Prayer for Don

Stacey's dad, Don Ballard, is probably facing his final weeks on earth. He's fought a good fight against cancer and came to know Jesus as his Lord during that time.
Please pray for Don and our extended family at this time. Pray we'll make the best decisions for his care and carry out his desires to the best of our ability. Pray for peace and rest for our family and good friends and mostly for Don.
On a personal note, it has been my honor and privilege to have such a wonderful father! Thank you Jesus for my earthly father!

Directions to GCH - Updated 1/07

DIRECTIONS TO GRACE CHILDREN’S HOME / CASA HOGAR DE LA GRACIA

1. Before crossing the Border, be sure to buy Mexican Insurance! We recommend Instant Mexican Auto Insurance – 223 Via de San Ysidro which is 2 miles North of the Border off the 5 Freeway - (619) 428 3583. You may also pre-purchase insurance on-line or through your insurance agent. After you have your insurance, continue south on I-5 or I-805 to Tijuana border crossing. Reset your odometer to 0 at the border to keep track of your miles.

2. Immediately after crossing the border get in the right lane. Take the next on ramp, after the Aeropuerto exit, which is for Rosarito/Ensenada. Merge on the highway and begin to go up a hill. The border fence will be on your right.

3. At 4.5 miles there is a sign for the turn-off to Playas / Rosarito / Ensenada, DO NOT TAKE THIS EXIT. Continue going straight following the sign to La Mesa / Tecate / Mexicali.

4. 10.3 Miles from the border take the turn-off on the right for Rosarito/ Ensenada. There are NO SIGNS TO TELL YOU TO EXIT, so pay close attention to the mileage. Just at this exit you will see a military training area on the right, in the valley and on the hill. You will turn right alongside the edge of this training area, and will now be traveling on a new highway, heading toward Rosarito. Almost immediately on your left you’ll see a large colorful building called “DICO”, followed quickly by a PEMEX gas station.

5. Stay in the right lane of this road going toward Rosarito. You will drive past an off-ramp to “La Gloria/Tecolote”. After passing this exit, continue up the hill a short way then take the very next off-ramp to the right called Blvd. El Rosario.

6. After taking the exit, stay on Blvd. El Rosario. You will pass one stop sign, a “Calimax” store (on the left), another stop sign, 2 “OXXO” stores on the right and then the Catholic church (on your left). Keep going straight on this road a little longer. When you see an “OXXO” on your left, turn left at that street. (There is also a sign that says “Colegio Juan Bosco” at that corner). After turning left onto that dirt road, go straight then turn right at the 2nd dirt street, driving toward a very tall cell phone tower. Grace Children’s Home is two houses past the tower, just down the street on the left hand side. Park your vehicle next to the cyclone fence.

*If you get lost or need help, you can call us here at the children's home from any public phone in Mexico by dialing (664) 215-7850 if you're in Tijuana, or 01-664-215-7850 from Rosarito or outside TJ. Your cell phone may or may not work. When dialing from the U.S., you must dial 011-52-664-215-7850.

Church Plant at GCH

One of the visions of GCH is to reach it's neighbors for Christ. GCH has helped meet many physical needs in the neighborhood and now it hosts a weekly bible study, the beginning of a church plant.
The new church is called Grace Bible Church of Santa Fe. There are more than 20 adults and 10 children that attend weekly to learn about God's word. Please keep this group of new believers and seekers in your prayers!
God willing, GCH hopes to someday purchase a large property across the street to house the new church/ community center. Here's a photo of George and Pastor Martin Castro on the desired land.

George is 40!!!!!!!!!

Today my awesome husband turned 40!
We recently celebrated with a trip to his homeland of Argentina (after 28 years away). It was a great way to celebrate his life, and we were surrounded by good friends and loved ones.
One day we visited a typical Argentinian ranch (called an "estancia") and rode horses (as seen in photo with our middle son, Eric).
If you want to send George a happy b-day email, he's at palaus@juno.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANDSOME!

Shoes for Juan Marcos

Can you imagine what it would be like to be 9 years old and finally be able to wear a pair of shoes correctly for the first time in your life?...

After a successful surgery and somewhat painful recovery, Juan Marcos is now sporting a fine pair of shoes... that won't fall off! Notice the nice right angle on his right foot -- something he didn't have before.
Juan Marcos is currently doing therapy daily to improve the function of his foot and relearning to walk, run and play. Thank you to all who prayed and expressed care for him during this time!

View of GCH

What does GCH look like today? See for yourself...

We've come a long way in just a few years!

Mexican Volunteers

A vital part of GCH is our Mexican volunteers, with whom we partner in God's work. Both of our house moms (seen in the photo) are local, Christian woman who daily lay down their lives for the children. Other Mexican volunteers serve God and the children by cooking, cleaning, transporting kids, helping with homework, etc.

Also in the photo is Pastor Martin Castro, who does everything from shepherding and loving the children to working with the local authorities. We thank God for him and the wonderful group of people He has brought here to care for our precious children. Please pray for our fellow laborers in Christ that He will continue to work through them and lift them up each day.

A miracle for Tia Helen

Tia Helen is one of our faithful servants at GCH. She and her husband, Lionel, are from Canada, but now consider GCH their 2nd home. Recently Helen faced some potentially serious health issues. We all began to pray fervently for her.
In December she returned to Canada and took some tests. God had done a miracle! Her test results were great and she is completely healed and healthy. Praise God! Thanks to those who prayed with us for her... and thank God for Tia Helen!

GCH Current Needs List

Here are the items we currently need at GCH. Thanks for your prayers and efforts to help provide for these needs!


Grace Children’s Home Current Needs List (updated 1/07)

Gift cards: Costco, Wal-Mart, Home Depot

Funding:
1. To continue construction of the Education Center
2. To finalize land purchase for Baby-Senior Homes and Church/ community center
3. For on-going monthly needs (water, electricity, transportation, medicine, etc)

Food: spaghetti sauce, butter, noodles for soups and stews, canned fruit, pancake mix, dry pinto beans, cooking oil, potatoes & tomatoes, cheese, chicken, hamburger meat, beef for stew, roasts, bacon, sausage, cilantro, fresh fruits & veggies, eggs, ham/ sandwich meat, hot dogs, maseca, jello, onion, ketchup, flour tortillas

Cleaning/ Household supplies: laundry soap, Clorox, stain remover for clothes, Ajax, dish soap, pinesol, fabuloso, disinfecting wipes, disinfecting spray, spray bottles, fabric softener sheets, mops w/ refills, foggers (bug bombs), household garbage cans, large Costco-size plastic containers, brooms & dust pans

Paper products: TP, napkins, Kleenex!, paper towels, surgical gloves, gallon size Ziploc bags, plastic spoons and forks, lunch bags, large black garbage bags, medium kitchen size garbage bags, paper plates!, durable plastic bowls (individual size), leak proof water bottles (for school lunches)

Personal Hygiene: lotion, chapstick/ blistex, shampoo, detangling spray, hair gel, diapers (sizes 5 & 6), diaper wipes, thick diaper ointment, deodorant, lice shampoo, feminine hygiene products, disposable razors, hair brushes, purrell

Clothes: girls knee-hi navy socks (sizes 8-14) and white socks (size 6), knit solid navy sweaters & vests (boys & girls sizes 4T – 14 youth), boys pants sizes 6-14 (jeans, play pants, etc), Boys & girls sweatshirts and sweatpants sizes 4T – 14 youth

School supplies: erasers, hard back & CD-Rom Encyclopedias in Spanish for young adults (10+ yr olds), basic English curriculum (w/ workbooks, etc) for teaching 8+yr olds

Vehicles: 1. Fairly new 15 passenger van – low miles, reliable, good condition, pref. diesel
2. Trailer for intern housing – good condition, electrical/ water working

Other: Large book shelf size cabinet with doors, TV cabinet with doors, rectangle folding tables, folding chairs, large garden storage sheds (3), kids/youth 2 wheel bicycles (durable!), car-port size canopy, Bounce house (for monthly group b-day parties)

Tijuana Shelters for Children

The children of GCH are brought to us through the Mexican Social Services department due to abuse, neglect and/ or abandonment. Before being placed at GCH they are housed in the temporary Children's shelters in Tijuana. Just prior to Christmas, we had the opportunity to visit one of these shelters, an experience we won't forget. We weren't allowed to take any photos, so I'll try to describe it to you briefly in words...

The shelter housed a few hundred children and while it was "clean", it was clearly an "institution". Children had a bed, but no personal items or personal space. Additionally, once brought into the shelter the children cannot leave unless the social services takes them somewhere -- not even to go to school. They are locked in with big bars and tall fences around the property. Minimal schooling is provided in the one room classroom by one teacher.
In the babies' room, there were about 45 children with just a few helpers. We couldn't help but notice the babies that were just a few days old!

The reason for our visit was to understand where our kids come from and how GCH can help. It is the desire of GCH to someday open a home for babies and seniors wherein we can house some of these little ones and provide loving care.
GCH recently acquired a property on which to build these homes. In addition, God seems to be moving in the hearts of people to get involved (financially, serving here, etc). Would you please continue to pray with us? Pray for funding to develop this vision, for the shelters, for the children, for the staff we'll need, etc.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2007 -- another great year to serve our King! We pray you all had a blessed Christmas and joyous New Year.

The children & staff of GCH had a FANTASTIC December filled with fun, presents, learning about Jesus' birth and good memories. For many of our children, it was the first BIG Christmas they've celebrated (Christmas trees, stockings, church events, presents, good meals, etc). It was through the generosity and efforts of many caring people from the US & Mexico that this was possible.

THANK YOU to all who made our GCH Christmas so special! We can't wait to see all God has in store for us in 2007!!!! And if you haven't yet visited GCH in person, we hope you will this year.