Pounding rain, visibility next to nothing, soaked to the skin. That was Saturday.
Guess which day was the long-awaited dedication of the nursery at the Door of Faith Orphange?
Something like a hundred hardy souls showed up at La Mision B.C. on Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the new nursery. Cold and wet on the outside, but warm and fulfilled on the inside.
Most of the volunteers who have been laboring over the past months and years come from Strong Tower Ministries, headquartered in Orange County, 80 miles or so north of Chula Vista.
Saturday morning was a distribution time for Hilarious Givers. Before heading south, we distributed six pallets of nutrition to missions from our Miramar warehouse. Then we loaded up our truck with food and set off for La Mision. It soon became apparent that we would never get to the Door of Faith Orphanage in time for the grand opening - the rain was falling in deluges. Traffic on the U.S. side was being slowed to a crawl in some places - when I passed the third spin-out accident, this one involving a jacknifed big rig, we decided that tomorrow would be early enough.
So Sunday, right after church, we headed south. It turns out that while crossing the border is relatively pain-free on Saturdays and weekdays, Sundays are a different matter. The Mexican authorities don't staff the inspection station as fully on Sundays, so folks with donations aren't allowed the courtesy that they enjoy the rest of the week. A couple of harried inspectors, while polite and deferential, were unloading everything to check for contraband. The export documents we had carefully FAX'd on Friday helped not at all. So we waited.
And waited.
An hour and a half later, we were back on the road. The drive down the coast was beautiful. The surf was up, traffic light, and the company was great. There's something wonderful about being in a small 4-wheeled metal container with your best friend for an hour or so, listening to music, enjoying the scenery and just being together.
Then off the new road, on to the old highway for a few miles, then off the old highway . . . .
. . for a mile or so to the Door of Faith Orphange.
Hearing the laughter of the kids, seeing them care-free and playing in a loving and safe environment made the trip worthwhile. We arrived just in time for the evening meal.
It's easy to forget that each of these precious kids had endured some personal tragedy early in their lives. Some have lost both parents, so are truly orphans. Some have been placed with Door of Faith because their parents were not able to provide for them, so were forced to abandon their son or daughter. Still others have been rescued from abusive homes. But each is now safe, secure and cared for in a loving environment.
And now, there is a magnificent new nursery - a place to care for the most vulnerable of these beautiful kids. And what a nursery it is!
Congratulations to the Strong Tower Ministries crew and to all who gave freely of the time and treasure over the months to make this happen.
It is truly humbling to be a small part of this blessed ministry. The Door of Faith Orphanage is one of dozens that Hilarious Givers is privileged to support with its feeding ministry.
We took some time to tour the grounds, play with some of the kids and get to know a recent addition to the staff, Becca. Then, with the sun setting, it was time to head back north. But not before stopping for tacos and tortas!
The drive home through the gentle Mexican night was a time to reflect upon the events of the day. What greater sense of accomplishment can there be than this - reaching out to influence young lives? We give so little, they need so much, and we take away so much more than we give.
Then, sooner than we want, we're back to reality. Waiting in line at the garrita to get back to the U.S. Not so long this evening.
Then, the 20 minute drive home. Two different worlds. So far apart, and yet so near.
You, our supporters, make all of this possible. Without your generosity, your volunteer time, your prayers, without your encouragement - none of this would be possible. And Debra and I would be another ageing suburban couple watching television on Sunday afternoon. And kids would go to bed hungry.
Please, take a few moments to visit our website and learn more about our mission. Put yourself on our mailing list so we can keep you up-to-date. Pray for us, send an e-mail of encouragement. Or make a tax-deductible donation to help sustain us. It doesn't cost much to support our food outreach - a couple of dollars per month per child fed. But it does cost something, and you can help.
