Last Monday night we loaded up diapers and formula headed for the Babies of Juarez. These are the pictures of what was sent specifically with the money raised during the 1st Annual Babies of Juarez Half-Marathon. The supplies are officially in Juarez and being put to the very best use, feeding desperately hungry babies and helping them stave off infection.

I have to tell you – in this case the pictures do not begin to do the stack justice. Two separate trips to Costco and four bursting pallet carts. You should have seen the looks we got! It was overwhelming how many packages of diapers and how many cases of formula the marathon sent to Juarez.

Thank you so much for your efforts on behalf of these babies.

May God bless you.
Quinn

Dear people…

You may all be very happy to know I only have a few minutes and will therefore keep my words to a minimum. My family heads off on a cool journey today, one that has consumed me lately – but I wanted to send you pictures before leaving. Since I wrote last we had a half-marathon to raise money for the Babies of Juarez and in my next update you’ll get to see pictures of $4,050 worth of supplies heading south! We’ve also been blessed with another dear woman who’s had a baby shower – and in lieu of gifts for her own baby has instead asked that friends shower the babies of Juarez. It’s overwhelming to see how God just continues to work in hearts to help this cause. And in really wonderful and sacrificial ways. We’ve heard the needs in Juarez are growing. Having been down there, I honestly wasn’t sure that was possible – but apparently the economy problems have trickled down to the poorest of the poor in their community. So when we return from Africa, look out! I’ll find my words again and can’t wait to tell you what God has up his sleeve to help these people who so desperately need it.

The picture serves as wonderful evidence of God’s provision through you. Thank you for your continued support.

shipment #12

shipment #13

This update is terribly overdue. Since I sent the last official update two loads of diapers and formula have made their way down to Juarez, Mexico. Shipment number twelve left our house on Friday, March 20. Shipment number thirteen was picked up Saturday, May 2 and driven down on Monday, May 4. Take a look at the “baby shower gift” picture (below) to see the beginnings of shipment number fourteen that my kids and I got to pick up the afternoon of May 4. (Coincidental timing? I think not.) I haven’t had the words to say thank you – it’s truly been a case of being grateful beyond words. It’s not that I’m finding this project any less inspiring or encouraging, believe me. In fact it’s very much the opposite. Since February I’ve had little time to promote these efforts, so one would think the supplies would be dwindling. Not so much. God has knocked me over continually with my own lack of understanding. These last few months have served as the greatest reminder to me that I’m nothing but a storage facility for the work he is doing. And thank goodness this project is in his capable hands and not my own human ones.
 
Voila Tans in Highlands Ranch held another drive. My friend was given a baby shower to welcome the newest member of her family – and in lieu of gifts for her little girl she asked people to instead bless the babies of Juarez with diapers and formula.

We received a monster check out of the blue from a couple in our Sunday school class. We received a monster check from my son’s friend’s family, also out of the blue. (Gotta wonder what the people at the UPS Store think of me crying over mail.) A close friend of a close friend held a drive at her church and totally overwhelmed me with supplies. People drop off unneeded formula samples and half-opened packages of diapers. Our school parents continue to donate to the cause. Friends. Neighbors. They’ve given again and again. I am humbled when some unexpected supplies show up on our porch and I have no clue who donated them. But God knows. The only reason I feel comfortable even stating some of the ways we’ve accumulated supplies, risking leaving out important ones, is because God knows it all. Every sacrifice that’s been made on behalf of those babies. Every extra effort to drop something off instead of throwing it away. Every prompting heeded instead of ignored. The list above is nowhere near complete – it’s just meant to encourage us all! To be used by God is no small matter. Many would say there’s nothing greater.  
 
Today I sat down to have a quick lunch and the thoughts for this update finally came to me. “Give us this day our daily bread.” My mind goes back to some Bible study lessons this past year when God provides manna and quail in the desert for the Israelites. Daily. I can’t understand that incredible depth of reliance for my daily bread, because God has seen fit to stock my pantry in embarrassing ways. The Israelites learned this daily dependence on God to provide for their physical needs. Many people, many babies in Juarez are literally in this very same situation. Manna isn’t falling to the ground with the dew. But manna is showing up on my front porch. God’s unlikely avenue to feed the babies of Juarez, who are relying on him for their daily bread. May God grant me this same dependence and understanding, whether I’m hungry or full. May I be a person who walks daily in the knowledge that everything good comes from God. May God continue to use our plenty to help those in such need.
 
From the very depths of my being, thank you for allowing God to use you in his plan of provision for the hungry babies of Juarez.
 
Quinn 

As my younger daughter and I hauled the collection up from its storage place this time around, I was stunned by its significance. In our entryway I organized the most beautiful mound of diapers and formula for a suitable picture, fully amazed at what can be accomplished when people find a cause so worthy. I struggle to find words to express my gratitude in grand enough terms. Please look at – study – the pictures. Your involvement in this project, whether big or small, has literally saved lives in Juarez, Mexico. Standing among the stacks of supplies, I felt so grateful for all that was collected in such a short amount of time—and more humbled than ever before.
 
Every donation comes with a story. I received a handwritten note last week from a woman I’ve never met who learned of the project recently and was waiting for her next social security check so she could contribute. She had enclosed a check and apologized for the small amount, wishing it was more. I promptly bawled. I want to be more like her, to exhibit such incredible generosity in spirit and in action. Friends and strangers make occasional contributions to the load, both big and small. Valor Christian High School’s basketball program gave diapers and formula for the second year in a row. A friend’s friend’s small group gave diapers and formula in lieu of doing a traditional Christmas exchange. My folks’ church participated in Advent Conspiracy last month and they gave money to buy diapers and formula in lieu of traditional store-bought gifts in the names of friends and family. Our neighbor from up the street has recently dropped off huge amounts of supplies twice, attempting to do it anonymously. A friend of mine from Bible study just mentioned she and her husband have all they possibly need for their soon-to-arrive baby, and she wants her upcoming shower to instead shower the babies of Juarez.
 
Some days I wonder if I can hold any more gratitude, you have overwhelmed and blessed me so!
 
This is the first time all three of my kids have been on hand to help load the missionary’s truck with supplies. They have all owned this project for themselves and pray faithfully for people to continue giving. To watch them so full of joy, with giant smiles on their faces, carry load after load of diapers and formula to the truck, all three of them knowing firsthand the people who would receive help that very next day—I wonder, is there a better day for a mother like me? A few times they even shouted out, “This is so much fun!”
 
My kids stand in the pantry to choose an after-school snack from an embarrassing amount of options. Children in Juarez are lucky to get one meal a day. Many babies in Juarez go unnamed for months because there’s such a high likelihood they won’t live to see a first birthday. I need to be grateful at every turn for not only all that I’ve been given in this life, but for every chance I’m given to help a person who needs it.
 
A little over a year ago God asked me to start this project, and I have to tell you it’s already been the journey of a lifetime. I am living proof that obedience to God is the key to joy and purpose. I’m humbled by what saying yes has unfolded. It’s my great privilege to stand back and watch him work through you.
 
It is a gift to serve with you. Thank you so very much…
Quinn
 
PS: I want you all to know load number 12 began just hours after load 11 left our home. My friend Julie has exceptional timing!

Dear friends, load number ten is safely in Juarez.
 
After an entire year of seeing diapers and formula suddenly appear on our front porch, one would think we’d be used to it. This is SO not the case. As Dusty walked by the front door this morning and let out a huge whoop we all knew what had happened. The kids went running to the door to confirm their suspicions only to find a VERY generous drop-off of diapers and formula. Quite frankly, some days I wonder if my heart can handle any more joy.
 
I may have completely run out of creative ways to say thank you, but thank you I will. In just a few short weeks, this shipment was assembled.

Little by little (and occasionally a lot by a lot) your contributions became an incredible gift to the babies of Juarez. Keeping starving babies fed and clear of infected diaper rash is no small matter. Thank you so much for your part in this project.
 
This shipment was meaningful to our family in a different way. With this load we got to contribute our own gift! Our extended family does a big stocking gift exchange each year. Since we won’t all be together at Christmas we decided to forego the tradition this December. So our family of five got to spend those stocking funds on diapers and formula! I include a picture of that because I love it so much.

 
A few short hours after Chris came by to load his truck with shipment number ten, a very lovely person named Jenny (from an area group of moms) dropped off the perfect beginning of shipment eleven. Well I totally lost it emotionally – that was just too much. Only two hours later and the collection was beginning. But oh boy – at the exact same time I was melting over the timing of this beginning, mentally my resolve grew ten-fold. You people inspire me! I cannot wait to see what God has planned to keep these babies alive this winter. What a privilege to be part of this effort.
 
Life is precious. As a very appropriate reminder, one of the Juarez missionaries sent these pictures on Tuesday.

Meet un-named baby boy who was born on Thanksgiving Day. He is un-named because of the severely high infant mortality rate where he lives. Parents find it even more difficult to bury a child with a name, so most wait until they know the baby will survive past the critical first six months. In the second picture of him he’s surrounded by supplies from load nine and blankets our October team had collected. It just doesn’t get more real than this. These supplies are saving the lives of babies who have no other options and simply wouldn’t live without them.
 
Stay tuned, folks. I’m already excited to show you pictures of load number eleven…
 
With great appreciation and anticipation,
Quinn