Day Three - Hope!

After arriving a little bit later to the orphanage today and eating lunch, we jumped right in to making beaded bracelets and necklaces with the kids.  It rained on and off all day so most of our time was spent inside. 

         

                       

Ryan got the most bracelets made for him by the children!

We alternated back and forth between playing with the kids and working on the mural in the main room.  Ryan painted the mural last year but due to some moisture issues the paint was peeling.  We all helped but it was mainly the guys (Ryan, Robby, Matthew and Joe) who stripped and scraped the paint from the wall, which took most of the day, but they were also able to lay a base coat for what will display a "hand print" tree.  The Meck team and all of the children will put their hand prints on the tree for leaves and each new child that comes into the orphanage will be able to add their hand as well.  Ryan refers to it as a growing mural.

Before

Wall scraped, stripped and painting begun!

While the painting was taking place, other members of the team played musical chairs and colored, as well as decorated fabric bags for the kids bibles.

We also were able to lead a Hora Feliz (happy hour) bible lesson on Jericho.  The kids made shields and blew kazoos as they marched around the city.

The highlight of the day was the dinner we were invited to eat with the staff.  We normally leave the orphanage by 4 and eat dinner on our own.  Tonight was a special occasion as all of the staff came to eat homemade, fantastic pizza with us.  We asked if we could serve them, as they have been serving us all week long.  They are an incredible group of women and serving them pizza is the least we can do!

Romans 15: 4-5

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,"

It's difficult to comprehend the lives that these children have experienced in their small amount of years.  But it's even more difficult to understand their happiness, their laughter, their hope in the midst of it all.  

Then you consider that scripture.  Endurance, encouragement, Christ-like attitude.  All values being lavished upon these children.  The women of the orphanage have hope, so the children do too.  

It's what we learned in our morning devotional Ryan led today, and it's what we learned in the video presented to us by the staff after dinner tonight.  The stories of these children.  Violence, abuse, abandonment, neglect.  One would think the opposite of hope.  The children think differently.  In the chaos of their worlds, they smile, they endure, they strive towards Jesus.  And we're learning to do the same.

Invasion del amor de Dios

Juan and Maitena. Ezekiel and Carlos.

Just four children of many to come through the doors of Puerta del Cielo.  Their stories?  Unlike any other.

Juan and Maitena(not pictured for privacy) were each sold by their parents.  Juan exchanged for a motorcycle and Maitena for money. The police were alerted and the children were removed.

Ezekiel and Carlos, brothers, and victims of severe abuse and neglect. Beyond what you'd ever want to imagine. Also removed from their homes by the police.

Enter Puerta del Cielo and the founders, Omar and Liliana.

"Invasion del amor de Dios" is translated invasion of God’s love.  Love for people, for children and love for God pours from Omar's and Liliana's hearts and into the lives of everyone they meet.  It’s contagious and overwhelming and soul filling. 

Liliana and Omar met when they were 19, at seminary.  Together they founded Puerta del Cielo orphanage as well as a local church.  They've been married 38 years and through their time they have witnessed first-hand the providence, guidance and miracles of God.  Their orphanage has changed countless lives and effected generations of Argentinians. Their church has blossomed from one building beginning 24 years ago, to 4 additional locations totaling approximately 1200 regular attenders, as well as the orphanage.  Ten minutes with this couple will change your life and today we had the honor of visiting each of their church locations and learning their story and the stories of those they've changed.

Each pastor of their respective location greeted us at the door.  We were able to speak with them about their congregation and their needs.  When asked how they became pastors each responded with stories of redemption stemming from Omar’s and Liliana’s dedication to delivering the gospel and helping those most in need.  They attended seminary (also founded and run by Omar and Liliana) and now pastor their own 

location.

This couple, they invade. Their church invades.  All in the name of God’s love.

And you, you help make it possible.  Meck’s regular donations enable them to provide for an entire community of people and the littlest of them too.  

On the wall of the very first church Liliana and Omar opened, is a verse, Mark 5:36, the one Liliana read the moment before they purchased the property they would eventually build on.  It reads  “No Fear, Only Believe.”

Liliana and Omar are instilling this into Juan, Maitena, Ezekiel and Carlos and every other child to cross their path.  Fear has no place when you believe in THE Light.   Omar and Liliana and the staff at the orphanage are living, breathing examples of what it means to be Jesus’ hands and feet. We are completely humbled to even experience a taste of this kind of selfless love.  

Day Two!

After a restful night and an encouraging morning devotional we trekked to Puerta del Cielo for our second day.  We arrived with luggage galore, filled to the brim with donated clothes and shoes.

And the way that the children greet us, it's undeniably one of the best parts of the day.  They cannot wait for us to get through the gate!

After hugs and plenty of besos, we got straight to the important things!  Chalk, bubbles, soccer, dancing and more hugs!

           

Meanwhile, the staff and Alexis organized our supplies and got us all started on our projects for the day.

We painted

We cut out new leaves for the tree mural on their wall

We organized the donations and prepared to give them to the kids

And we played some more!

Finally, the time had arrived for us to pass out the goodies!  The kids were so very excited and had waited patiently for this moment.  Each child had a bag with their name on it and in each bag was a new outfit, shoes, socks and underwear.  It's not often they get something of their very own and when they do it's very special!  Thank you for giving, for loving these kids through your donations.