We've come a long way.

   As I was reading about the ten spies Moses sent to the land of Canaan, only 20% thought they could conquer the land, 80% didn’t even want to try. I think of all the lost opportunities because we “don’t even try”! God has enabled us with skills and abilities, not just to make wealth that we may share the covenant of God, but that we might fulfill the “good works” he has planned for us.  Sometimes those “works” seem overwhelming, just like the “Giants of Canaan did to the Israelite’s. I challenge you to be the 20%’er.
 
With the exception of cleaning, replacing a couple doors and repainting what has become Luis & Lucy living quarters the children’s home property is done! Praise God. It has been a challenge, not overwhelming but a challenge; Thank God, He has been our “enabler” from day one! 

What a joy it is to see the kids in a clean, safe environment. They are enjoying the new beds, dressers, tables and chairs. The ladies love the new kitchen which has plenty of room to cook in and keep clean.
Our bodega is now a reality, from foundation drawing on the ground to getting the roof on. We only lack sealing the plaster, pouring the slab, and sealing and painting. Praise the Lord!

Thank You Joey Franklin, James Murphy, and Jim Slack from Liberty Hill, TX church “Grace Alive” for making the trip to Plan de Ayala and working so hard to “get the roof on the bodega! I believe they all went home tired but fulfilled! We are now able to keep our generator on site and have a secure place for the maintenance equipment we need to purchase to keep the children’s home up.  

 Though we have come a long way and most of the major things are done at the children’s home we are not there yet.
 
   There are several things yet to be done, they are as follows;
(1)Playground, we need to outline it and provide some playground equipment. We have a swing set as of now.
I would like at the minimum a teeter totter, a slide, and if possible a play scape.
(2)Renovate Luis & Lucy (our onsite home parents and children’s home directors) living area, it basically needs some minor repairs and painting. 
(3)Need to purchase a vehicle for transporting the kids; Just today I was able to make a deal on one; we purchased a 2000 Dodge Ram Model 3500 a 15 passenger van that was owned by another missionary. It is already registered in Mexico. The price was $3000.00 US; it needs a new set of tires and re-painting on the top around the rain gutters. This will be about another $1000.00 but otherwise it is in great shape. This is a real blessing because to just import a vehicle like this into Mexico would cost between $1500 - $2000. 
(4)Façade the side entrance to the home which is now the main entrance. This would include a small outside covering/porch area.
(5)Have made a sign out of metal/SS to hang over the entrance to the property.
(6)We need to build a secure fence around the perimeter of the property. In Mexico you simply cannot leave it unattended if you don’t have someone on site for security.
(7)We desperately need some lawn equipment, there is 3.5 acres to maintain plus the church area that is on the property. We have a small grove of producing orange and grapefruit trees that we intend to keep. The ground around them also has to be mowed.  What I believe would be the most practical is a zero turn mower with a 60” inch deck, a couple weed eaters and a hedge trimmer. We need new or slightly use one, however nothing that is remotely worn out. New we are looking at about $ 11,000 - $13,000.00 U.S.
(8)Tools, any tools that you could imagine that we would need to maintain the home will be needed. We have purchased a few during construction but not many.
 
   I know what some are thinking; that’s a lot of money and your right! But then this is not my children’s home, its God’s! And God is an enabler, what He has called us to do He has the provision for. Anyway I trust Him! One thing I’m sure of there will always be needs at the children’s home, but there are no Giants (physical, spiritual, or financial) that cannot be defeated concerning the children’s home, in your life or mine! I’m a 20%’er along with Joshua and Caleb.   
 
Again I personally want to thank each person that has given a penny to this children’s home project. Only eternity will reveal the lives it will effect for Christ. This is our purpose, our drive and our passion!  Not by just preaching but by “doing”.   In the following scriptures God shares some truth’s that we should never forget.
 Prov. 22:9 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
And in Prov. 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” NIV
This is not why we give, we give because we realize all that Christ has done for us! It’s just something God said he wants to do for us as his obedient children.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this, praying for the children’s home and LaVerne and I. We thank God for you and your compassion for the children.