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Karely was very surprised

A child’s birthday is a big deal. It’s like a holiday to celebrate just you. That one special day when everyone remembers you, your birth, and that you’re running out of fingers to hold up. For many lucky kids, this special day is lavishly celebrated each year thanks to very loving and able parents. For that first birthday, you may even take out a line of credit to create a small theme park in the backyard. Once you recover from that, the parties become lesser of a presentation each year, but without a doubt, childhood birthdays are the best of all until you’re old enough that people start celebrating the simple fact that you’re still alive.

Goofing around with "Tavo"

For kids like ours, birthdays are already of this matter. Their special day comes, and I believe they ask, “Does anyone notice I’m still alive?” Many of their parents are not there at all and if they are, they simply don’t have as many resources as other parents do to tell their children that their existence is indeed acknowledged. I’ll never forget the conversation I had with one of my closest boys Gustavo whose birthday came and went without me even knowing. He said no one remembered but his mom who gave him a hug and told him ”Happy Birthday.” “That’s a lot for me,” he said. Quite moved by this, I took him to the amazing VIP movie experience we have here in Juarez. However, I guess like all parents, I learned after that first time that I’ll need to be more resourceful.

A supporter allowed these three brothers to share a birthday celebration

As the parents of 100 children, it’s quite a task just to acknowledge their birthdays. There are multiple celebrations needed each week. The ministry once had a faithful volunteer that would bring cake each month to celebrate all the birthdays of the month at once. However, with this new program, I wanted the need of individual attention to be addressed. We do have many wonderful supporters that send gifts for certain children’s birthdays, but I recognized a need to acknowledge every birthday from the people who daily act as their parents. I know for me, some of these kids literally call me “dad,” and they ask me what I’m going to do for their coming birthday… good question!

Amanda with some of her new friends

It wasn’t long that my sister Amanda came down to visit me here for the first time. She was moved by many things, but one in particular was how the birthdays of the kids seem to come and go without much acknowledgement. We talked about some ideas that could realistically celebrate each and every child’s birthday, on their birthday. Even better, her and her husband began supporting me monthly, and soon after her visit, she had a birthday plan completely worked out. It was through this tremendous support that we started the new birthday program this November.

They all wanted to lick the candle!

It’s very simple what we do, but it has shown to satisfy the tremendous need these kids have on their special day. With a calendar of all of their birthdays, I have the privilege of creating each child’s little birthday cake made just for them. It’s simply a packaged cupcake dressed in chocolate syrup and whip cream topped with sprinkles and a candle, but the kids go wild over it! The birthday boy or girl definitely feels special, and the other kids gather around on their own to present the cake and sing the Spanish Happy Birthday song. We have already celebrated four birthdays in just the first two weeks. We have much hope that this inexpensive and easy program will satisfy all the kids, especially given their new persistence in making sure I know when their birthday is too.

So maybe kids don’t really need the small theme park afterall. We could save the money to take some extra time off work and give our kids the individual attention that they really want.

Girl’s birthday cake

Karely was very surprised

She made a wish and blew out her candle

Wish comes true!

Boy’s birthday cake

Jonathan could hardly wait for his cake!

Diana’s birthday

Making a wish

They all wanted to lick the candle!

She couldn’t wait for a fork!

Goofing around with “Tavo”

A supporter allowed these three brothers to share a birthday celebration

 

This update is dedicated to Michael and Amanda. I hope you realize what awesome things you are doing through your constant encouragement, monthly support, visits, and the love that you show moment by moment to your own two children. Thank you for sharing the blessings you have for your children to bless so many others.

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