We had quite a few new families join us on our trip to Juarez this month—and it was great fun to watch them patiently haul supplies and stack diapers/formula for the picture and then haul supplies again…before carefully putting everything on the shelves to await distribution. Here’s what you sent to Mexico!

I swear sometimes God might be trying to kill me. I thought the stories surrounding load 27 would do me in. Little did I know load 28 would be just as wonderful! On the last night of our trip we were sitting at church listening to various members of the congregation sing and speak, when Elizabeth, Pastor Miguel’s wife, called up the kids who had been recipients of the diapers and formula you’d given. Elizabeth expressed powerful words of gratitude to you all for helping these dear families.

It was incredible enough to look at happy, growing children who made it through infancy, but imagine watching this while knowing the family who had given the very first Babies of Juarez diapers and formula was sitting in the seats watching with me! I thought my heart would burst on the spot.

Of course I had taken a picture of the gift that started it all. And 28 loads later I’m still taking pictures…thanks to your continued support of the babies of Juarez. God sure does love his babies!

Look at this face and know that your gifts and efforts have truly mattered.

Load 27 knocked our socks off! A trailer carrying all these supplies went down to Juarez mid-January…

And then last week I received the gift of a lifetime. My daughter Cassidy and I were graciously invited to join a team of friends down in Juarez for a house build. While there, a dear friend and head national for the organization that distributes the Babies of Juarez supplies, Leo, arranged for a group of moms and babies who have benefitted from your generosity over the years to come visit us at the team center. To say the very least, it was overwhelming. And moving. And life changing. We heard stories of babies who lived only because of the supplies you gave. We met some babies who couldn’t tolerate regular formula and required specific nutrients in the high-end formula donated by others of you. We heard stories about mothers who notice massive differences between the development of their infants, babies, and toddlers who received diapers and formula through Babies of Juarez and their older kids who managed to survive on sugar water and bean juice as babies. They described their younger children’s health, growth, and overall physical/mental development as dramatically superior.

SO—not only have your gifts meant life to so many babies, they’ve meant a better life. Last week I got to see this with my very own eyes and hear with my very own ears. You are making a tremendous difference in the lives of families in great need. And now…enjoy some pictures of these beautiful babies!

On behalf of the babies and their mommas, thank you for your amazing support.
Quinn

What can I say about load 26? You should probably know how hard I’m working to tone down my enthusiasm for this particular delivery of diapers and formula. It was chock-full of cool moments. I live in lists, so here are the highlights in my favorite form.

• Only six weeks after load 25, we got to take load 26 down.

• “We” includes my dear husband, kids, parents, in-laws, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and cousin, all flying to Arizona and then driving with us to El Paso. I’m sure that piques your curiosity, so here’s the whole story.

• It took the majority of a 6×12 trailer to haul the supplies to El Paso. (We stopped about every ten miles to refuel. You think I’m kidding!)

• A huge portion of the supplies came from a diaper drive done by our kids’ school. The support was overwhelming! Over 20,000 diapers given. (We didn’t have room to take them all with load 25, so the rest became part of 26.)

• A good friend and ultra-active supporter of Babies of Juarez spent countless hours putting on a yard sale to benefit the cause. (Raised more than $1,200!) Some of the supplies from this load were the fruit of her family’s labor.

• In a Walmart parking lot in El Paso, as we transferred supplies from our rented trailer into the Missions Ministries trailer, it became clear some would have to go into storage to wait for the next border crossing. A great problem to have, don’t you think?

• Once safely across the border into Mexico, we unloaded 26 with the unsolicited help of the beloved construction crew. I came on the scene after the process had already started. Watching joy-filled faces and willing hands jump right in to tackle the project together was a life moment I will never forget. Then my moms, cousin, and sister-in-law stacked the load for the official picture. I always appreciate the patience of our team members as they recognize my need to share with you what you’ve all done together. The pictures keep us all motivated to remember the babies and their overwhelming and ongoing need.

• Unexpected rain threatened the supplies. I was happily gallivanting around Juarez with a friend shopping for mattresses, and the unload/stacking crew had headed elsewhere. So my husband, our kids, and the team center security guards quickly hauled everything indoors.

• Back at home, we discovered the pastors of the Mexican churches had blessed us with pictures of the supplies being distributed to the families. Here’s a sampling. (Missions Ministries made the sign to thank you all for your beautiful efforts.) The most perfect cherry on top of load 26.

On Sunday, load 27 heads to Mexico. What’s that old saying about wild horses? I can’t wait to report back to you!

These words and pictures only hint of the effect of your efforts. Let them encourage you as we come together to serve others. Thank you all for the privilege of delivering your gifts and resources to help hungry babies survive and even thrive. It brings me tremendous joy.

—Quinn

Seriously.

Without a doubt, number 25 was the largest load yet. The pictures don’t come close to doing it justice. Three trailers went across the border with the October team—full of supplies. What a blessing to the families down in Mexico! Hungry babies being fed and staying free of infection.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have a quick, unexpected “oh happy day” announcement! Last week a group from Colorado took the growing collection of diapers and formula down to the colonias, and I just had to share this picture. YAY! In a few weeks we’ll have another load—from Arizona—that will carry an incredible God story with it. I can’t (but I will ☺) wait to share it!

A few noteworthy items while I’m sending an update.

—> A Babies of Juarez supporter and friend is hosting a Pampered Chef party as a fundraiser for the cause. 20% of the show will be given to Babies of Juarez and our house-building projects. (http://eightythreehundred.org) If you’re interested in doing some PC shopping and having the proceeds help down in Juarez, please go to www.pamperedchef.biz/jgorman and, under the shop online tab, search for host Bethany Maxwell. You can place an order and have it shipped directly to you. Isn’t it great how we have all these creative avenues to help people? I love it… (Some of you already have a Pampered Chef connection, and I’m not suggesting you switch.)

—> Babies of Juarez was recently featured on a local Phoenix radio show. If you’ve ever wanted more information about the ministry down in Juarez, I invite you to listen to the podcast at http://www.kpxq1360.com/ContentPages/1948/. Scroll down to “Local Shows” and then go to Walk the Talk with Robyn Bloomquist. It’s the show from 9/24. There’s a prize for the person who correctly counts the number of times I said “um.” Ha!

—> I want to invite the Colorado families to the New to You Children’s Consignment Sale coming up this weekend. Please see the attached document for more information. We’re so grateful for their continued support of the Babies of Juarez project.

There you have it—short and sweet! Thank you for your tremendous support of this ministry.

Until the next one…
Quinn