Orphanage makes ABC News in El Paso

[HangingInThere]

The orphanage that my family has been helping build in Mexico made ABC News on channel 7 in El Paso. The video clip will only be available for 5 days: http://www.kvia.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4159551&h1=Ministry%20working%20to%20build%20orphanage%20i n%20Juarez&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=104133&LaunchPageAdTag=Search

Way cool!!

[Mdreese]

You must be very proud of the work they are doing. Congrats on the recognition.

[HangingInThere]

It has been under construction for 15 years... It needs to get done so the children can occupy. The housing unit is 90% completed, but it needs a cafeteria for the children to be able to come home. Hopefully, this sort of recognition will inspire others to come alongside so it can get done.

The orphanage has been granted the heretofore unprecedented privilege to put the children up for International adoptions.

One of the men in my Bible study group had tried for over 5 years to adopt here in the US. Another paid a king's ransom to adopt from Russia. Tapestries is only looking to cover costs once up and running...

As the older brother of two adopted sisters, I can totally vouch for how the ability to adopt completed our family (my mother suffered 5 miscarriages and lost another shortly after carrying to term).

[Bill Archibald]

:2thumbs: :toast: :thumbup: :tiphat:

You're a good man Glenn who does God's good work

:notworthy:

[HangingInThere]

The rooms are all "themed" rather than numbered. I've been mulling over how to incorporate some wallcoverings into the mix. I've been paying special attention to the threads involving block walls...as they are all block...

Any hangers interested in adding tile setting to their repertoire?? ;)

[Mdreese]

Man it's too bad I'm so pay check to pay check I'd be all over this. I only wish I could contribute to what is so obviously Gods work. Bless you.

[HangingInThere]

You kinda got this sprung on you.... ;) There are groups that come down annually, or semi-annually, from Pennsylvania, perhaps from your area. Group purchasing of airfares helps. Also, if joining a group already coming down of 10 or more I believe there's a discount on the stipend given to the orphange that covers food, transportation, and the building materials used during your week there.

What I've done with my men's Bible study group, or friends I know who simply cannot go, is put the word out for anyone who might want to partner with me. When the glass for the atrium came in my glazer buddy and I needed to get down and do the install. I didn't have the funds at the time so I put the word out. Just as the story of the orphanage has touched your heart...it affects others for whom you can offer to be their hands and feet.

Minnesota sends down two back-to-back groups in January...every denomination under the sun :) I remember the first time I was down there in October of 2004. There were folks from all over the US. This was a more specialized group due to the nature of the work we were going to undertake, putting the trusses and roof decking into place. Many were professional carpenters who were there by Divine appointment for this particular task, many of whom I have not encountered again in my numerous trips back.

The group that October week was over 60 strong. At dinner during our Saturday evening orientation the missionary asked each one where they were from and which church they represented. Man, it was every denomination I knew and then some. After everyone spoke he then read James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

The missionary then asked us if we would be willing this week to set our theological differences aside and focus on pursuing the Heart of the Father which is to protect orphans? Suddenly, any reservations of being deemed a "religious zealot" took on new meaning as taking care of orphans took center stage. :2thumbs:

I digress...Many of the groups that show up wind up being quite eclectic in church association. As mentioned in the ABC News 7 story the group that week was comprised of folks from Michigan and Chicago. I've gone down independently and just made myself at home with whoever happened to be there that week.

Again, bless your tender heart! If God has indeed stirred something within you to join in, don't fret the details. If you put the word out that you'd like to do something for orphans I believe doors will begin to open. Come on down and join us on the beach in Mexico...no water...but there is a lot of beach, in the desert. :D

My avatar is a miniature of the Google Earth aerial. Here's the same from Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.338351,-106.11892&z=15&t=h&hl=en

[Lillian]

Praise God, That is so exciting..I'm going to pass your note to the group I work with here in Nashville. It is called BOTH HANDS.. One helps the widows and the other helps the orphans. I did some work for them a few months ago and fell in love with their ministry..
Thanks for sharing.
Lillian

[HangingInThere]

Wow Lillian...thank you! Thank you also for your tender heart. The word really does need to get out so this thing can get up and running. There's something about the vulnerability of orphans and widows that really pulls at people's heart strings...and so it should! ;) From James 1:27 it is definitely high on the Father's list of priorities...

What I find to be really cool about this particular ministry is how close to us it really is. All this is happening about 15 miles, as the crow flies, across the border. I mean, it's right on our doorstep.

Flights to El Paso from Minneapolis are usually under $300.00 round trip. If I book for just myself more than 2 weeks out, I've been able to lock in for $240.00 or there abouts.

Here's a thread with some pictures taken a couple years ago...they are pretty cool...literally: http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=54041&highlight=orphanage

The January with the 6" of snow in the desert turned out to be a tear jerker for me. While in Juarez at the Mercado (mercantile) at an outdoor cafe, I young boy was tapping my elbow asking for a dollar. It was cold so I asked him if he would like a hot chocolate? Si senor... My wife and I went into the mercantile and when we came back out the young boy was sitting with his hot chocolate at a table, along with a young girl also drinking a hot chocolate. The missionary's wife told my wife and me that they were brother and sister and lived on the streets in Juarez...and that if the orphanage was open...they'd be there. That was about as real as it gets! You know, you see the video on TV of poverty and the dumps...but hey, that's happening in another galaxy. This was up close and personal, they were maybe 7 and 9 years old...

It needs to get done...

I just couldn't pass it up...here's the desert...just the way we Minnesotans like it... :rolleyes:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/Whyzman/IMG_49052.jpg

[HangingInThere]

The 6" of snow is just too bizarre! In case some don't follow my link to the other photos...here's my snow follow up...and, you could be seeing some of these in real time if you join us and take a vacation with a purpose! ;)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/Whyzman/IMG_2152.jpg