Added details for the previous post, Processing in Progress.
The home my group went to visit is called Amazing Grace Children’s Home in English, and Sublime Gracia Casa Hogar in Spanish (Facebook page here). As I said in the previous post, they take in abandoned, neglected, and abused children, loving them, taking care of their needs, and telling them about Jesus.
When my group arrived the children sang some songs for us, having learned a few in English just for us. Over the next few days we had a couple parties and an outing with the kids. Everyone had a great time! It was almost like second Christmas. Even though I don’t speak much Spanish, it was great to have fun together! At one party the chair soccer got pretty intense!
I’d like to say again how well adjusted these kids are. They’ve been through a lot, but they’ve found family and healing from Jesus at the Children’s Home. From the kids that shared their stories, a few had no father and a neglectful mother, often being left for days or weeks without food. Older siblings would scrape together what they could to feed their younger siblings, frequently going without food themselves so the younger ones could eat. Some kids would dig through garbage to find food or something they could sell to later buy food. They weren’t going to school. A couple children didn’t know when their birthdays were and had never in their lives received a gift before arriving at the Children’s Home. Now that they’re at the Home, they don’t have to worry about their next meal or their safety anymore. They know they are loved. After all they’ve been through, each child who shared let us know that Jesus was the most important thing they received at the Home.
A story I heard second hand as we were heading home really let me know just how much these kids can heal. A couple of siblings were out on the streets after their mother stopped coming back, and thought they were rescued when an uncle took them in, but he horribly abused them. Since being in the Home and getting saved, they want to go into the ministry, and one of the first things they want to do is tell their uncle about Jesus, since he needs Jesus so badly.
Many of the older kids are very next-generation minded, each wanting to help the kids who will be coming up in the Home after them. Some have plans to get a higher education and use it in the Home to help kids just like them.
As you can imagine, running a home like this costs quite a bit of money. They feed, clothe, and educate all the kids, and the facility has utility bills. They are supported by donations. Some support is a one-time gift, and that helps with surprise costs like replacing a water heater or repairing a vehicle. The more consistent support (monthly/yearly) is helpful so they can budget for what they’ll have for sure each month.
If you would like to donate, go to http://www.rodgersbaptist.net/give/ and select Amazing Grace Children’s Home from the drop-down list.
If you would like to give through mail or your own online bill pay, put AGCH in the memo or account number and send to:
Rodgers Baptist Church
P.O. Box 640639
Garland, TX 75046
For more about the Children’s Home on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGCHMX/