mexico is:
“Love never fails” [1 Cor 13]
It was neat to see the Love of Christ cross every cultural/language “barrier”. I don’t know any Spanish and the Mexicans we met didn’t know much/if any English. However, it didn’t affect my friendships.
I met a sweet, little six year-old boy named Sammy. He was either on my back (piggyback ride), in my arms, sitting on my lap or holding my hand. I taught him a goofy handshake/hi-five, which we did the entire week! It was a blast! I really love this little boy! His smile/laughter melted my heart. We also made many silly faces at each other.
In Juarez, we stayed at an orphanage (where Sammy’s family actually runs the orphanage/school). We painted the ceilings and walls of the orphanage. It was a lot of work, but it blessed our host family and the children a lot. It was a lot of fun doing something significant with my “spring break.” Our “host” parents, Sean and Juanita, were very humble and loving. The orphanage actually used to be their house. They built two separate buildings in the back courtyard for their home and the other building is now the orphanage. They would give anything and everything to help one of the parents or children at the orphanage.
A few of us (Greg, Erin and I) from our team were able to go and visit two of the houses of the children. The mom of the first family we visited has leukemia. She was at the doctor when we showed up to pray for her. Her four children and husband were all at home. He works night shifts and so he was home with the kids.
When we arrived, he was very quiet and his eyes were glazed over. He’s heavily into drugs and alcohol. Typically, the houses are built of cement/brick and have a wooden roof. It reminds me of a small shack. The houses reminded me of my family’s old “woodshed” where we kept our “firewood.” They are not very sturdy or dependable. Many leak when it rains and look like they are about to topple over. They have a barricade surrounding their property. This includes metal fences or wooden boards made of different lengths.
Each family we visited immediately offered us their beds to sit down on when we entered their home. There is barely enough space to walk around their small table. At the first home, Sean and Juanita offered to pray for the father since the mom was not home. We prayed for him and their family, and then Juanita began to speak boldly to the father. She spoke directly to him regarding this lifestyle. At first, he wouldn’t look her in the eyes, but soon, he began to look at her and nod his head. Even though I couldn’t understand her, I sensed the Lord was speaking through her. What Juanita spoke was not condemning, but done out of love. Even now, as I remember this instance, I sense how much this couple (Sean and Juanita) love these families.
“Love never fails.”
A reality that Sean and Juanita deal with, because they are obedient to advance the Kingdom, is spiritual warfare/attacks. It isn’t uncommon for someone to threaten Sean with a gun. While we were there, he woke up in the middle of the night feeling as if he was being choked. He and Juanita stayed up the rest of the night praying. They are real prayer warriors. Sean (the next day) was on his way home. Suddenly, got a headache and was feeling very dizzy and weak. We (our team) prayed for him right away. By the end, his headache and dizziness was gone.
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