Rebuilding Families

At the very beginning, way before this new property and the name Zion’s Gate, Tony Deien started this ministry by spending time with street kids in Los Pinos and La Kennedy. He first met Carlos, who introduced him to his brother Fernando, and from there met more brothers, many cousins, friends, and neighbors. God gave him the duty of working with these kids, caring for them physically and spiritually. Tony has done this for about five years now, and now God is starting to reveal part of his bigger plan.

God is showing us that these kids are actually doors to their families, and that we have an even greater opportunity to serve families! So as we walk into this next phase, we are following God’s calling to REBUILD FAMILIES. I want to share a bit about the three families God is calling to us serve immediately, in this very moment.

(Abuela and Luis)

About two weeks ago, abuela (the grandmother of Luis and Fanny) moved in with us at Zion’s Gate. Luis and Fanny have always had strained relationships with their parents, so they’ve been cared for much of their lives by their grandma. Let me tell you, she is an incredible woman! She is a woman of faith, a strong woman, a wise woman, and full of so much love. We love that she is with us for many reasons! First it is great to see them function as a family, because that’s how it should be. Second, its great to see how different Fanny and Luis act with her, and how they are so good to care for her. Third, the faith she brings to the property is incredible. I got to see her talking to wide-eyed Anderson for about an hour, answering all his 7 year old God questions with so much wisdom. And lastly, it’s great to have another generation be a part of our family here. We have the little ones (Anderson and Genesis), the teenagers, me and Cassie, Tony and Nidia, and now abuela. More wisdom and experience brought into our lives!

(Nidia, Rony, Noehmi, and Tony)

(Dania, Ariel, and Rony)

Noehmi, and her kids Amalia, Dania, Ariel, and Rony. What an incredible family, and as of this past Sunday, they live in their house on the property with us! The situation with these kids is a little different because they have never been trouble makers we rescued from the streets. They are great kids, with great hearts, just super super poor, and their mom is just not able to provide for them. Their mom is incredible as well, full of faith and so incredibly loving!! While we want to support the kids, there is no reason to split up this family. Which is why they are the first family transplanted from Los Pinos to Zion’s Gate! Now they are supported, all the kids able to attend school, living in a safe area, and functioning as a family, the incredible family they are!

(Marlin with Marisol, Anderson, Jasmine, and Herman)

Most recently, God has put this family on our heart after he gave us the privilege of caring for Anderson, introduced to us by his uncle Herman who lived with us in the past and I still do discipleship with. When we first met Anderson, he was in the streets of Los Pinos 24/7 without a shirt or shoes, not in school, and certainly on the verge of malnourishment (if not already there). His mom Marlin is 25 and has 5 kids, by different fathers (none of which support her), the youngest only about 6 months old. The only provider is Herman, an 18 year old kid, who has a hard time holding down a job. The house reeks, everyone is so so dirty, and there is never any food or water in the house. Because of the extreme conditions, we supported the idea of taking Anderson out. However, Anderson is just 7 and he needs his mom and a relationship with his family. I’m very close with Anderson and very intentional with him, but I’m not his mom! He has a mom, and while she can’t provide for him, she is still and will always be his mom! We want to foster a relationship there, and with his siblings as well as he is so close with his little sister Marisol. For this, we are going in every Thursday to visit the family and have intentional time with them. I’ve also been providing food for their family almost every week because I cannot watch 4 small children have NOTHING to eat and NOTHING to drink if there’s something I can do about it! Only God knows what the future holds for us and this family, but we are here to serve them! Their mom is empty, searching for worth in men who always leave her, taking care of 5 kids DESPERATE for love and attention. If we could introduce this family to Christ and show them that kind of extravagant love, only God knows the difference that could make.