Update on the orphans

Hello friends,

We wanted to let you all know about the three new additions that we have received since December 24th. On Christmas Eve, we received two little sisters who had been abandoned by their alcoholic father. Rosa Linda is the oldest at eight years old and her sister Areceli is five.

Then four days later we received a young boy named Jose who is nine years old. He was living in another orphanage in Mexico but was being abused by the staff. This orphanage contacted pastor C and it was decided that he should come to live permanently at our orphanage in Teopisca.

Currently there are 13 abandoned children living here. We thought that there would be more but because of various circumstances several children have not been able to arrive or remain at our orphanage.

Rosa, who is 13, arrived the last week of November. Her father and mother died so she is truly an orphan and until she came to the orphanage she was living with another family in San Cristobal. She only has one hand as one of her arms was burned in a fire and has been amputated at the elbow. She cannot use her other hand as it has some sort of abnormality as well. After a few weeks of living here in Teopisca, it was realized that she could not really do anything for herself; she could not eat, go to the bathroom, bathe, change her clothes, or carry her things without help. It was decided that this was too much additional work for one family to overcome as there are so many other children. So she has since been taken to live with another family that can give her the individual attention she needs. We want to thank all of you who sent Christmas presents down here to give Rosa but we have to regretfully tell you that she did not receive them as she left just before they arrived. Please pray that Rosa would be taken care of and that this family would continue to share the joys of Christ with her.

We thought that we would have received another child by now but there have been numerous problems with obtaining her birth certificate. Her name is Chispeta and she is two years old. She currently lives with her mother in the prison where she was born and where my pastor goes and preaches every week. The situation is not good as her mother treats her very bad; emotionally as well as physically. Her mother has been certified as “mentally ill” (they use the word crazy down here in Mexico) and she has been reprimanded several times for throwing Chispeta up against the walls of her cell in some of her moments of insanity. We are told that the transfer to our orphanage was certain but all her paperwork has to be completed properly before this can be accomplished. Please pray for this little one in the days ahead.

We also thought that one of the children that used to live at the orphanage would have returned by now as well. Her name is Estela and I believe she is 11 years old. She and her two brothers, Manuel and Maki, lived here in Teopisca at the orphanage for over two years but recently they returned to live with their mother who is sick. Their mother has terminal cancer and it was thought that they might be able to help her in these last few months of her illness. It has not been a good situation since these three arrived back at their mother’s house (actually a little wooden shack about 10 feet by 8 feet where 12 people live). Estela has lost all of her hair and has a skin disease of some kind, Manuel and Maki continue to by physically abused and they all have been in trouble with the authorities because they are all back on the street stealing food because they have very little to eat. Please pray that these three will be able to return to Teopisca very soon.

The first two photos are photos of the two little girls the day they arrived at the orphanage... Areceli is on the left in the first photo and on the right in the second pic...they arrived with only the clothes on their backs...

Here are some more pics of the two girls...

Areceli


Rosa Linda


The both of them...


The only two pics that we have of Jose so far....but there will be plenty more in due time...





A current picture taken on January 12, 2009 in the backyard of our house...




Left to right:



Jose - 9 years old

Lucio - 13

Esteban - 8

Pati - 8

Rosa Linda - 8

Orlando - 6

Rich - 8

Alex - 6

Cristian - 5

Betito - 3

Nichita - 6

Sarita - 3

Areceli - 5



Here are three pics of the three ciblings Estela, Manuel and Maki....


Estela is the one standing up....

Manuel..

Maki..


That is all for now...