Progress Report
Fullest Fall blessings to you and your family. I pray that you are happy and healthy. Our Hope remains the unchanging goodness of God within this broken world.
I must first celebrate the abundance of Father’s lavish love in spite of sharing many logical reasons for which we could be discouraged. Throughout my life—faith—has been activated through the biblical revelation and circumstantial reality of my own considerable inadequacies. I have lived and ministered most often in a rather precarious state of immediate need. Faith in God as Provider becomes reality when having daily “bread” is an actual daily need. It is ironic that the burden of lack can serve to usher us into greater faith and a deeper reliance on the abundance of our true riches in Christ Jesus. There is a sense in which a faith-based life, and ministry, should actually require faith. I am learning.
This report of our ministry progress in Mexico is one of both abundance and need. Dr. Olivia is doing a truly inspired job as our field director in Mexico City. We are actively developing a workshop to introduce solutions for meeting the specific needs of the siblings of special needs children. We are using the term, “involuntarily abandoned” to describe the condition of too many of the siblings of special needs children. Not only is there inadequate nurture and care for the siblings themselves, but they are often expected to become primary caregivers for their special needs brother or sister. Thus far we have identified opportunities to minister to the siblings of kids living with these special needs: Cancer, HIV, Lupus, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Congenital Immunodeficiency Disorders, Congenital Heart Disease, and Down Syndrome.
The institutions with which we are in communication are excited about the development of this unique ministry. The spiritual component of our approach is our greatest distinctive. In the spirit of our vision for a chaplaincy program for hurting families, we are defining the roles and developing training for Christian counselors to serve as advocates specifically for the siblings of special needs kids. This needed outreach will enrich entire households. It is our goal to educate and advocate for deliberate sibling care within families and care institutions alike.
Though Covid is still presenting some significant road blocks in Mexico, Dr. Olivia has found a way to keep us moving forward in the development of this exciting new ministry for Laughing Child. She has already included some other gifted contributors for the design and refinement of our introductory workshop. We expect that it will be possible to select and train counselors to implement our ministry objectives. Please pray for Dr. Olivia and for the selection of God’s choices for counselors to express Father’s goodness to these families.
In a world filled with so much need, It feels awkward to voice a plea for these sadly overlooked children. However, I do believe with all my heart that God cares about these families enough to have me communicate their needs to you. He is providing vision and inspiring the plan and people needed to make eternal change in the lives of these kids and their families. Thank you for supporting the continuance and growth of Father’s tender ministry of healing through Laughing Child. You are doing a beautiful thing!
Much Love,
shane
