By: John Rule
As Tanya and I look back at the path God has brought us down, we can see how He has changed us. Certainly, the circumstances of our life have changed, but our heart and our vision for the work we are doing in Guatemala has changed in the process as well. When we first felt God calling us to move and care for orphaned children, we thought we would care for the same children for years. Over time, God has shown us that our ministry here is to parent many different children and often prepare them to return to their biological families.
Most of our children are going to court hearings to determine if their family members are viable caretakers. Because of this reality, God has impressed upon us to prepare our children both physically and spiritually for whatever may lie ahead. Since we don’t know how long any particular child will be in our home, we feel the urgency to guide them and lead them in the ways of our Heavenly Father. We continually seek the Lord and ask him to place children in our home who have the most need. We leave that decision up to God and trust that He will bring the children who we can love and care for the best.
For quite a while now, we have been doing a Bible devotional for our children every night. These Biblical devotionals are specific to our children and the struggles they have every day. Another way we are preparing them for the future is to teach them English. The Lord placed this need on our heart when we first moved here. He told us that teaching the children English will be crucial. The ability to speak English in Guatemala is a huge benefit and opens the door for many opportunities that would not be available to them otherwise. Employers here will pass on an overqualified applicant and take one not as qualified if they can speak English.
About six months ago, Tanya heard the Lord tell her that He doesn’t need our sacrifice, only our obedience. As we walk in obedience, we have witnessed the immense blessing of the Lord. Time and time again, God proves Himself faithful by providing for us in every way possible. It’s so neat to see how this testimony impacts the children in our home. They see how the Lord provides for us and answers our prayers as we choose to obey Him. Now they are praying of their own free will and asking the Lord to help and provide for them!
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Seeing children come and go from our home is heartbreaking! Tanya and I don’t know how to love, except with all of our heart. God sent us here to show these children the love of a family and when they are taken out of our home, we are deeply saddened. Of course, we are happy they are returning to their biological family, which is what God wants. However, the attachment is still there, and we consider every child in our home part of our family, even if it is only for a day.
Even in the midst of our heartache, God has increased our capacity to love the families and communities where our children return. Our vision and mission has broadened to include supporting the biological families with educational and spiritual support as well as with the provisions they need to better care for the children who were once under our care. Most of these families are not followers of Jesus. Our heart is to see them saved through the knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ. As we witness to the families, please pray they have a tender heart to receive the good news.