Ask And It Will Be Given...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). Thank you for your prayers this week, regarding the water, electrical and “non-profit” paperwork.  The Lord was faithful to answer two of those prayers yesterday.

We were able to get a hold of our neighbor Marcelo and he confirmed that we can hook up the water anytime we are ready to.  This is a tremendous blessing, because for the time being, it prevents us from having to run water lines 600 meters from the well.  Also, it will allow us to fill up our water tanks during the irrigation season.  There are only a certain number of days that each partner (their 4 of us) who share the well, are allowed to use the water during the month. Since we will be sharing Marcelo’s irrigation pipe, when he turns it on to water his crops, we’ll get water as well.  So essentially we will be able to have water whenever we need it!

We were also able to go to the notary in Cuahtemoc (45 mins away) and start filing the paperwork for our AC (Civil Association).  Although we were told the main notary, Fernando, would be there to help us, he was not.  Thankfully, they were still able to start the paperwork.  There were also questions as to whether or not I would be able to be on the AC, being an American citizen.  They initially told us I would have to go to Chihuahua for a special form...HOWEVER...the Lord was there and I was able to become a part of the AC, as the secretary.  I was hoping for El Presidente (ha ha) but secretary will be just fine.  Pastor Luis will be the President and his son Jose, the treasurer.  The final and last piece to this ongoing puzzle will be one more trip to the notary office to actually write up the wording of the AC.  This is the most important part, as it will describe what the government will allow us to do...care for orphans, widows, disabled, etc.

I am so excited for the name the Lord gave us for the AC.  At first we were thinking, Casa de Bendicion.  However, after thinking on it for a while, I felt that was to restrictive.  What if God opens doors down the road for a widows home, school of ministry, discipleship program, other orphanages throughout Mexico.  It seemed like we needed something that would encompass the ministry at large in Mexico, rather then just the orphanage. So after sharing with my dad and praying on it, the Lord revealed to us, Sombra de Sus Alas (Shadow of His wings) taken from Psalm 17:8.  Any work or ministry that takes place in Mexico, we want it to be under the covering and “shadow of His wings!”

One more story to share with you, regarding our trip to the notary.  During our wait in the lobby area, God gave me an incredible special blessing, through a little girl.  As we were sitting there, trying to take advantage of the wifi on our i-phones, I noticed a mom and daughter walk in the door.  The daughter looked like she was maybe 7 or 8 years old, decked out in a bright pink outfit and carrying a baby (reminded me a of Ayantu’s syle and how she rolls with her babies).  I also noticed that the girl had down-syndrome.  She sat down quietly and began to care for her baby.  It was only a few minutes until she was standing over by the 3 of us, mainly due to Pastor Luis.  She began to tell us about her baby, ask us questions and play with us.   And for the next 30 minutes or so, I sat in amazement.  Here we were, waiting to start paperwork that will allow us to care for those in need, and right before us was one of the most beautiful precious little girls, so full of laughter and life.  Unfortunately, maybe to others, her peers and the world, she seems “weird", "different", maybe an “untouchable”.  And yet to the Lord, a beautiful little girl whom He created, cherishes and loves so much.

When it was time for her to go, she didn’t want to leave but rather keep playing.  As she grabbed her moms hand and began walking out the door, this precious little girl ran back to the 3 of us and gave each of us a hug and kiss on the cheek.  It took everything inside of me not to starting crying right there in the notary office.  As we left, I began to fervently ask the Lord, to bring children like this little girl...bring those who may seem “different” to the world, or “untouchable” and allow us to love on them with the love of Christ.  I praise God for that special moment, meeting this little girl, that I will forever remember and cherish!

I’ll leave you with a few verses that I read just this morning...and pray they minister to your hearts...

“Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel (Matthew 15:30-31).