July 2009

July 2009

Dear Friends,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

It seems everywhere you go you see and hear of families fighting and being torn apart. People don’t know how to get along with others and were never really taught in the first place.

The other day, I was in the grocery store with the kids, as I am very often! A lady turned to me and said, “Oh you have so many children, I guess they fight all the time.” Ruth our ten year old, who was standing by me, responded to the lady, “No ma’am, we love each other.” The lady seemed surprised by Ruth’s response! She said, “Well I fought with my brothers growing up all the time, and we still fight.” Ruth’s eyes got big. She felt very sad for the lady.

My mother used to say to me and my brothers, “You have no choice in the matter; you have to learn to get along!” So I grew up learning love wasn’t a choice; it was a decision to make. Having all kinds of children with different personalities can make it challenging for everyone to get along. God puts people in our lives that challenge us and make us grow.

One of our boys struggles with getting along with others. He is full of energy! He moves so quickly and is so focused on what he wants that he runs over everyone else in the process. He has a big heart, but we have to challenge him every day to slow down and think of others. We have seen good changes in him as he learns it isn’t all about him!

Enrique’s mother, Ana, is a great example of someone who knows how to love and serve others. She has such a joyful heart. I have never met anyone who didn’t love being with her. She is a big part of the ministry. Without her, we couldn’t make it! Her desire is to be with us and help all the children—the ones we have now and the children we will have in the future.

This has been a very busy time for us meeting with architects and all the planning that goes into building the children’s homes. Ana is always available to step in and take over while Enrique and I are in meetings. We are praying that she too can have a small home right on the land where the children’s homes will be built. It would also be a place where guest could come and stay when visiting the children. Please pray with us that we can provide a place for her to live close to all the children. She is such a vital part of what we are doing. We know she will be a blessing to many people in the future.

We have faced many challenges in the building project. We recently found that the land is very soft, and we will have to build a much stronger foundation to build the first home. This costs more money and has been a challenge for the builders. We have a wonderful architect and builder! Please pray for them! They are trying to keep our cost down and are very interested in helping children too. We are working hard, and although things can get frustrating, we are moving ahead!

We are excited about what God is doing! We see Him opening many doors to reach out to children and families in need. When we reach out to the unlovely and unlovable that is when our love is truly tested, and God’s love shines through! I am so glad my mother taught me how to get along with others and didn’t give us a choice! I learned to get along with my brothers at an early age—I love them dearly and they are now two of my very best friends!

Please pray for energy and guidance to do all that is before us. We love and appreciate you!

Love,

Enrique and Charlyn Mejia