Current Needs for Casa Hogar Jeruel

The Power of Work and Witness Trips

Work Group Prepares Support Beams for the Church Building

Numerous church groups have come to Casa Hogar Jeruel over the years on work and witness mission trips.  These groups have been a tremendous blessing to the orphanage.  Most of the buildings at Casa Hogar Jeruel have been built with their assistance, including many of the dorms, the church, and even Daniel and Sylvia's house.  The Lord has always provided groups with the right mix of skills to perform the required tasks.  For example, one church group that regularly visited the orphanage was particularly good at concrete work.  This group was instrumental in many facets of the construction effort at Casa Hogar Jeruel.  Other groups performed electrical work, while others still helped with welding the steel support beams for the church structure.  Finally, many contributed by painting and performing simple tasks needed by the orphanage.  Many people have contributed their talents, great and small, and together God has used them to build something great.

But the work performed is only a part of the story. Just as essential is the witness element of these trips. Most of the groups that travel to the orphanage don't speak Spanish, but this does not prevent them from being a powerful witness to the children. The children know that these groups have traveled a great distance to help, and the sacrifices made by the people in order to come to the orphanage speak volumes. Also, Daniel always holds worship services with the children and the visiting groups, which also provides opportunities for the children to witness the power of the Lord in people's lives. Finally, these children don't have the benefit of parents to provide them with the level of attention they truly need. Daniel is only one man, and by himself he can't fulfill this need, either. One of the greatest things a visiting group can do is set aside some time just to play with the children. Even with the language barrier, the bond that forms is unforgettable.

Things to Keep in Mind When Planning a Work and Witness Trip

Before the Church Was Built, Meetings Were Held in a Tent

If you or your church is planning on organizing a work and witness trip to Casa Hogar Jeruel, you should definitely consider contacting individuals from other churches who have already made the trip.  Contact information can be found on the right side of this page.  A trip to Casa Hogar Jeruel is a little more difficult than work and witness trips in border towns, because traveling to Chihuahua City requires a visa for each member of the group.  Unfortunately, the laws have become stricter, and it is no longer possible to obtain a visa without a passport.  Also, if children under 18 will be traveling with the group without both parents, a notarized letter of permission must be sent with the child allowing him or her to travel in Mexico.  If driving, any vehicles used by the group must be owned by a member of the group, and that person must have a valid credit card in order to obtain permission to use the vehicle in Mexico.  If there is a lien on the title, a notarized letter of permission must be obtained from the bank or lien holder.  Note that this is often difficult to obtain.  Finally, if your group is going to bring items of value to the orphanage, you must be aware that there are restrictions on bringing items of value into Mexico.  Generally it is best if you can mix clothing and other items together with the personal items of group members in order to avoid having things confiscated at the border.  In short, please talk to groups that have done this before so you can avoid pitfalls that others have experienced.