What is El Jordán all about anyways?
We exist for those who have been on the streets (addictions, delinquency) – or those on the verge of falling into that trap – yet WANT TO CHANGE. We first desire to point them towards Christ, the One who forgives sins and offers new life and hope… We also offer integral help – guiding them towards learning how to use/save money, respect, live under authority, hygiene, being a family and so much more… It’s almost like we become their family…walking alongside of them as they grow (and sometimes stumble) and learn…
How long do we, should we “walk along side of them”?
How long do you walk alongside your child? You teach him to take increasing responsibility until he can walk by himself - in all senses of the word - which might be 18 years or so... For “our kids”, although they are adults, the “walking by themselves” takes a while because they lack basic life skills – or have warped survival skills which aren’t biblical or healthy…
Usually every year we have to tell several girls that they can’t come to El Jordan – or that they can only come to Bible Study but no other classes – because we see no evidence that they want to change… (the door is always open for them to come back if they choose to change…) They say you can’t move a parked car - nor can you force change on another person… it has to begin in that person’s heart… and then start showing outward signs of that choice…
You can’t walk along side of someone who doesn’t want to walk…
Dinosaurs?
This year we told three of our girls that they are no longer students… not because they are “parked cars”… but rather because they’ve moved beyond needing a hand to hold in their walk with God… and in life… María Luisa, Sandra and Marina have come to El Jordán for years… Called “dinosaurs” by some because they were around for so long… we prefer to call them what they really are - beautiful, responsible Christian ‘ladies’… We’ll always be family – they can drop by whenever they want… but now they “have grown up”… and I have to say, we are proud of them…
They came to El Jordán for different reasons: a “husband” from the streets, a “husband” deeply involved in delinquency, a home situation with delinquency, drugs and “streets”… Over the years, we’ve seen them grow from abusive relationships; broken, unstable families, daily struggles, with small children living the fruits of their decisions - to having a living, growing relationship with God, a united family, stability in their lives, their own homes and hope for the future.
Because they had changed so much, they asked a couple years ago – if we’d still let them come to classes or if they could become volunteers… We told them that to be a volunteer they needed to be a part of a local church… and they needed more of a biblical foundation to be able to teach others… Since then, they’ve basically come to El Jordan only for Bible study and we’ve had the incredible joy of seeing them grow and mature… Their change has made a difference in their families… In Sandra and María Luisa’s case – they have gotten married, baptized, their husbands have become Christians and they are active in local churches…
What El Jordán is all about…
This past Friday, I saw a picture of what El Jordán is all about… María Luisa has been helping our crochet teacher since the beginning of the year… (The teacher says that the girls ask Maria Luisa to help them more than her… ) When our teacher had to go to a funeral on Friday, María Luisa filled in, no problem…
That same day we celebrated Bolivian Father’s Day – inviting our girls’ partners – trying to build bridges with the “dads”… We served a buffet supper…and needed a volunteer at the fourth table to lead discussion and guide conversation… Our other volunteers couldn’t make it… so we asked Saúl – María Luisa’s husband… No one would recognize him as the same person as 5 years ago… he has become an example with his love for his wife and family… his desire to learn more from the Bible… and in his desire to live out his faith… He is considered a leader in his church… Husband and wife… respected by volunteers, students and others… serving the Lord and others… A colossal difference from what they used to be…
Only by God’s grace… mercy… and tender care…
Watching this miracle taking place - God’s hand in the lives of Maria Luisa, Saúl and their kids has been a blessing and a privilege… It also encourages us to keep building into others’ lives… praying for the girls’ husbands who are still so lost… continue walking along side of others in their decision to change…
Thank you for your part in this ministry… in supporting us financially, in praying for us and “our kids”… We appreciate you! Thank YOU!!!
Lots of love, Corina for Marco and Keiden too…