Learning

The past two weeks have been a new adventure for Jennifer and I as we endeavor to teach 2nd grade to K! I am learning science words and math words and things I had never even thought about studying before in Spanish :) Also trying to figure out the balance of making her concentrate and study while the baby is screaming in the background. There is so much of life for her to learn that sometimes adding and subtracting take a backseat.  But I have been encouraged in that she is starting to remember some things that I think she learned before in school and she loves to draw, and is good at it! She makes me laugh because if I ask her to do 5-3 she has a really hard time.  But if I say "You have 5 eggs and eat 3 of them, how many do you have left?" she knows it right away.  The opposite of most kids who hate doing word problems.  But she has learned math in the school of life. :)  Also yesterday we started reading a story from the Jesus Storybook Bible during school.  Although she told me she didn't like it because it is a cartoon book, she paid attention and didn't want the story to end.

We were talking yesterday about the maturity level of the girls in the house in general and how much that affects their ability to be patient with their children. Doña Oneyda was giving the example of W.  He has recently been having a really hard sleeping because of big thunder storm that we had.  He woke up crying and scared and now doesn't want to be in his room by himself to go to sleep.  In a 20 year old mind, his mom is ready for him to be over it and doesn't have the patience to sit in there with him for a little while or give him a few extra snuggles to calm his nerves.  So its been a fight with her to teach her to be compassionate towards her son as this is not disobedience, but real fear.  We see this in K with breast-feeding.  If the baby lets go one time after 2 minutes she is convinced he doesn't want anymore and then he cries for the next hour because he is hungry.  So we're working on pumping and being patient and devoting herself to real feeding times.

And I get it.  Being a mom is hard and some days I am selfish and I want to stay in my bed in the morning instead of getting up and getting breakfast and helping pick out clothes.  One day last week didn't feel good so I just let Lesther take the kids and didn't get up to help.  When I went to pick up Nicolle I was mortified at the outfit she had put together for herself... oh 6 year old style.  But I didn't get up, so I can't be frustrated with her.  So yeah, I get it.  Its a daily fight to love our kids well and give up our desires to be able to serve them.  I'm so thankful that the Lord made me a mom because it helps me minister better to these moms.  Empathizing with them, and yet challenging them to fight to be the best moms they can be with God's help.

PDE Info Sheet

I am working on some support raising stuff for PDE, so I was trying to figure out how to sum up the house and what we do into one sheet of paper. Talk about difficult. I feel like our ministry is so multifaceted... but maybe I at least hit the basics. I really feel strongly that the Lord is using this ministry and that the girls are learning and growing in Him and that we really are seeing generational change happening because of how the Lord is changing these families. So if you would like to join us as a monthly supporter, please let me know or visit the website at mtw.org. If you know anyone who may be interested, please share this info sheet with them, give them my contact information (email is ssinnes@gmail.com), blog site, whatever. If you are a pastor or part of a missions committee... please take this to your church. Even if you're not, please take this to your church :) I would love to give more information to anyone who is interested! Thanks :)

PDE Info Sheet 2013 by ssinnes

Opression

Opression is the best word that I could come up with for the things in my heart.  I do not personally feel opressed, but I feel heavy-hearted for those who are.  As I am praying and hurting for them today these are the things that come to mind...
Helpless, burdened, scared, stuck, worried

I know two girls right now who are in really tough situations. Both are dear to my heart.  One is pregnant and one thinks she might be.  The situations surrounding these pregnancies and complicated, forceful, unfair, and just sad.  The girls are devestated.  They didn't want this, it was forced upon them  by abuse or deceit or just plain manipulation.

What do you do when you're trapped?  When your wellbeing depends on someone who treats you terribly?  What do you do when you just cry yourself to sleep every night because you feel hopeless.

I want to pack them up in my car and start another kind of home where they can live there and be safe and cared for and have medical treatment and be loved.  And yet... due to different circumstances with each of them, that's not an option.

But God knows.  He is the author of life, the makes or babies, the one who knits us together in our mother's wombs.  He knows these girls intimately, He know all the details.  I can pray.  I can share Scripture with them.  Today I dropped off an mp3 player full of sermons in Spanish to offer some kind of hope in the midst of a dark season.  I can only cling to Christ.  He has to have the answers for this because I have nothing.  In HIM there is hope even when things don't seem to look like what is best or right.

So pray please.  Beg with me for these girls to know Jesus as their Savior, their Father, their first love. Pray that they will cling to Him, be encouraged in Him, that they will know real life because of Him.  And pray for His provision for shelter, food, clothes, kind words... and pray for me to know how to be involved, what to say, how to act, how to show love and grace.  I want to throw punches today, but I am begging the Lord for grace.  Pray.

Prekinder Day 1

Today this little cutie started pre-kinder.  She will turn 3 in August but is talking up a storm and ready to be learning.  We are mostly doing things that some moms just do naturally with their children.  But here it is not very common to see a mom sitting on the floor playing with her kids or pulling out playdough and making snakes and heart shapes.  So there are things that this little one is ready to learn, but she just needs someone to give her the time to teach her.  So here we go...

We started with puzzles and she was loving it!  We are doing everything in English because although we have spoken to her in English for a long time, she still doesn't speak much back.  She understands some and its going to come quickly.  By the end of the morning she was doing the puzzle in the order of the animals as I was telling her.  We colored and learned all about the color blue.  We found everything in the room that was blue and made blue circles.  And then we did the letter J for her name :)  It is now hanging above her bed and she is so proud.  When clases were over she went marching out to her mom to show off all her work.  She was so excited.  Also, pretty cute little "uniform" we came up with.  She'll wear it every time we have class so that she knows its time to learn and pay attention!

Meanwhile Nicolle got some snuggles on the couch with this little one.  She is such a little mama and can't stand to have a baby within eyesight without getting a cuddle.  Could be that she is a little bit like me :)  Maybe she'll be running this ministry in the future!

Kids

These are three of the most important people in my life.  Two of them had birthdays last week.  We now have a six year old and a nine year old!  Seeing as how before March I didn't have any children, it is hard to believe that now we have three and they are growing up fast!

There are some things about this time that I just don't want to forget, and since I don't keep a journal at the moment, I'm going to write them on here.  And maybe they will make you smile or laugh as you read them too!  I so wish that my family and friends in the states could know my little munchkins better, but here are some glimpses.

Angel pretends every night that he doesn't want me to love on him before he goes to sleep.  But if I leave the room without saying "I love you" or giving him a kiss he yells after me... "mi kiss, mi kiss" in Spanglish until I come back.  Of course when I come back he hides under his blanket like he never wanted a kiss in the first place.  He pretends like he isn't excited about things we do for him, like his new Messy jersey, but then wears it every time its clean and shows it off to everyone :)  He loves soccer and everything soccer related.  He is a great big brother, to Nicolle and Andres, and any other random youngin that ends up over here, J, Elias, whoever!  He is like is daddy in that he notices needs and tries to meet them, bringing people a chair, washing extra dishes, etc.  And he is 100% encouraging words love language.  He face lights up when I praise him.

Nicolle is the one that keeps us laughing and throwing our hands up in the air at the same time.  She is always active, mostly obedient, and just creative in her craziness.  This week she forgot to put her tooth under the pillow for two nights in a row and was devestated the tooth fairy didn't come.  She watered the inside of the dryer instead of the plants, told her dad she didn't knock the plant over, but that it was just sleeping and would wake up in the morning, tries to tell everyone what to do, and is the biggest snuggle bug.  She has learned the most English but in the process says hilarious things.  She sings "and the home of the grapes" at the end of the Star Spangled Banner and other constantly funny Spanglish things.  She loves to help me do whatever I am doing and is my little shadow.  She is so so loving, has no problem making friends, and is just a bright spot every day.

Andres may be the cutest two year old ever.  He is so shy, but clings to me and calls me mama, which warms my heart.  He is learning SO much, every time he is here I am just blown away by how much he retains.  He says... "monkey, bunny, juice, night, wuv you, tank you, welcome, and whatever else you tell him to repeat."  He has the singsongy little voice that melts my heart.  And he is a HAM!  We have a video of him falling over dead multiple times after getting shot with a nerf gun... so dramatic.  He rolls his eyes back in his head and falls on the bed.  He loves the book about "Leonardo the Terrible Monster" and snorts every time we mention it, because that's Leonardo's noise of course!  He repeats his Bible verse to me every week, but sometimes throws the snort in there at the end just because he knows it makes me laugh.  He also repeats all my little noises and hoorays, even when I don't realize that I'm doing them.  Last week he said "God forgives yay!"  Instead of God forgives sins. :)  I mean He does forgive and hooray for that!

I love these guys and wouldn't trade them for the world :)  So thankful that God choose me to be part of this awesome family.

Growing Up

I know she's not even three yet, but we feel like she is really growing up!  She is the oldest of the kiddos in the PDE family and really acts like the big sister.  She helps give bottles, rock babies in the swing, pick up fallen pacifiers, and tells on W every time he goes to hit someone in the face.  Not that she never tries to suffocate someone with her hugs, but usually towards the little babies its all in love.  Not always in love towards W, but they are definitely like siblings.  They fight like crazy and love each other like crazy.  When she stayed with us for 5 days she couldn't stop talking about him.  Recently we've been trying to do some new, fun things with her because she can appreciate them now.  We went to the circus and she LOVED it.  And she got to come to Nicolle's princess birthday party and had such a great time.  Next up... preschool!  We are starting at home preschool next week.  Really just doing things like learning colors and playing playdough and using big chunky crayons.  You know, the normal 2 year old things.  But I think she will love it!  Please keep praying for this little one to grow up  loving Jesus. :)

 

Twins and Plans

Well, not totally twins, but they are only 4 days apart and are going to spend a least a year being siblings... so... might as well be twins!  Today they were loving having a little time on floor together, although O would appreciate it if G stopped trying to eat his hands.

With the arrival of our new family, we are officially at capacity for the first time since we opened the home!  I am so thankful that the Lord brought exactly the  girls that HE wanted and at the time that they needed to come.  It wouldn't have been my timing, but I can now see the wisdom in it.

It is crazy because at the same time that we are settling in a new family we are also starting to think through when C and B will leave.  It will probably be a year or a little more, but we are really thinking through the changes we need to make now so that they will be prepared.

Next week starts a new schedule for PDE.  Jennifer and are will start pre-k in English (super laid back style) with J who turns 3 in August.  Its time for her to learn colors and numbers and animals and all that good stuff and just give her some more to do while the younger babies are sleeping.

B will start doing a "mentoring" internship of sorts with my sister-in-law who has a pulperia (neighborhood supermarket of sorts).  They are in every neighborhood and this is what B wants to do later on to support herself and her baby.  Its great because you can have your store in front of your house and you don't have to find childcare.  Riccy will teach her about keeping inventory, when to order new stuff, what kinds of foods to stock, etc.

Jennifer and I will be teaching a review through first grade and second grade in SPANISH for K... pray for that!  We've never been to second grade in Spanish :)  But school is already halfway over so its too late for her to enter this year.

Y will be opening up a at home beauty service for people we know here in town to get more practice and make a little extra cash in the mornings before she goes to the salon.  She has to make her own fliers, buy her own supplies, and keep track of her money for her budget.

C will be putting bags that she makes in our "short-term team" souvenir shack to make a little extra money to start covering more costs of food and electricty at the house so have a better idea of what real life costs.

We are busy, but so thankful for where the Lord has us.  The new baby is getting healthier every day, our new mom is laid-back and eager to learn.  We see the girls learning more about Jesus and learning slowly but surely how to serve others in His name.  And we are excited that God is really preparing these girls to be moms who can raise their kids in a Godly manner when they leave!

Thank you for your prayers.  We have had two new monthly donors this week!  Please continue to prayerfully consider supporting us monthly!!!  And spread the word...

Introducing...

Yesterday was a big day for 16 year old K and her 6 month old son O.  They have been wanderers of sorts over the last few months.  The last two weeks they ended up back with her mom, but only with the promise that they would be leaving soon.  Mom has 6 children and only makes $25/week so she doesn't have the money to help them the way that they need it.  But mom cares about them enough to seek the help that they need and agreed to sign them in to Puerta de Esperanza!



Mom has never been in school herself and struggled to write her name on the papers we needed her to sign.  She works as a housekeeper and was making the most delicious fried chicken when we stopped by!  But she never saw the importance of putting her kids in school and K only ever went to the first grade.  Our first job with her is going to be working through school work and trying to get her caught up to at least third grade so that she can go to school at night next year.

She is very young and is going to need a lot of help with parenting and many other things.  But she seems eager to learn and so excited about this opportunity. Her baby is fussy and having some allergy and other health problems.  But I am so glad that they are with us because they will be able to get the health treatment that they need.  And I'm so thankful to Leile for putting us in touch with K and taking care of her over the last few weeks while we got the details in place for her to move in.

If you would like to help us financially at Puerta de Esperanza, we really need monthly supporters.  No amount is too small to help.  Please join us in helping these girls learn more about Jesus, motherhood, and how to provide for their own families!

Here are the details…

Checks noted to account number #92413 to
Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284

Or visit the donations site at https://donations.mtw.org

And also... Jennifer was in the states for 5 weeks and we are SOOOOOO excited that she is back!  And praise the Lord that she was able to raise her personal support while she was home! :)

Heavy

Sometimes I forget the gravity of the ministry the Lord has us doing here.  It becomes about changing diapers and going grocery shopping and to the dentist, that sometimes I forget to stop and think about the big picture.  

Today I was reminded of the need that the Lord is meeting in these girls.  It is a physical need for food and formula and teaching on how to discipline your child, but it is so much more than that.  It is a deep Spiritual need to walk with Jesus and know Him in every part of their life.  To let what God says affect the way they spend money and parent and work and study... it is not allowing them to participate in a cycle of downward spiral where they depend on other people more than Christ.  It is giving them some tough love that means not buying them everything they want so that they learn how to provide for themselves.

This is ministry that has no manual.  No one has the answers when it comes to broken relationships and families, babies without daddies or with daddies who don't or can't help them.  No one could say exactly what is best for each of these girls on a daily basis.  Only the Lord has the answers to that.  So this ministry is His and we try to listen and be obedient.  

Today I was reminded that others are walking this same road with people that they love.  Other people are fighting for answers as to how to love their kids well in the midst of a hard season.  Other people are longing for a manual that has all the answers in step by step form to be able to fix things for someone who is suffering.  And yet, God doesn't ask us to fix it... He asks us to listen faithful to Him and point these people that we love back to Jesus.

God is in the business of redemption.  Pray that we would have the strength and wisdom to faithfully follow His leading.

Big Steps

What does it look like to transition from someone helping you learn to be a mom to eventually living in the real world?  Great question.  We're not sure yet.  But we know it is a process and one that eventually these girls will walk.  So we are trying to start little by little pushing them out of their comfort zone to the point that they will be able to be independent moms of their family who love Jesus and teach their children about Him.

To that end, these two crazies stayed by themselves for 5 days last week.  Our house mom went on vacation and Y and J came to stay with me (because she is nowhere near ready to be on her own!).  But these two girls at 20 and 24 are in the process of transition.  I knew they would do fine and that it would make them so much more thankful for how people love and serve them every day.

They did great.  They took care of the babies, managed to eat every meal and get to work on time. They didn't really leave the house other than to go to and from work because its hard to run errands with babies.  They realized they have been a little spoiled by being able to run by the bank or the grocery store on the way home because there is always someone to watch the baby for them.  They kept their budget, came to church and small group, and didn't have any wild parties.  I'm proud of them :)  The Lord is really growing them and teaching them.

Next step... from now on they only have "babysitting" during work hours.  So if they want to run errands they have to come pick up their baby and take them with them.  Just another lesson in real life.  I really think by next summer they will be off on their own... crazy huh?!?  But so sweet of the Lord to be moving them in that direction.

And I will say, when Dona Oneyda got home they were SOOO excited to see her!  I don't think they'll be taking her for granted anytime soon.