Muchas Gracias, Capilla Calvario de Rosarito!

Today we were blessed to host our Mexican home church, Calvary Chapel of Rosarito (Capilla Calvario de Rosarito), here at Grace Children's Home. It was such a pleasure to work alongside our brothers and sisters who have become our local church family.

They dug a HUGE ditch (I know their backs will be hurting tomorrow at church!), DEEP cleaned the girls' home, welded, put on mud & sanded in the Ed. Center, repaired bunk beds, served lunch and cleaned up, and conducted a kids' Bible program (with worship, puppets, clowns, Bible story and all!). Whew!.... They ran circles around us!

We praise God for our local church family and their desire to serve our children. If you're ever in the neighborhood, I know we'd all be blessed to have you attend one of our bilingual services -- just let us know and we'll get you dialed in.

MUCHAS GRACIAS, HERMANOS de CCR, POR su APOYO, ESFUERZAS y AMOR para NUESTRO SENOR y SALVADOR!

Tia Jennifer

We are thrilled to welcome our most recent intern, Jennifer! Jennifer and her family visited GCH almost 2 years ago and since then they continued to pray for and partner with us. During this time, God began to lead Jennifer to come serve here for a longer time. She'll be here until June '08! Please pray for Tia Jennie -- God is already doing so much in and through her.

Prayer Request for the kids

Several children at GCH have had the opportunity to attend a WONDERFUL,bilingual school here. It is truly an amazing education they are receiving, which is changing the course of their futures. We trust God is going to use this to bless their lives and have a greater impact, wherever He leads them.

February is the month when all children need to reserve their spots for the next school year. After seeing the success of the children at the bilingual school this year, we want more of our kids to have that same opportunity.

To do so, each child needs a sponsor (or sponsors) who can provide $2,800 total for the year (that includes the education, books, supplies, uniforms, monthly tuition, etc). We have at least 5 more children we want sponsored (in addition to the 7 who were sponsored this year, as seen in the photo with my eldest 2 boys as well).

Would you please pray with us that God will provide the sponsors for the children? Would you also please put out the word to others who might consider partially or fully sponsoring a child?

Bible Study with Nana

Tia Gaby, aka "Nana", is the house mom for the girls' home at GCH. Every weekday morning we have our staff Bible study and prayer time, after most the kids have left for school. On this particular morning Nana "got her hair done" by the little girls.

It's so sweet to watch their interaction and the love they have for her and she for them. Please remember our house moms in your prayers, as their responsibility is incredible!

Leo's and Jesse's B-day party

We had another wonderful b-day party this month. Our birthday boys, Leo (who has been at GCH since we opened, on the left of the photo) and Jesse (son of fellow missionaries here, on the right of the photo) celebrated with monster truck cakes, a bounce house, games, presents... and as always 2 big pinatas.

Me, multi-tasking

Multi-tasking takes on a whole new meaning when you live with 30 children! Eric & Juan Marcos mastered some times tables & Marcus had a good nap.

King's Day Tradition

In many latin countries, a tradition called "King's Day" is celebrated early January. It is a day we remember the kings, or wise men from the east, who came to offer gifts to the baby Jesus. The night before "King's Day" the children put out one of their shoes, in hopes to receive a gift from the "kings" in the morning. They also put out water and hay/ grass for the king's camels (which are surely hungry from the long ride).

This year, we again put out our rows of 30 shoes. We couldn't find hay, so we all agreed the camels would settle for a carrot and zucchini. In the picture are the boys putting out the water and veggies. Sure enough, the next morning the veggies and water were gone and each shoe had a special gift (thanks to some friends from California).

January Current Needs List

(updated 1/08)
Gift cards: Costco, Wal-Mart, Home Depot

Funding:
1. To continue construction of the Education Center
2. To pay off land for Senior center & Church/ community center ($60,000 approx.)
3. For on-going monthly needs (water - $600/mo., electricity $500/mo., food - $700/week, transportation - $300/mo., medicine $50/mo., etc)
4. To purchase & install the water & sewer systems for the Ed. Center ($15,000 approx.)
5. To send more children to a bilingual school next Aug. ($2,800 per child for the school year). Five additional sponsors are needed.

Food: spaghetti sauce, pinto beans, noodles, canned fruit, canned corn, wheat sandwich bread, butter, canned tuna & chicken, canned fruit, pancake mix, maple syrup, peanut butter, rice, cooking oil, potatoes & tomatoes, cheese, chicken, hamburger meat, beef for stew, roasts, bacon, sausage, cilantro, fresh fruits & veggies, eggs, sandwich meat, maseca, ketchup, mayo, flour tortillas, sugar, salt

Cleaning/ Household supplies: laundry soap, clorox, oxy-clean, Ajax, dish soap, pinesol, fabuloso, disinfecting spray, spray bottles, fabric softener sheets, household foggers (bug bombs)

Paper products: paper plates!, napkins, Kleenex, surgical gloves, gallon size Ziploc bags, sandwich size bags, plastic spoons and forks, paper cups, toilet paper, large black garbage bags, medium kitchen size garbage bags, bathroom size garbage bags

Personal Hygiene: body lotion, shampoo, detangling spray, hair gel, diapers (size 6), diaper wipes, dandruff shampoo, deodorant, lice shampoo & spray, purrell

Clothes: black school shoes & mostly white athletic shoes (boys sizes 3-5 youth), sturdy play shoes (little girls’ sizes 10-12), boys’ beige dockers style pants (sizes 12 – 16), shoe polish (black & white)

School supplies: erasers, glue sticks!, child-size scissors, hard back & CD-Rom Encyclopedias in Spanish (for 8+ yr olds), coloring books, portable CD player

Vehicles:
1. Trailer for intern housing – good condition, electrical/ water working

Other:
1. 3 new or almost new energy-efficient refrigs. (or funds to purchase it at Costco – approx. $1,200 each)
2. 1 upright freezer (energy-effic.)
3. 36” gas stove with center burner (good condit.)
4. car-port size canopy (for shade for our kids in the outside)
5. 3 twin bed mattress/ box sets

Our January Prayer Letter

January 2008

Happy New Year!

We hope you’ve enjoyed a blessed and joyous Christmas with your family. As we look forward to what is in store for 2008, we also reflect on all that’s happened in 2007. We are filled with gratitude and joy to see all God has done in our lives and at Grace Children’s Home (GCH)!

Here are some highlights for 2007:

* Tremendous progress on the Education Center has been made. It is water-tight, and a majority of the interior of the top 2 floors are completed.

* Six more children were sponsored to attend the bilingual, private school, which is an exceptional educational opportunity.

* GCH is currently home to 30 wonderful children, who are now thriving, growing and bringing joy to all of us at GCH!

* We have secured the land for the Baby-Senior Project and the future church that GCH will someday house. The Strutton family has been accepted as our partner to oversee this special part of Grace Children’s Home and will be moving to Mexico this year.

* Many teams visited GCH and have given generously of their time and talents, making it possible for the children to learn, grow and love!

* The church plant at GCH expanded with a faithful group of children, women and mostly men attending each week.

* Our family experienced a blessed and joyous year. Georgie (9) joined a soccer team and started French as a 3rd language. Eric (8) continued to share Christ with teachers, classmates and just about anyone he met. Marcus (4) mastered riding a 2-wheel bike and speaking in 2 languages.

We could go on and on counting our blessings! Mostly, we thank all who make it possible for us to be here and for GCH to keep growing. We see miracles and blessings everyday, making it a JOY to be here. Please pray with us for 2008. We know God has much in store for this new year and we look forward to see it all happen!

Joyfully,

The Palaus – George, Stacey, Georgie, Eric & Marcus

Happy New Year!

We hope you're having a joyous and relaxing Christmas season and New Year! We just returned from 2 weeks of a FABULOUS time with both our families -- lots of catching up, playing and making good memories. Something we'll always cherish!

This photo is of our family with George's parents during that vacation. It was taken on the lanai of the condo where we stayed.

Our GCH family also had a wonderful Christmas, thanks to many generous and kind people who came down to be with our kids and/ or sent presents, coats, blankets, toys, and essential supplies for our homes (food, cleaning products, etc). Thank you to all who gave to our homes, volunteers, neighbors and children this season!
Last night we had the privilege of greeting the New Year with our Mexican church family, Calvary Chapel of Rosarito (Capilla Calvario de Rosarito). George and I had the honor of serving on the worship team as well. We looked back at all God had done through our home church and anticipated what He has for each of us in the New Year. We were personally challenged to grow deeper in our walk with Christ in 2008. It was a special evening!
Next week, kids go back to school and life at GCH returns to normal. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers and we pray you have a blessed New Year!