So many children...by Natalie

There is a song by a Christian artist, Sara Groves, called "Esther". Jeff and I really like it because it talks about being compelled by what we see and doing something about it. The song is about a woman (Esther) that goes to Africa and helps children. Here is the chorus, so you'll have an idea of what I am getting at:

"Now Esther has 2.4 million children. She writes us and asks us to pray for them all! She’s compelled, she’s compelled by what she’s seen. And she tells us, she tells us do anything you can To help, oh please help, there’s so much to do and I’m just Esther"

I never thought that volunteering in an orphanage would be so hard! I have always worked with kids in the best of conditions: their homes or at church. These kids have nothing compared to the kids that have been in my care, and so I feel so unprepared. I feel like I have nothing to offer them. They need so much. Their facilities here are filthy. How can you bathe the children when the showers are moldy and nasty. Or encourage sanitary habits when the toilet bowl is filled with unfinished business and reeks? How can you wash a child's hands when there is no soap and the towels are wet from being on the floor after they step out of the shower?
What I keep on telling myself, is that this place will never be like the homes that I have worked in. Its just not going to happen! The most important goal in these shelters, is to simply provide food and shelter for these kids. Cleanliness is not top priority.

My personal goal is to add a little bit of love and gentleness in these kids' lives! There are so many children and not enough working hands! The workers are exhausted and that leads to emotional and physical burn out. They are drained, fatigued and overworked. I think that by me being here, even if just for a really short time, gives the workers somewhat of a mental break!

So back to the song... There are countless children in this country that need love and attention. The number just seems to multiply! So I feel like Esther, writing to you, saying, "Pray for them all...Do anything you can to help, oh please help! There is so much to do and I'm just Esther." In all reality, I am not really doing all that much. I have not laid down my life for these children by any means. But I feel that whatever I can do, will help in some small way. Every smile and hug shows them that they are special and loved and never forgotten!

I encourage any of you who read this to consider volunteering in an orphanage, shelter or soup kitchen at some point in your lives. Its just reveals in a very vivid way, how others in this beautiful, sick world strive for survival. Just do whatever you can and you will be blessed!

Natalie

Romans 15:26-27

Was doing a little reading this morning and came across Romans 15:26-27. It encouraged me and I changed it around to help it apply to our current circumstances. I hope it is easy to understand.

We are pleased to make a contribution for the Mayan people of Guatemala. Together we will be fulfilled, and indeed they deserve to have our blessings. We have enjoyed the fruit of their labor in
drinking coffee, enjoying delicious fruits, and appreciating their arts. We owe it to them to bless them with love, peace and whatever material things we can provide.

I am beginning to see a different meaning in most of the things I do everyday. Enjoying coffee, eatting fruit, whatever it may be...when I see the label on something and it says "Guatemala" I instantly start to think of the lives that we will soon have an impact on. I really believe that!

Journeys to Puerto Vallarta/Bucerias

Well my friends, I have to say that the way has been cleared. We (Natalie, Jeremy and Sarah, Jeremy's wife) have all successfully journied the 1300 miles from Fort Worth Texas to Bucerias (approx. 10 miles north of PV) . It is an exciting time, considering Jeremy and Sarah are celebrating their honeymoon and well this is our first time to really use our own skills to navigate a foreign country of any sort!

Why are we here? I ask myself this often. It is frustrating at times because, well honestly, I am a control freak. Control is something I do not have here. Natalie is fluent in Spanish and is doing the interpreting, the negotiating, the whole shibang.... and it is difficult for me to sit back and be confident that everything is going smoothly. But in the meantime we have to understand each other's skills and trust that God is leading us in the journey.

But everyday, every moment, we think about Pana (short for Panajachel). I was just telling her that I feel like an Egyptian, being called out of my homeland to go to a place the Lord will show me. In my Spirit, I feel God telling me that the harvest is near and the fruit that I will bear is not of the tree (or earthly goods) but of the heart! I sincerely feel that something is taking place deeper in my heart that not even I can understand but I must patiently wait until the arrival. Please pray for us.

If you are wondering what we will be doing here, let me tell you briefly. Nat wants to help at some orphanages. There are two here that she has been in contact with. Today we visited the one that is literally 2 blocks from my Aunt Lynne's house http://www.manosdeamor.com/, and that will be a good place to help but the one I see Nat most interested in helping at is http://www.refugio-infantil.org/. Most importantly I see her willingless to go where ever she knows that she is most needed. Pray that God makes that clear and not based on what is comfortable.

As for myself. I will be doing various things. Aunt Lynne just moved into her new home and has a list of "Jeff to-do's". I will be helping with that. I am sure that where ever I am used I know that God's blessings will be there but please pray that it will all be used from His glory.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I miss so many of you already and hope this update blesses you as much as it blesses me knowing you are reading it!

Jeff

Our Sponsor Support Letter

September 4, 2007

"Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you."
"…DO NOT BE AFRAID of them nor be afraid of their words…
You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse…" Ezekiel 2

Dearest Family and Friends,
We’ve always felt the need to serve in small and big, yet meaningful ways. We simply want to love others by serving them like Jesus did. We have been given so much throughout our lives and now we want to give to others! We are young, strong and willing to serve in a variety of ways. We will spend the next thirteen months in a community, outside of our comfort zones, getting to know people and their needs and helping fulfill them. We are convinced our contributions will enrich the quality of everyday life because Jesus’ life demonstrates that to us everyday!
Our adventure will begin on September 13th in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Natalie has contacted an orphanage called "Children’s Shelter of Hope". There she will be volunteering her time with the infants and toddlers, by simply being an extra pair of caring hands. Jeff will help out as well by playing and teaching the older children. We are staying in Mexico for a month. A special thanks to Jeff’s Aunt Lynne for providing housing in Mexico!
On October 22nd the adventure continues as we spread our wings and fly south…GUATEMALA. We are EXCITED about committing one year with "Porch de Salomon", a coffee house ministry based in Panajachel, Guatemala.
Jeff has many handyman skills as well as Barista skills he acquired while working at Starbucks. Lloyd (ministry leader), believes I have the right qualities to build a sports ministry for the youth! As for Natalie, that might be comforting young mothers with their newborns and caring for orphans. Also, she is fluent in Spanish, and this will be of great use as she helps Melanie (Lloyds’ wife) continue to provide scholarships for local families who are in need of financial help.
I like the way a friend put it the other day, "I might not be able to leave the country but you can and that is why I am supporting you". It is never easy or flattering to ask for money but to be honest, we need your help to do this! We need your constant prayers and support to be successful! We are going as volunteers, not paid workers. We are confident that with your support in prayer, wise counsel, and financial donations, we will be effective in the Lord’s work. Our hope is that you will share in this experience with us!
It costs approximately $600 a month to live in Guatemala that may include rent, utilities and other living expenses. Airfare, one-way, to Guatemala costs $520.00. Whatever provisions you are able to give will be very helpful and greatly appreciated. But above all, we need to be covered with your prayers. We need you to remember us and pray for us as you enjoy a cup of coffee or at the dinner table with your families! Trust that God will provide for you as you help provide for us in Guatemala.
Lastly, we have included these coffee beans from Guatemala. When I started at Starbucks two years ago I never realized that God would one day send us to the very place these beans came from. We think of the farmers, the culture, and their way of life. It’s precious! Then I think about Jesus’ words, "go and bear fruit- fruit that will last" (John 15:16) and that is what we are going to do.



Wanna help? GREAT! You can help out by a one time donation or monthly commitments. Please write the check to Jeff and Natalie Annillo. If you prefer, you can write it out to "Porch de Salomon" and receive a charitable tax deduction, but please include our names in the memo and all contributions will come to us.
We would like to meet with those who wish to ask questions, encourage and pray for us. We will be home October 16-21 and will make ourselves available to meet.

Please send checks to either of the addresses below:

Jeff and Natalie Annillo
3741 Shelby Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76140

or

(Include our names in the memo)
Porch de Salomon
P.O. Box 10509
Tallahassee, FL 32302

Please contact either one of us to let us know what is on your mind:
Jeff’s email: GJAnnillo21@aol.com
Natalie’s email: Naomi9000@yahoo.com

Prayer Requests:
We have some specific prayer requests that you could begin praying for now. We have also created a blog for those who would like to keep updated on the happenings.
God will take us to Mexico & Guatemala safely.
God will make the right place available for us to rent.
God will help us be wise, careful and always sensitive to the needs of those around us.
We may be a blessing to the Children’s Shelter and Porch de Salomon and all the people of Guatemala; that we "shine like stars" (Romans 2:15)
Pray for the people of Guatemala to have opened hearts and a willingness to receive us.
Websites:
Our personal blog is: EzekielTwo.blogspot.com
You can visit the Porch de Salomon website and read their Monthly Newsletter at http://www.porchdesalomon.org/. Click on the "Newsletter" tab to see the latest developments and projects!
The children’s shelter that we will be volunteering at, short term, in Mexico also has a website that you can browse through at http://www.refugio-infantil.org/

Central American Adventures

Dear Family and Friends,

Well today Nat and I finally made a leap of faith. Well actually that process has been underway for more than two months now! We started by moving out of our comfort zones in Durango, CO. We felt we were being called to "get up and go". Nat has been compelled to serve children whose families are often, by American standards, living in poverty. And I have had a desire to discover a light way of life and serve those with humble needs. In response to this call we sold a lot of our possessions, most notably Natalie's FIRST car. We moved back to Texas to begin aligning our life towards serving in Mexico at an orphanage. My Aunt Lynne has generously opened her home to allow us to stay there for the month we will be spending there.

After our month there we will return to Texas for about six days and turn around and leave Oct 22nd for Panajachel, Guatemala. There we will be helping "Porch de Salomon", a ministry committed to serving the community. They are involved in many programs such as: building or improving homes for the indigenous, running a coffee shop that serves as an outreach, and offering scholarships to children in need of financial help.

We finally have purchased the tickets to finalize most of these details and we are very excited about this all. Also, on the radar, is the wedding of my brother Jeremy to his fiancee Sarah. They will be joining us for the two day excursion to Puerto Vallarta. This will be an exciting oppurtunity to bond with him before they get back to their lives in Seattle, WA.

Please be praying for us as we adapt to all the new changes. We are also in the midst of raising financial partners for this 13 month trip. If you are interested in finding out how you may help us please email me. In the meantime check out: www.PorchdeSalomon.org and http://www.refugio-infantil.org/. Thanks.

Love you guys,
Jeff