Yup, I’m working my knees off & 2019 Videos of past trip to Mexico Orphanage

There’s a lot going here. First off, I’ve discovered that Doritos are thicker in Mexico and they should always have Valentina sauce added to them (like every dish should). Additionally, I can’t crawl around on my knees for two days and not tear the skin off my them. However the Valentina Sauce is actually the cure for the pain (it tastes so good, that I forget about the pain). The blister on my hand doesn’t show in the picture, but it was well earned. 

Where I am and why I’m here:

I began visiting Hogar de Amor Orphanage in Colima Mexico in 2013. Each April I’ve returned for one to two weeks. 5 times I’ve come with my boy (Devin) and twice with grandsons Danny (Melissa’s boy) and Oliver (Katie’s boy). This year I’m super excited that my granddaughter Shelby (Marina’s stepdaughter) will be joining me.

I made a purposeful decision to bring children/grandchildren with me because this place is so different from where I live. Here it is all about relationships and being with others. You say hello to everyone when you enter a room and goodbye when you leave. You get to see what others don’t have and why they are ok with it.

You get to see the real world. 

And of course you get to see some amazing kids that show the pure love of God. 

Their kids come from all types of backgrounds. They are in an orphanage for the same reasons kids might be in the US (drugs, alcohol, all kinds of abuse), additionally they may be here because the family just can’t afford to feed them. 

Once the kids are here (as many as 150 kids in 13 different homes) they are fed, clothed, required to do chores, attend church and attend school. They sing every morning and have a group devotional where the Bible is taught. The orphanage also runs a school that is well established and people in the community pay to have their kids attend it as well. It’s a huge blessing and opportunity for these kids. 

Occasionally the parents will try to come and pickup these kids as they become older (because they can now work and provide for the family). The kids are highly discouraged from abandoning their education and leaving. The girls are warned that if they leave, it would be common for them to become pregnant and have their kids placed right back here at the orphanage. 

Often times orphanages will just release kids at 18. This group will actually pay for their college education and they can live at the orphanage while they perform their studies.

Here are some of the reasons I keep coming back:

- The kids are the most lovable kids I’ve ever known

- Everyone I meet here is beyond nice

- This is not tourist Mexico, prices don’t get changed because I’m white

- The weather is fantastic (60-90° this month)

- I could eat tacos every day (but they don’t here)

- When I mispronounce a spanish word, every single person helps me correct it (with love), as opposed to where I live (when a Mexican mispronounces a word or doesn't understand, many people judge them and say “You’re in America, learn the language!”). Compassion seems to be missing with some people in the USA. 

-I could go on for hours, I’m sure...

Several years ago I began a support group that prays for my annual trip and some of them also provide financial gifts that I bring for supplies that get purchased while in Mexico and some of the money gets left here to bless the administration (they use it as they see fit). 

It was actually very difficult for me to start asking for money and prayers from my friends and family. However I’m passionate enough about what the orphanage is doing that I’ve pressed myself to get beyond my pride and to ask. My rule is if I’ve asked you twice and you haven’t responded by saying you will pray, want updates or donate to the cause, then I drop you from the list because I don’t want to guilt you into anything. If you aren’t on the list, then drop me a note at DanoSLC@gmail.com (with your email address) and let me know of your interest and I’ll get you added. You can also send a letter to Dan Matheney, PO Box 970296, Orem, UT 84097

An additional thing I found by having a support team was that I would email them every day with what was going on. This did a couple of things. It helped them understand what to pray for and it forced me throughout each day to look and see what God was doing and purposefully take note of it and report back to my support team. 

If you want to know more about my trip last year, here is my YouTube playlist that I sent to my support team last year. There is a description on each video that tells more about it. 

Thank you for your prayers while I’m away. 

Dan

2019 Support Team Daily Videos of Orphanage Trip