Palau Perspective of Grace Children's Home

Flor

2011-06-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's hard to know how to write this, except to say that it comes from a place of great pain. The last few days our world has been set into a tail spin for all of us at GCH.

Most of you probably know that Flor, one of our eldest girls, ran away recently. This action was completely unexpected and we are trying to digest it all.

Yesterday, most of our children were in tears or angry that she would leave us like that. George, I, Pastor Martin and other helpers here are checking everything possible. As I write, a few "tios" are watching a potential home where she might be.

We spent 8 hours today looking for her, and wound up finding her mother, 2 aunts, her grandmother, and some siblings and cousins (not all in the same place).

We've all been praying regularly and continue to ask for prayer!! Flor needs to be here... God didn't bring her here by mistake!

Personally, Flor is very near and dear to our hearts. She oftens spends hours with us, talking with us, helping out, hanging out, etc as well as with the rest of our family. We know she has made a bad decision, but we also know that our God is the God of second chances.

I ask for your prayers for her, for GCH & for us personally. I don't know how many hours we'll spend tommorrow looking for her, but I know that the sheperd kept looking for the 1 sheep that wandered away.

Uncle Jorge

2011-06-15T16:55:00.001-07:00

George was named after his uncle Jorge (George in Spanish). Recently he celebrated his ?? birthday. We decided at the last minute to visit uncle Jorge, who has had such a great impact on George's life. God puts special people in our lives as examples and to show us love... that is Uncle Jorge. Thank God for them, and don't forget to show up for their b-day party when you can. By the way, Georgie (our eldest) inherited the same name, because of Uncle Jorge.

Georgie - our oldest

2011-05-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you can't foresee all that God has in store for us.... that's the way it is for Georgie, our 13 year old. Besides how God brought him to us.... God opened up the doors for Georgie to participate in a Christian leadership training program for adolescents at risk, just 10 minutes from us. We have seen the Lord do some amazing things in Georgie's life and we are so grateful for PPJ (Proyeccion Preventiva Juvenil) for all they are doing to help adolescents.
On a more personal note, we were invited to a mother's day event where we were honored and the youth shared some special words for us. I won't forget that day anytime in the near future. In the photo above, Georgie dedicates some special words to me... yeah, I cried.

Ballet Classes

2011-05-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

A wonderful opportunity has come to us! We have a sister from church who has offered to volunteer her time to teach our girls ballet. We have a decent space for it, but now need some equipment to make it work. We need mirrors, a ballet bar or two, ballet slippers and appropriate attire.

If you know someone who could donate toward this effort, our girls would be grateful! (Will make for some cute photos as well).

Relaxing in the park over Easter vacation

2011-05-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

No Fue GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!

2011-04-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Our soccer team has resumed!!!! It had been a while that we haven't had a trainer, but after months of begging Tio Carlitos, aka "Vocinas" (speakers), his schedule finally opened up. "Vocinas" has taken the task of training our kids and scheduling our matches to heart. Mostly, he makes sure to install a godly approach in how they win or lose.
In this photo, we played against older kids and since their goalie was older, Vocinas got in the game. We all cheered from the sidelines. Had it not been for 2 self-goals, we would have tied. Mostly, when we see our kids enjoying life, being "normal kids", we thank God.
And we thank God for those who have helped our kids get to this end, including Vocinas, NorthPark (who bought most of our soccer shoes), and the groups from Canada who donated the jerseys.

Spelling Bees

2011-04-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when we were kids and we had the spelling bees? I never made it... in fact, I remember getting an "F" on a spelling test in 5th or 6th grade. Gratefully, my mom said, "don't worry, I got an 'F' as well".
Thankfully, I haven't passed down my spelling genes, but George has. Marcus not only beat out 30 classmates, but he almost won the whole thing. He worked so hard for it and God has blessed him with an intelligent mind. Who knows all the Lord has in store for him?

Our recent prayer letter

2011-04-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

April 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

The other day we were talking about the children here and how much they mean to us, and how God has knitted us into one “big, crazy family”. Our 3 boys feel like they’ve inherited a bunch of siblings or cousins. It is truly a privilege to serve and live with all of the children.

One young lady that is particularly close to us is Flor (means “flower” in Spanish). Every day when Flor comes home from school, she seeks us out and gives us an affectionate hug while telling us about her day. It’s one of the highlights of the day. Here she shares with you a little of her story (translated)…

Hello, my name is Flor Margarita, I am 15 years old and I was born in Puebla, Mexico. I am grateful to God that I have been at Grace Children’s Home for 5 years. I arrived here when I was 10, and I feel blessed. God is so good to you and me!

I am grateful and proud to write you so that you may know a little about me. Remember that things may not always be easy, but nothing is impossible with God -- He makes things possible.

Right now I am a servant-leader in our church, Calvary Chapel Rosarito, and it has been a great blessing in my life. I help teach 55 children and I am very happy. I believe that God has given me the ability to share the love that he has given me. God bless you.

With love, Flor

We ask that you continue to pray for Flor and all the children at Grace Children’s Home. Thank you to her sponsors and those who sponsor and pray for all of us here. Clearly, the Lord is doing amazing things in their hearts and lives, and He is using them to expand His kingdom.

And thank you to those of you who pray for and partner with us! We feel your support all the way down here. We pray God blesses you and your family!

With much love,

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

P.S. Above is a picture of Flor with George on the day we celebrated her “Quinceañera” (15-year-old coming of age party).

Grace Children's Home Turns 6 !

2011-04-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

It was in March of 2005 that we welcomed those first little ones who came through our gate. They looked so scared, helpless and sweet. We will never forget that moment.

Now 6 years later, we look back and see how much the Lord has done in a relatively short amount of time! We have 2 VERY busy homes full of children and youth... yes, several of our kids are adolescents and pre-adolescents (that's a whole other blog post!). They are working hard in school and are growing spiritually, emotionally and physically.

We have a wonderful education/ dorms building used to bless, host, teach, train, pray, etc, etc. Our baby home is speeding along in it's construction. We have a wonderful team of people that serve here from Mexico, the US and Canada. We also remember all the generous donors the Lord has brought to us over the past 6 years so that we can continue to provide for the needs of the children.

But there are 2 things that particularly stand out in my mind of what God has done over the last 6 years...
1. He continues to heal our children from the wounds of their pasts to the point that they are just awesome kids!, and 2. He has made us a family! Our relationship with the children and them with us is deep, and we have a strong commitment to one another as an extended family. Everyday we look forward to when they come home from school so that we can feel their hugs... it's a priceless gift!

Six years is really just the beginning... I wonder what God will do in the next six years!

Starting up again...

2011-04-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

For some time we haven't updated this blog, as you can tell. With all the information being posted on the Grace Children's Home facebook, it felt redundant to write here.

But after thinking about, we want to get back to the spirit of this blog... it is really about our perspective of our lives here at Grace Children's Home... the things we see, the children, what God is showing us... our Grace Children's Home family.

Hopefully in the past, this blog has at times encouraged you, inspired you to pray for us, and thank God with us for all He is doing here.

Also, this will be the only public platform in which we personally will publish posts, unless indicated otherwise on the other Grace Children's Homes sites (facebook, the baby home blog, etc).

So we will return to this simple, on-line journal of life at GCH as seen through our eyes.

Thanks for reading!

Our July Prayer letter....

2010-07-01T00:14:00.000-07:00

July 2010

What God is doing in our lives…

Dear Friends & Family,

Last month our family marked 6 years since we moved to Tijuana, Mexico following God’s calling for us to come and serve at Grace Childrens' Home. Six years may not seem like a lot of time, but when we reflect on all the Lord has done during this time, it often seems longer. It feels like we’ve built a lifetime of memories in these few years; but mostly, it has been amazing to see God’s hand at work.

When we moved here, George, our eldest had just completed kindergarten in the States. He is now 12 years old and has just graduated from the the 6th grade, which marks the end of elementary school here.. Eric, our middle son, was 5 and still very much a little boy. He is now 11 and has a heart for the Lord. Our youngest, Marcus, was 8 months old. He doesn’t know what life is like living outside of Grace Children’s Home or even outside of Mexico. It’s interesting to ponder how different their lives are because God brought us here.

In June, we celebrated Father’s Day. In the schools, I was able to celebrate a fun-filled morning with my boys as well as many of my children at GCH. It’s in moments like these that I realize what a privilege for us to be here.

On father’s day Sunday, we received another amazing blessing. Our church, Capilla Calvario Rosarito (Calvary Chapel Rosarito), held church on the beach. During the event, one of our eldest girls, Erika, accepted the invitation to be baptized. We remember when Erika came to GCH last July, and also when she prayed with us both to receive the Lord last October. And on this father’s day, I was able to baptize her in the pacific ocean!

What a joy it is to watch the spiritual journey of the children the Lord brings to us, including our 3 boys! We know God has so much more in store for us… but for now, we’re counting our blessings and enjoying what He has given us today.

Thank you to all of you who pray and support us in this incredible journey. We can’t imagine life any other way!!

Gratefully,

George & Stacey Palau

www.gchmexico.org, www.gspalaublog.blogspot.com

P.S. Please note our new contact information: gspalau@gmail.com. All mail: 301W. 28^th st. , Ste L, National City, CA 91950

Six years...

2010-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

This month our family marks 6 years since we moved to Mexico. It's strange to consider. At times it feels so much longer... so much has happened in a relatively short amount of time. On the other hand, it feels like time is FLYING by us.

GCH also marked 5 years since we opened our doors in late March. At times it all feels surreal.

As we ponder these milestones, we can't help but recognize all the Lord has done to bless our family personally, as well as GCH. Of course we encounter the valleys and attacks of the enemy, but time after time God continues to bring us through each of these trials.

We want to thank all of you who pray for our family, for GCH, for the ministry... for those of you give so sacrificially to bless us all so much... for those who have become our partners on whom we depend.

We hope to spend MANY more years here reporting to you all that God is doing!

Our June prayer letter

2010-05-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

GCH kids help clean up a local school

Grace Babies Home Today

Dear Friends and Family,

It was in May of 2007 when God began to speak to our hearts about something new. The landowner of some property across the street approached us about buying a sizeable amount of land. Around that same time we were invited to the DIF (Mexican social services) shelter where kids are held until a placement can be found for them. We will never forget the section of the shelter where we saw about 45 babies being cared for by 3 workers.

Two months later, as we talked and prayed over coffee, God showed us exactly what He wanted us to do. He wanted us to go way out on a limb, buy the land and build a home for babies. While we knew we were in way over our heads, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He wanted us to build Grace Babies Home. We then committed to the Lord and to each other to follow through on it. Within 24 hours of this commitment, the Lord provided enough money to secure the property… without us asking anyone for it!

Since that time, the land has been paid off, through the help of many generous donors. Retaining walls, fences, foundation, and a lot of framing have been done. We are grateful for the teams that have sacrificed of their time & talents to move construction along! It’s amazing to see what God is doing and see Him fulfill the vision He gave us. If you want to partner with us in our efforts, please call or email us. We’d love to help you get involved in this exciting project.

On the Grace Children’s Home side of the street, God continues to bless us as we see the children grow spiritually, academically, physically, etc. A couple weekends ago, we took most of our GCH children along with our Mexican home church, “Capilla Calvario Rosarito” (Calvary Chapel of Rosarito) to a school clean-up project. Several 5-gallon buckets of paint were used to cover all the graffiti on the exterior walls, and we also swept and cleaned up garbage. It was encouraging to watch our children enthusiastically serve God and their community in such a tangible way!

Finally, we ask for your continued prayers for GCH, the babies home, our children, our staff and our family. While God continues to bless and protect us, we know the enemy is working to discourage or hurt us. Please pray for God’s provision, protection, blessing on the children and all those who serve here. Pray for wisdom and endurance for us, especially in handling difficult situations. And praise God with us that His abundant care for us is evident all around!

Gratefully yours,

George & Stacey Palau

P.S. Please note our new mailing address for all correspondence and packages: 301 W. 28^th St., Ste. L, National City, CA 91950

Whoops! CHANGE that date!

2010-05-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

We overlooked another big event happening the same day as we had planned for the 15era. Good thing we found out sooner rather than later.

In any case, please change the date of the 15era to Saturday, September 18 (instead of the 11th).

Hopefully we won't have to change it again!

SAVE THE DATE!!

2010-05-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 11, we'll be celebrating our first 15era of Grace Children's Home. A 15era is a traditional and big coming of age event for young ladies. Our 3 eldest gals, Jennifer, Flor & Erika will all turn 15 over the next 6 months, and they have agreed to have a combined celebration in which they want to bring honor to God.
The service will be at our church, Calvary Chapel of Rosarito and the reception will take place at the Yugo Ranch in the early afternoon.
Since this is a big and costly event, we need sponsors to help us cover the costs of food, wardrobe for the girls, decorations, gifts, the cakes, etc. We also need folks to help set up, serve, clean up, etc.
For those of you that personally know these 3 gals or perhaps even sponsor them, we'd like you to know you are invited to celebrate with us on their special day. We may not be able to fit everyone in the church (or we might have to use the video over-flow room), but we can certainly have many at the reception. Let us know if you plan to come (gspalau@gmail.com). We'll keep you posted on the details.

Update on the Earthquake & the Violence

2010-04-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you have called or emailed us regarding the earthquake that hit Mexicali and shook surrounding areas, including Tijuana. Thank you for your concern and prayers! We are grateful to say that GCH, our children and our homes are all safe and sound. It appears everything is fine, thanks to God.

Ironically, the earthquake hit 10 minutes before a big outreach event we had planned at GCH. We had a meal prepared, games planned, and the message of Jesus' death and resurrection was going to be shared. We wondered if the earthquake would scare people from coming... but it didn't!

Over 50 adults, plus all their children packed our play areas. They ate, played, and 11 adults received Jesus for the first time!

Others of you have asked about our safety or the safety of teams coming to serve at GCH, in response to the reports in the media. Thank you for your prayers!

While violence does exist in our city (as it does in most major cities), we are grateful to say that not one of our GCH family members or any team member that has come to serve here has ever been hurt by this violence. We clearly sense God's hand of protection over GCH and those that come here.

We know the enemy would like to use earthquakes and violence to scare or discourage us. We also know these are signs of the end times and Jesus is coming back soon. Knowing these things spurs us on all the more to keep serving and sharing about Jesus.

Thank you to all of you who partner with and pray for GCH! We appreciate your care, concerns, emails, phone calls, & especially your prayers.

Update on George's surgery

2010-03-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

Dear praying friends,

Just to let you know George is home and resting somewhat comfortably at this time. The doctor said the leg surgery was more than she had expected it to be, but that she was able to remove everything. Later they will let us know if there are any concerns regarding the supposed bacteria pocket.
The post-op care at home will take some time, so I'm grateful that my mother-in-law is here to help with my children, cooking, etc.
We appreciate all your prayers, kind words and support! I can't wait to see my husband running around this place again, like he always does :)

Gratefully,
Stacey

Prayer Request - George's leg

2010-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that George is having issues with his leg. We've received some interesting emails about the stories that are circulating regarding it.
The real situation is that George had an old injury that resurfaced and has caused him pain, a staph infection, swelling and many trips to the doctor since October. This Friday they will operate on him to remove the hard pocket that most likely contains bacteria and the pus pocket that it continues to fill.
Since neither pocket is near any organs or bones and it appears to be on top of the muscle, the prognosis is good. Also the fluid they drained doesn't show any signs of cancer and hopefully the bacteria pocket won't have any as well.
If you remember, please pray for George's surgery and recovery. He's not one to sit around much, so being layed up won't be easy for him. Thank you for lifting him up to the Great Physician.

GCH kids minister to the needy...

2009-12-31T15:53:00.001-08:00

Earlier this week, about 10 kids from GCH (ages 10 - 14), my family, & the Hanson family had the opportunity to serve and share Christ with those in need. Joining up with our good friends from Club Dust as they ministered and built houses in east Tijuana, our kids and youth spent the day helping out. They were so excited to give back, as they've realized that they are so blessed.

We started the day sorting hundreds of socks and shoes that were to be distributed, building tables and benches and helping in whatever practical way we could.

Then we rounded up some local kids and played soccer, using half time as an opportunity to share about Christ. The great part... it was the GCH kids doing the talking. I sat amazed as 2 of our older girls boldly declared the wonderful things God has done in their lives and how He has changed and saved them. You could've heard a pin drop... which is incredible since we were surrounded with kids. Their testimony was powerful!

The game resumed, but I felt there was more... more that God wanted to do through our kids. I asked who wanted to go door-to-door and pray for the people in the neighborhood. About 8 of them quickly jumped at the opportunity. Armed with our tracts, 4 spiritual laws and Bibles, we set out to the unknown...

As we approached each door, 1 GCH child was assigned to introduce us to the family and ask if we could pray for them. After the child asked for their prayer requests, 1 or 2 of our kids prayed for them. Again, I was amazed as I watched our kids bless and boldly pray for these adults.

At the second home, Erika introduced us and prayed for the mom of the home, Maria. After I could sense Maria wanted to hear more... perhaps because our group was so unusual. We pulled out the 4 spiritual laws tract that explains God's plan for our salvation.

We explained to Maria that 1. God loves and has a plan for our lives; 2. We sinned and therefore became seperated from God; 3. Jesus came to die for our sins to become the bridge that allows us to come to God; & 4. If we ask Him into our hearts to forgive our sins, He will.

During each point, the girls looked up the verses in the Bible and stood next to Maria and read the verses with her. She followed along intently.

By the end of the 10 minutes, Maria was ready to pray. As our group of 8 put our arms around each other and Maria, she prayed to receive Christ into her heart. After we prayed, I looked around at my kids and saw smiles from ear-to-ear... they realized they were just used mightly by God to bring Maria to Jesus!

We then went on to another home, and God continued to use our GCH kids to bless this community and plant seeds. The day was full of spiritual victory for our kids and those they ministered to.

When George & I came down to Mexico 5 1/2 years ago, we knew our mission was to minister to the orphans, the broken and needy. What we didn't realize at that time was that one day these same "orphans" would be the ones ministering to the broken and needy! Praise GOD!

Our Christmas present this year...

2009-12-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, a neighbor (Pati) approached us about working at GCH. I told her I didn’t have any paid shifts at that time, and Pati said she was willing to volunteer her time and efforts.

While Pati was raised in a Christian home, she had not made the decision to follow Christ in her adult life. Pati's husband, Carlos, and their 2 children didn't know Jesus either.

Pati began attending our daily morning devotions and starting asking questions. Finally, she made the decision to make Jesus her Lord. Quickly she began growing the Lord.

We then started praying for Carlos and their children, who had all become a integral part of GCH. This past fall Carlos started taking his family to Capilla Calvario de Rosarito (Calvary Chapel of Rosarito or CCR). Their children are now learning more about Jesus.

Two nights ago, all of GCH and Pati’s family attended the Christmas program at CCR. At the end of the program, the invitation to receive Christ was once again given. It was with great delight that our GCH family watched Tio Carlos go forward and pray to receive the Lord.

We have always prayed that the Lord would use GCH as a beacon of light in Tijuana, and it was a joy to see how God did that to reach Pati’s family! To Him be all the glory and honor and praise!

Leo

2009-12-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

As I sit here struggling to find a way to write this blog post, a flood of emotions swirl in my head. The past 4 days seem surreal, as something so unexpected happened...

Leo is a bright, kind, confident almost 12 year old that has been at Grace Children's Home since we opened our doors. He is very near and dear to my family, since we basically started this place together with him. He has been a leader in the boys' home, and you can't help but notice Leo when you come to visit our home.

On Friday, the social services had an appointment with Leo during which they informed him (& us) that he was going to be adopted on Monday (yesterday). It was a shock as we had previously been informed that he would be permanently placed with us.

It has been extremely painful for all of us to say good-bye to Leo. He is an important part of our GCH family and will be greatly missed. My 3 sons took the news especially hard as he has been like a brother to them for the past 5 years.

As we've tried to process all this, one thing God has shown us is that we fulfilled what God called us to do in Leo's life. Leo is now strong in the Lord, he has received a great foundation in his education, he's now bilingual, he is emotionally well and stable, and he is confident in who he is and what he can do for the Lord.

Many of you reading this have been an important part in helping Leo get to this point. You have prayed for Leo, given him gifts, cards or hugs, and sent support for his care and education. Thank you for your generosity and care!

After realizing all this, we felt a peace in knowing that whether Leo lives here or there, he's going to be ok. He belongs to Jesus now and his future looks bright!

We know this isn't the end of our story with Leo. We don't know when, but we know someday he will come back to tell us about his life and all the Lord is doing in him... and it will be delight to hear his stories.

Please pray for Leo's new life and family... it is our hope that through Leo, his new family would come to know Jesus as their savior. And please pray for us at GCH as we grieve and work through the loss of a special family member.

Fall Outreach

2009-10-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight we just hosted our 3rd annual fall evangelistic outreach. We try to put it on or near Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead - big Mexican Holiday on Nov. 2). The idea of our event is to offer hope & joy, instead of focusing on witches, the dead, etc.

Each year, we're getting a little better in our efforts.

This year we added pozole (a traditional Mexican soup) for dinner and live Christian worship. We included various games, popcorn, face painting, crafts, etc, etc.

There were at least 85 children PLUS their parents that came (that doesn't include our GCH family & friends).

The gospel was clearly presented by Pastor Martin Castro and people were given the opportunity to receive Christ for the first time in their lives. We praise God that tonight 15 adults made first time decisions to follow Christ and make Him the Lord of their lives.

We rejoice over all God did tonight and for allowing GCH to be a part of His plan! Tonight we all will sleep, joyfully, because we were able to see Him at work.

GCH Soccer Team

2009-10-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Like many of your kids, ours wanted to be in after-school sports. However, the thought transporting 31 kids to different practices at different schools was overwhelming... not to mention the costs. So, we decided to do it the way we usually do things at GCH... we made our own team.

Then, we started knocking on doors to see who would play against us (asking the private schools, since public schools don't have sports teams). Before we knew it, we had donated uniforms, donated fields and teams waiting to compete against us. Not only that, but within our volunteer staff, we have 3 commited coaches -- Juan Strutton and Marco and Edgar Andrade.

Last Saturday was our first scheduled game. You could feel the excitment grow every day since we found out we'd be playing. By the time Saturday morning rolled around, it was palpable. The boys were up and dressed in their uniforms at 5:00am! (They didn't need to be ready until 11:30am).

It turned out that the other team didn't materialize, but for an hour our GCH team got to play on a beautiful court for FREE. We had a blast, faces were red from running so much, and we will not soon forget the day. Don't they look great in the photo?

As I stood watching the game, I realized how ABUNDANTLY blessed we are! Most children in Mexico wouldn't have the opportunity that we had last Saturday (and all the future Saturday games we'll have).

At the end of the game, we all prayed and thanked God for the blessed, joyous time we had.

Erika's name is in the Book of Life

2009-10-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Erika is a smiley, kind young lady that came to join our GCH family this summer. While our girls' home is already over-full, we were asked by another orphanage to take her.

Erika is 13 years old and is in 8th grade. She is hard working, thoughtful, and fun-loving. She's a joy to have around!

Two nights ago, after our evening devotion time, Erika approached George and I to ask us how to receive Jesus in her heart. After talking a while about it, George led Erika in the sinner's prayer, where she repented of her sins and asked Jesus to come and be the Lord of her life. It was a beautiful moment!

The Bible says that those who pray such a prayer, that their names are written in the Book of Life, and that we have the promise of spending eternity in heaven with the Lord. We're so pleased to know that Erika will be there with us!

Who are the people in your life whose names still aren't written in the Book of Life?... who don't yet have the promise of heaven?

Don't give up... keep praying, keep loving and keep showing them the way. God can and wants to save them... let's get busy and be a part of His plan!

We finally got them!!

2009-10-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Many of you probably know that we've been through quite a bit of turmoil in the recent past. Thankfully, the Lord has walked with us through the valley and has brought us to the other side.

In the midst of the valley, one disgruntled ex-GCH worker tried to get George and I deported from Mexico. It was a scary time for us to think that perhaps we wouldn't be able to continue serving at GCH. But even in that time, the Lord blessed and sustained us, and He used a bad situation for good.

While we had our temporary visas to be in Mexico, we had hit several road blocks to get any further in our immigration status. But we got busy working and God opened the doors. We're thrilled to say that...
today we received religious visas for all 5 of us!

This is a huge victory and God has once again blessed our socks off.

Thanks to those of you who have prayed with us while we were in the valley. God certainly heard and answered your prayers!

Our October Prayer Letter

2009-10-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Jim, from Santa Cruz Bible Church and who installed the system, and George enjoy a glass of purified water.

First day back to school for some of our kids at one of the private school they attend.

October 2009

Dear Friends & Family,

It was a busy summer & beginning of fall here at Grace Children’s Home. This past summer was pivotal in our renewing our vision for our kids’ lives. It started with a painful, but necessary hurricane of staff changes. One former staff member in particular has called upon all possible sources at her disposal to try to disrupt our lives, and we’re still in the middle of the battle. But here’s what’s incredible (at least to me): What man has meant for harm, God used for our good!

Here’s a quick rundown: Mexican Immigration was called to inspect us; end result: we’ve turned in all our papers and we’ll soon have our residence! The Human Rights branch of the Government was called to inspect us; end result: we’ve deep-cleaned, renewed, refreshed and made several structural improvements! The Labor Commission of the Government was used against us; end result: we’ve learned much about Mexican labor laws, reviewed our hiring strategies, re-affirmed our vision for the kids, and gained five wonderful new staff! There’s more,… but to all of this we say: Thank you Lord Jesus! You’ve brought goodness out of an ugly situation.

Along with the all the above changes, here is some more exciting news. We now have 19 GCH kids in private schools! All of the kids that have shown to be responsible with their schooling, or that needed special intervention, are now receiving the best possible education. We send out a huge “thank you” to all of you generous givers. You’re making a tremendous difference in these kids’ lives!

Construction news: the Education Center is nearing completion, and is now being used for…well, education! Every school afternoon the place is buzzing with eight different study groups, all with their own adult leaders, and computers with internet access for the oldest group as well. In last Thursday’s Bible Study, we had 25 youth from GCH & the community in the main classroom gathered to learn more about the Lord and praise Him.

The dental room has been equipped with some very nice and newer equipment, including two self-contained dental chairs, a wall-mounted x-ray and a panoramic x-ray, and is close to being complete. New emergency exits have been installed in the girls’ & boys’ homes. We have a new storage area, much cleanup has been done, and we now have our own water purification system! We are SO grateful for the teams that sacrificed so much to make all this happen!!

As a family, I am glad to say that we are doing well. Stacey and I remain close to each other and our Lord, and our boys are all doing well. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and your sacrificial support for us. We couldn’t be here without you and I hope you see all of these things as a part of your life as well. May God bless your life in mysterious and wonderful ways.

Please pray that we keep the Lord Jesus our number one focus and that we keep growing in Him. We want to depend on Him, to thank Him, meditate on Him and to declare Him in all we do. Life without Jesus is empty and meaningless. Jesus fills us with joy and gives us an eternal purpose. There’s nothing better than to live for Him! We hope you experience His joy in your life today. Remember that He loves you.

With love and thanksgiving,

George & Stacey

The Palau Family – George, Stacey, Georgie, Eric & Marcus
http://www.gchmexico.org/
www.gspalaublog.blogspot.com

P.S. If you’d prefer to receive this letter by email, please let us know at gspalau@gmail.com.

3 baptisms!

2009-09-30T11:54:00.001-07:00

Sunday was a joyous day for us at Grace Children's Home. Three of our older girls, Flor, Jennifer & Valeria took a step of obedience to follow the Lord in baptism. They decided to get baptized at the beach, after church. In the photo is the youth pastor, Martin, and George with the girls shortly after they were dunked. George, Martin and our senior pastor, Mike Vincent, baptized the 3 girls simultaneously. What a joyous day and time of spiritual victory!

Later that day, George and I reflected on how privileged we feel to get to be a part of things like this. It is a blessing directly from heaven that encourages us to want to do more for His kingdom.

Please pray for these young ladies, as well as for the spiritual lives of all the children at GCH. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Sunday we lived life abundantly!

What a view!

2009-08-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Today there was a beautiful view of a rainbow right outside our house. We've recently been through a storm here at GCH, in regards to staff issues. Kids have a much easier time allowing God to work in them than do adults. When we were nearing our time to come to Mexico, I feared that we would have a difficult time with the kids, knowing some of the difficulties they've faced in the past. Not true. It's the adults, specifically the staff, who can be far more troublesome... But God has been good to us, and has allowed us to enjoy a time of rest after the storm. These photos show some of that rest and beauty. May God bless you today as you allow him to transform you into the image of his Son, Jesus.

18!!

2009-06-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

It's official... we now have 18, yes 18, GCH kids sponsored to attend the private schools this next school year! This is amazing to us, as we know the economy has been hard on everyone. But praise God, several generous donors have commited to sacrifice to give our children a better future!

Since enrolling our children in the schools here, we've noticed a huge difference in the level of education they receive in the public and private schools. The private schools offer computers, art/music, English, more days of instruction, and higher academics.

We have prayed each year for more and more of our children to have this opportunity. This year, we even got one more sponsored then we had anticipated.

We thank God for those of you who are sacrificing and praying for our children! Time to rejoice...

The plight of people here...

2009-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I drove over the border, I was struck by the amount of beggars I saw. It seemed like more than usual. Then I began to think about the situation so many here now face...
With the situation of the economy, those that used to commute to the US for blue collar jobs are now unemployed.
With the media hype about the violence here, those that worked in tourism before (restaurants, hotels, shops) have lost jobs left & right as these venues close. Toursim has declined drastically. The people are hit hard both ways.
As I looked at my fellow man & womankind hold their cups to ask for money or try to sell me their trinkets, I felt tremendous compassion for them. I couldn't possibly fill all their cups or solve all their needs, so I prayed and pondered.
I realized that by living down here, I sometimes get used to seeing things like this... it's a part of daily life to see desperate or difficult situations and people. But I pray I never get to the point where I don't feel compassion for the people around me.
I thank God that 5 years ago He sent our family to serve and love the people of Mexico. We've gained such a love for them & our commitment to them is stronger than ever.
Please remember to pray with us for the people here who are struggling.

My kids, gloating in the moment

2009-06-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

I feel right now I'm the most blessed mom on earth. My husband had to run out for something, so my 11 year old (Georgie) took over the nightly reading time (Georgie's in the middle). Eric (on the right) ran to hear what his older bro. was reading. They're reading a Dr. Seuss book. Ok, going to go basque in what God gave me tonight...

Westgate Team Comes Through

2009-05-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our good friends at Westgate Community Church, another major construction weekend occured at GCH. They built the walls for a needed storage area under the deck, installed another exit for the boys' home, built railings, painted, installed emergency exit signs, etc. Check out the finished product and the weary team...

The next day after the team left, the social services imposed a quarantine on our home (to protect us from the swine flu). We were not to have any visitors or go to public places. God's timing for this team was perfect, once again.

Our youth group

2009-05-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

On Thursday nights, GCH hosts a Bible studies for the children, youth and adults in our neighborhood. Attendance has been consistent and the youth group has grown. Thanks to our faithful leaders, our GCH & neighborhood youth that are 11 years and older are enjoying a special time of fellowship and growing in the Lord.

Please pray for this group as they learn how to walk with the Lord at this critical time of their lives.

The Newest Scare Down Here...

2009-04-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

This morning, we set about our normal Monday am routine. We dropped off the kids at school and headed over the border to buy the weekly supplies for the homes. We were delighted that the normal construction on the Mexican highways were suspended and that our crossing was short. We made great time...

Then George's mom called to ask about our kids and the apparent school closures in Baja California due to an enormous virus. All we knew was that when we dropped the kids off, the school gladly welcomed them for the day of instruction.

Over the next few hours things began to unfold. At one point I looked at George and said, "I feel like I'm in one of those Left Behind books" about the end times.

We'd also heard that the borders might be closing, which made us hurry a little more. We both wanted to get home to Mexico to be with our kids. It felt so surreal to drive through Tijuana.

When we came home, our GCH family (& our own 3 kids) was excited to see us and share with us all the details of the day. Honestly, it was so good to see them all safe and sound. The media has a way a creating panic in us, doesn't it?... until we see the truth for ourselves. At one point I said to George, "I'm so glad to be home"... he agreed.

We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has placed His angels around us and this place; And we choose to believe that the One who breathed life into us will care for us the way He sees best!

In the meantime, we followed "procedures" as mandated by the authorities. We will not be in public places with lots of people, the kids will miss out on school, and we'll wear a bunch of silly masks.

Mostly, thanks for praying! We know our existence here relies on Him and those who appeal to Him on our behalf!

GCH turns 4!

2009-04-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

GCH just completed 4 years since opening it's doors in 2005! It's amazing to think of all the Lord has done during the past 4 years. What was once a simple prompting of the Holy Spirit is now a lively place, brimming with wonderful, joyous children!

Thank you to all who have visited, sacrificed, and prayed with us these past 4 years.... these years wouldn't have been possible without generous partners. Please pray with us for many more amazing years to come!

Recently we shared with you some prayer requests... God has answered. The GCH boy who was acting out is doing wonderfully now! He has turned the corner 100% and is back to his sweet, adorable self. Thanks for praying for him!

Also, we have received almost all the items we needed to furnish the Education Center. Many partners purchased gifts through our Wal-mart registry and things are coming along in the Ed. Center. What remains is twin mattresses for the dorms floor. What a blessing these gifts have been! It is incredible to see God answer so many prayers.

We'd like to also ask for your prayers for one of our girls, whose behavior has been inappropriate lately. Again, we see the scars of the past manifesting themselves in this young lady. Please pray with us that the chains of the past & the old patterns would be removed, and she would be restored.

Thanks for giving, thanks for praying... thanks for serving our King together with us!

Tenemos AGUA!!!

2009-02-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, GCH celebrated the official turning on of our water. Up to this point, we have not had city water piped in, which meant we had to have it trucked in. It cost us at least $23 daily... sometimes double.

After 3 years of praying and knocking on doors, it finally happened. A few weeks ago while walking to school, we saw the tractors and workers digging trenches and putting in the pipes to bring us water. The work was completed a few days ago. (The white building in the background of the photo is actually the city water tanks).

We decided to celebrate this important event, so we invited officials from the government, social services (DIF) and water company. Assisted by 2 of our GCH kids, the head guy in the water company "officially" opened the water valve... then started splashing the kids with it. We rounded off the event with cake and refreshments.

Sometimes we take things for granted, like having water, garbage service, mail service or electricity. Living at Grace Children's Home has really given us a new perspective on these things and reminds us of God's provision in our lives. He truly has given us this day our daily bread (& water!).

Saturday fun

2009-02-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

Check out what our good friends and fellow servants, Juan & Alicia Strutton, had to say about our day last Saturday...

"Saturday was a beautiful day here in Mexico. The rain has turned the brown landscapes that surround us to vibrant green and yellow. The warm sun gave us glimpses of spring while the crisp ocean breezes occasionally brought a slight chill. With no teams scheduled at GCH, we decided to spend the beautiful day outside.

Late morning the GCH vans pulled into the YUGO Ranch where we planned to enjoy the day together. Soon after, we formed a group of kids and adults who wanted to go for a hike. We set out walking on the dirt roads. When the ocean came into view we decided to make it our destination. After playing a while at the beach we called the Tíos who had stayed behind and arranged to have them pick us up.

After the long hike to the beach, peanut butter sandwiches never tasted so good. The rest of the day was filled with the kind of adventure that comes with lots of land, playful kids, and Tíos who are truly wild at heart.

As much as I try, words and pictures do not capture the wonder of that day. God is so close to orphans. There is a profound depth to God’s peace and love that I have only experienced when I am near the fatherless. Any one of the least of these children knows God more intimately than a lifetime of theological study could accomplish. As much as I ache for that kind of fellowship with God, I don’t know that I’m willing to suffer the intense pain that comes with that desperate need for God. For now, I’m content to bask in the after-glow that surrounds these children. "

Another reminder of how blessed we are!

He gives and takes away... & sometimes gives back

2009-02-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

Before the holidays, we had a very interesting experience at church one Sunday. It was the end of the message and George was translating for our Pastor Mike. Mike was giving the invitation for those who would want to ask Jesus into their lives. All of a sudden there was yelling from outside, a loud explosion, and then a car alarm. As George translated Mike's words, "I hope that was not your car", George knew it was our car.

The service ended and we went out to see our mini-van smashed like an accordian. Apparently a person had gotten out of his car up the hill & didn't put on the brakes or curb his tires. The car barreled down 1 1/2 blocks before it finally met our bumper.

Our church family ralied around us to sort out the mess, but knowing the man barely had a peso to his name, we knew there wasn't much we could do. In our hearts, we were just grateful no one got hurt. We realized that 5 minutes later, someone probably would've been seriously injured or even killed (once church had let out). And if the car hadn't crashed into ours, it would've gone another block into the open air market, where families and vendors were walking around.

So, we basically wrote off the car as a loss (it really was totalled), and realized it was a temporary gift from God that we got to enjoy for a while.

But recently, a local mechanic offered to repair it at a very reasonable price. We expect to get the car back in a few days, God willing. We don't expect it to be quite the same, but we hope it'll be safe and reliable. And when we counted the costs, we realized that what we're paying for the repair is probably less than if we had used comprehensive insurance with a deductible.

What we were reminded of through this whole situation is that the things God gives us are just loans. And how we respond in times like this can either bring glory to God or damage our testimony. It doesn't matter how tight we try to hold onto material things... eventually they'll all break down or get destroyed. This reminded us of the importance of storing up treasures in heaven, not in our material things.

Above is a photo of the car, AFTER it had been worked on quite a bit... (you should've seen it when it was first hit)...

Prayer requests and needs

2009-02-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

We have some prayer requests and needs that we'd like to share with you. Please feel free to pass on the word...

1. We are praying for a tutor to come work with 7 missionary kids this summer, focusing specifically on reading and writing in English (3 of those kids are our own). The tutor would spend approximately 3 1/2 hours a day (5 days a week) working with them 2 at a time. The other part of the day the tutor would focus on other GCH kids who need help with English or Spanish learning and preparing lessons for the next day.

2. Please pray for one of our GCH boys who is exhibiting some serious behavior issues lately. He is acting out in school, and is at risk of being expelled. His behavior is clearly the result of the hurt he feels from his past and it is being manifested in his being angry and agressive.

3. We need some items for our group homes and the Education Center. If you or someone you know can help supply some of these items, that would be wonderful.
They are:

2 xx large spaghetti pots
2 xx large skillets
Correll dishes (30 dinner plates, 30 small plates, 30 cups, & 30bowls)
silverware for 20
2 large pitchers with lids
1 hand mixer
large gas grill (can be used, good connections)
1 durable sectional couch
19 new twin size mattresses (check out our Wal-mart registry through our website... http://www.gchmexico.org )

Thanks in advance for your prayers and any help you can offer!

a slice of heaven...

2009-02-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, in the most normal times, I can't help but think I'm seeing a glimpse of heaven.

Yesterday (VALENTINES DAY), Saturday morning, we took 14 of the GCH kids on an exploration of the coast of Baja. It was so much fun!!!! We came back with loads of shells that you'd all pay lots for at a store... they were in abundance. We saw the local fishermen pull in with their octupi, sand sharks, rock cod, crabs, lobsters and more.... we really saw them as they pulled in and the fish were still flapping in the boats. Wow, was it fun.

Tonight I'm enjoying shifts of kids coming up to play video games in our new home. I LOVE having their company and just can't stand being without at least a few of my little angels close by my side.

Today at church I was reminded of an important truth... that is, for those of us that our believers, life is an adventure. We enjoy those adventures so much. Are you experiencing them?

I'll always remember something my dad said to me a few days before he went to be with our Savior. He was hurting and hadn't had the chance to "study" all the promises God has for us... so, the after-life was still unclear to him. My dad knew where he was going, but didn't know what was in store for him. I'm going to share with you something I've rarely shared,...

As he laid on his hospital bed, he got a sad look on his face. I asked him why. He said, "I thought we'd have so many more adventures, I thought there was so much more we'd do...".

I smiled at my father as I said "Dad, God created you and me to LOVE adventure and to want to explore and do wonderful things.... do you think the God that created us in His imagine would have anything less for us in heaven? Dad, this is not the end, this is just the beginning... and heaven is going to be one GREAT adventure, you and I are going to do so many exciting things... and we're going to have a wonderful time there".
My dad smiled at this thought...

Less than a week later my dad went to that great adventure with our Lord... exactly 2 years from this month. I know he and He are awaiting me....

Do you know who you are awaiting? Or who is awaiting you??? Or where you are going? What adventures are you experiencing in this life?... like our pastor said, life here is an adventure for those who follow Jesus... What adventures do you expect after this glimpse of a life?... I can't wait to explore them with my dad, my Savior and all my loved ones!!!

From my heart, Stacey

Photos of the Fundraiser

2009-02-07T12:15:00.001-08:00

If you want to enjoy some photos of the fundraiser we recently hosted for Grace Babies Home, go to: http://www.seaviewphoto.com/ - go to Grace Children's Home, then GBH auction.

Our February Prayer Letter

2009-02-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2009

Dear family and friends,

WOW... what an evening! Two nights ago Grace Children’s Home (GCH) hosted its first fund raiser event. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to further the construction of Grace Babies Home (the next phase of GCH) that will someday host up to 20 orphaned babies. It was an absolute joy to be surrounded by people who have prayed for, served at and supported us and GCH. Words cannot express how wonderful the evening was for us and to see God provide the funds to build a home for babies.

One of the highlights of the evening was when George and our good friend (& Yugo board member), Victor Mena, joined the guest musician to sing “Blessed be the Name of the Lord”. Not only did they sound great, but the joy of the Lord was evident in them and throughout the crowd.

Speaking of the baby home, two weeks ago the foundation was COMPLETED! The foundation had to be made to specs, as a San Diego-based company is donating pre-fabricated exterior walls that require precise measurements. In the photo you can see the perfect pad, ready for walls!

And speaking of miracles, after four years of waiting and asking, the government FINALLY began the work to bring us water! This has been a prayer request for a long time. With our current situation of having water trucked in, it costs us at least $23 daily. Earlier this week, we found the great surprise of a backhoe and workers, busy digging the trenches and laying the water pipes. You can see the pile of dirt from the trench in the foreground in the photo of the baby home foundation.

As you can tell, the blessings are incredible. We are so grateful to see God’s hand moving all around us. Thank you for praying with us and supporting us so that we can continue to be a part of what He is doing here. It’s amazing to see such generosity in the face of economic hardship; it’s evidence of God’s presence. We are eternally grateful for your partnership and love!

Rejoicing with you,

George and Stacey Palau
http://www.gchmexico.org

THREE new boys!

2009-02-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, GCH welcomed the newest additions to our family... 3 darling little boys. The oldest, Angel, is 3, Jesus is 2, and Gilberto is 1. We heard 2 of them are brothers, but we're not sure which ones.

It's always a humbling and amazing experience to receive new kids. We watch as they come in broken and frightened, then little by little we see God heal them. Already the 3 are adapting well, but please keep them in your prayers!

Here's a photo of them, with some adoring caretakers...

Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

We hope you experienced a joyous holiday season, remembering our Savior's birth and enjoying the company of loved ones!

Around here things moved so fast, it all seems a blur. In the past month we have been blessed with various teams who came to serve here and some even brought Christmas gifts for the kids. We are grateful for each individual and group that made the effort to come here and give to GCH -- Faith Bible, Westgate, the Oros family, the Vase family home group, Valley Christian High, Crystal Cathedral Academy, Hope Lutheran, Calvary Community & the Ingrams, & others... THANK YOU!

Also, several groups responded to our need to stock our pantry & supplies. THANK YOU!! Horizon Prep also did a large collection that we are still sorting. These staples and supplies really help us keep our costs down.

Last week the construction guys from Westgate church came down again and built us a new deck off the Education Center. They even worked in the rain one day, determined to finish it. We can't wait to have our first Bible study or pizza party with the kids on it! THANKS WESTGATE!

We've also made tremendous progress on the foundation of the baby home. This week we hope to finish pouring the pad. Amazing to think about because a few years ago it was only a dream.

In the middle of the excitement our family managed to sneak up to Santa Cruz to visit our families for a few days. Twin Lakes Church generously provided us a cabin in the beautiful red woods up there. It was such a blessing to us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with our loved ones. THANK YOU TLC!

We also want to thank those who have given financially the GCH this year. We realize in these hard economic times that financial gifts are a sacrifice and we are encouraged that God has used you to provide for our children and homes. THANK YOU SPONSORS!

As we head into 2009 we ask that you continue to pray for GCH and the lives it touches. We continue to see God open doors and souls being saved, and it is our desire to keep doing so throughout this new year. THANKS FOR PRAYING!

We're in our new home!

2008-11-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

After 4 years of living in the boys' home, we have finally moved into our new home at GCH. We're still on the GCH property, but now we're on the top floor of the Education Center.
THANK YOU to all who have helped us in the construction of the Education Center and our home! It is such a blessing to be there and I know as we finish up the rest of the building, it will be a blessing to others.

Here's a picture of the building... we're on the top level.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

We hope this Thanksgiving you'll have the opportunity to recognize and thank God for the things He has given you.

As for us, our GCH family will be celebrating it on Friday evening. In anticipation of the event the children are busy making decorations and each child is memorizing a different memory verse to share at our meal.

Here's a picture of Fernanda making a turkey centerpiece...

GCH website

2008-11-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

Want to read more about GCH or find out how you can get involved? Go to our new website (thanks to Juan & Alicia) at http://www.gchmexico.org.

Christmas Giving Opportunity

2008-11-09T18:44:00.001-08:00

“I don’t say this because I want a gift from you.

Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.”

Philippians 4:17

Are you wondering what to get the person who has everything? Consider giving a practical gift with eternal rewards this Christmas Season.

Grace Children’s Home has nearly completed their new

Education Center. In order to finish the job the building needs to be equipped and furnished. Many of the needed items are listed in the

Wal-Mart Gift Registry.

Please pray about giving a gift to GCH in the

name of a friend or loved one this Christmas.

http://www.walmart.com/wishlist

First name: GCH Last name: YUGO

Online giving is also available at:

http://www.gchmexico.org

Our November prayer letter

2008-11-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

November 2008

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We hope this letter finds you and your family well! We have enjoyed a busy fall season, with the start of school, continued construction on the Education Center and breaking ground of our newest project, Grace Babies’ Home. It never ceases to amaze us to see all that God is doing at Grace Children’s Home (GCH).

In August of this year, we were able to send 13 children from GCH (plus our own kids) to private schools (some of them are in the photo above). This opportunity has been provided by several sponsors who understand the value of providing our children with a good education, something that is very limited at the local public schools. Through such generous donors, our kids are receiving an excellent education, completely changing the course of their lives and equipping them to be leaders and lights for Christ in this society.

We are also on the verge of opening the Education Center. This 3 ½ story building has been under construction for 3 years and will provide space for a multitude of activities – tutoring, computer instruction, dental/medical facilities, dorms for teams, outreach, etc. What is amazing is that the building has been built through the generosity of God’s people who have given of their finances, time and talents – one donation at a time, one group at a time.

Additionally, we began breaking ground on Grace Babies’ Home (GBH). Located across the street from the children’s home and GBH will house up to 20 abandoned and needy babies. There is a huge need in Tijuana for facilities to care for these babies. GBH hopes to be part of the solution. You too can be part of the solution!

On Saturday, January 31, 2009 we will host our first Grace Children’s Home Gala Fundraiser Event, benefiting the baby home construction project. It will be a dinner and auction held at El Adobe de Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. If you would like more information or can attend this event, please let us know. We’d love to send you an invitation! As Isaiah 1:17 says “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows”.

Finally, as we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, we pray the peace of our Lord will fill your home and heart. While the current events today would tell us to worry and fret, we trust God holds our lives in His hands. We really do have much to be thankful for and we can rely on the God who laid down His life for us!

Gratefully your partners in Mexico,

George and Stacey Palau
Directors of Grace Children’s Home

That same day...

2008-11-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Grace Children's Home expanded it's play area! We had truckloads of fill dirt and a tractor come in to expand our soccer field and bike area. Some day we will landscape this area and make a nice soccer field, with a bike path circling it. It seems that as our kids get bigger, they need more space to spread out (funny how that happens). Lots going on here today!... we were grateful the other activities we had scheduled for GCH today got cancelled.

Pouring the footings...

2008-11-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Today started with a bang at 6:00am, when the cement trucks began to come in one after another to pour the footings for Grace Babies Home. It was exciting to see this happen and realize that God is building this home for the babies.

Here's a picture of George and Marcus (our youngest son) on the baby property, with the cement being poured behind them.

Juan and Alicia (GBH directors) were here to watch as the foundation of their home was started. They wrote a verse on a paper, which was later buried under the cement.

Our fall party for our neighbors...

2008-11-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

Last night GCH hosted it's second annual fall party and outreach for our neighbors. The "Tias" and "Tios" of GCH worked hard to plan a fun-filled, Christ centered event in our homes.
It was an absolute delight to see our neighbors pour in, with all their kids. We had games, "bobbing for cookies", worship songs, salvation bracelets, New Testaments to hand out, etc. It was WONDERFUL!
In the photo you get a partial look at some of our kids and the neighbor kids singing "Si, Senor" ("Yes, Lord"). They jumped and sang with all their might, as many of our unreached neighbors looked on.
The highlight for me was when a couple approached me to find out more about GCH and the kids here. They asked if I knew anything about this place (I had to laugh inside!... this place is my life). They live on the other side of Tijuana, but were visiting a family member in our neighborhood who said they should come.
After opening up to me about some struggles they have, it was clear they needed eternal HOPE. I was able to share with them a bit of all the amazing things God is doing here. They said the joy and love that exudes from our kids is obvious. They wanted that kind of peace and joy in their lives!
I called George over and then we had the privilege of leading Jose and Irene in a prayer in which they received the Lord as their Savior! It was a beautiful (and tearful) moment watching 2 needy people come to Christ.
I've mentioned before that it never ceases to amaze me all that God is doing through GCH. We once thought it was just about the kids who live here, yet God has made it so much more. The kids were the "lights" that the Lord used to show Jose and Irene His love; And He keeps using them and this place to reach more for His Kingdom.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Grace Children's Home... God is obviously using it for His glory! We have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season.

Speaking of the Baby Home...

2008-10-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Grace Children's Home will be hosting it's first annual gala fund-raiser to benefit Grace Babies' Home (GBH).
The fund raiser will be held the evening of Saturday, January 31st in San Juan Capistrano, CA. The event will include silent and live auctions, dinner and entertainment, and a sharing of the vision of Grace Babies' Home. The proceeds from the fund-raiser will go to the construction of the baby home.

There are several ways you can get involved:
1. sponsor a table for 8 -10 people,
2. help cover the costs of the event,
3. donate an item for auction,
4. attend the event and invite a friend ($75 per person), or
5. send a donation to Yugo Ministries and designate it for the construction of Grace Babies Home.

For more information go to www.gchmexico.org.

In the photo, a computer image of the future Grace Babies' Home.

Breaking Ground on Grace Babies Home

2008-10-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

God continues to surprise and amaze us!

In the last month, we have begun breaking ground on Grace Babies Home. GBH is the next step in expanding the vision of Grace Children's Home and is under the direction of Juan & Alicia Strutton.

George and Juan have worked hard with the architect, donors, and the laborers to begin digging trenches and bending rebar for the foundation. It's really exciting to see it get started! If you want to know more about this project, check out the Struttons blog site at www.struttons.blogspot.com.

Some needs...

2008-09-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

We're ramping up to make part of the Education Center useable. (It's the tall building on the far right in this photo).

This building will provide classrooms for supplemental education, a dental facility, a medical room, a computer lab, a library, temporary space for our church plant, dorms for visiting teams, space for staff housing, etc.
It's about time to furnish it! If you or someone you know can help supply any of them items listed below, it would be a great help to us. Many of these items don't need to be new... just "gently used". Thanks for your consideration!

Currently we need...

for the dorms level-
several large pots, pans, mixing bowls, spaghetti strainer, etc
large coffee maker & bean grinder
metal utensils - forks, spoons, knives, serving spoons, mixing spoons, spatulas, wisks, carving knives, etc
24 twin size mattresses

wire dish drain (rack for drying)
60 durable plastic cups
towel racks & robe hooks

2 can openers

2 toasters
4 dark shower curtains (with rods and hooks)
5 curtain rods to fit 3' x 4' windows

5 sturdy shades or blinds for 3' x 4' windows
tea kettle
baking sheets
pot holders/ oven mits
2 toilet paper holders (sturdy)
sponges, scrubbers, etc
toilet brushes

rectangle folding tables

full length and smaller mirrors & hardware to install

for the classroom level -
5 toilet paper holders
4 paper hand towel dispensers
9 toilet seat cover dispensers and the paper covers

media cart

storage cabinets

rectangle folding tables

book shelves for the library

display case (wall-hung, for GCH info to be displayed)

for both floors -
brooms and dust pans
mopping buckets and mops
portable fans

several household and bathroom size garbage cans

indoor and outdoor security cameras

10 wall clocks

As always, we'd appreciate any assistance you can provide. If you want to make it simplier to donate, gift cards to Wal-Mart would also help supply the above listed items! And please designate any gifts for "supplies for the Education Center at Grace Children's Home".

Lizzy Sampson

2008-09-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the rush of school starting has kept us all VERY busy. On top of it, our internet connection has been sketchy at best. Which leads me to a LATE announcement of GCH's newest intern, TIA LIZZY!

Lizzy is from our sending church, Santa Cruz Bible Church, in California. We have known her parents since before Lizzy was born. We've watched God use her parents in missions, worship, and extending God's kingdom. Now we have the opportunity to watch Lizzy follow in her parents' footsteps.

Lizzy will be living and working at GCH for 5 months total. Please remember her in your prayers as she serves the children here. Already she has become such a big blessing to us!

In photo - Lizzy playing bows and arrows with the boys. She looks pretty good at it, doesn't she?

Jennifer, our 1st Junior high'er

2008-08-30T14:20:00.001-07:00

Jennifer is our first child to reach Junior High. We were blessed to find space for her at a local private school, which gives her a lot of extra attention, instruction, and care.

Before school started she was nervous, wondering if she would get lost in the crowd or simply be able to keep up. But from day one we all knew this school was the perfect fit for her; and we love watching her thoroughly enjoy and take advantage of this new opportunity!

We thank God for provisions just like this -- the perfect school and the donor who made financing this education possible.

Our new puppy, Sunny!

2008-08-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

The children of GCH are thrilled to welcome our newest addition, Sunny! Sunny (short for Sunshine) is a sweet puppy given to us by one of our workers. With all the kids holding her, she hardly touches the ground. Like we say, dogs are like therapy for the kids! Here's a picture of her getting her first bath.

Juan Carlos

2008-08-25T11:49:00.001-07:00

Juan Carlos is our hired laborer. He is a good worker and has become a huge blessing to us. While he's not a contractor, he knows a lot about construction, which has helped us develop some of the infrastructure around the Education Center.

In this photo, he's on the scaffold 3 stories up, sealing cracks around the windows of the Education Center.

Juan is a new brother in the Lord and a father of 4 children. With his wife and kids, he lives in a tiny, humble home. It has been a blessing to be able to employ such a hard-working, faithful worker.

One by one, God seems to bring the right people here at the right time!

1st day of school!

2008-08-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day back to school for the children! They were SO excited that most of them were up at the crack of dawn.

We thank God for the many sponsors who help us provide the children with a good education!

We also now have all the supplies, uniforms and backpacks needed for the school year. Thanks to all who helped meet those needs.

Now we just have one little girl here in the mornings... it feels strangely quiet! I'm counting the minutes until the first group comes home from school.

Please continue to pray for our children, their teachers, and the opportunity they have to learn and grow more.

Tom Maier - Our "Food Run" Man

2008-08-09T12:24:00.001-07:00

Tom Maier, fellow Yugo missionary, has recently taken up the task of handling our Thursday "food run".

He drives out from Mexico every Wed. evening, drives 3 hours to a food bank in the U.S., and sleeps in the van for the night.

Thursday morning, he's already in line awaiting our weekly food supply.

While this load doesn't supply ALL of GCH's food needs, it is a HUGE blessing to us.

Thanks, Tom, for your efforts to help the children of GCH!

Update on back to school needs...

2008-08-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful friend, Alicia Strutton, co-director of Grace Babies' Home, has set up a gift registry for our back-to-school needs. Simply go to www.walmart.com, go to "wish list", in the "First Name" box, type "GCH". In the "Last Name" box, type "YUGO Ministries". When you place your order, select shipping to "YUGO Ministries". That's it!

Of course you can still send financial gifts to GCH, through Yugo Ministries (as mentioned on the prior blog). You may send a check or do an e-gift through www.yugo.org, via pay pal. Make sure to CLEARLY designate that your gift is for GCH back to school needs.

THANKS FOR HELPING!!

Back to School Time

2008-08-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

The children of GCH have enjoyed a wonderful summer! We were so blessed by the many teams that came to serve here.

As vacation time draws to close, we are ramping up for the new school year. Classes resume August 18th, and we have lots of preparations to do before that time. We need to get uniforms, backpacks, supplies and schedules all in order. This year all expect one of the GCH kids will be school age -- that means getting 28 children ready for school. Yikes!

Here's how you can help...

1. Pray for our kids and their teachers - that they will have a successful year

2. Gather backpacks, supplies and uniforms to send or bring down to us

3. Send us a gift card to Wal-Mart, where we can buy all these school items

4. Make a donation to Yugo Ministries, PO Box 25, San Dimas, CA 91773-0025 and CLEARLY designate that it's for school costs for the children of Grace Children's Home

Our school uniforms consist of:

Boys - beige or navy docker style pants sizes 6 - 16; solid white collared shirts sizes 6 - 16; navy clip-on ties; mostly white athletic shoes and solid black school shoes sizes 12 child - 5 youth; solid navy light-weight coats.

Girls - solid white collared shirts sizes 4T - ladies medium; mostly white athletic shoes and solid black school shoes sizes 11 child - ladies 7 1/2; solid white or navy knee high socks; solid navy light-weight coats; dark colored tight fitting shorts/ leggings (to wear under skirts) sizes 4T - ladies medium

Some supplies needed:

clear plastic contact paper to cover books, glue sticks, heavy duty & large back packs, geometric sets (protractor, compass, ruler, right-angle ruler, etc), erasers, drip-proof water bottles, collapseable lunch boxes, pencil sharpeners

Please send items or gift cards to: Yugo Ministries, att: the Palaus, 241 W. 35th st., Suite A, National City, CA 91950

Any bit you can do to help is greatly appreciated! Please also pass on the word. Thanks!

Capilla Calvario de Rosarito

2008-07-06T16:54:00.001-07:00

One of our biggest blessings is being part of our local church home, Capilla Calvario de Rosarito (Calvary Chapel of Rosarito). We truly enjoy being part of our family at CCR, pastored by the Vincent and Ochoa families.

A special highlight for us is serving on the worship team. It's so awesome to praise God with such a passionate group of worshippers. Additionally, once a month we have a praise concert, as seen in the photo. It's a blast! You gotta come join us sometime...

Visiting Teams

2008-07-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

This summer we've been blessed to have various teams join us. It encourages us to see our kids learn about the Lord & have a great time and to have so much work get done around here.

So far we've hosted teams from Westgate (San Jose, CA), Vintage Faith (Santa Cruz, CA), Faith Bible Church (Temecula, CA), Seacoast (Encinitas, CA), Twin Lakes (Santa Cruz, CA) and there's more to come!

Thank you to all who have sacrificed their time, efforts and resources to serve our children and homes!

In the photo: a field trip to a dairy farm/ park with one of our teams, Twin Lakes Church. It was a fun day for all of us!

Father's Day

2008-06-25T14:42:00.001-07:00

We hope you had a good father's day with your families. We had a special day, as we relaxed at the pool with lots of good friends. We spent the day at our friend's place (the Cannings), in front of the ocean. The kids (& dad's) enjoyed the hot tub, as you can see.

One of the highlights was watching the dolphins give an amazing show in the waves in front of us. It was incredible to watch so many of them jump and play... a clear reminder of our Father who created such beautiful things.

Graduation Day for Jennifer

2008-06-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

Jennifer is our first GCH child to graduate from elementary school (which goes through 6th grade). Before coming to GCH 2 1/2 years ago, she had received little education and she could barely read.

Since that time, Jennifer has attended school regularly and has worked hard in her studies. It was our joy to celebrate with her as she graduated! We look forward to many more from GCH to follow her footsteps.

In the photo is Jennifer (middle) with Tio Hector and Tia Vicky (GCH volunteer workers).

CONGRATULATIONS JENNIFER! We're so proud of her.

Our July Prayer Letter

2008-06-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

In the photo: George (left) with Pastor Martin (right) and some of our kids at the Father's Day event at school.

June, 2008

To all our friends:

I am GRATEFUL to God for all that is happening at Grace Children’s Home. I tell people that I am privileged and greatly honored to be a part of this place. I feel that God made me for this, and there’s no better place for me to spend my time. I enjoy it so much that I don’t even call it “work”. I also feel the responsibility of being sponsored by so many of you that believe so much in us that you would send us here. I want to honor that trust. The first thing I must do is to surrender my life to the One we call “Lord”, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Secondly, I must work hard to take care of the present needs and future plans for this wonderful place.

I see our kids blossoming in school, both academically and in their behavior. I see a staff that, although as heavily burdened and tried as anyone, is joyful and unified in Christ. I see kids, teenagers and adults from the community being introduced to Jesus, and many of them giving Him their heart. I see us being blessed within and without. For all these things, I say “Thank you, Lord Jesus!”

In II Corinthians 9:11, Paul, speaking to the Corinthians who gave generously to the needy churches in Jerusalem, reminded them that “through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” That’s what I see happening here in Tijuana. I see people being blessed by the love and the generosity of you, our supporters, and they in turn are giving thanks to God. I thank God for you, because without your willingness to help, we couldn’t do any of this.

Yesterday I was reminded of one of my most important roles here: to be a Dad to those who don’t have one. The private school near us, made available through your generosity, hosted all daddies to come and spend some time with their kids at school. All together, I brought with me four daddies: Martin, Jerry, Glenn and I, making this indeed a very special time with our kids.

Construction work on the Education Center and the water storage tank continues. It’s nice to see progress in those areas that will allow us to better care for the kids we have now, as well as those that will come in the future.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity toward us. Thank you for making it possible for us to be here. Thank you for dreaming with us, planning, working and giving of yourselves. I am greatly encouraged when I see how God has blessed me with a team of friends like you.

Sincerely,

George Palau, Grace Children’s Home

P.S. If you haven’t updated our mailing address, it’s 4492 Camino de la Plaza #1236, San Ysidro, CA 92173-3097. For packages, it’s 266 Coralwood Dr., San Diego, CA 92114. Thanks!

Having fun... wish you were here.

2008-06-13T11:13:00.004-07:00

Just having fun playing soccer with some of our GREAT kids! (I'm sure I probably have one of the best jobs in the world).

Update on our neighbors in rehab.

2008-06-13T11:13:00.003-07:00

Last week, brother Jaime went to visit Jose Manuel and Leonardo, our neighbors from our Bible study who recently went into rehab. (that I wrote about earlier). Jaime was beeming as he reported that both men are doing very well and look like completely different men. As they quoted scripture to Jamie and expressed their appreciation for being brought there, Jaime saw they were transformed -- something only Jesus can do, but we had the joy of being a small part of it and seeing what God did! How awesome is that?!

Prayer Requests

2008-06-13T11:13:00.002-07:00

If you are able to pray for us, we'd appreciate prayer for the following:

1. Staffing and transitions - We're in a time of transition, again, where some people are leaving and we need more staff to fill specific roles.

2. Finances - We need more sponsors to help fund the monthly costs of running GCH (water, electricity, food, education, gasoline and vehicles, local staff, etc). We also need one time gifts to help complete the Education Center so that we can use it.

3. Spiritual protection - As God continues to do incredible things in and through GCH, we see the trials and attacks on every level. Pray especially for the spiritual protection of our staff.

THANKS FOR KNEELING WITH US IN PRAYER!

Lionel & Helen

2008-06-13T11:13:00.001-07:00

Tio Lionel and Tia Helen (aka, Grandpa and Grandma) are an important part of our GCH family. Like most grandparents, they're good at spoiling our kids, along with all the work they do here.

Since Lionel and Helen are going back to Canada for the summer, the kids planned a going away party for them. It's hard to say "hasta luego", but they do plan to return in the fall.

Please pray for Lionel and Helen and all the Tios and Tias that give so selflessly to our children! The work they do is truly amazing and a huge blessing to all of us!

Eric got baptized!

2008-06-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

For over a year our middle son, Eric, has asked to be baptized. Eric asked Jesus into his heart when he was 7, and he has already led 2 friends to Christ as well. He has a heart of compassion for the lost and needy. So, he finally did it!

This past May, Eric was baptized by his dad (George - on the left of the photo) and our local pastor (Mike - on the right of the photo) in the ocean in Rosarito. When Pastor Mike asked Eric why he wanted to baptized, Eric replied, "it's because I want everyone to know I have Jesus in my heart".

It was a wonderful day for us and we are so proud of him!

Our June prayer letter

2008-05-22T12:53:00.001-07:00

June 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Remember when I wrote to you about Rafael, the drunken neighbor who George took to the hospital, who later turned up at our weekly neighborhood Bible study? If you recall, after that he brought some friends (also clearly struggling with addictions). Well, you have to hear what has happened since then…

One day last month, Rafael was inebriated again and he took a pretty bad fall. He ended up partly unconscious on the street and severely bleeding from a head wound. A neighbor took him in and attempted to clean up the wound. A few days later, Rafael shows up at our door, once again needing help.

So, George took him to the hospital. This time we began to encourage him to go into a rehabilitation center (U-Turn for Christ, south of Ensenada). With the help of a brother from our local church family (Jaime), Rafael went to get help. Jaime later shared with our neighbors in the Bible study that if they also wanted help, he could take them to the rehab center as well.

Unfortunately, Rafael decided to leave the rehab center, and within 2 weeks we saw him stumbling down our street again. What a disappointment!

However, the words Jaime shared with our neighbors weren’t in vain. Within the last 3 days, 2 male neighbors have come to us to be taken to the rehab center! These men are friends of Rafael who have decided they want to get out of their addictions. Yesterday, Jose Manuel gratefully and humbly entered the center. Today Leonardo did the same.

As I shared these events with my mother-in-law, she pointed out how it makes sense for Grace Children’s Home (GCH) to be involved in this ministry. The children in homes like ours are the innocent victims of people who abuse and use. By offering these adults salvation and a better way of life, we break the cycle of abuse, reducing the number of innocent victims and abused children. What a revelation!

God never ceases to amaze me with His creative ways of using us and GCH. Every time we begin to think we understand all He has for us, He shows us something new. It’s really exciting being a part of all these opportunities. We thank God for your prayers and support that allow us to be here.

Please remember to pray for our neighbors – Rafael, Jose Manuel, Leonardo and all the others God brings to our doorstep. Please also pray with us for God’s financial provision for GCH, as our funding has been low lately.

Gratefully,

Stacey Palau

IN THE PHOTO ABOVE – Some of the men from our study and the saints that are reaching them. Far left, Pastor Martin Castro; next to him, Rafael; right of photo in white shirt, brother Jaime.

GCH youth group begins

2008-05-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, GCH hosted it's first meeting for the youth that attend our weekly neighborhood Bible study. Two gals from GCH are part of the group, plus a few from our neighborhood. Leading the group is Hector Abraham (at the end of the table), a godly young man and good friend from our local church.
After this first meeting, I took one of our neighborhood gals aside and asked her what she thought. She responded that she liked it because they were able to study the Word at a deeper level to understand how it applies to them as youth.
Please pray for this new group and Hector. It is a blessing to see the outreach to the community grow to the glory of God! Thanks Hector, for taking up the call.

Valeria

2008-05-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

This is Valeria, one of our sweet girls of Grace Children's Home... she just celebrated her 10th birthday with a pinata as big as her. Valeria and her 3 little sisters are such a blessing and joy to have in our homes. Next school year Valeria will be entering the local bilingual school. This will be a wonderful academic opportunity for her, that she as worked hard to earn. Please remember Valeria in your prayers, as she continues to grow and thrive & God continue to heal her heart.

3 years... the dust has settled

2008-04-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, whew, & my goodness... GCH's 3 year celebration was all that!
The winds greeted us early in the morning with a dust storm so strong the tables flew through the air. The decorations, bounce houses, and "frills" were all ready, but it wasn't in GOD'S plan. In fact, something very different happened...
After weathering the tremendous winds and dust, we managed to assemble a few tables. The winds calmed just enough to set up a mic and allow a "ceremony" with the government and social services officials that braved the winds to join us.
The focus quickly landed on the children and ALL GOD has done in this place. (What's cool is 2 local TV stations & 1 newspaper picked up the story).
As our children shared their testimonies and praised God in their songs and dance, the name of Jesus was lifted high!

Here are the testimonies of the 4 children who shared on the mic that day...

Flor said – “Que Dios les bendiga. Mi nombre es Flor y tengo 13 anos. Quiero agradecerles por darme lo que yo necesito y a mis patrocinadores que me estan apoyando. Tambien quiero agradecerles a mis tios que me estan apoyando en mis tareas y que me dan mucho amor. Tambien doy gracias al Senor por tener unas hermanas tan hermosas. Gracias por asistir aquí en la Casa Hogar de la Gracia. Que Dios les Bendiga.”

Translation: May God bless you. My name is Flor and I’m 13 years old. I want to thank you for giving me what I need and for my sponsors that are supporting me. I also want to thank my aunts and uncles that help me in my homework and show me much love. I also thank the Lord for giving me such beautiful sisters. Thank you for attending here in Grace Children’s Home. May God bless you.

Juan Marcos said – “Bienvenidos a la Casa Hogar. Me llamo Juan Marcos y tengo 9 anos. Estoy muy feliz porque estoy en la Casa Hogar y Dios me trajo aquí para alabarle. Hace mas de un ano tuve una operación en mi pie y me senti bien. Ahora puedo correr, caminar y andar en bicis. Y cuando me pongo los zapatos, ya no tengo problemas. Quiero decirles que Dios los ama. Que Dios les bendiga.”

Translation: Welcome to the Children’s Home. My name is Juan Marcos and I’m 9 years old. I’m very happy because I’m in the Children’s Home and God has brought me here to worship Him. A little over a year ago I had an operation on my foot/ leg and I felt good. Now I can run, walk and ride bikes. And when I put on my shoes, I no longer have any problems. I want to tell you that God loves you. May God bless you.

Jennifer said – “Hola. Que Dios les bendiga. Mi nombre es Jennifer y tengo 12 anos. Quiero compartirles lo que dios hizo por mi. Estoy muy agradecida porque me permitio estar en la Casa Hogar con mis hermanos y por sus bendiciones. Tambien por habernos salvado y ser Su hija y por las personas que nos ayudan y nos apoyan en todo. Nunca tenia una familia antes. Dios nunca me dejo y siempre esta conmigo. Que se la pasen bien el dia con nosotros. Gracias por ayudarnos."

Translation: Hello. God bless you. My name is Jennifer and I’m 12 years old. I want to share with you what God has done for me. I’m very grateful that God has allowed me to be in the Children’s Home with my brother and sisters and for His blessings; Also, for saving us and making me His daughter and for the people who support and help us. I never had a family like this before. God has never left me and He is always with me. May you have a great day with us. Thank you for helping us.

Leo said (in English) – “Hi. I hope you’re having a great morning. My name is Leo and I’m 10 years old. I’ve been here since Grace Children’s Home opened. I learned English from the Americans that come here. I like all the brothers and sisters God gave me. Thanks for helping us. Have a great day today.”

A special thank you to Jeff W., VCHS, Faith Bible Church, our personal supporting churches, Yugo Ministries and all who helped and attended on this very important day in life of our home! We appreciate you so much!

Current Needs List

2008-04-11T12:14:00.001-07:00

Here's our current needs list for April. Thanks for praying and giving!

Grace Children’s Home Current Needs List (updated 4/08)

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 construct the water & sewer systems for the Ed. Center ($10,000 approx.)
5. To send more children to a bilingual school next Aug. ($3,000 per child for the school year). Four 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, oatmeal, 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, deodorant, 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, CD player, sharpies (black & colored), packaging tape

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

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

Ana Esmeralda

2008-04-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ana Esmeralda (aka Belen) is one of our great kids at GCH. She's obviously happy and playful, and a joy to be around. As you can assume, Ana wasn't always doing so well, but we thank God that she is now.

Please keep praying for our kids! God is doing so much in their lives and it's a joy to watch them thrive and grow.

Happy Easter from GCH!

2008-03-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

We hope you enjoyed a blessed Easter remembering that our Savior is ALIVE! We at GCH have spent much time remembering that fact and what that means to us. We, because of His resurrection, now have the hope of eternal life in heaven.

We spent a joyous time with some good friends from Colorado Springs and the Air Force Academy (and our extended family from that area) hunting for eggs, recalling the Easter story and celebrating that Jesus is ALIVE!

After our friends went home, we enjoyed a special Easter dinner on our patio with our GCH family. So much to be grateful for!!!

Thurs. Night Bible Study

2008-03-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Our weekly neighborhood Bible study continues and is well attended. Here's a photo of the adults, who meet in the girls' home. The kids meet on the patio or in the boys' home. It's certainly the highlight of our week! Please pray for our neighbors, as God continues to reach them where they're at.

Water tank in the works

2008-03-11T18:31:00.001-07:00

We've broken ground on constructing our large water cistern. This is a large and critical part of our infrastructure and we're excited to get it started. The Seigle famly in Santa Cruz helped to start the ball rolling with a financial gift. Mesiti-Miller engineering is helping with the structural details. Please pray for this project, as it's no small undertaking!

Our youngest GCH child turns 3!!

2008-03-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Just like you, we're so amazed at how time flies with our children. It seemed like yesterday when the social services brought us an adorable baby of only 11 mos., Cessiah, with her older brothers. Since that time she has learned to crawl, to walk and to run... to self-feed, talk, and laugh... to even get into mischief!

But our babies are growing up and now the youngest GCH child just turned 3. Of course, she was a princess for the day and was very spoiled with pinatas, cake, presents, friends, hugs, etc. Rejoice with us that we get to have such wonderful children in our family!

Our March prayer letter, early

2008-02-22T18:21:00.003-08:00

GCH is CELEBRATING and YOU’RE INVITED!

March 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Can you believe it? It has been 3 years since GCH opened its doors. Since that time, we have seen good times and hard times, miracles and hurdles, and MANY lives blessed and changed by the place we now call home. We’ve seen GOD grow our initial vision of serving children to also include babies, seniors, our neighbors, planting a church, etc. So MUCH has happened in just 3 short years!

As we pondered this time and all God has in store for us, we decided IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE! And we would be truly HONORED if YOU would come!!! Mexican officials, pastors, people who support GCH, our kids, our neighbors, YOU and ANYONE who wants to attend are INVITED. Please say you’ll come?!!!

Date: Sat, April 12th. 10:30am – 4:30pm. Ceremonies begin promptly at 11:00am.

Part of the activities will include a dedication of the Education Center, a ground breaking ceremony of the baby-senior-church land, testimonies from some of our kids, bounce houses, a musical presentation from the children of GCH, carnival games, GOOD food, LOTS of fun, & live music. (George & I plan to be part of the music too… you gotta come see George play drums!).

On a personal note, it has almost been 4 years since we moved to Mexico. While it has been hard to leave so many of you, we can see daily why God has brought us here. When we first came down, we thought God had just a few handful of kids for us to care for. What’s amazing is how much He has expanded our vision…

We are in the midst of building the Education Center, we’re buying the land for the baby-senior complex & we’re in the process of starting a church with our neighbors. We’re praying for our neighbors who want to leave addictions (to be able to provide a Christ-based addiction program for them), and we hope to someday purchase a property to establish a Christian pre-school/Kindergarten (plus other adjacent properties that would give us so much more opportunities). And we hope there’s more to come!!!!

Clearly, God has done so much and has so much for the future! PLEASE come CELEBRATE with us… you are so important to us and we’d be SO blessed to have you here.

For more information about our celebration, please call our cell phones or email us at palaus@juno.com, or look for more information at www.gspalaublog.blogspot.com. We’d also be glad to give you information on local lodging, if you’d like to stay the night. PLEASE COME!!!

Blessings to you and your family,

The Palau Family

HUGE water tank needed...

2008-02-22T18:21:00.002-08:00

GCH has recently started the large task of building a water cistern that can hold over 20,000 gallons. Why so much you ask?

The answer is complex...

1. We don't have a regular water source (that is, we don't have piped in city water. We depend on a truck that brings us water every day, at $21 per day);

2. We are constructing a few large buildings, which require fire sprinkler systems (to protect lives and the buildings); and

3. Water delivery is unpredictable (we can go days without water delivery... what would you do without water for a few days?... multiply that by 30+ kids & adults!).

Please pray with us for this important infrastructure for GCH! We know it's vital for our homes, our future, etc.

We are especially grateful for Mark Mesiti-Miller and his engineering company (in Santa Cruz, CA) for volunteering their skills in helping us to build the tank (as they did with construction of the Ed. Center). Once again, they are walking us through a difficult task.

Our adopted dog, Shirley

2008-02-22T18:21:00.001-08:00

Couldn't resist taking a photo of our most recent adoptee, Shirley. You couldn't count her bones when she arrived.

As you can see, now she's healthy and relaxed... just like our kids!

Our Handy-men!

2008-02-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

All of us are wired up differently, and a special few can be called a "Jack of all trades"... so it is with Tio Lionel (fellow missionary from Canada) and Misael (one of our boys). What never ceases to amaze me is their incredibly strong work ethic and desire to get the job done. They truly delight in fixing things and making it work. What's great is that Misael has such a fantastic mentor who also loves the Lord, like Misael does. Check them out in the photo!!!

SAVE THE DATE!!!

2008-02-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

GCH will celebrate it's 3 year anniversay soon! It has been 3 years since we opened our doors to the children of Mexico. Since that time God has done MUCH MORE than we could have EVER imagined! We've come to understand it's about the children AND our staff, our neighbors, the babies, the seniors, and all the people whom God wants to reach and heal. SO, let's CELEBRATE!!!!

On Saturday, April 12th, you, and anyone you want to invite, are invited to our party. We'll have a mid-day event, filled with live music, bounce houses, testimonies from our kids and neighbors, dedications of our Ed. Center and baby-senior land, words from our local authorities, face painting, good food, popcorn, games, a look back on the past few years, a look at the future, and lots of fun! WE REALLY HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!!!

More details are coming, but in the meantime, please INK us in on your calendar!

Muchas Gracias, Capilla Calvario de Rosarito!

2008-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.006-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.005-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.004-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.003-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.002-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

(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

2008-01-01T12:04:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

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!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

Our family is going on a much awaited vacation and will return just before the new year! So this will be our last blog entry before 2008. We pray you have a blessed Christmas and a joyous new year!

Rainy Day at GCH

2007-12-05T18:55:00.002-08:00

Rain here means lots of mud and school's are closed. So what do we do with all the kids?... We play with the cool things people donate to us. Not a bad way to spend the morning!