I tried to post this yesterday...so again I apologize for the poor internet. Today I can post my thoughts, but not the pictures. In the last 6 days we have spent hours and hours trying to get things to upload. Gary reminded me that this is God’s work and I need to not try so hard and accept what comes our way. (I hate it when he’s right...which is quite often!) So now, I am trying to chill. Rog and Fred…I don’t chill well either!

This was written yesterday:
This morning in church there was a baby dedicated. At first I was captivated by the beautiful little baby girl, her small sister, mom and dad as they stood in front of the church. But then I caught a glimpse of our teens that were sitting near us. They were very distracted and not really trying to watch. At first I was feeling rather upset at them and then it hit me. This is very painful to watch. I’m sure every one of them wishes they had a mom and dad that would proudly bring them to the front of the church for everyone to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over. Then their parents would state their love for God and their desire to raise the children in a strong Christian home. What more could a child want? In the states I would add a laptop, the latest MP3 player, designer clothes, the latest cell phone with all it’s gadgets, etc…but not these kids. They just dream of a mom and dad that they can call their own. When I catch them looking wistfully at the families in the church my heart aches and I beg the Lord to find Christian moms and dads for these beautiful kids.

Today we went to the farm for milk. It’s Papa’s regular routine for Sunday afternoons and the children love it! The most important part of the trip is the stop at the Oxxo for cookies and goodies. Then it’s off to the farm. I love to watch the little boys climb up on the fence and watch the animals. They look like little cowboys! I’m so thankful that Papa takes all these little trips with the children because it’s very special to them. It’s part of their ‘family’ routine.

Jose left the orphanage today to spend his last few days in Chihuahua with his parents. They are here on a mission trip and he has bunked out at the orphanage to renew friendships. It has been a good visit for everyone. Mama and Papa are so happy to see their kids again and the kids are anxious to see them as well. Jose blended in very well with his ‘brothers and sisters’ and even played on the soccer team on Saturday. We lost the game by 1 point…but 2 of our guys played on the other team since they were short players…and our guys scored the points against us! So…really we won! Oh well. Everyone had fun! After the game we were able to treat everyone to hamburgers, fries and a soda. That was a real treat! Thank you, Michigan Team, for making it possible. Gary and I were wondering what to do for the kids after the game because we were out of funds…but God provided through you. Your love offering will take care of our last week here with the teens as well.

My friend, Alex (who helps me work on adoptions), stopped by for a few minutes to provide transportation for Jose’s family. Of course I went over to greet him, and the children swarmed around like bees in a beehive. Since Jose has been here to talk about his great adoption, a lot of the children want to be adopted as well. When Alex left, they told me that they all wanted families. If only it were that simple. Some of the children even clung to me…and were pleading. Please help me pray that Christian moms and dads will open their home and their hearts to these children.

Today was the monthly major cleaning day…and also our day off. Thank you, Jesus. The kids work very hard to clean everything. It always looks really nice when they’re done. But, today was also a 4x4 event down the road from us. So all day…even now…vehicles have been driving past here in a steady stream. The dust is very bad and the drivers seem to drive terribly fast. We have some older children posted at the gate to make sure the little children don’t go outside the gate to play. It would be very unsafe. Mama and Papa are concerned that this might be the beginning of a new event for weekends. Please help us pray that this will not happen.

These past few months have been a real learning experience for both of us. God has been stretching us in many ways…it’s sometimes fun and sometimes painful…but always for our good. Our strength has come from the Lord. We give Him all the glory. I also want to thank the Lord for our good health that we have enjoyed for the past 2 weeks. Between the two of us...we have only 1 plugged ear. I might ad it comes in very handy when Gary is trying to tell me something I don't want to hear. :) God is merciful.

Since there was no school (another holiday...) today (Monday) Papa, Gary and I had a great chance to share with the teens. We seperated the girls from the boys and shared from our hearts regarding modesty, pornography, purity, etc. If you think that it is tough for a teen in the USA to battle these things...it is 10 times worse down here. Pornography is everywhere...and sexual perversian is the norm. It is very dark here in Mexico and our kids are battling. Please pray for them.

Here is the scoop: If this posting has pictures on it within the next 6 hours...it is because there has been a spare vehicle for me to get into the internet cafe in Aldama. Presently we are down to 2 buses, 1 truck and 1 car...so I'll need a miracle.

Finally!!!

Gary and Brenda




Double blessings!




Ramon and me




Johanna & Jesus...it will be hard to leave




Meriam, Maggie, Jennifer and Silvia




Picnic anyone???






Jovan flipping burgers along with his helpers...Fabiola and Daniel




Picnic cowboys...Santos and Papa


TEAM MICHIGAN PICS

























A sweet Meriam




Brenda and Papa




Mama and Papa and some of their children...




Lewis...how I love this boy!




Francisco, Lucia and Lesley




Jose and Mama...a glad reunion!




Mama and Papa




Briza




The green team...Karen, Cielo, Jazmine, David, Gabby and Lupita




Ana, Jackie and Gabby...adorable sisters!!!




Juanita




Lizeth




Eugenia...her grandmother just died this past week. It has been hard on her.




A common sight...Brenda and Mama talking with all of Mama's dogs watching




Samuel is always fixing something




Leticia




Lady...Rosa's prize!




Juan Diego...the cutest bundle of energy!




Maggie




Karen




Francisco




Ana...daydreaming...perhaps of a forever home...




Santana...keep praying for him!




Luce and Javier




Jasmine!




Nohema comforting Ana.




Michigan team enjoying Brothers tacos!




Terry and Dale...team leaders




A new boy...Armondo. He was with us for just a few short days. He had wandered away from home and was lost. The police brought him to us and a couple days later he was reunited with his family. We celebrated with him!




Oscar & Luis hanging out




Juanita, Karla, Luce and Juan Diego!

I love the internet...when it works!!!! We have had high clouds...and for those of you who have spent time here...that is really odd. Usually it is a clear blue sky every day. So...maybe the problem has been the weather? I guess I'll blame the poor internet on that...it gets blamed for everything else!!! Yesterday we woke up to heavy clouds and today it is clear...things still aren't working right. Late last night Gary was able to get a few pics to upload...so we stayed up and did that as long as we could. Then...early this morning we woke up to work on it some more. We were able to upload over 60 pictures...and then I worked on labeling them and posting the blog...but suddenly I lost over half of the stuff when I returned to edit. I could about cry. The pictures are no longer uploading again. So...this will have to do for now. I might try to get an extra vehicle (ha) and go to the internet cafe in Aldama. I'm trying hard.

The casitas (playground) are completed! It looks really sharp with the fresh stain on. Terry truly looks like a Mexican now...especially his hands! Thank you, Michigan team. The dining hall has all it's major plumbing work completed and things are ready for the concrete. Yesterday afternoon the Michigan team put their 'tourist' hats on and visited Chihuahua for the rest of the day. They worked very hard this past week and everything has been accomplished on their list...we even finished the cinnamon rolls last night. The kids have had a fiesta all week. Pizza, spaghetti, hot cakes, cookies and cinnamon rolls and a cookout with hamburgers. It's every kids dream week. I'm afraid it's back to rice and beans from here on out.

As I looked out my window yesterday morning, I saw little Jackie wandering around by herself. Her sweet little face glows like that of an angel. I love to hear her raspy little voice say, "Tia Linda". My heart just melts. Then she usually runs as fast as her chubby little legs will carry her and she jumps right into my arms. It is heaven on earth! I am asking God to give her a mommy and daddy that will love her and kiss away all her bumps and bruises. She is missing out on 'this little piggy went to the market'...and butterfly kisses!

Yesterday little Johana was playing soccer. Her face met someone's foot...by accident...and there were many tears. I am so happy that I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was able to hold her close and kiss away her tears until tio Gary came. Then he wisked her up in his strong arms and held her tight until everything was OK. It's sometimes difficult to remember why we are here. There are mission groups here to care for, schedules to meet, and lots of last minute crisis type of things that come up. I don't ever want to be too busy to hold and love a hurting child. I ask my Father to help me see things through His eyes. Perspectives often change. "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing."

We have formed a deep friendship with Memo. He is a contractor that was the lead builder on the new boys dorm. Presently he is unsaved...but his heart is softening. Gary, especially, has spent many hours with him and now I've noticed that he is now here in the mornings for the children's devotions. He said there is something here that grabs his heart. He thinks it's just the children...but it's Jesus. Please help us pray for his salvation. He speaks excellent english so Gary and I are waiting for the right moment to talk to him about his life.

Yesterday the Lord gave us a very unique opportuniity. Now that I look back on it...it scares me...because of it's enormity...but our faithful God was beside us. We were taken to the main DIF (Mexican Child Protective Services) office where the state children's home is. From the very beginning, we have asked DIF for these children to place for adoption in the states. Once in a while they would give us a name or a photo...but it always fell through. Well, their latest excuse was that the Mexican children didn't like Americanos and the children were afraid of them. So, Alex, brought us to the facility to prove otherwise. Gary and I were led to a courtyard where the children were playing a puzzle/storybook type of game. At first we were told to sit in the courtyard and look like we're waiting for someone else. Then we were told to walk past them and 'look friendly'. When we walked near the children, their 'nurses' (caregivers) invited us to interact with them. So we knelt down and used our broken spanish and talked with them back and forth. Alex was right there with us to help and it went very well. We were able to have fun with them and give them big hugs when we left. All the head officials (including the hightest in command) were watching us through the windows but God gave us a peace and a quiet heart so we were able to concentrate on loving those kids. I tell you all of this to help us pray that they would find favor with us and allow children from the state home to be adopted as well.

Gary picked up more donations again. This time it is bags of cement. He was driving the Internation bus in downtown Chihuahua during rush hour with 2 Americans and 3 kids from the orphanage. Their mission? Picking up 85 bags of cement and hauling them to the new job sight. The problem? Each bag weighs 100 lbs...and finding the location of the cement factory is also a chore with Santana navigating. Oh well...it's always a new adventure. I just need to make sure these boys get plenty to eat when they get back!

We are waiting to get word on the little 5 yr. old boy who survived his mother's attempt to drown him. Rosa is fearing that the government is giving the boy back to his mother. I'll keep you posted.

As far as the Health Dept. inspection...we'll find out the results in 15 days. Gary and I don't know Mexico's official motto but we think it might be: Hurry up and wait!!!

Since the kids know our days here are numbered, several are now approaching me about getting adopted. I've had one boy tell me that while he and his brother were visiting an aunt for the 'holiday', they told their relatives that they wanted to be adopted...and the relatives agreed. Now, the boys are expecting a home. There are also a few of them that up against a time clock...and placement would need to happen fast. This is what brings me to my knees. I can't make it happen...only God can. Please help me pray about this.

Another thing to pray about. Lately we've noticed a lot of military planes flying all over...we are told it's the all out war on the drug lords. Keep praying for the safety of those who work down here. Military trucks filled with men and machine guns are a common sight now.

I am in the process of collecting e-mail addresses for the orphanage. I am hoping that once we return in the fall (the Lord willing) we will be able to put out monthly newsletters from Ed and Rosa via e-mail. So, if you would like to be put on their mailing list...please e-mail me and give me your address. My address is lsbeggs@yahoo.com (If you get prayer requests from me...I already have you on my list of contacts.)

We plan on giving a presentation to our church (First Baptist Church in Hart, Michigan) April 27th at 6:00 p.m. regarding our time here at the orphanage. If you are interested in further information or directions, please e-mail us. Thanks for all of your love and support.

One last thing. The sale of our house and our business. This needs to happen before we return. The real estate market in Michigan is down...but God's market is never down. Please help us pray for these to sell so we can return to the staff and children here at Lily.