Like this:

Carlos and me

Money is not usually something missionaries or kids in a children’s home have to spare, but things work differently in the kingdom of God. Somehow, gifts from our Father, just go farther. Like the Bible says, He calls things that are not, as though they are. By all worldly definitions, we are very poor here. I don’t work for a paycheck and the kids certainly are not sent to us with allowances from their parents. And yet, let me show you how we are rich.

The other day I was driving into the home from school, and two of my boys, Carlos and Andrés, came running to me yelling, “Adán! Please help us!” I thought someone’s life might have been at stake, but no – just pizza! Their school, a local middle school that we send them to, was taking a trip to Peter Piper Pizza (we have them in Juarez!) the next day, but the parents were required to pay for their children’s food and games. Well, we are essentially the parents of these kids, and two of my sons were asking me for my help.  They didn’t even worry about being able to play the games. They just asked for $2 each so they could eat pizza with the rest of their class.

For a missionary/college student, $4 is a lot of money! But I wish you could have seen their faces. They explained how they had already asked everyone else, and no one was able to donate anything to their little cause. Considering them as my sons, I did what any other good father would do - I opened my wallet to see what I had. This is where you can see the economy of God.

Andrés and me

Now, I don’t even pray for my needs nor my finances. It’s something that God promises us, and that’s like money in the bank. Sure enough, over these past several months, God has just poured in financial support from all over place, and I find myself having more than I truly need. Leftovers. Because my supporters have been blessed with more than enough, they have blessed me with more than enough, and I was able to give these two boys $10 so they could eat and play plenty of games with their classmates.

They were shocked and replied, “This is way more than we ever imagined!” That’s just like our God. It was a perfect opportunity to teach them that I too was surprised when I looked in my wallet, but that we as sons of God always have everything we need and more. We are not orphans! But this waterfall of blessing didn’t stop there!

The next day, I asked the boys how the trip went. No doubt they had a great time eating pizza and playing games. However, what they were most excited about was the fact that they helped some of their classmates. These are kids that actually live at home with their parents, and they were sent to school with no money to participate in the outing. Our two boys, boys from a children’s home, were sent with so much more than they needed, that they shared it with these other kids so that everyone could eat pizza and have fun. This is the kingdom of God.

Adrian and Ever eating authentic Indian

We see it all the time here, in both times of plenty and little. Last week was my first time to host the weekly staff meeting at my place. It’s expensive to feed 10 or more people, and they were worried if it would be too much of a strain for me. What a blessing it was to be able to tell them not to worry, that I would be honored to finally treat them all for a change, that new support money had just come in and that it wouldn’t be a problem at all. In fact, I had so much leftover from this dinner too that I was able to invite eight of the boys over the next day for maybe the nicest dinner they’ve ever eaten. And there were still leftovers! The boys brought it into the home where the caregivers were happy to finish it.

However, God’s loving provision is seen in times of very little as well. For instance, during the recent season where I hardly had a peso to my name. I was saddened because I hadn’t been able to tithe anything at church, but one Sunday I somehow had 50 pesos (less than $5) in my wallet. It was such a joy to finally have something to give, that I gave it all. Not an hour went by after church when I was walking in a little corner store, and there on the floor was 50 pesos. No one claimed it - another miracle in such a impoverished city. God just wanted to show me that as I give to Him, that He is even more able to give right back to me.

There are so many other examples! Like later around that same time, when I needed $5 to pay for a shirt that all the teachers in our elementary school needed. I didn’t have a penny on me, but I already knew I could tell them with confidence, ”Sure I can pay for it.” The next day I went to my college, walked into the computer lab, and there, under the chair I just happened to choose, was a $5 bill.

Let me tell you just one more! Once I had to go to downtown El Paso to pay for a parking ticket, and I didn’t even have a quarter to park at the meters. I prayed, and the only meter that was unoccupied still had an hour on it! I parked, had my ticket dismissed, and left with additional time still on the meter for someone else. Leftovers!

What happened when Jesus was invited to that party and they ran out of wine? He turned basically bath water into more, it was even better wine than what they had, and the Bible says it equalled up to 180 gallons! What happened when all those people were following Jesus and they got hungry? He took a couple of fish and some bread that this one kid had, fed all something-thousand of them until they were full, and there were more leftovers than when they had started! As we invite Jesus into our lives, as we follow Him, that is how He blesses us – in abundance.

Our Father uses gold for pavement! Surely He has way better things for you, His child. And no doubt, you will have leftovers to bless others.

Eric and Miguel enjoying dinner

Fernando and Andrés, enjoying the samosas

Adrian and Ever eating authentic Indian

Former trip to Peter Piper Pizza – it’s pretty much the coolest place for a kid to get to go to in Juarez

Carlos and me

Andrés and me

 

This update is dedicated to Derrell and Ginger. I will always remember the day I no longer had a car to get myself to school, and that same day you guys called me up and told me your truck was mine to use. You guys were so content in the blessings you had, you chose to bless me from your abundance. You could have sold it, kept it for emergencies, made use of a dependable truck somehow, but instead, I cannot put into words what a blessing this has been to me and these kids.

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