I am writing this post specifically to tell you about the special people at Guacayvo who pour out their lives for Christ and this mission!
I'd like to introduce you to Sandra. Sandra is the head lady at the Guacayvo mission. Basically she is the mother of almost 100 children. I was privileged to spend the last hour or so of the hike on Thursday walking and talking with Sandra. It was so special to listen to her tell of how God lead her there and how she copes every day.
Several years ago, Sandra left her hometown of Juarez to visit Guacayvo. After a bad experience the first time, Sandra never wanted to return to Guacayvo again. However, God worked on her heart and when Pastor Tomas asked her to come and take on the mission, Sandra obeyed God's voice in her heart telling her to go. Now she pours out her heart and life to love and care for the needy children. As she spoke to me in her broken English, it became evident that she was a woman of faith. Each and everyday, she trusts in God to provide and watch over the children. In such a remote location and with dangers around every corner, all one can do is trust. She shared with me some different missionaries that inspired her, but all I could think of when speaking with her, was wow, you inspire me, I would give anything to have faith like yours!
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| Sandra and I |
For those of you who don't know, Sandra invited me to come help at the mission for a month or so. I am prayerfully considering going this fall. :)
So, that's Sandra. Then we have Jonny who basically Pastor Tomas's right hand man. Well, first, for those who don't know, Pastor Tomas is the one who started the mission and has been pouring his life out to fulfill the visions that God gave him to reach the Tarahumaran people. Unfortunately, he was unable to come with us to Guacayvo this year. (To read more about Pastor Tomas and see pictures, you can check out my post from last year here.)
Jonny is a young man from the states who helps Pastor Tomas and often travels with missionary groups that come down. He stayed with our group basically as our guide for the entire trip. Everyone loved Jonny with his fun-loving, laid-back, and teasing personality. From what I understood, Jonny is studying to be a pastor at the Bible Institute in Juarez. At least that's what Sandra told me-- she's hoping and praying that one day Jonny will come and help in the canyon as a pastor. He has already been a huge help to the mission!
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| Brian and Jonny |
Next, I'd like you to meet Sandra's children. Sandra adopted three Tarahumaran children. I told about little Sandrita and Tomasito (affectionately called Tito) last year (in this post) and how Sandra found them left to die because their family couldn't afford to feed them. She rescued them just in time-- Tomasito who was 2yrs at the time, was so malnourished that he weighed only 9lbs and his legs were the size of an adult's thumb. It's a miracle they survived. Roberto is Sandra's 15-year-old who was found along one of mountain roads severely malnourished. Today, he is a sweet, happy boy but suffers some health problems.
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| Roberto and Heather |
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| Tomasito and Sandrita - so beautiful, healthy and happy now! |
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| Rosinda sewing on the old Singer machine |
Romana was another woman from the mission who made good friends with my mom during our stay. She lives a little ways from Guacayvo on the rim of canyon, but came down for the week to cook for us. Vicky was another sweet young lady who I knew from Rio Chico last year. She is currently studying at the Bible Institute in Juarez, but traveled down with us for the week to help cook and care for us.
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| Vicky and Ramona |
A number of people came to Guacayvo for the week we were there but there is a group of individuals who live in Guacayvo and help at the mission daily. Alfredo and his wife live in Guacayvo and do a lot for the mission. From what I understood, Alfredo is the handy man around the mission and his wife cooks for the children. Then there was Cleo, a young single mom of a 14-year old boy named Augustine. Cleo helps at the mission and tends the goats. There were a few other women who give of their time to care for the children and help the mission, but unfortunately, I don't remember the others' names.
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| Rena (an older girl who lives in Guacayvo) and Cleo |
The people down there are so dear and so loving. Even though there was a language barrier between us, we were able to make friends and show love to one another. It's evident that their lives are difficult, but their genuine love for one another and ultimately for Christ, draws them together and makes them stronger. As we said goodbye, the warm embraces and tears shed revealed the sweet friendships we had made over the week. It was hard saying goodbye, but as Sandra said, "It's not goodbye if we will see each other again!" God willing, we will have many more opportunities to see our Mexican brothers and sisters again and join them in serving Christ.
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