TEN YEARS AND COUNTING:

THE STDRY OF NINDS DE MEXICO

By Donald H. Bader
It all began several years ago when a young man from Union, Missouri, still in high school, made a trip to the Kiamichi Moun tains Men's Meeting in
southeastern Oklahoma.

completely

meet

that

need. But we made the decision to never launch

into a big building pro gram without sufficient

funds available so that we would not have to burden

While at this meeting he met a group of young men from Mexico. During the three day meeting a very strong friendship devel oped. After returning
home the enthusiasm and excitement of the Mexican

the people in the States with a large indebtedness. Now, after ten years we
see Ninos de Mexico con

tinuing to grow. Unit I, the original home, is a

large building consisting of

12 bedrooms, two apart

boys and their love for the

Lord continued to make

ments

(one

filled with

boys at the present time

because of the lack of an impression on the mind Serving Ninos de Mexico are (left to right) Merlyn and Wanda Beeman, space), a large dining room of this young Missouri Vi and Don Bader, and Vicki and Jack Yarnell. boy. Also the need of the and kitchen area, a nursery country of Mexico to hear more about God and the church, the area with 16 children in it, and a family room, plus a complete poverty of the country, and the hopelessness of the children of farm program consisting of cattle, hogs, rabbits, and chickens. At the country continued to concern him. Finally, while still in high Unit I we have 71 children: 47 boys and 24 girls. school, his decision was made to go, and he dedicated himself to In June, 1975, a second unit was opened in Huexotla, a village taking the gospel to Mexico. His folks were persuaded that what about ten miles from Unit 1. Jack and Vicki Yarnell of Dallas, he wanted to do was right, Spanish lessons were started, and he Texas, accepted the invitation to come and become parents to set about convincing his fiancee that this was what they should Mexican children. Unit II is a smaller program, as all future pro do. Ninos de Mexico was born-still only in his mind, but it had grams will be. At Unit II, we have a building consisting of six begun. bedrooms, a dining and kitchen area, a family room, plus a guest Who are we talking about? The young man was Merlyn Beehouse. There are 13 boys and eight girls in this home. man. He and that fiancee (who is now his wife Wanda) are the Looking forward to the future of Ninos de Mexico, we hope to directors of Ninos de Mexico, a home for orphaned and aban have a new home, Unit III, perhaps yet this year. Then as soon as doned Mexican children. It is located in San Vicente Chicoloamoney is available we hope to open more homes-perhaps as

pan, a village about 20 miles from downtown Mexico City. The home has completed its tenth year and is providing care and love
for 92 children in its overall program. Let me tell you a little more about its growth. After complet

many as 30-circling the Mexico City area to care for over 1000
children.

ing a three month internship in Mexico City under the influence

of Dean Cary, the Beemans returned to the United States to com plete the task of raising their livinglink support. Then they, along with their two adopted sons Terry David and Greg, returned to

Mexico City in January of 1967 to bring into reality the idea that
had been bom several years before. -. .'

The home began in rented quartersin R^xico City. The Beemans knew this would not be the pemfanent location of the home but felt it wise not to invest in buildings at first. There were customs to be adjusted to, language to be learned, and pro per contacts to be made. After all these obstacles had been met and dealt with, the building program was begun. While still in the rented quarters in Mexico City, children be gan to be received into the home. Merlyn stated that he knew he could not raise children as he felt they should be raised in such a large metropolitan area, so a search was begun for property in a rural area. In the latter part of 1967 property was located in San Vicente Chicoloapan. Arrangements were made to purchase the property and in February of 1968 the move was made from Mex ico City. The family at that time numbered 25 children. The new property did not have much in the way of buildings. In fact, there was only one small three bedroom house plus a small one room house. As Merlyn stated, "We had wall to wall children!" In fact, from the very early days of Ninos de Mexico until today we have always had "wall to wall" children. An overall plan for the building program was made and con struction began. Through the years it has been frustrating at times, because the need is so great and we have not been able to

Why orphanage work? Why spend so much money? (And it does take a lot of money.) Is orphanage work in a foreign coun try good use of the missionary dollar? Perhaps the best way to answer this is to give you an example of what is happening and will continue to happen with the children of Ninos de Mexico. Our example is a young man named Lauro Jose Sarmiento. Ten years ago Lauro was a young man who had little time for God or the church, but he was a young person in need physically. Lauro
became one of the first children at Ninos de Mexico. He was

brought into the home, fed, clothed, and sent to school. Also during this time he was told about the love of Jesus. Lauro be came a very active Christian in the program of the church. He was able to complete his public school training and decided to be
come a school teacher. He is now married and the head of a

Christian home and is witnessing to his own people. But mote important, this young man, who ten years ago was not very active in the church, now preaches to his own people each week as he
serves the new church in Huexotla where Unit II of Ninos de

Mexico is located. Lauro Is a missionary to Mexico, one who does not require the support of American dollars. If you would like a firsthand report of this fast moving mis

sionary program, please contact Ron Cowan, Route 1, Box 310V, Washington, MO 63090. He will make arrangements for us to come by for a multi-media presentation of the work. Also for printed information on adoption programs or other information
contact Mr. Cowan.

Don Bader and his wife VI are Associate Directors of Ninos de Mexico.

2 (162)

Pages 1 and 2 are being paid for by Nines de Mexico.

Horizons

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

TEN YEARS AND COUNTING
By Donald H. Bader

FREEDOM'S FOES
By Ben Alexander

CULTURE SHOCK

JUNE 1,

By Barton McElroy and David Scates

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA

AND THE WEST INDIES By Bill Loft

NIND5 DE MEXICD:

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YEARS AND

UNTIN

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