I’m so happy to report that this shipment of diapers and formula headed south and across the border last week. We thought we were building a load to take on our June construction trip, but God had in mind for the supplies to go earlier. What we sent in January with the men’s team had officially run out. Look what God had been growing in our basement the last two months to feed babies sooner rather than later! If I ever needed a reminder about God’s timing being perfect, here’s yet one more. Thank goodness for reminders.

As I hauled up this load from the basement, one particular story came to mind over and over. Jesus was feeding the multitudes on the hillside near the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:11-12

These pictures speak this to me – and remind me God is very pleased by this project and those involved in it. If you have an email account, I’m guessing you also get your fill of food and nourishment each day. I get way more than my fill. And all of you receiving this note have at one time given to the Babies of Juarez. Sometimes God calls us to sacrifice things or time or energy to give. Sometimes God calls us to give from what we have left over. Some of the pictures above illustrate “let nothing be wasted” by people giving one or two diapers to the babies rather than throwing them away—taking the time and making the effort to get these leftover diapers to me. There are babies who desperately need those diapers to keep them from horrible discomfort and infection. The picture of the whole collection is full of examples of people who have sacrificed to keep babies in Juarez alive — and it is made up of people who have given from what they had left over. All of it together becomes something really beautiful to me. And if it’s drop-dead gorgeous to me, in all my humanness – you can just imagine how lovely it is to God. Like the most stunning of all sunsets. Thank you for your gifts.

There are some new cool contributions here. A 6-year-old girl from our church had been saving her change for a year to buy diapers for the Babies of Juarez. A friend from Sunday school got up the nerve to ask her pediatrician for any expired formula and left the doctor’s office with supplies. The Beth Moore study group at Cherry Hills got involved and gave diapers and formula. (Micki, would you please forward my gratitude?) Our pastor mentioned the project in a marriage class and sparked a huge interest (and drop-off!) from one of you. We even got one more Christmas present added to the mix. And there are so many other stories I don’t even get the privilege of knowing about, with mysterious drop-offs finding their way to our front porch. Adding to the beauty. Thank you for your gifts.

Some of you have patiently waited for the Five Guys fundraiser update. (I really don’t want to inundate you with email, so decided to wait until I had the above to report.) We raised $350.14 that day! Thank you, thank you to all who came out and supported the cause. We knew the dollars wouldn’t be the main feature here – although that’s $350.14 worth of formula we didn’t have before…and that’s huge – but we also raised awareness and had many people learn about the project through the event. I just can’t thank you all enough for your support. I honestly spent most of that day wanting to cry, feeling so blessed. Thank you for your gifts.

Okay, a few more things before I let you go and before I get choked up again:

• Last time I asked you to eat burgers for the babies. Now we’re giving you an opportunity to drink wine for the babies. (There are some jokes and connections I can make to heart health here, but I’ll spare you.) Please see the attachment regarding a fundraiser a friend is putting together in record time. You can help by attending the event (I already know many wonderful people who will be there!) and/or spreading the word and/or donating something for the auction. Could be a $20 gift card for Jamba Juice; could be a week in Cabo. Everything helps!

• Our next shipment of supplies goes June 1.

• Stay tuned for more information regarding the half-marathon fundraiser. There were some changes made after I got confirmation on the date from the Rocky Mountain Half organizers. I went to the website to confirm registration was open and found out the Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver has kind of taken its place. (So now they’re turning the Rocky Mountain Half into a 5K/10K sort of event. So with that change we’re trying to decide what to do. There’s a very good chance we’ll change our fundraiser to October 17 along with the big run downtown.) (That’s so much more of a challenge, you know. And the Rock ‘n’ Roll events are FUN.) I know many of you have already “signed on” for the half – and I’ll be in touch with anyone who’s expressed interest. I just wanted to encourage others who think October is more feasible than June in terms of training to consider it. http://denver.competitor.com/

• I have to give a shout-out to my faithful helpers. My two youngest kiddos get a big kick out of loading up the truck with supplies and insist on posing when I’m taking pictures for the website. The next generation of diapers and formula collectors are already hard at work. I love it.

• Our June 2-5 trip to build homes outside the city of Juarez just had two spots open up. (By this I mean – room for two couples, two families, two individuals, etc.) If you’ve ever considered going, this would be a great team to join!

Okay, time to close here. I don’t say this lightly, but you have all contributed greatly to my life. This project has brought me such joy – and you’ve been a big, big part of that. Thank you for partnering with me – and making this journey all that much more worthwhile.

I just had to share the latest picture with you all. Shipment number 16 was assembled in quick time. We took the largest load yet down to Juarez with us in November. Then my dear husband had the opportunity to be part of a men’s team that went down last month. They took the supplies that are shown in the picture. Pretty amazing what God quickly put together, even over the holidays that tend to be so busy for people. You weren’t too busy to give! Thank you so much to everyone who fed and diapered the babies this go-round. We had some amazing “Christmas present” donations and a “family fundraiser” that contributed greatly to this load. We have lovely neighbors up the street who continue to give so generously. And I had three dear family members (in Oregon, Illinois, and Ohio – how cool is that?) give me exactly what I wanted for Christmas – diapers and formula! And these stories are just a portion of the equation. It’s incredible how what’s given, both large amounts and small amounts, all adds up to keeping babies alive down in Mexico. God is good.

Two items of fundraising news:
—Our Five Guys Burgers and Fries fundraising event on Thursday, March 4, raised $350 toward our project. Our next scheduled trip to Juarez is in June, and we want to overwhelm the wonderful families, churches, and women’s shelters with many, many needed supplies. Thanks to all of you who showed up for lunch and/or dinner at Five Guys. My mom posted pictures on her blog. Take a look!
—The 2nd Annual Babies of Juarez Half-Marathon will be taking place Sunday, June 13. The website is scheduled to be updated at the end of March. Last year we had 15 runners and walkers that raised more than $4,000 for the Babies of Juarez. Won’t you consider joining us this year? If you have interest, please let me know and I’ll add you to the distribution list so you get a pledge sheet and t-shirt when we gear up. It was a rock star group of people last year and the course itself is definitely worth running or walking. A really cool experience for a great cause, if I do say so myself. J

Remember — every dollar raised, every dollar given goes in its entirety to buy diapers and formula for the Babies of Juarez. This makes the fundraisers all the more fun, I think!

Okay, I’m trying to keep this short and obviously I’ve set a new record for myself. (Don’t get your hopes up – this is not the new norm!)

Thank you again for your beautiful support.
Quinn

Want to do some good just by going out to lunch or dinner?

Stop by Five Guys Burgers and Fries for a meal

on Thursday, March 4. Present this flyer when you order and

Five Guys will donate 15% of the sale to Babies of Juarez.

A win win!

Your family gets fed and at the same time you’re

feeding a hungry baby down in Juarez, Mexico.

Where is Five Guys?

9352 S. Colorado Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

303.470.0775

Oh, how I wish each and every one of you could have stood in my home on the evening of Monday, November 2. First we stacked the diapers and formula that was purchased with money raised during the 1st Annual Babies of Juarez Half-Marathon last June. (Yes, it took me way too long to convert funds to supplies, but that’s beside the point.) This stack was enormous – twice as large as it appears in the pictures. And then – as if that original huge stack wasn’t enough, fellow team members (to be heading off on a journey to Juarez the next day) came by for a “packing party.” Men, women, and kids hauled up from the basement the monstrous amount of diapers and formula many of you helped create. Everyone was bringing supplies up faster than I could possibly stack everything. People thought I was nuts, but I just stood there laughing. So be it! I was in a state of joy beyond my own comprehension. So yes, take a look at the pictures. The pictures are a little like a puzzle, with the initial stack being hidden by everything that was stored in our basement the last few months – and by the pictures it’s impossible to see the sheer enormity of the load. It was so deep I couldn’t begin to capture it with my amateur camera. You could barely walk through the entryway. After I took pictures we loaded everything into one (of two!) trailers, knowing the supplies would head south the next day. Our team had the privilege of taking a good portion over the border with us. (There wasn’t room for all of it on the bus so the remainder of the load went into the mission’s storage facility in El Paso to go over with the next team. Or sooner if they had the means to get it across.)

So here’s my plug. Keep up the amazing work! To this day I’m flabbergasted by this last load of diapers and formula. Some of you gave me cash to shop. Some dropped off brand new supplies straight from the store. Some asked pediatricians and hospitals for their expired formula. Some asked for diapers and formula in lieu of presents at their birthday celebrations. Some gave me their outgrown sizes/already opened packages of diapers. Some gave formula samples. And just look what all those gifts created. Now the supplies are in Mexico saving the lives of dearly loved babies.

Having recently returned from taking three of my kiddos on a powerful trip to Juarez, my fire is renewed for the precious people there in the colonias. Consider yourself warned. J Anyone want to have coffee so I can tell you all about our trip?? And then I’ll ask you to join us in June or in October as we go again and build homes, open a medical clinic, and feed hungry people. We are so close in proximity to Juarez, Mexico, and it takes very little effort on our part to make a huge difference in the lives of the people. Buy a can of formula. Buy a package of diapers. Talk to your doctor or grocery store about donating expired formula or opened/damaged packages of diapers. It all adds up to become the pictures you see attached.

Little is much when God is in it.

What you have given of your resources is being used mightily in Mexico right this very moment. From the bottom of my heart, thank you…

Quinn

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