shipment #7 and …

shipment #8!

Wonderful partners…
 
The most prevalent theme that comes to mind when I think of you all these days is partnership. Together we’ve sent two shipments to Juarez this summer, the second of which headed south just two weeks ago and made it safely across the border. (The first one went at the beginning of July, thanks to my willing and helpful husband.) Without any organized school programs or church reminders or any requests from me at all, you have fed and clothed the babies of Juarez. I am astonished to see how you have served these people and this cause in such grand display. From Voila Tans in Highlands Ranch holding a diapers and formula drive to our family friend using his lemonade/pizza stand proceeds to buy supplies. I could go on and on with stories like these. My dear friend held a garage sale and gave me ALL the money to buy formula. A Kindergarten class at Cherry Hills auctioned off a quilt and gave me the proceeds to buy supplies. A faithful friend continues to buy formula every time she goes to WalMart and drops it on my porch. My cousin in Ohio just sent a check and coupons. Precious friends continue to buy supplies monthly in honor and memory of a beloved son they lost many years ago now. We get so many anonymous drop-offs that I don’t get to place a face with the gift, but how deep is my gratitude. People, I have tears in my eyes and a major lump in my throat when I recall this partnership and your sweet faithfulness. Thank you for jumping on board and feeding these babies. My heart literally wants to burst with the very best kind of pride when I think of you and what you’re joining together to accomplish.
 
I’ll take a deep breath and get back to some updates. Whew. Things are going well in Juarez. The missionaries continue to distribute supplies just as quickly as we get them down there. We just heard from two of the missionaries who are in Juarez full-time that these supplies are continuing to make a major impact. They constantly have their eyes open for babies having nothing but water in their bottles for the opportunity to give them nourishment and a chance to live. Without it, many of these babies would simply fade away. The government isn’t set up to help them and many have absolutely no means to buy formula, so the help they’re receiving from our shipments is crucial.
 
On a very positive note, we have dear friends that run a non-profit organization established to support an orphanage in Brazil. They have graciously offered to take the babies of Juarez project under its wing. I’ve received several quotes for setting up 501(c)(3) status of my own, but the costs were too extraordinary. And to hold up our commitment that every dollar given goes to buy diapers and formula, this just wasn’t feasible for us personally. This doesn’t change the way we do things much and our primary focus is still very much collecting the actual supplies. However, for those who occasionally (or regularly – thank you, mom and Mauri) send money for me to buy diapers and formula on your behalf, you’ll now receive the tax benefit. Simply make your check out to “The Shepherd’s Way” and every nickel will be spent at whatever store has the best deal on diapers and formula at the moment.
 
Okay, enough with the business side of things. Our family is currently making plans to head down with a team at the end of October and I’ve envisioned an enormous load of diapers and formula going down with us. I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on those babies and return home with wonderful stories for you and an even greater heart for this project. Stay tuned to see what God’s going to do with this next shipment. I am almost breathless with anticipation.
 
With tremendous gratitude,
Quinn

shipment #5 and…

shipment #6!

See how good you are?! The fifth load was our largest yet and the sixth was quickly piggy-backed on the fifth with supplies going over the border to Juarez in many different intervals. I continue to be in awe of how God moves in people’s hearts to prompt them to give to these babies. Just when I think we have another lull and maybe people are becoming disinterested with the project, we are flooded with supplies. Cherry Hills Pre-School has gotten involved in a big way. Red Robin and Coca Cola marketing departments contributed heavily this go-round. And my dear friends and family continue to collect and/or buy supplies regularly. I am so humbled by your willingness to partner with me and help these precious babies. We’ve heard incredible things from Juarez about how God is using the supplies. In the mission clinic they have literally witnessed a complete shift in the patients seen. They’ve gone from almost all babies and a few adults, to primarily adults. The missionaries believe this is due to the nutrition provided by the formula and the overall hygiene provided from clean diapers. Honestly, how awe-inspiring is this?

It motivates me mightily to press on. The goal this summer is to reach out to local hospitals and pediatricians to request their expired formula. If you’re the praying kind, I would appreciate you asking God to open the doors wide. Getting their involvement is key to continuing this project for years to come, literally turning what’s headed for the trash into life for the babies in need. If that isn’t a picture of what God does in our own lives, I don’t know what is!

We also plan to have a Web site up and running in the next few months, so people will be able to view my past shipment notes and pictures of each load of supplies. This is also a monumental thing in terms of widening the area we can reach to find people who may be inclined to participate.

The other picture attached is of Pastor Jesus receiving supplies for the needs of the people in his community. After the fourth load went across the border, we received these words from missionary Jeff along with the picture:
“Chris drove down the shipment of diapers and formula yesterday to bring over on the bus last night with the new team. When we arrived at the team center, Pastor Jesus had been waiting for us, praying we would have more diapers and formula. We loaded his truck with his portion of the supplies within minutes, and they were in the field. We thought you would enjoy this photo. Thank you for your continuing work and love for the babies of Juarez.”

a portion of Matthew 25 from “The Message”
“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

May God bless you for taking care of his babies in Juarez.
Quinn