South of the Boarder Report - August 2008

The Hope House

Yesterday we experienced our first real heartbreak since the boys arrived. Jose Ramon, our smallest boy was transferred to another children's home closer to his family in Guadalajara. When he came to us he had a slight rash on his back. He told me that he rubbed his back on the wall to try and scratch it. I almost cried at the thought of this little boy not having a Mommy to scratch his back when it itched. With a little hydrocortisone and some Cetiphil lotion, the rash went away in no time. Each night when I assisted with the Evening shift. He would ask me if I was going to pray for him. And then he would ask it I would put lotion on his back.

We have known for about 3 weeks that Jose was going to be transferred. You see his father, who lost custody of him because of neglect, complained to the system, because Jose and his little brother who was living at the Love in Action Center had been separated. It didn't seem to matter that both children were thriving, healthy and happy. And since we work so closely with Love in Action they still got to see each other and play weekly. The last night that I rubbed lotion on his back, it was all I could do to keep from crying.

When Rodney told him that he was leaving, he said that Jose's eyes filled with tears. By the time I got to the center he had already left.

Although I am sad I know that we are making a positive difference in the lives of these boys and we will take the opportunities to show them love and a better way of life no matter how short our time is with them.

Please keep Jose, our team and the other 10 boys living at the Hope House in your prayers.

And as always, thanks for helping to make a difference in the lives of these boy's lives. We couldn't do it without you.

The Dutro's
Shepherd's Heart Ministries, www.shmius.org
The Hope House, www.casahogarmexico.org