Bethel Lutheran Church

Mexico Mission 2010 Team to Casa de Niños in Tepic Mexico July 31 to August 7 includes Dixie Johnson, Emma Hayhurst, Spencer Mast, Derek Murray, Jodi Ruis, Lynne Rustad & David Sorenson. Our first fund raiser – Herbergers Community Day (Saturday, February 27th) coupons are available from the Mexico Mission team for $5. Mark your calendars for future fundraisers for Casa de Niños—including April 4th (Easter Breakfast), May 1st (Mexican Fiesta) and June 12th (Applebees Breakfast). Contributions are always welcome—just make your check to Bethel Lutheran Church and in the memo “Mexico”. Our plan is to provide money, love and working hands for our mission week in August.

While ministering in the prison in Tepic, Mexico in 1968, the late Dr. Frank Gonzales discovered homeless street children in with the adult prisoners because there was no children’s home in the entire state of Nayarit. The Lord placed the burden on Frank’s heart to open a home for orphaned and abandoned children. In 1970 because of God’s faithfulness, ground was broken for Casa de Niños. In 1994, Frank was called to his eternal reward, but the vision God gave him for the children lives on at Casa de Niños Frank Gonzales. Casa de Niños’ goal is by God’s love seeing joy restored in the life of a little one & providing a stable, loving family setting where God’s love can heal, through this demonstrating to a needy world His goodness & power.

The birthparents of the children at Casa de Niños are unable to care for them for a variety of reasons.  Some parents relinquish their children because of issues related to poverty, some parents are in prison, others are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.  While the children are not eligible for adoption, sometimes the staff at the Casa are able to reunite them with extended family members who are able to provide a safe home.