What's going on at Dulce Refugio
I know that many people have passed through this orphanage and left their mark at Dulce Refugio. I want to keep all of you informed about what is going on with the kids and the construction process. Please remember to keep us in your thoughts and prayers; I hope you continue to help us out here at Casa Hogar Dulce Refugio. Gracias amigos!
Well despite all of the talk about the Corona Virus this March, I'm happy to share some good news with everybody in the midst of these difficult times. While most people/things are shut down the construction has continued to go strong. Lots has gotten done and we have made major advancements on our new church building. Also I got to go on a great missions trip and bless other ministries.
Dulce Refugio is on lock down! Just like everybody else we are advised to stay inside and not leave unless it is essential. The director decided to keep the kids inside where they are safe and hardly anybody is getting in or out. With that being said, there aren't many updates from the orphanage this month.
For the last couple of weeks our director, Marce, has held prayer & worship meetings every night with the kids & staff. We have been dedicated to praying for the situation that is going on and for all of the friends & family of Dulce Refugio. We are also teaching our kids to seek God always....in both the good and bad times. The Lord is in control of everything and regardless of what is happening in the world we need to get our hearts right with Him! That is always the most important thing.
In the construction...
We had to call the machine back to dig again. We will have 4 columns that will support most of the weight of the building and they have to go 5ft underground. The base of the column is 6x6 ft so we now have 4 huge holes on the job sight. We've been joking that one will be for baptisms and another for a jacuzzi.
Now that the digging is done we're ready for the cement. We made our first batches of concrete and we had to do it all by hand. It was a lot more physical labor than I'm used to because at the orphanage we have a cement mixer. But anyway we got the job done. We poured a thin layer of concrete over the dirt where we are going to put the steel. Now we have a clean level surface to work on.
I got to get away for a week and go to Mazatlán. Gary Leyva and Mike Salini from my home church Horizon in San Diego came down to visit. Gary planned a missions trip because there are four Horizon missionaries currently serving in Mazatlán. We wanted to go and bless them and see the ministry they are doing. We did some work at the church, spoke at a drug rehabilitation center, helped out with a kids outreach, and other stuff. They also showed us around the city and we got to do some touristy stuff too. It was good to hang out with everybody and meet some more of my fellow Horizon missionaries!
Upon returning from Mazatlán, I hired a helper in the construction. His name is Jesús and he attends the church that I go to. He was looking for a job to help pay for his school and he also wanted to help serve in the church so it was a perfect match. Right now with school suspended due to the virus his days are open. Jesús is a young kid but a very hard worker and I'm happy that he will be helping me out with this project.
We finished making all of the steel structures for our foundations. We have them all set in place in the ground and they are ready to be covered in concrete.
We set up the steel for our eight vertical columns that will hold up the walls and roof. Finally we've done work on something that will be seen. Up to this point, everything has been the foundation that will soon be buried and never seen again. Now with these columns we are working on something above ground. We're moving up!
Well that's it for this month. I hope everybody stays safe! The kids of Dulce Refugio and I are praying for health for everybody. Keep God first in your heart through all seasons of life and remember that He is in control during both the good and the bad times:
"When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other."
-Ecclesiastes 7:14