"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him"

Oh, that we could get a glimpse of the angels surrounding this place! We do see the effects of the presence of God~ Praise His name!

After lunch today I was in the kitchen making a grocery list when some of the children rushed in saying that there's a helicopter flying really low back by the border. I thought it nothing since we often see helicopters patrolling the border. After a bit, more and more people were back at the fence and I saw Lorne went out too. I walked out and saw that indeed there was a very low flying machine. There were some vehicles on the ground and the helicopter had landed several times, some people got out and they heard gunshots. Whoa! What is this!

Regina Miller needed to go to Greivin's to catch her ride to the airport so Marcela and several girls left to take her. They didn't get very far until this helicopter was flying right overhead and following them! They drove in at Greivin's and it followed them there and circled the place there. The boys from here were at Greivin's swimming and saw the men in the helicopter as it circled over them. They said they waved at them but had no idea what was going on.

As soon as the van was back here the helicopter flew up and hovered very low behind the house, flew over the house back and forth then out back again towards the border. There was a man pointing a gun out the bottom of the helicopter. The helicopter didn't have any logo so we didn't know with what it was associated.

We called the police to report the activity going on here. They said they are aware that there is activity out here and are working on it. We knew that this is a busy area for border crossers and for drug traffic so weren't sure what the war was about. We gathered the children inside and had a prayer meeting asking God for His divine protection.

After flying back and forth numerous times the helicopter left again and soon we saw a Federal Police truck go by, then watched again as there was more activity out back. We had seen other people walking around back there and now the police were with this group.

Soon there was a group that came walking up the road from back there. They stopped and talked to a Mexican man that's working out front on our fence. They told him that they were trying to cross the border but the police sent them back because of a drug war going on back there!

The police continued to move about back there as if continuing to search for something. But soon they got onto the truck again and came this way. Would they stop?? Sure enough! They drove right on up to the house and soon we had police staked about with machine guns. They wanted to know what is this place. Are we Mexicans? Do we help immigrants? It appears to be a rich place here in the middle of nowhere... what is it?

After we explained that we are a children's home, they asked to look around. We called the children to come in from behind the house and welcomed the police to come in. We gave them water to drink and they were very happy to see the children and visit with them.

Well, what do you know! 2 of these men were in the helicopter and had been the ones flying overhead here and trying to see what was here. They had seen the boys swimming too. It seemed that they were definitely searching for people, but they didn't really give us a clear explanation of what was happening out back. They did want to know if we have information about a vehicle that sits back there. After talking a bit with us they were almost apologetic for the disturbance to us and were quite friendly and very respectful of the work here. They then went on their way again and we commenced to piece the bits of the puzzle together.

How many times does danger surround us and we have no idea? How many times has God delivered us and we were unaware? God's protection is the best security system we could possibly want!

The group of border runners returning to their homeland.

Thank You God for Friends!

Yesterday morning Lorne received a text from Curtis Martin, (from CA) saying that he is on his way to the home with his parents and Darvin Weaver's from PA. Lorne & I exclaimed over the name and wondered if it could really be the same Darvin's that we know. But how could that be? How would they know Isaac's?

Several hours later they arrived and sure enough, Darvin & Sheryl and their family were with Isaac's & Curtis!! What a wonderful surprise! We had such a refreshing visit with them! It was encouraging to see how God has worked in their lives and such a blessing to us to have them come. They spent time touring the home and seeing the work here and also joined us for lunch.

They are on a western trip with their family and had known Isaac's from when Isaac's lived in PA so made that one of their stops. Then Curtis talked them into coming down here. We realized that they had to sacrifice of their other sightseeing plans to spend the day coming here and felt all the more blessed and so appreciated the gift that they gave of their time.

On Monday, we celebrated Tania's first birthday. Our family gave her a doll and how she loved it. She gave it kisses, but was even happier to suck on the bottle and sipper cup that came with it! How we love this little princess that came into our lives about eight months ago! And lookingback at how she was when she first came here - God truly is amazing. She has come from beingababy dealing with drug withdrawl (from her mother) and undernourished to a healthy, happy baby.

the day she came...

1 year old...

and a few random pics...

..talking on the phone

The other day Lorne came in with these two hanging on to him. The boy on the far side (Alfredo) said they were mops =)

Have a wonderful week!

-Gina

Today there is great rejoicing!

We had a very special day today here at the home! Rocio, Karla & Ana were baptized. Their testimonies are so sincere as they testify to God's work in their lives. Corey Yoder had the message and brought out the beauty of the fact that even though these girls have known pain like no child should have to know; even though they haven't known the love of an earthly family as God created it to be, now they are part of the family of God and have a Father whose love is so great we can never even comprehend the fullness of it. A Father who will never forsake us or reject us as long as we are living in His will! What a wonderful salvation we have! What an awesome Father who also will direct our days and who never allows anything to happen to us that hasn't been approved by Him!

On Friday, Lorne & the board had a meeting with our lawyer about the situation here. Wow! God is so good! And as I say that, I know that if the outcome would be worse God would still be good. So, with gratefulness we say God is so good and we know this is His work here because He is making a way for the work to continue!

The lawyer explained what we need to do to move forward in a legal way. There are some changes to make in details here but nothing huge or highly difficult. One huge answer to prayer is that our workers get to stay! They will allow us to get the legal papers for the workers we have. We will need to get in more Mexican workers to be legal but God will provide those details and we are just more than content to rest with that assurance. He's done so many wonderful things with this situation and has done far above what we were able to ask or think. So many things have been changed for the better. So many 'maybe's and 'what if's that were changed. We just stand in awe!

Tomorrow Lorne travels with the board to Sinaloa, MX to interview some people there from Marcela's church in regards to possibly coming to work here. Pray for them as they fly and also for wisdom as they seek God's will in making decisions. They plan to return again on Tues. pm.

And, now I'll just add some random pics...

Fun times!

Buddies!

She crawled up there herself and was quite proud of it!

Social hour tonight :)

A day at the home!

And we hope not one that is repeated any time soon! On Monday DIF called to ask if we'd take a 13 yr old girl from the streets without family. We talked with Marcela, since she would be the caregiver, and she was eager to try to give the girl a chance. When we called them back they said they won't bring her after all because she's so rebellious and threatening escape. Wow! So we thought it good. A bit later they called again and asked would we take her for just a day or two until they find a place for her. Again we felt like it could be an opportunity to show someone God's love and said we would let her come.
They brought her yet on Monday and she was crying when she came. We took her to her room and helped her get changed and settled and soon she was ready to come for supper. She was visiting with some of the others and seemed like 'so far so good'. During story the tears started again. She seemed so sad! We didn't sense any rebellion, only sadness. She kept saying she has a family and wants to go to her home. According to the papers that came with her she had some alcohol and drug usage earlier and it seemed her mind wasn't totally clear.
Yesterday she didn't want any breakfast, nor lunch. The crying was pretty much constant and it seemed she was getting sick from her disturbed emotional state. She talked to several of the girls trying to convince them to escape with her. They told Marcela right away. We called DIF and they said they'll come today to get her. After that she seemed to cheer up some. She came out for supper and story and went to bed fairly early.
Today again she refused to eat and again talked of escaping when she wasn't in her room crying or sleeping. Around 2:00 Lorne was in front of the house and saw her running along the east fence toward the road. He called for Marcela and they quickly went with the van to the road. She had already crossed the road and went running down the mountain through the bushes! They parked the van and took off on foot to follow her. It wasn't long before they saw her and caught up with her. She wailed and begged them to take her to her house. They tried to lift her but couldn't so Marcela came back for Gideon and him and I went out to help. Lorne and Gideon then lifted her and helped her back up through the bushes to the house.
We called DIF and they said we could bring her back in if we want. So Lorne, Marcela and I took her to Tecate. She was so happy to be going as she thought surely if she talks to them they'll take her back to her family. The poor girl was SO needy!
As for the rest of us, with great relief we returned home to the calmness of the children here! No, they're not all so calm but just now it seems so!
As for our family, last week Dustin had a hayfever/allergy attack when he was out in the hay barn. I was out of his one allergy med and it seemed he had a hard time getting better. Then on Monday afternoon he started with fever and his chest was hurting along with having some difficulty breathing. I gave some strong natural antibiotics that I have and some other respiratory meds. That evening he just kept getting worse and couldn't sleep much because of his labored breathing. We put a humidifier tent over him and had him propped on pillows to try to help him rest. Being here far from a dr. makes you realize the helplessness of we as humans. But, Praise God we have a Master Physician always here to help us when we ask. I didn't sleep for quite a while but then realized that I needed to trust more. We had prayed and I needed to leave him in God's hands and try to rest. He was resting better and I went to bed, checked on him several times later, but he slept all night. Again, Praise God!
He still had some fever today but he's been getting better every day. Yesterday he asked me, "Mom, what else can I take to help me get better?" So I named a few more herbs and he was on it. Then today whenever he checked his temp and had fever he'd take more vit. c then in a bit check it again. He's pretty tired of being cooped up!
There's been more to life here the last while too, but lest you tire I'll wait for another time for more.
A blessed week to you all!