Caring for the kids with a new stove
Stove installers Ken, Richard and Loren
Did you ever have an old appliance that was just too expensive to replace? Maybe you needed to make do with a piece of equipment that wasn’t doing it’s job, but it was all you had. The Orphanage has been in need of a new commercial sized cooking stove for a very long time. The old stove, used to cook for the entire Orphanage, had only 2 of the 12 burners working. Replacing it was going to cost thousands of dollars…and so the staff made do. Can you imagine cooking for forty children per meal with only two working burners?
The First Baptist Church of Ashland, Oregon committed to purchasing and installing a new stove. First Baptist has been visiting and helping the Orphanage for many years. We received exciting news yesterday, from First Baptist member Loren:
The stoves are in. [We] went down and just got back. What a trip! Lots of stories. We got kicked out of Mexico! OK just temporary. We had to go from Tecate to Otay Mesa to take the stoves in. They do work and boy do they put out heat. We had all 12 burners going and the griddle and WOW. God is good.
Thank you so much, First Baptist, for raising the funds for this much needed equipment. We are so grateful for the entire church’s support. Thank you, Loren, Ken and Richard for your exciting trip delivering the stove and installing it. There will be countless tortillas, pans of beans, rice and so much more cooked on it. Thank you for looking “after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). Many warm, filled tummies thank you!
We are so grateful for our shiny hot new stove!
Science shows that giving is good for you
Bob and Leslie are blessed by helping the Orphanage
In this Christmas season of giving, there have been several recent studies looking at giving and how it affects you. The results are interesting!
The University of Minnesota looked at how people responded when they were prompted to think about money. Reported in the Neuromarketing Blog named Thinking About Money, they found that:
. . the findings suggest that thinking of money puts people in a frame of mind in which they don’t want to depend on others and don’t want others to depend on them.
The University of Chicago, in a massive General Social Survey, showed that donors - defined as someone who has given to a charity at least once a year - are statistically more likely to help others.
- 15% more likely than nondonors to give directions to a stranger.
- 17% more likely to give up their place in line.
- 22% more likely to give up a seat on the bus.
- 46% more likely to give food or money to a homeless person.
- 125% more likely to give blood.
I thought of these recent studies, when I received an encouraging note from Leslie H., Minnesota:
What a blessed day I’ve had. I just returned from shopping and picked up some toys and clothes for a few of the kids. I can’t begin to tell you how much FUN that was. What a privilege it is to contribute to the El Sauzal Foundation! I strongly urge anyone to try it and see how God will bless them in return. I pray in anticipation for the day Bob and I can go down and see all those smiling faces again.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” How nice of science to prove God’s word!
Seth and Kristin include the Orphanage in their wedding
Newlyweds Seth and Kristin
Kristin Frelin from Tacoma, Washington has been going to the Orphanage for eight years. In fact it was on her first mission trip when she was in the ninth grade, that she dedicated her life to the Lord. This coming summer she will be leading a young adult group to the Orphanage. This will be her first trip where she will be the primary leader. She has a strong passion for the children at the Orphanage.
She met Seth Anderson and the two of them fell in love. Seth is a chiropractor in the Tacoma area. He has been very supportive of her ministry to the Orphanage and hopes to join her on her next trip this coming summer. As the two of them were planning their wedding they thought about the money they would spend to purchase party favors for the reception. Rather than spend money on trinkets or memorabilia for their wedding they decided to send the same amount of money to the El Sauzal Foundation in honor of their guests. Here is what they wrote on a small card that was on each table in place of the party favors:
Thank you for sharing in this joyful day with us. In recognition of your love and support, we have made a donation in your name to the children at the El Sauzal Orphanage in San Antonio de Las Minas, Mexico. If you would like to learn more about these wonderful children or become a donor please visit http://www.elsauzal.org/. With warm wishes and gratitude, Kristin and Seth Anderson
What an honor and blessing to be a part of Seth and Kristin’s special day. (Read about another young couple that helped the Orphanage with their wedding.) The Orphanage is so encouraged by the love, prayers and help of our supporters. Muchas gracias!
Thank you, and blessings on your new life together!
Family Impacted by Their Son’s Work at Orphanage
We recently received a large donation from a family in Oregon. Along with their generous gift, they included an encouraging note.
Our son, Sean spent several of his spring vacations helping [at El Sauzal Orphanage] thru First Baptist Ashland. It was a very dynamic and impacting life experience for all of us. We take so very much for granted in our “comfort zones” here in the USA.
With your help, the Orphanage helps hurting Mexican children. They also aid their local community. But your help also allows El Sauzal to impact the lives of volunteers. How exciting to see that as people give of themselves to El Sauzal, they get so much in return!
Generous young newlyweds help our children
Julia and Mackenzie with Patty, meeting for breakfast.
Sitting outside across from the Pacific Ocean, the warm breezes caused the palm trees to gently sway. It was in beautiful San Diego that Roy and I met newlyweds Julia and Mackenzie Harder for breakfast.
I was very excited to meet them, this being the first time. When we arrived, they greeted us with big smiles and warm hugs. Over breakfast, Julia and Mackenzie told us how they met. Mackenzie is a real estate agent, and Julia is in graduate school, studying to become a pharmacist. They are both from California and have mutual friends; however, it was in San Diego that they connected. After a week of hanging out together, they decided on marriage. “It was like a movie,” Julia told us.
When they got engaged, they began thinking of donating their wedding gifts. At Christmas time, Mackenzie met Susan Meyers-Pike, a real estate agent who has brought Christmas gifts to the Orphanage for several years. Susan gave a presentation about the Christmas distribution, and Mackenzie gave her a check for enough food for three months for the Orphanage. And then, although they’ve never visited El Sauzal, Julia and Mackenzie decided the Orphanage was who they’d give their wedding gifts to.
When asked what prompted them to donate all their gifts, they told us of being so blessed, and knowing they could help. Julia likes to help others in need, and Mackenzie is interested in helping children. The Orphanage was a natural fit for them.
They hope to visit El Sauzal for the first time later this summer. Their family and friends gave more than two thousand dollars in honor of their wedding. We are so grateful, and know that God will continue to bless this generous young couple.