El Sauzal News

Sergio with Roy at the Orphange one week ago

Have you met Roy Ketring, III?  He is the U.S. face of the El Sauzal Orphanage.  If you have arranged a trip to El Sauzal, you most likely have been in contact with Roy.  If you have visited the Orphanage, you may have met him there.  If you have surfed El Sauzal’s website, received an Orphanage Christmas photo card, purchased an Orphanage t-shirt, mug or cap, you have seen Roy’s dedicated, hard work.  Roy’s hand is all over the Orphanage.

Roy is a retired railroad consultant, although he still does occassional consulting jobs.  He and his wife Brenda live in Placentia, California.  They have two children and five grandchildren, whom they care for frequently.  Roy is heavily involved in his church, Placentia Presbyterian with the Orphanage ministry, including their biannual food distribution to the San Antonio de las Mianas community, a second ministry to Mexico in Vizcaino - southern Baja, and a local outreach ministry to Spanish speakers in the Placentia area. 

Roy has been involved with the Orphanage since 1978.  On his first trip, he did not want to go; someone invited him, and he went out of a sense of duty. The trip changed him.  For many years, Roy has been the Orphanage’s Secretary.  He has been deeply involved in the operations.  He is a part of the Espinoza family. (And even right now, he is in Mexico, for the service for Juan.  See Juan Passes Away.)  At Juan’s service yesterday, Ramon talked about how Roy is so much a part of the community and the family.

Several years ago, Josue asked Roy to form a Foundation in the United States.   Roy considered it seriously.  He did not want to change the Orphanage and make it a U.S.-run entity.  It was after much prayer and consultation with other U.S. Orphanage friends that Roy went ahead with the creation of the Foundation.  (Read more at About the El Sauzal Foundation, Inc.)  Now Roy is the president of the Foundation.

So what does retirement look like for Roy?  Taking care of Orphanage donations, requests and questions is a full time job for Roy.  He works at the Orphanage (a three hour drive) at least once a month for an extended weekend.  And of course there are many other events, like Juan’s service, birthdays and weddings.  Although it is not possible to truly thank Roy for all of his hard work and time, I am so grateful for his generous heart and dedicated service to the Orphanage.

We remember a happier, healthier Juan

It is with sadness that I write that Juan passed away last night, around 6 pm. Juan is Ramon’s brother, and has lived at the Orphanage for several years.  Today the Espinoza family is busy with the painful details of preparing for the service; it will be this evening or tomorrow.

Juan originally had a series of heart attacks a week and a half ago; see Keeping Vigil.  Last week, he regained consciousness for awhile.  He was paralyzed, unable to talk or to chew.  He was, however,  able to respond to questions with his eyes. 

I will remember Juan’s smile, love for apples, and friendship with Laurie.  Whenever Orphanage friend Laurie Lehr came to the Orphanage, she would bring Juan a big box of Washington apples and sit and visit with him.  Juan looked forward to his time with Laurie.

Please remember the Espinoza family in your thoughts and prayers.

Yet we have this assurance: Those who belong to God will live; their bodies will rise again!  Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy!  For God’s light of life will fall like dew on his people in the place of the dead!  ~Isaiah 26:19

Orphanage friend Leslie with one of our beautiful baby girls

Border control and illegal immigration are hot topics.  Everyone’s weighing in, and the debate is heating up with the President and Senate. 

Last weekend, El Sauzal supporters Bob & Leslie H. visited the Orphanage for the very first time.  Leslie tells here how the border influenced how they chose to donate.

Three years ago Bob and I were vacationing in San Diego and decided to drive south and see the border.  Something I had never seen before, and something I could not forget.

Driving back Bob told me stories about the sounds of people running through the yards at night when he lived nearby years ago.

Once we were at home in Minneapolis Minnesota that steel wall and the stories were still running through my mind.  I felt strongly that God must have a purpose for us that would involve the border region. 

After talking with everyone I knew who might know something about the region I felt compelled to look into area orphanages.  El Sauzal’s name came up on a computer search and we wrote to Roy for the first time.

Today, nearly three years later, Bob and I are sitting here in the dining room at El Sauzal.  Our stomachs are full of sopa con pollo and warm tortillas.  Aren’t we rich!

I can hear the children playing outside as Betty and Maria (Orphanage Nannies) keep a watchful eye while cleaning the kitchen.  We have been here for three days and are leaving for home in the morning.  We have changed.

It’s clear to us that God spoke to us that day three years ago through that steel wall.  And we are so happy to be a part of such a wonderful organization as El Sauzal, which, with the help of our Lord and Savior, is changing this region one heart and one soul at a time.

After finding El Sauzal on the Internet, Bob and Leslie began supporting the Orphanage on a monthly basis.  Last year, Leslie even sold her prized jumping horse and donated the proceeds to our ministry without having visited our facility or meeting our staff and kids.  We praise God that they were finally able to be with us in person last weekend.  We are happy to work with Bob and Leslie to change this region one heart at a time.

Leslie & Bob, savvy donors who visited the Orphanage this last weekend

There’s a very interesting article posted on the Charity Navigator, the Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors.  The practices are:

1. Be proactive in your giving

2. Hang up the phone/eliminate the middleman

3. Be careful of imposters and sound-alike names

4. Confirm 501(c)(3) status

5. Check the charity’s commitment to donor’s rights

6. Obtain copies of its financial records

7. Review executive compensation

8. Start a dialogue to investigate its programmatic results

9. Concentrate your giving

10. Share your intentions and make a long-term commitment

The job of the El Sauzal Foundation, Inc. is to help our donors get the information they need to be savvy.  So let us know what you want…email your questions to Patty.Meadows@elsauzal.org. 

Do you ever have those times in your life when everything seems to stop?  When it is hard to go on…and yet you must?  This weekend is one of those times for the Orphanage. 

On Thursday, Ramon’s brother Juan had a series of heart attacks and a cerebral hemorrhage.  Family is so precious in Mexico.  For years Ramon and Magdalena have cared for Juan, who has been unable to live on his own.  Many visitors to the Orphanage have seen Juan’s large, gentle smile.  I got an update today on Juan’s condition, from Roy Ketring.

The report is not good.  He is in a coma and not expected to live.  As I understand the situation he also has an injury or some sort of problem with his head.  The doctors told the family they could operate on him but he would not come out of the coma and would live out the rest of his life in a vegetative state needing around the clock care.  It is a sad atmosphere here.  Ramon, Magdalena, [and family] Miguel, Martha, Josue and others are keeping a round the clock vigil.

And yet, Orphanage work does not stop.  The kids need to be taken care of.  A group of college kids from Kaiizen is visiting this weekend with eighty college students.  A generous supporter to the Orphanage is visiting for the very first time.  The Orphanage staff is short on workers.  It is not an easy time.

As the Espinoza family carries on their vigil for Juan, please pray for them.  Pray for strength in a hard time, and that God will continue to meet all their needs.  Consider sending them a card or letter.  Your thoughts and prayers are an encouragement and a blessing to them.

El Sauzal Orphanage

P.O. Box 6426

Chula Vista, CA 91909-6426