Felix

I've been home for a day and a half now, and I cannot get Felix out of my mind. Tami, my wife, is a big fan of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She was watching it Sunday as I floated in and out of consciousness on the couch.

I woke up just before the end of the show. They were moving the bus to reveal the family's new home. I watched with a very heavy heart as this family recieved a beautiful new home. Each child got a room that reflected their dreams and aspirations. They were all very appreciative and I am certain they deserved everything they got.

Jeff and I sat with Felix on Thursday to see what the needs at Hogar Di Nino's were. Felix is the director of the orphanage in Chilca across the street from Hannah's Home. Felix and his wife Erika are there because they feel lead by God to help the children at Hogar Di Nino's. They left good jobs in Lima to travel an hour south and live in one room with their three daughters so they could help orphans.

Felix's needs were not a new home, or a spacious bathroom with a jaccuzi tub so he could relax after a hard day, or a new stereo or even a new paint on the walls. His budget from the company who owns the orphanage is short each month. There is no hope of the parent company increasing the budget, they are bankrupt. So Felix has spent his personal savings to meet this shortfall. The debt Hogar has incurred as a result worries Felix. They owed the bread company, and the gas company. They couldn't buy rice or milk for the kids. He had an idea to make Hogar self sustaining, but due to conditions out of his control it didn't work.

We were there painting walls and making things look nice so we felt better about the conditions at Hogar. Extreme Home Makeover, Peruvian Edition.

But they needed food. Imagine that you're worried about how to pay your bills and feed your family, and some people show up saying "We're here to help because we love you. What can we paint?"

Missions is about relationships. Our relationship with Felix has just hit its stride. He felt safe enough about us that he told us what was really going on. What struck me was he didn't say he needed a more living space, or new clothes, or even new strings for his guitar. Food for the kids, an opportunity to succeed and teach these kids how to succeed.

Jeff and I took the need back to the team that night. And they rose to the occassion. We were able to get Felix the opportunity to succeed. We met the short term needs and gave Hogar a chance to take a step toward becoming self sustaining. And Felix will teach the children of Hogar Di Ninos not only how to succeed, but how to be loving and have integrity and character. But most importantly Felix will teach the children of Hogar Di Nino's whose they are. Not his, not ours, but God's kids.

We have a lot of work still to do in Chilca, Peru. And we have a partner in Felix.