We were robbed today!!

At 7:30 this morning we had someone break into our rear gate and start loading things from our storage room in the back. Only because we had a worker doing some maintenance did we know they were there, as soon as they were discovered they scurried away like the rats they are. I have spent all day dealing with the Misiterio Publico ( the local DA) who were all incredibly professional .
We lost about $750 in computers we were saving for the boys home and tools that we were using to do work here on the property. The most important thing to Lupita and me is the loss of security for the girls. We have worked hard to make this a safe place to forget their old life and this is working to bring it back. We just had the police come to the house to let us know they are implementing a system of patrol with a signed log to let us know that they are going to be here. This will also help the patrol problem here in the Ejido as well. Praise God!
Pray for us. The attack today only enforces to us that we are doing the right thing and it only makes us more determined.

We’re almost full!!

We are now at 7 permanent girls and a brother and sister temporarily. This house rocks when everyone is excited and the 4 yr old boy is a true boy. He plays hard and does what seems right without some guidance. But they’re all good kids and are happy here.

We are going into the egg business, I hope by the end of this month. We have been working hard to get it done and without Richard’s help it would still be a skeleton. I asked the local vet, Dr. Solis, what else we needed and he had many things on his list that we needed so we’re searching for everything this week and we’ll be installing everything ASAP.  If you need a vet down here he is the only one we ever go to.
We will be raising our own eggs to eat and expect to be able to sell 30 – 40 dozen a month for now. It doesn’t sound like much but it pays for itself and we produce free range organic eggs which are nothing like the local eggs. We have stores and bakeries wanting the eggs but I think it would be better to sell to our Casa de Fe family here in town first. I’ll let you know when they are ready.

I am so glad we are doing what we were called to do. Read the whole email.

I am amazed by the blessings we have received from all of you and the incredible joy that we see in the faces of everyone that is involved with us. I want to thank all of the people who helped with our very successful fundraiser / memorial on the 25th of March. It was good to have everyone there dancing and having a good time.
We were asked to take the girls to Campo Cristiano in San Matias the Sunday after for 3 relaxing days and we got to hang with our friends from Henderson, Nv. and just be part of the gang.

This is the most important thing to us right now. We are now starting construction on the roof for our 2nd home. If anyone knows someone who can do a simple truss design for us, please let us know. I have the $$ for the lumber and we are going to build the trusses here on site. The reason this is most important is that we are desperate to continue helping the children here in Baja and to be here to help children who are abused and abandoned. I saw this photo on Facebook and am amazed how little mention there has been of this baby. Help us help them. This is why we are here!





It’s been a fun 2 weeks!!

We have been selling tickets like crazy and I hope there are enough for everyone. We are filling up our fundraiser for Wed. the 28th at the Pavilion and it going to be a great time for everyone.

Last week I sent out an email to some people I know asking for help and we were hugely blessed by DJ & Lynette at Door of Faith. They arranged to have Rachel come over from their staff for a month to help Lupita and me until we can find some more people to help staff the house. Carol & I would stay at the house on Lupitas day off. I can’t stay there by myself so we need to find someone to fill in and stay here at night with Lupita. Rachel is great with the girls and is already a valuable asset for us.

We had a “pre-party” event with some friends from Mexicali, Calexico and El Centro who came down for a fun time with all of us at Casa de Fe. Miguel and everyone came down to spend time with the girls and serve us a lunch that never stopped. We had hamburgers, carne asada, hot links that were too hot for the kids and all of the trimmings to go with it. It was fun hanging out with everyone and we’re hoping to make it an ongoing event here at the house. They brought some really nice clothes for the girls, had a HUGE piñata and made us all feel special. The girls had a great time and Tia, Rachel & I enjoyed hanging with everyone and getting a break with some adult time. It was also very cool seeing these tough off road guys melt when the baby was passed around and they ended holding her longer than the ladies. Life is good.

I am asking you all for some help!

With what has been happening in the last few weeks, the marketing that was usually done for our event has been delayed. I am asking you to help us make this an event on the 28th at the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch that will memorialize Carol like never before here in San Felipe. We are having a superb dinner with live Rock N Roll for dancing the night away. We’re also having a silent auction with many incredible items, including a painting from Louis Cogley and many hand crafted pieces from the San Felipe Artist Guild. Carol will be there with us, let’s celebrate the vision.

We Are Getting Another Girl

Even after what happened last week, we have been incredibly blessed. Clayton Valley, Ca. Rotary Club had taken responsibility of providing us with the items from our Needs List. When they told us this we were ecstatic about getting the items for the kids. They outdid that with a 1996 15 passenger, 1 ton Ford van that they had a club member go through mechanically and put on all new tires as well. It couldn’t be better to us if it were new. We are humbled to have received it and are going to use it to go to Mexicali tomorrow. Rotary has been an integral part of our being able to do what we are doing, from work volunteers, a grant to buy the furnishings we needed to open and now this. You are all a part of our family.
I also want to take this time to thank everyone who has helped us in our time of need. I don’t want to start listing names because I don’t want to forget anyone but all of you have helped us all with your love and support. Be it a donation, a card or phone call to a simple hug and prayer, it has all been important and appreciated.
We had our annual inspection today with DIF. They wanted to see where we were at with the house and our determination to continue. Lupita and I have talked at length over the last week and told them solidly what we had mentioned in the last newsletter. We were told we passed our inspection, they were very happy with the home and children and they are going to give us information on another 3 year old that we should receive next week.
We are blessed and are looking forward to getting the next house finished and filled.

We Love You Carol, Happy Birthday Today

  It’s taken me a few days to sit down to write this so please forgive me.
     Tuesday morning, Feb. 21st, Carol and I were in San Felipe doing errands when she had a heart attack and died. I thank God I was there with her and was there the whole time that Cruz Roja worked to help her heart restart. She has had heart problems for many years and this was something they could not help her with. They worked tirelessly for an hour and never faltered in their work. I applaud them greatly.
     We were married for almost 35 years and have lived here in San Felipe for the last 8 years. Just last week we had talked about the evolution of our dream of Casa de Fe and how God’s hand had been holding us up for the entire ride. There were so many obstacles that only He could have resolved that we knew we were doing the right thing. We were to be simple servants here for the people we are privileged to have in our lives.
     The greatest joy in our lives was and still is being with and helping these girls grow and develop into the strong women we know they will be. Also, last week we had made decisions about forming a formal board or “consejo” to be able to continue the work of Casa de Fe if something happened to one or both of us. We had made a wish list of people who we wanted to work with and in the last couple of days they have all graciously agreed to work with us. We are blessed to have 2 strong women, Lupita Perez and Bonnie Gilbert, who will continue the clerical and financial administration of Casa de Fe and John Gilbert and Pastor Cesar Sanchez to help guide us into the next phase of our vision. We are still dedicated to filling this home with more girls and finishing the second home for boys, with 7 houses being the final goal for Casa de Fe on the property we now have.
     Thank you for your prayers and blessings. Get ready to rock; we’re catching our breath for the next round.