Visiting with Samuel and Paola

Many of you probably remember Samuel and Paola.  They are precious siblings who spent almost two years here at the orphanage with us, and we grew to love them so dearly.  They both developed genuine relationships with God that affected their outlook, attitudes, and lives.  We witnessed the fruits of the Holy Spirit in them.  Then, before Christmas last year, they were adopted by a new family here in Juarez. 

We visited them shortly after they had gone to live with their new family, but didn’t have a chance to return and visit them....until last week!  We called their new mom and arranged with her to meet them at a park near their home to visit with them and play with them.  So, we loaded up the vans and took all of our children to visit Samuel and Paola.  They were so excited to see us!  They hugged us and then met all of the new children.  They seem to be very happy and well-adjusted with their new family.  Samuel and Paola are also very intelligent, and Samuel recently won first-place at a district academic competition! 

At the park, Paola seemed to enjoy hanging out with Diana and Mayte, who were the only girls that she knew from her time at Rivers of Mercy.  Near the end of our time at the park, Emmis asked Samuel and Paola to share with the other children a little bit about what it has been like for them to have been adopted and have a new family, and how their life has changed.  They both encouraged the children to not be scared or nervous about having a new family.  They told them that new parents have to attend trainings (through DIF) to learn how to be good parents, and that they (the children being adopted) attend trainings to learn how to be good children.  They encouraged them to not be afraid to talk with their new parents about how they feel, but to trust them and share freely with them, since their parents love them and want what is best for them.

Samuel sharing about his new family

When we got home, Emmis told me something that really touched my heart.  He said that when Samuel finished talking to the children at the park, he turned to Emmis and told him, “Tell them the story of José (Joseph)...c’mon, Emmis, tell them about José!”  Remember?--Remember Samuel’s testimony?  Hearing the Bible story about Joseph shortly after arriving at the orphanage changed Samuel’s life—he realized that even though bad things had happened to him that he didn’t understand, God was and is in control and allows things to happen for Samuel’s good, according to God’s perfect purpose.  Samuel wanted all of the children to understand this—that just as God had a perfect plan for Samuel, He does for them, too.  This is the message of hope that truly transforms the hearts and lives of despairing children.

Read a previous blog about Samuel and Paola's New Beginning here.