Norris Family News

Catching our breath

The last month has been a whirlwind of activity. Even with two weeks "off" between things, it has seemed like the activity level is ever busy. Four weeks ago was the Smoky Hill Vineyard (from Denver) outreach, then a week off to prepare for an outreach group from Idaho, which was followed by a wonderful week's visit from my parents. There will not be another outreach team until January. We plan to do some staff training here, several work projects, homeschooling, a new IFM website, and many other things. My personal prayer is that our time will be wisely spent. Sometimes I feel like I can get head down into a myopic project and lose sight of what else needs to be done.

I had the blessed privilege of leading the Smoky Hill outreach team with our dear sister, Susan Brugger. We have known Susan for about 20 years. All of our children have been snuggled by and have slept on "aunt Susan" when they were small. She is an amazingly organized person and has led over 50 outreaches over the years! This was my first time as a leader, but with Susan there it went incredibly smoothly. She "pushed" me into the front and supported me in that role as a solid foundation.

The team leader's role is one of "positioning" and of watching. A team leader positions the team each day and throughout the day from the scripture to be prepared for the widely various aspects of ministry that occur. A team leader also watches things on many levels, from being sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in a certain circumstance to being aware of logistics and physical safety issues. It could be described as a pastoral role since the team is in a vulnerable place and is relying on the leader for many things throughout the week.

At first I was very nervous and felt completely inadequate to the task. Leading up to the week I even had a minor feeling that it was an imposition on other projects I wanted to do. But through prayer (and certainly the prayer of others) God met me each day with mini bible studies that spoke directly into the day's activities. The people on the team were very eager to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in any and every context. God used them for that as a handful of people genuinely forsook their sin and put their faith in the Lord Jesus, and He also used them in other ways to bring His love and blessing to those in need.

I have often thought about the doorkeeper of Psalm 84. Imagine if God Himself came through your workplace with His retinue. Imagine that He looked at you and said, "Child, would you hold the door for Me?" Wouldn't that be the most incredible honor? To know that I was doing something for my Lord, at His asking, would make that moment more precious than a lifetime otherwise. In so many ways I had that experience as the team leader. I was able to be His servant as a facilitator of other people's being used for His Kingdom. I never had any question that it was exactly where He wanted me for that week. What an honor!

The next outreach was Mike and Lori Hutchin's turn as team leaders. They did very well also and God used their team mightily for His Kingdom's sake. I was able to participate as a driver and our family was able to be general support. It was another time of blessing, knowing that we were where He wanted us for that week.

My parent's visit was glorious. We were able to take them to our new friend's house in a Juarez colonia for a great time of fellowship and singing...all in Spanish. We did some projects around the House of Cornelius and even did some tourist activities like going to a space museum in Alamogordo, NM and White Sands National Park. What an amazing place that is! The landscape looks for all the world, especially on the "plowed" roads, like it is covered in snow. But it is all sand! It was gorgeous and the kids loved playing in it. We would highly recommend the place as an awesome family destination, though I can't imagine how hot it must be in the summer.

--Thaine

River of Love

Imagine God's love, mercy, and kindness as a wide, deep river thats runs smooth on the surface but in power and depth, inexorable. Now imagine that this river flows through a city and you are standing by it. Standing nearby is a surly-looking gang member who is looking defiant and angry, but alone. Imagine that you could grab this person and hurl the rebellious and hurting soul into the river. What would happen?

Last Monday the Idaho outreach team went to the Casa de Refugio which is an orphanage of sorts for girls involved in drugs, gangs, prostitution, and other forms of extreme rebellion. Since the home is so small, the team took the girls (ages 9 to 20) to a different orphange that has a gymnasium in order to spend the day with them; eating, playing games, and generally sharing in each other's lives. Again, it was another incredible day to “visit orphans...in their distress” in the name of Jesus. (James 1:27) This was the second time I had been there with an outreach team. Two weeks ago, on the outreach for which I was the leader, we had taken the girls to a church and spent a similar day with them. This time it was Mike Hutchins' turn as the team leader and I was along as an extra driver. Little did we imagine that the imaginary scene above would play itself out before our eyes!

When we arrived at the Casa de Refugio the police were there and people were going in and out of the building, having little discussons on the sidewalk, and seeming to look at this coach bus full of gringos as a minor distraction. We greeted the staff and then they gave the team (split into two smallers groups) a tour through their tiny facility. Shortly thereafter we began to load the girls onto the bus and all the pieces of the scene fell together. One of the girls getting on the bus had just been dropped off by the police. She was wearing baggy, gang clothing and her hair was held back with a wide, black headband. Her tear-stained face had butterfly strips over some fresh wounds. Moments ago she was riding in a police truck and now she was getting on a huge coach bus with dozens of smiling, even cheering Americans. I can only imagine her disorientation! We must have seemed positively insane to her. Her name is Denisse. She is very tough-looking and large for her 15 years. Her arm was held in an affectionate but firm grip by another girl from the orphanage named Lluvia (you-via) who was similar in size. Lluvia's face was amazing as it conveyed excitement, compassion, certainty, and affection all at once.

We spent the day in the gymnasium of the Benito Juarez orphange. It began with a hot lunch (in both senses if you added the whole jalapeños) which was followed by introductions. All the girls introduced themselves with their name, age, and sometimes a short greeting. The team introduced themselves by family followed by the IFM staff. After introductions, the floor was opened up to anyone--from the orphange or the team--to share a testimony. Following that was a time of games and chatting, then a puppet show from the team, then a fun “girl craft.” The day concluded with more games, a prayer time, and singing.

The testimony time was by far the longest part. We heard story after story from the girls of their lostness and their being found in the Savior Jesus Christ. Almost every one of them had arrived looking like Denisse and now they beamed with the joy of the Lord and carried themselves with a palpable sense of a clean conscience. There were girls in all phases of their time at the Refugio. You could imagine them lined up by the amount of time they had been there and that you could see the common expression change from fear and uncertainty to peace, joy and laughter in a continuum down the line. When Lluvia gave her testimony it became clear why she was attached to Denisse, and why she had excitement and loving anticipation on her face. Lluvia's background sounded like it could have been Denisse's! Denisse was paying very close attention. During some of the testimonies she shed more tears.

The common threads running through all the girl's stories were those of being rejected by parents and of rebellion. One girl experienced the ultimate rejection as her father is now in prison for attempting to murder her and her two younger siblings in a drunken rage. Another girl's mother frequently exclaimed to her face that she wished she had followed a friend's advice and aborted her. Some of the girls were neglected. While many of the girls simply abandoned the blessings of their homes and rebelled against their parents, seeking “to do whatever they wanted.” Some of the American team members also shared their stories of rebellion and redemption. It was an incredible time to see our common, lost humanity, and our Beautiful Savior.

During this time many of us were praying silently. I was praying for Denisse especially. Slowly a desire to share a particular gospel message began to grow in me. I prayed about it, not knowing if it was appropriate since I was not there in a leadership role, nor was I a member of the outreach team. But the urge continued to grow, so I presented the idea to the outreach team leaders and was met with enthusiasm. During the testimony time one of the girls, Marisol, from the orphanage stood out as an excellent translator. She was very careful to translate everything the person had said instead of paraphrasing. After four or five more testimonies the outreach team leader called me up and I asked Marisol to help me.

I began by asking a question, “How many of you feel like your being alive was a mistake, or an accident?” Many of the girls raised their hands and smiled. I continued, “I know what it is like to feel like that. You see, my grandfather had an operation to prevent his having any more children. But later, in spite of that operation, my grandparents conceived another child and my father was born. When my mother and father were in their second year of high school, they had an “accident” and I was the result. So you see, I was a double accident!” The girls giggled. Then I changed the subject and asked them to look around the room at all the faces and see that they are all different. I held up my thumb and talked about the unique fingerprint. I asked them to consider the personalities of each one of them and how they are totally unique. Then, with the inspiration of Psalm 139 (read it!) I said, “The reason for our uniqueness is this; God, before the creation of the world, wanted a friend forever who had certain personality qualities, so He created...Marisol.” Marisol blushed, then looked like she might cry for a second, then translated. I looked at the faces of these girls who are all precious in His sight. They were paying attention. Denisse was staring at me; her eyes like saucers. I choked back my own tears.

“Do you understand this?” I asked. “God, the creator of the universe, longed for your friendship...and so He created you! But there is a problem. Our God is a holy God and our sin has separated us from Him. And this is key...don't miss this...it is not that God is angry with us and has pushed us away from Him because of our sin. No! It is we that have turned our backs on Him and have walked away in our rebellion. And I know this because God has said in the book of Romans that while we were still sinners, God demonstrated His love toward us and sent His son Jesus to die for our sins! It is like this...” I asked Marisol to walk away from me slowly, then I walked up behind her and gently put my hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Even while we were doing our own thing, living in open rebellion, God was walking after us and has laid His hand on our shoulders. Today, He is getting your attention. If you will turn around, away from your own way, and put your trust in Him, He will embrace you with His forgiveness and love.” Later, between activities, I noticed the woman who runs the host orphanage talking earnestly and lovingly to Denisse. Several of us noticed it and continued to pray for her.

The next big activity was the making of some large yarn dolls. The girls loved it! It was cool to see even the older girls (young women) taking great care in the project and their delight as the dolls took shape. Denisse was grinning and thoroughly enjoying herself. When she had trouble, one of the women from the team or one of the girls from the orphanage would reach over her shoulders and help her from behind. As I watched the girls down the row of tables, I saw the delight and innocence of a room-full of giggly little girls who looked just like my own two daughters do when they play dress-up or do crafts together.

Please pray for the girls at the Casa de Refugio who don't yet know their Heavenly Father. Please pray for those that know Him to grow and become rooted in His word. Pray for Denisse and that, being unwittingly thrown in, she will be swept away by that River of Love.

--Thaine

Abarrotes Cornelius

The Abarrotes Cornelius is open for business! It is common in Mexico, along any road, to see store fronts labeled “Abarrotes” (“General Store”). Usually there is a name or adjective associated to distinguish one abarrotes from the next, i.e. Abarrotes Julia, Abarrotes San Agustin. In more affluent areas, these are freshly and brightly painted, and truly have a variety of things to sell. In poor neighborhoods they are just as frequent, but they are more often people’s homes with rough homemade signs and less variety within. I have seen posters, dolls, hair clips and elastics, plastic jewelry, snacks, maybe diapers, or drinks in one room homes to help bolster the family income. Once when we were visiting with a tragically poor family in front of their very rough shelter and admiring their chickens an obviously struggling young woman (diabetic, with several fingers amputated) came across and cheerfully but almost without communication passed a small coin into the hand of our hostess and received a diaper. There you have it, economics at work.

Here at the House of Cornelius we now have our own abarrotes. The Wolcotts and Harts have been interested in the idea in the past, but of course it was hard to add another project with so few bodies and so much work already on campus. The home schooling Dads, Mike and Thaine, were determined to make it happen. The home schooling Moms were supportive in theory, but at least this Mom was only up for lying on the sidelines weakly waving a banner to cheer on the efforts. The kids were beside themselves with enthusiasm. The idea is that people on teams often need bug spray, sunscreen, film, a Coke, gum and have no transportation, or worse yet, they may not have the opportunity to eat the various Mexican treats and delicacies that we know! It is only fair that people have the chance to sample really good jalapeno chips and a Coke product called Manzana Lift which is a bubbly apple drink. Also, Mexicans are not afraid of sugar and have some fun treats. Some of the treats are a genuine cross-cultural experience. Below is genuine photo-documentation of Thaine doing some product testing. Behold the tamarind and chile bubble gum! (Photo-journalism by Erika)

Fine photography is also being sold; pictures of perfect peppers at the outdoor market, a donkey with a cart parked right behind a car in downtown Juarez, the message of the whitewashed rocks on the hill overlooking the city, “Ciudad Juarez; la biblia es la verdad, leela” (“City of Juarez; the Bible is the truth, read it.”) Each word is maintained by a different church in Juarez, and once a year they all go up and repaint and adjust their rocks. The kids might sell some of their own crafts, and neat toys and crafts from Juarez will be available.

I must confess that I raised my eyebrows with some disbelief when lumber was purchased 10 days before a team was to arrive. A wall was to be built to divide one existing room into two useful spaces; one for the store, one for supplies of the various teams as they come through (balloons, clothes, towels, music equipment, etc.) I was encouraging of the wall-building but didn’t believe we could have an operational store in time for the first team of the season. Thaine put in several good days of effort with the guys and various hammer-swinging kids, a whole group went shopping in two countries to stock the store, then Thaine left for Colorado to come down with the team. Ah, I thought, it was a great start. But, Mike got right in there virtually alone and established the shelves, put the chip-holding clips on the wall (which Thaine rescued off a street in El Paso weeks ago, where they lay trying to puncture some tire. “They’ll be perfect for the abarrotes,” he said, and threw them in the back of the van.) Mike developed a business strategy and trained his oldest child to run the cash box (eventually other older kids will be trained, too.) I was very surprised and pleased to see the Abarrotes Cornelius open the very first day that the first team was with us! The walls aren’t painted bright colors yet, but there are walls and a door that locks, and a sturdy countertop. By the evening of the second day, Mexican music blared from the store, and the place was quite lively. People, mostly kids from the team, have been very supportive. Probably 25% of the profits the first day was from staff kids, who, having previously forgotten about money due to general lack of economic opportunity on campus, suddenly were raiding their life savings just so they could go in the beloved abarrotes. Oh, the excitement of it all!

--Erika