A SUDDEN EVICTION!

OUT ON THE STREET!

Early this morning I got a call from Aaron, “Von, I have some bad news. Ernesto just got a call from Edith and they're all out on the street and she needs help.”

It seems that yesterday Edith and the Tribo Jesus Orphanage kids (more than a hundred) were evicted. Everything and everyone was literally put out on the dirt road next to their former facility. (A pretty lousy place, I might add)

Aaron and I had different plans for today but, considering their situation, we quickly adjusted to new plans. They have no money. Spectrum's general fund is so low that Aaron, our director, had to wait until the middle of this month to cash his salary check. What a time for this emergency! Often people don't like to commit to a general fund, but that's where the money for a situation like this comes from.

Somehow, Aaron quickly scraped together $1,700.00 in cash and I took off to see the situation for myself and give the money to Edith (the director of the orphanage). I stopped at our dormitory in Tijuana to pick up Armando, then drove the dirt road to her involuntary campsite.

In all my born days (I have many!) and all my time spent in Mexico, I have never seen an eviction of an orphanage. Over one hundred and twenty people and everything they owned ... out on the street in a matter of a few hours! Then again, this is Mexico... Tijuana to be exact.

When we drove up, I was surprised to see Edith sitting peacefully in front of the locked gate eating breakfast with several staff and a couple of kids. She was smiling. “God will provide”, she said as she greeted us and told us what had happened.

"Where are all the kids?", I thought. My answer came as she continued her story. This morning after a hasty “breakfast”, she quickly shuttled most of the kids out to a variety of families and a church. Several were returned to their dysfunctional families. No real solution, just a temporary fix. How temporary? We don't know.

As we said good-by we told her Aaron would be down in the afternoon.

I'm ashamed to say it, but I don't think I would be as peaceful as Edith. To me, this seems to be a rather legitimate environment for worry ... but not for Edith. She sits there trusting God. Wow!

Just wanted to ask for your prayers for Edith and her little “tribe of Jesus” kids.

Pray for us, too, as we choose what part we can play in the lives of these kids.