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Our place is called "Centro de Apoyo y Orientación: El Jordán." The "Centro de Apoyo y Orientación" part will not necessarily be used all the time... but at least on paper to describe what type of place it is. It basically means a place of help and direction. The El Jordán (The Jordan) part comes from the first chapters of the book of Joshua where after years of slavery in Egypt and the 40 years of wandering in the desert because of disobedience, the Israelites are allowed to enter the promised land. It reminds us of their legacy of God's covenant - and that promise turning into a reality.

The Israelites were encouraged and promised a brighter future... if they obeyed the law of God. The priests and the ark of the covenant went first - and the Jordan stopped flowing to allow everyone to pass to the other side...the people were to follow the Levites and the ark "then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before..." Joshua told the people to "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

They made a memorial of 12 stones (from the middle of the river) - to serve as a sign, a memorial to the people of what God had done. God did this so "all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." Anyhow, not everything was smooth sailing once they crossed over the Jordan but we must "be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." This name/story kind of fits in everything I wanted to portray in a name... the idea of a new start... the idea of a bridge/door into a new life... God's might and power... hope for the future... the need to follow God... the years of disobedience and their consequences - but then the hope of change and a new start - starting with obedience to God.

....and I pray that this place, El Jordán, will be a memorial to the greatness of our Lord... that it will be a place that will point people in the right direction and give them a bit of help and encouragement along the way.