Faithful supporters…

I’m sorry to say I don’t have any Butt Paste stories for you this time. Bummer, huh? If you’re new to this project, check this out. This time around I just want to share some pictures. The load of supplies that went in February was the first official combination load from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Gilbert, Arizona. YAY! Because of some very crazy circumstances, we didn’t get one big group picture as planned, but here are a few shots of the supplies in various stages of delivery. It is incredible what was given…

And I couldn’t resist including the picture taken during the February trip of my dear husband holding one of the Babies of Juarez. We were so thrilled to kiss those chubby little cheeks. Thankfully the baby’s mom is still able to breastfeed. It’s our hope and prayer that when that situation changes there will be formula on hand to feed this precious life.

Okay, some business.

— A dear friend of mine and co-gatherer of supplies has been working to spread the BOJ word up in the Highlands Ranch area. Thanks to her great work, a few spring consignment sale organizers have agreed to partner with BOJ and distribute flyers at their upcoming events.

— BOJ is about to dust off the old running shoes. Our second “I Run for the Babies of Juarez” half-marathon got lost in the Anderson move to Arizona, along with my mind—another story entirely—but we’ve recently had a few people ask us to resurrect it. Details to come! Please consider running (or walking) for this important cause. You get a really great t-shirt and a fun experience to boot.

— We feel momentum building yet again for this project. A lovely new addition to the BOJ supporter team is finding new and creative ways to drum up more supplies for the Babies of Juarez. If you want to get involved or re-involved or step up your involvement in this cause, here are some great ways to help: email BOJ flyers to friends in the area, ask your pediatrician or OB-GYN (sorry, guys—doesn’t apply to you, does it?) for any expired formula in their offices, ask your church or small group or neighborhood to consider doing a drive. We’d love to get some flyers and door-hanger bags in your hands if you feel led to spread the word in your community. (My kiddos helped me hang flyers for BOJ and eightythreehundred.org in our new neighborhood, and we had a great time doing it!)

Okay, my last update was long, so I’ll try to keep this short. Have to share one story before I go. We were on a team last month that built a home for this dear family.

Their situation was daunting. The grandparents of this multi-generation family were the ones to actually receive the home. They are helping raise their daughter’s four children. The daughter is in a wheelchair and will be permanently. For those of you who have been to the colonias, can you even imagine being wheelchair bound there? And yet the whole family was full of joy and overwhelmingly grateful for the gift God was giving them. (Okay, here’s a plug. I am shameless, I realize, but also stopped caring about that long ago!) Having a front-row seat to watch God give a hard-working, deserving, needy family a home—well, it’s simply indescribable. Join us sometime! So here’s the BOJ piece. They have one child who’s still diaper-wearing age, and that poor child was literally walking around with a nasty diaper leaking filth down to her knees. She was not neglected, and was clearly very much loved. But the family did not have the means to put her in a clean diaper. They were living day-to-day to provide food for all those mouths, and there was simply nothing left for diapers. Thanks to one of you, our team was able to grab a package of diapers from the stack we took down and give it to the family. Normally the giving is left up to the five area pastors. They know the needs of their communities best. But every once in awhile we are given an opportunity to personally hand out what you lovely people have given. And I can tell you we might as well be distributing gold. It is that precious.

Thank you for everything you’ve done—and continue to do—for the Babies of Juarez.
Quinn