Baby Home Update

Dear Friends of Grace Babies’ Home,

I want to give you an update on our current situation with the Mexican social services (DIF), and where we stand in the process of receiving babies.

We have been working closely with the DIF for several months now. As they attempt to create new policies and procedures around the placement and care of babies in orphanages, we are cooperating with each new demand and requirement they are implementing. While we continue to accommodate those in authority and government positions, we are certain that the king’s heart is a stream of water in the Lord’s hand that He channels towards those who please Him (Proverbs 21:1). As well, we are encouraged to know that ALL Mexican orphaned babies will benefit from the tedious process we are currently walking through.

Though we are still in a season of waiting on the Lord to fill our home with His babies, we can see evidence of His unseen hand moving all around us.

Daily time in prayer and the study of God’s Word has knit our GBH team together. Through the study of Nehemiah, James, and now Joshua, we are being made like-minded towards the ways of God and how those ways are to be reflected in His vision for GBH.

We have had the opportunity to be purposeful in the area of staff development. In April our GBH team attended a three-day orphan conference where we were flooded with the latest information on orphan care. Between the five of us we attended twenty-five different breakout sessions on various topics from attachment and trauma issues to laws and legalities with international adoption.

After much time and effort, all of our staff now have Mexican Visas, Sentri passes, and are working on Mexican driver’s licenses. When we received the latest list of requirements from the DIF, we were pleased that we were already prepared with nearly everything they were asking for; including visas, police background checks, drug tests, etc.

As well, we have been working on fine-tuning our own policies and procedures at GBH. During a recent visit from the head of the state DIF, she was pleased to know and see our policies for visitors and volunteers.

We are also still hosting volunteer work teams. Some of our current projects are: wiring the cameras in the nurseries, finishing the fire sprinkler system, and installing a generator to power the facility in the event of emergency.

We are more certain than ever that this time of waiting and preparation is God’s plan. Day after day, He continues to affirm His control over our circumstances, and we are resting in His good and perfect timing. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued prayers and support during this time.

Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; so he who waits on his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18


Blessings in Jesus,
Juan Strutton

When Are You Getting More Babies?

We are excited to answer this question.  Over the last week while earnestly seeking God in prayer and fasting, asking Him this same question, our GBH team has heard clearly from the Lord.

“Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:9

From its inception, Grace Babies’ Home has been a work of God. Miracle after miracle, the Lord has systematically and abundantly provided all that is needed to build the structure that will house His vision - orphaned babies being loved and cared for in the name of Jesus Christ. God will be faithful to deliver that which has come to birth.

The Mexican social services have temporarily put GBH on hold while they work to put some policies in place about placing babies in orphanages. The branch of social services that places babies into adoptive homes has separate interests from the branch that places babies into orphanages. These two parties are working together to form some structure around placing babies that is beneficial to all parties, namely the babies themselves. Grateful for our assistance to their cause, the social services are extremely apologetic for the delay and hope to place babies into our care very soon.

While we wait, God assures us He is actively working to deliver His vision for Grace Babies’ Home by giving us glimpses of His work on several other fronts. We have four young women who are in various stages of the application process to come serve as interns at GBH. After much prayer, searching, and several interviews the Lord has brought us a local Mexican doctor who wants to serve at GBH. Little by little, the Lord continues to send people who want to sponsor a baby and support the ministry financially.

Though God will be faithful to deliver that which He has brought to birth, He invites us to labor with Him in that work. In this last week we have been reminded that our labor must happen on our knees in prayer. For those of you who have chosen to make Grace Babies’ Home your ministry to orphans, we ask that you would join us in this great labor of love. Please post the following prayer requests on your fridge or bathroom mirror and commit to praying for this ministry daily:

“Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:9
- Pray that the Lord will deliver babies to Grace Babies’ Home according to His perfect purposes and timing.

For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37
- As nothing is impossible with God, pray that Telnor would bring us telephone lines in an unincorporated area, and an additional line would be added to our Verizon cell phone plan. Both of which are important to the efficiency and safety of the daily operations of the home.

“See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship…” Exodus 35:30-31
- Just as the Lord called by name the skilled men to build the tabernacle, pray that He will call by name a Spanish-speaking missionary nurse to serve fulltime at GBH.

2nd Annual TAF Tennis Tournament

A little over three and a half years ago, Arianna Kim Hamling left for heaven before even having a chance to take her first breath on this earth. Now in the arms of Jesus, Arriana continues to make a difference in the lives of babies and children throughout the world.

This weekend the Arriana Foundation hosted their 2nd annual tennis tournament to benefit Grace Babies’ Home. Over 30 people entered this lively and fun event. There were awards, player gifts, and a silent auction. As they looked down on this weekend and the impact it will have on little ones for all of eternity, we are sure that Arriana and the Lord are pleased.

Dan & Elizabeth Hamling (Founders of TAF) with Juan Strutton (Director of GBH)

Good-bye Natalia

At GBH we have a sense of urgency in spiritual matters with the babies entrusted to our care. We don’t know if or when they might be adopted or reunited with family. At most, we will have them for a few years of their lives. We can compare this short time with Moses’ mother and the short, few years she had to prepare her son to live in Pharaoh’s home. For this reason, we are careful and deliberate about spiritual training.

The verbiage above is an excerpt taken from our GBH Policies and Procedures under Behavioral and Spiritual Guidance. These words were written long before our first baby was placed into our care. We knew that our stewardship over these babies’ lives would be for a season, and therefore our time with them would be of the essence.

Having said that, when Natalia was placed into our care three weeks ago, we loved her with all we had. We cared for her physical, emotional and spiritual needs to the very best of our ability. Her days were spent being sung to about Jesus, read to about Jesus, and prayed over while being rocked. Being our first baby, she took center stage as the star in our GBH family and lived that role with grace.

When we received the bittersweet call yesterday that Natalia was to be adopted and the social services was on their way to pick her up, we choked back our tears and put on brave smiles. We gently woke her up from her nap with kisses and hugs, and changed her diaper for the last time. We prayed God’s blessing over her life and sent her on her way to meet her new family.

We trust that Natalia’s life is in God’s hands, and that just as He divinely orchestrated her arrival at GBH, He is divinely orchestrating her placement into a family who loves her. Though our hearts are hurting for our loss, they are rejoicing for her gain.

Please continue to pray for Baby Natalia. Pray for a smooth transition and adjustment into her new family. Pray for continued healing as she was just getting over a severe cold when she left. Pray for God’s hand of favor to continue to cover her and protect her. Pray that she would continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

As for our GBH family. While the Lord mends our hurting hearts, we are more passionate about our calling than ever. To be given stewardship over precious little lives with no promises as to how long that stewardship is granted, is an opportunity that comes with great responsibility. We are determined that while in our care; these little ones experience the presence of the Living God, the power of His healing, and the depth of His love for them. Please keep us in prayer as we continue to follow this call.

Tennis Anyone?

Our dear friends at The Arianna Foundation are hosting the 2nd Annual TAF Charity Tennis Tournament to benefit Grace Babies' Home on December 3rd and 4th at the Balboa Tennis Club in San Diego. There will be Awards, Player Gifts and a Silent Auction. 100% of your entry fee will go to the Lord's work here in Mexico.

To register or donate, please visit TAFtennis.net 

The deadline to register is November 27th.

Hello World.

Meet Natalia, our first baby at Grace Babies’ Home. She is six months old with a head full of curly black hair and a smile that will melt your heart. The very fact that she is here alludes to a life that hasn’t started under the best of circumstances. But we believe that God has brought her to us for a purpose and that He has destined her for greatness in His Kingdom. Please stop now and pray. Pray for Natalia’s healing: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pray for us as we love her, care for her and try to figure out how to best meet her needs.

Grace Babies' Home Virtual Prayer Tour

For those of you who are unable to be here for our Open House and Dedication, we have created a virtual prayer tour of the home so you can join us in giving glory to our Lord for all He has accomplished here at Grace Babies' Home.