The Orphanage

We begin the day traveling up the mountain to the orphanage, Casa Hogar Elegra, hitting more pot holes than dodging them. Suddenly our fearless leader slams on the brakes and only by the grace of God we stop just a few feet from plummeting into the gaping hole that once was a street. 

 The road had been washed away and there was nothing separating us from looking straight down the mountain.
Taking a side road we arrive and set up.

 The dental chair.

I teach the small children about brushing and make some new friends.

There are some special children I remember from last year,

like Selena.

 At the end of the day, we meet for dinner. Mama Liz brings out a cake for one of our team members who is having a birthday. She tells us we are going to celebrate Mexican style.

This is what happens next.

God Gave Me Special Patients Today

 Day 2 of the clinic at the home of Pastor Carlos and Nellie. He announces over his loud speaker that the free clinic is now open.

 In walks Norma, my excitement shows and I can hardly contain myself. I remember Norma from last year and the story of a child who has seen and been through far more than her years show.
Norma doesn't smile..... ever.

 I got Norma to smile.

 It was 5:00 and I had seen over 30 patients. We were just about to shut down business when we discovered a man had been waiting two hours to get his teeth clean. Tired and weary, we agree to see him. A man with no legs, a false eye, and a total of 3 fingers comes in.
But that wasn't the shocking part. The biggest surprise of all was his kindness and gentle spirit. 
I apologized that we made him wait so long and his graciousness for even seeing him was expressed.
I cleaned his teeth and we talked a bit. It was evident that he was filled with God's spirit so I asked him about it and what his story was.
He said he was born "like this" and for many years he would not go out in public because he could not face how people would treat him.
Then he found a church that introduced him to the love of Jesus.
Now he can face people and be happy.
I asked how I could pray for him. He said he has no job and would like to find work.

 So if you would pray with me.

His name is Mauro.

Day 1 Free Clinic Serving the Need

Pastor Carlo and his wife Nellie open their home to serve as Iglesia Mount Sinia Baptista on Sundays, turning their home  into a sanctuary. But on Monday morning we turned it into a medical/dental free clinic.

Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord not men. Ephesians 6:7

There is a need.


He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well." Is that not what it means to know me?" says the LORD. Jeremiah 22:16

Stories to come...

 Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God


...four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:3-5

Just a thought

Jesus is moved when we pray on behalf of others. 
Who do you need to carry on that roof and lower down to Jesus? Today, stand in the gap for them!

His Hands

The children are waiting.


They know we are coming.


I am leaving this week for  Chiapas, Mexico. Our small crew will be ministering to an orphanage in Tuxtla Gutierezz. Our goal is to treat their medical and dental needs, but our real goal is to show the love of Christ and let them know they were born for a purpose.


God is offering me an opportunity to do this for Him, to use the skills he has given me for His purpose. He is calling me to trust Him. He is taking me out of my comfort zone and into total reliance on Him. You can pray for me,
to be His hands while I treat patients, 
to be His feet when I walk into that orphanage 
and that my smile would speak more than words can say.

Wednesday’s

Breakfast with God

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Just a thought

How do you view the afflictions in your life? Do you seek to escape them or see them as opportunities to release the strength of God?