Priorities change when we are touched with the reality of real people in real hurt. Sure we can’t help them all, but the ones we can help sure are thankful.  The little girl that was wandering alone in the high mountains of Mexico at 40# in a tattered summer dress and scared to talk or see people at 7 years old now is 70# and in her second year of school with a big smile on her face.  Is that worth it? Yes and Yes. That’s why I raft and ride for The Heart of Jesus.  His heart for the orphans of Mexico.

Nestled in the high desert of central Mexico at 8000 ft., is the Sierra Assistance Mission’s – Children’s Home.  Ten years ago Josephina (now the director) was going to a Christmas dinner when an auto accident claimed all in her family including her two children. She alone was left. Her mother died 2 days later and her father 3 weeks after that. Her father left her with a sawmill that burned to the ground 2 weeks after that. To say she is familiar with hard times is an understatement from our perspective. She started taking care of a couple of children in her home. It soon grew to be the Children’s Home with around 30 children at a time in care. It is far more than just care. It is life training in the real life of Jesus. The older children function more like adults with responsibility and accountability.  The older girls go to one town and hold church services for the people there, while the boys go to a different town. Oh yes, THEY built the church also. Read some of the stories below. Each one, changed by the love of Jesus.

Lydia: 7-8 years old at the time, was found foraging on her own by villagers. Mother’s new boyfriend didn’t want children so she was abandoned to the grandparents who had died. She was stealing to support herself and nobody knew her language. Now at the Children’s Home she is going to school and loved.

Crystal (9) was sexually abused by the mothers boyfriend. Crystal’s little brother was left in an oven to be killed by the boyfriend. He went to prison. The brother and Crystal are now at the Children’s Home. Crystal is very outgoing and has a wonderful personality. She is somewhat still scarred. She won’t even look near any truck that looks like the boyfriend’s truck.

Everett (13) and Elizabeth (12) were some of the first children when the home was opened. They had been abandoned. After they had been nurtured in Jesus, and the care of Josephina, the unthinkable happened. Their mother showed up, and demanded them back.  Now she wanted to put Everett to work for her and Elizabeth to prostitution. They were now profitable economic units to her.  However she had a surprise she was not expecting. Elizabeth refused to do prostitution because “Jesus wouldn’t want it”. In a huff the mother returned the children to the Children’s Home and said “you’ve ruined them”. God had His hand on them. Children are sold for $100 all the time.

Alvaro (9), Rosalea (6), and Caesar (4) were referred to the home by public officials that said they were in a bad situation. The problem was getting to them. It was a 3 hour trip over dry creek beds and rugged roads, only to go door to door in the village they were supposed to be in, just to find them. They got a tip from one of the homes and soon pulled up at the place they were staying. Grandpa (90 years old) was their caregiver. He was failing in health and was overjoyed for someone to take them. He knew he could not take care of them anymore. Alvaro on hearing the news that he got to go to the home, jumped over the side of the bed of the truck and just grinned. “I get to go”. It was 40 degree weather in the high mountains but Rosalea only had on a thin tattered cotton dress. One of the kids from the home was in the truck and took off his jacket and gave it to her, while one of the other kids in the truck shared his jacket with the one that gave his away. That’s what kind of children they have become.

One of the church building crews.

Building the Children’s Home form lumber cut from local timber. No hardware store here. Gravel and sand from the riverbed hand shoveled and mixed after hours on the gravel roads to get to the material.

How did we get involved?

Some home groups focus on themselves. Not this one. Duane Anderson knew a pastor in Mexico that could use help building a church.  The Home group decided they would take on the task.  Next year they went down and built another, and another.  Meanwhile Duane, an Orthopedic surgeon, went to Ethiopia to develop a Hospital there. Now they run a growing hospital in Ethiopia but the Mexico Mission goes on.

What happened in Mexico?

First it was a pastors home, then a church, and another, another church…then the Children’s Home.  Lives that went to give, were changed forever.  Some construction people used their talents and build, others supported the team, while others sent resources.   We have been raising funds from our White Water Rafting in summers to build and support this effort.  This was once a drug culture town where even local outsiders would not survive if they went in. This was changed by the love of Jesus to heal a land where joy and hope abound.

What is your legacy of change?

1)Ask God to show you what your purpose is and start your own ministry (well, really it needs to be His)

2) Give 10% of your time using your professional skills helping those that can’t return the favor.

3) Sponsor a raft trip of 6 or more to fund a child

4) Sponsor the August 27 – 100 Mile Bike Challenge (pick an amount per mile)

Contact for information:

Steve Kagarice 509 993-9026

Jim Kenas (208) 664-8820

Analogies of Life in the Whitewater

This is a reminder of your short Life in the Whitewater on the Clark Fork, Alberton Gorge.

The more you think about it, the more you realize that whitewater rafting is very much like your Life in the Whitewater of real life.  Hopefully you took away memories of heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, wave crashing excitement, as well as those breath taking pristine calm moments of reflection and preparation for the next adventure.

Just like real life.

We introduced you to the Laws of Whitewater. What to look out for, and the best ways to have the most enjoyment.   We trained you to die to your self desires and work as a team for the benefit of the whole raft.   You learned to follow the instructions of the guide and either had a wild yahoo, or perhaps fearful challenges when things went wrong.   You were trained how to rescue team members and probably used it when they went in the river.   Perhaps you even experienced being rescued yourself.   We also saw people on the sides of the wild rapid sections watching to see how well we did.   Having been down the rapids before they were watching our every move in anticipation of a remarkable run or they were let down when we took the safe path for the timid and unskilled.   We only have one shot at life, then we take out.  When our trip is over, it is over.  We will only take what we have become and the memories.  This however, was just training for the real thing.   When our time is over, we will reflect on our adventures and memories of our real Life in the Whitewater forever.

Glossary of Christian rafting terms

Life Jacket -  Jesus.   Life Jacket provided by the guides.  Your choice to receive the gift free for the taking, however you can’t get on the river without it.     John 1:18, Ephesians 2:8-9

Paddle – Your gift to be used for the benefit of all on the team. We teach you but your skill must be cultivated by you and used for all.   If you stop paddling we all suffer. 1Peter 4:10-11

Raft – The church, the vehicle God uses, the team of people that does His work.   Ephesians 4:11-16

Guide -  The Holy Spirit.  He knows the way and guides us, if we listen. He knows the team and if they are ready for the big waves or if they are not working together, they get relegated to the small less rewarding path. John 10, 15, 16:5

Instruction – God’s Word that we may not sin.  If we ignore and break it, we cause pain for ourselves and/or those around us.   Psalm 119:11

Teamwork -     Together we go in style and can accomplish much more than separately.  We were created to work together in relationship with God and others. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Onlookers –     The great cloud of witness that observe how we are running the river of life.  A yahoo or a boo.  Photographs are recording forever, our journey in the whitewater.   Hebrews 12:1

Rescue -   Restoration, the process of pulling one fallen onto wild waters back into the raft to be productive again.  You must prepare yourself and relationship with others before you get in the whitewater.  Galatians 6:12

The Float- Time to reflect on the lessons from the Guide and prepare for what lies ahead.  Time to rest.

Take out – Heaven.   This journeys destination.  Your trip is only training for your real destiny.   Phillipians 3:12-14

Remember the lessons learned in YOUR journey of Life In the Whitewater1 Peter 1:13-16

You have the free will to chose how wild the rafting adventure.  From that choice the memories will be yours forever.

Now get ready for the real Life in the Whitewater.

“for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Cor. 4:18

You only go down once. MAKE IT COUNT!!!

Life stories:

“I almost drowned as a kid so I was scared to death of going over.  I did go in, but I fought my giant and won. Not afraid anymore. Bring it on.”

“I realized that I needed to build relationships in my real life, because doing life myself wasn’t working well.”

“This was the best father – son time we have ever had.” Dad

“It was cool doing something wild with my dad” Son

“I was floating down life with no purpose or urgency.  I realized I needed to change that. If I didn’t, it would soon be over and empty.  I am now active in two groups. One that helps me and one where I help others. Just getting going.”

Tumbleweed Adventure

Join us on whitewater adventures on the Clark Fork in the beautiful Alberton Gorge.

We do trips for  youth groups, father /son groups, family trips, business trips, friends and whatever group you want to put together. Must be able to wear an adult life jacket. We will give an opportunity for you to learn of the ministries we have been supporting, and give you an opportunity to support them yourself if you wish. There is a distinctively Christian theme on the trips because we believe all should be done as unto the Lord. We give a safety talk that you will never forget.  Our hope is that you will take powerful life lessons home and use them in your daily life.

Call early to schedule your trip. Our rafts will hold 4-6 people/raft, 6-8 people/raft, 8-10 people/raft.

We supply the life jackets and equipment you need.

Bring:

1. Sack lunch  or snacks that can be put in a “Dry sack” (no big coolers)
2. Water bottle that can be clipped in
3. Footwear that you can attach and not loose suitable for water (Tevas, Running Shoes, Water Socks)
4. Everything must either be attached or willing to loose. (glasses, hats etc.)
5. If it is cool bring polar fleece or wool and something dry to ride home in.
6. Sunscreen
7. A great attitude to have fun
8. Call Steve Kagarice 509 993~9026 or Jim Kenas 208 818-4600

Photo Gallery

Putting in at CYR after safety talk

Jumping off low cliffs

Sharing Mexico ministry at Fish Creek

Sleepy Sunbathing Beaver

Scouting Fang Rapids

Last long float before take out

Microlending Ethiopia

USA business leaders can volunteer their time to train groups of these businesses in productive business practices.  A great vacation with significant purpose. Their products can be sold locally in their community, however there is development underway to be able to supply marketing so their products can be sold on their support website in the USA and other more affluent markets.

Change many lives with small gifts/loans.

Contact: To come as the Lord opens doors