December Prayer Letter

“…I bring you good news that will cause GREAT JOY for all the people. Today in the town of David A SAVIOR has been born to you...”

Merry Christmas, Beloved Friends & Family!

We realize that for so many of our dearest friends and family, 2011 has been a year of not-so-good news, struggle, and for some… extreme sadness. We pray that in this Christmas season you are able to take courage, find hope, and ultimately experience GREAT JOY. The angels are still proclaiming this good news for all people; a SAVIOR has been born! For those of us who believe, the birth of our Savior not only brings purpose to our earthly trials and tribulations, but GREAT JOY when viewed in light of our glorious eternity with Him. Alleluia!

For us, 2011 represents a year of harvest. After so many months and years of sowing into the vision of Grace Babies’ Home, in May our family moved into one of the missionary residences on the second floor. By mid-October, we had finished up construction of the first floor. In the beginning of November, the Mexican social services placed our first baby into our care. In many ways it feels good to be finished building, in other ways it feels as if the hard work has just begun.

Baby Natalia stole our hearts. In her waking moments we all fought for a chance to hold her and play with her. For the three weeks she was in our care, we loved her as if she was our own. Then in His perfect will and timing, God found her a new home with a family that will love her. In the short time she was in our home, we saw great improvement in her development, in her health, and even in her appearance. It was amazing to witness God’s transforming and healing power at work right in front of our eyes.

We continue to stand in awe of God’s faithfulness to complete the good work He has begun in our kids. Lucy is very much a young woman, and we have come to depend on her responsibility, capability, and wisdom. Sam as well, is more man than boy. His sensitive nature has matured into a roll of protector to his sisters and even his mother. Joe Max’s boldness with the truth is constantly bringing conviction and repentance to our home. Lily’s ability to see things that need to be done and then do them well, helps our home to run efficiently.

As we look back on a year of witnessing God’s faithfulness, bringing to fruition His vision for GBH, we feel as if we’ve just scratched the surface in witnessing God’s power. We can’t wait to watch His faithfulness at work in the lives of once broken, once wounded, once ignored babies. In just a few short weeks we’ve already seen glimpses of this healing power in Natalia’s life.

Thank you for jumping in on this journey when it was just a dream. Thank you for sticking with it when it seemed to go slower than we would have liked. Thank you for walking with us in these new unchartered waters of loving the least of these.

With All Our Love,

Juan & Alicia

Merry Christmas 2011 - The Strutton Family

My Father’s House Has Many Rooms

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Four years ago in the comforts of our San Diego home, we began the process of bringing to reality what was at that time only a dream. A year of drawing and re-drawing floor plans, creating a budget and fundraising followed. In addition to these activities, we also moved our entire family to another country. The second year was filled with moving dirt, lots of concrete and a fair amount of waiting. Years three and four were filled with visible progress. Blood, sweat and tears flowed as God, in His mighty way, brought everything together as only He can.

Two weeks ago, we dedicated this work back to the One for whom and by whom it was completed. All glory and honor were given to Him who has been faithful. In response, He has seen fit to entrust us with one of His precious little ones to begin filling the rooms that have been prepared for them.

As I sit here holding this little miracle, I am touched by the amount of people who have labored to get her here, the hundreds of hours of hard work in the driving rain and in the hot sun - so many prayers, so much effort. I keep saying to her, “We have been laboring to prepare this place for you. I hope you love it. I hope it provides a loving, caring, home where you can feel safe and learn all about your Savior who loves you and was really the One who made it possible.”

As I spoke the words “prepare this place for you”, I immediately was drawn to the passage in John 14 where Jesus says the same thing to His disciples. Just imagine, He has been laboring for 2000 years preparing a place for us who call Him Lord and Savior. As I reflect on the joy that I feel in presenting this home to this little one, I can only begin to imagine the joy that our Lord will feel when He brings us into His father’s house and says, “I have been laboring to prepare this place for you, I hope you love it, I hope it provides a loving, caring home where you can experience the presence of your Savior for all eternity.”

November Prayer Letter

Dear Friends & Family,

October was a busy month for our family and the ministry of Grace Babies' Home. We worked feverishly finishing last minute details inside the home as well as laboring to make the outside of the home safe, secure and presentable. God was faithful to bring us help and resources in His perfect timing, so as to remember that He is in control of the big and small details of our lives.

On Saturday, October 15th, we hosted officials and representatives from the Mexican government for an inauguration of Grace Babies' Home. The day included speeches, a ribbon cutting, and a tour. The following Saturday, we opened Grace Babies' Home to the hundreds of people who have been a part of bringing the vision to fruition.
We opened the downstairs and both of the missionary residences upstairs. As people toured the home, cribs were anointed with oil andprayers were made for the babies, the staff, and the future of the ministry. One of the highlights for us was when our sending church arrived in a 50-passenger bus, blessing us with their prayers, encouragement, and a delicious lunch.

As we write this prayer letter we eagerly await the arrival of our first two babies. We have been told that they may arrive any day. Please pray for these babies that will soon join our family. Pray for their adjustment to a new environment. Pray for health and healing. Pray that our touch on their lives would be an extension of God's love toward them. Pray for our family and our children as we adjust to the many ways that these babies will affect our lives.

Several weeks ago we learned that our sister-in-law, Kerrie, has been diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemo along with facing all the normal daily challenges of being a mother of three. Please, please, please be in prayer for Kerrie, Kevin, and our nieces and nephew who are ages 6, 7, and 8 years old. Pray for complete healing by our Great Physician. Pray for His presence and peace through the coming months of treatment.

We know that the first place of enemy attack is our family. Praise Jesus, our kids are well and thriving, and our marriage is strong. God continues to faithfully provide for our spiritual and physical needs. Please pray for continued protection for our family as we enter a new chapter in our lives.

We want to remind you that we could not and would not be here without the support of all of you. Please keep praying. Please keep visiting. Please keep supporting us with your resources. These two babies coming into our home are YOUR ministry as much as they are ours. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for continuing the good work.

Love in Jesus Christ,

Juan & Alicia