While we are checking out the guy’s website, let’s take a look at Rancho 3M. There are many places in scripture where we are admonished to care for widows and orphans and plead the case of the needy. That says so much about the character of the God we serve! Reading about what God is doing at the Ranch encouraged me and also gave me fresh motivation to pray for them. Although we might not be able to travel to the Ranch, we can always love them by pleading their case before the throne of grace. I was overwhelmed by Dean’s quickness to point out evidences of God’s grace. It challenged me to do the same! As you read below I hope you too will be encouraged!

November 2006

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank you again for the privilege to share with you what God has been doing here at Rancho 3M and the School, Colegio Logsdon, over the past few months. We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

THE SCHOOL
You may recall in addition to learning computer skills, the children are also learning English, not only the spoken language but reading and writing as well. The prospects of these two skills in themselves will open a world of opportunities for our children. We especially appreciate Matthew Dwinells taking on this monumental teaching task. Please pray that the children will be diligent in all their studies and that the Lord would grant Matthew much patience and clarity in communicating to the children in Spanish.

Teo, our acting principal, recently told me that two of the children that attend the school from the outside have asked their parents if they could start attending a Christian church in their communities. It is so exciting to see the fruit of your hard labor and finances in building and maintaining the school. You are making a difference! Thank you!

THE KIDS
We have accepted several new children since the summer most of which are between the ages of four and eight. The ability to influence them for the Lord at such tender ages is very exciting to us. Accepting so many new children also brings new challenges. Initially, there was a great amount of fighting among the boys. But through faithfulness, consistency and purposed discipline, that is beginning to change. We are praying that God would shatter their stony hearts and give them hearts to know Him.

Something very exciting is happening among our young boys. At one time, Esteban, (a ten year old boy who has been here for some time), would volunteer to pray for the boys and the ranch in the evening before they go to bed. But the boys are beginning to compete for the right to pray. Although we don’t encourage a spirit of competitiveness, it is good to see a growing desire to serve one another and the Lord. An example of other evidences of grace that we have seen in the boys is as follows: Luis, an eleven year old who is fairly new to the ranch but whom already shows evidences of God’s great love in his life was helping Yahir, a new four-year old, dress for school. When Yahir broke out in a little song of glee. Luis began singing “Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord.” Before you knew it, a handful of the kids joined in. There have been other reports of the kids breaking out in (Chris! tian) song as well. Also, one of our younger boys, Roberto Carlos, is beginning to encourage the others to do good instead of evil.
On another note, David Mora is really struggling with his first year of high school. We ask that you keep him in your prayers. Although David also struggles with laziness and low motivation, he has discovered a great love for welding, (something that has been awakened to by our ongoing fence project). We are exploring the possibility of sending him to trade school or an apprenticeship for this purpose.

We would further ask that you keep our teen girls in prayer as well. Bere and Giovanna recently left. We would appreciate it if you would pray that God would continue to expose their hearts and shower them with saving grace. A few of the girls, Sonia Quinones and Sonia Regalado have been going through a rough time lately. We are praying that God would continue to work in both these girl’s lives, that He would continue to expose the selfishness and pride of our hearts and, that this trials would give glory to Him, the One who draws near to the brokenhearted.

HOME GROUPS
Our home groups are still going strong. As you may know, we have been going through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. A few bright stars have memorized the first 15 questions and answers. As you may know, part of our vision is to equip the children with a strong biblical foundation by teaching them sound Biblical Doctrine and a love for the local church in the hope that they would go on to lead lives that would glorify God.

STAFF
Matthew and Lee, our couple from New Jersey, moved into the boys’ dorm on the younger boys’ side in July. Their presence has been a great blessing and has filled a long time need. We really appreciate Trinity Fellowship Church in NJ for sending them to us.

We went on a staff retreat this summer at which time we studied “Humility: True Greatness,” by C.J. Mahaney under the tutelage of Carlos Contreras the Senior pastor from Inglesia Soberana of Juarez. We pray that we will all grow in humility, not just for a season, but that we would purpose to put on humility daily.

Currently, we are studying a “Heart of Anger,” by Lou Paulo. I expect we will all grow immensely through this study as it exposes the lusts and desires of our own hearts.

We also attended a seminar given by Mike Bullmore at the Juarez church. What an amazing blessing. I couldn’t stop taking notes. Almost everything out of his mouth was a gold nugget. I heard him two years ago at a leadership conference (where I felt like a kindergartener) talk about tying the gospel to everything that we do. It transformed the way we do a lot of things around here like disciplining and talking with the children etc.

One of my strong desires is to see our staff grounded in sound Biblical doctrine, continuing to increase their love for the local church and working together in unity for His glory. It is a great privilege to see God’s handiwork among the staff. Each one is gifted differently. What an awesome sight to see the Body of Christ growing and working together as one and for one purpose, His glory.

Jorge is gifted with patience and both he and Paty devote a great deal of time and effort to the care of the boy’s basic and spiritual needs as well. Pancho’s love for both God and the children and Martina’s care is greatly evident and is a testimony to us all. Teo is gifted in teaching and organization. Matthew (the funniest guy I now know) has compassion for the lost and Lee a gentle spirit. She has been an enormous blessing working in the office. There are times during our Sunday morning worship service when both children and staff bring one report after another of evidences of God’s grace among us. Please pray that we would continue to grow in humility and grace and in our desire for excellence in the furtherance of the Gospel for His name’s sake.

A MANISFESTATION OF GOD’S HANDIWORK AMONG US
We have been concerned for a five year old David for some time now. He was filled with anger and contempt, always fighting with the other children and he’s showed great disrespect to some visiting groups. He needed to be disciplined continually. He just didn’t seem to learn from his mistakes. Moved by his great struggle, some of the staff began praying for him as did some of our friends at Vista New Life Church in El Paso. Once after being disciplined every single day for an entire week, sometimes two or three times a day, Matthew and Lee confronted him with the assistance of Pancho.
This poor child was under the impression that we took joy in disciplining him. He was assured that this was not the case and that we cared for and in fact, loved him very much. And then, they talked with him about his sin problem, asked him what he thought he should do and why he thought he was having so much trouble. He had no response in both incidences.
They then began to talk to him about the condition of his heart and asked him if he wanted Jesus to give him a new heart so that he could know Jesus. To our surprise, he answered with a resounding, yes. Over the next several weeks and months, we watched with great anticipation. We began noticing little changes. Little by little, God is changing his heart. The anger that was once there has begun to abate as he began to trust God. God has sent David a few little playmates as well. David’s ongoing story is the result of God’s handiwork. Please pray that God would continue working in his heart and that He grant him repentance and a fear of Him. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer in this regard.

GROUPS and WORK PROJECTS
We have been immensely blessed by all the hard work that the American church groups have done here at the Ranch in recent months. Most recently we had groups here from New Mexico and North Carolina. The North Carolina group assisted in the continuing effort to build Tita’s house. Tita is a young lady that grew up here and come on staff at 18. She has been working here for the past 6 years. Before last month, it was little more than four concrete walls and a dirt floor. The group assisted by some of the older boys, worked very hard pouring the floor and sidewalks, putting up doors, installing windows, and a bathroom. It was a great experience for the boys and they had a good time. The older girls also had an opportunity to learn more about sewing and made PJ’s for themselves. The New Mexico group worked very hard in the few short days they were here, doing odd jobs around the ranch, touch-up! painting around the girls’ dorm, and the installation of 85 ten foot fence panels. Groups play a very vital role in this orphanage and we are very grateful that you would even want to come and serve here. Thank you!!!

An ongoing big project has been putting up a perimeter fence around the entire property. Thanks to many of you, about $15,000 has already been as been spent so far to. That money was spent on 2500 linear feet of posts and 850 linear feet of installed fence panels made out of 5/8 rebar. The New Mexico group brought in a portable welding machine and crane to assist in this effort. At first, they were turned away by the border patrol but were able to gain entry the following day at the main bridge in Juarez. Thanks so much to all of you for all of the hard work and finances you have put into this lengthy project over time! The goal, Lord willing, is to finish it in 2008.

SPONSORS
Understandable, more than a handful of our sponsors have fallen away for more than a year now. In addition, we have accepted fourteen new children since June of this year. For that reason, we currently have a need for 22 children to be sponsored to attend school. Those interested in investing our children’s future and sponsoring a child to attend school please contact Lee at lee@rancho3m.com. As you know with the help of our sponsoring program we are able to maintain a competent teaching staff. The sponsorship program is $30.00 a month which pays for a child from the Ranch to attend Colegio Logsdon. We will give you the name and photo of the child to help you remember to pray for them. Thank you for your help?

I met with Teo today about his son, Jair (who many of you know that the Lord had healed from cancer). Because of all of the chemo, his speech didn’t develop properly. After being tested they found out that he talks like a one and a half year old instead of a 4 year old. The doctor said this is normal for a child his age after having gone through such medical treatment for so long. So if there is anyone of you that would like to help out paying for his speech pathologist, it costs $160/month for seven months=$1,120.

Once again, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who so graciously and generously support this orphanage and school through your faithful contributions and prayers. We definitely could not exist if it weren’t for God using you all in this powerful way.
CHRISTMAS
We hope that you have a very blessed Christmas time celebrating the birth of the only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Because of the cross of Jesus Christ,
Dean Adamek