God has no Grandchildren
by Pastor John Sorrentino Jr.
In October of this past year, my wife and I were privileged to lead a team of youth pastors and youth leaders aptly named Project 28:19 to our Lily of the Valley orphanages in Aldama and Guachochi. What made this trip extra special was that thirty something years ago, Papa Ed and Rosa were "Pastors Ed and Rosa," my youth pastors. Then Pastor Ed would take our youth down to the slums of Tijuana and we would minister to the destitute and pass out food and clothing. He and I would do juggling shows for the children. So now as an associate pastor of the church that he sowed into me, to be able to take a group and sow into the ministry and children that he and Rosa now serve was an experience that none of the others could feel. As the son of the founders of the Lily of the Valley Orphanages, there has always been a connection to Lily. But just because my mother makes weekly trips to Lily in Tijuana, that doesn't transfer to me. God doesn't have grandchildren. I, myself needed to make an investment. I needed to sow. I needed to go.
Back in March we decided to make this trip. We wanted to go with a purpose. We wanted to be a blessing. As a group, we all went out and raised money, got sponsors and planned this undertaking for fourteen of us to fly down.
We expected to minister. We expected to be a blessing. We intended to sow. What we received was so much more.
We arrived in the capitol city of Chihuahua and were greeted by Papa Ed and Mama Rosa. After a thirty-minute drive to the suburb Colonia of Aldama we arrived at the orphanage. The pure outpouring of love by the staff and children we were greeted with was amazing to me. Right then I knew we were in for a special week. It was wonderful to see Samuel and Mary Elena. Two of the staff who grew up in the Tijuana Lily. Through the incredible generosity of our church, New Covenant Tabernacle and other donors to our GoFundMe, we could immediately go shopping for food and supplies for the week. We went to the market and bought pallets of meat and vegetables. We were also able to purchase paint and supplies. When we returned to Aldama, we had a beautifully prepared meal, both physically and spiritually. We participated in our first “hug line”, where Papa Ed and Mama Rosa have the children line up and give and receive hugs from each other. The love for each other they displayed was so evident it caught me off guard.
The following morning, we packed up the vehicles with food, supplies and our gear and headed off to Guachochi, A small mountain town in the south-western portion of the state of Chihuahua. The six hour or so drive up into the mountains (elev. 7000ft) was such a refreshing time. Papa Ed, Mama Rosa and I were able to reminisce on “old times” and previous experiences. Our team was fellowshipping and sharing each other’s testimonies and stories as well. We arrived at the orphanage mid-afternoon and again we were flooded with hugs and love from the staff and children. We were so blessed to see Karina, one of the children who grew up in the Tijuana orphanage, and was now one of the staff in Guachochi. We spent some time unloading and planning the attack on projects for the few days we were to be there. We were served a delicious meal and again we received a spiritual renewal of love. One of the boys, Daniel, played the guitar and sang to us with such an anointing, we couldn’t hold back the tears. We worshipped and the spirit of the Lord rested in that room.
The next morning, we woke before sunrise and had prayer and devotions with the children and staff. The Bible says in James that, “…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” There is no wonder why God blesses these children and supplies all their needs. Their prayer was strong and filled with faith. When you totally depend, and rely on God to live, there is no room for doubt. Our project for the two days was to paint the exterior of the three buildings. We hit the ground running and all of us were blessed to do anything and everything we could. We didn’t let the rain stop us. We were going to complete what we started. That night we were invited to join the staff at their local church and praise and worship with them. Psalms 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!” Not being bilingual, I didn’t fully understand the service. But, I am fluent in the language of love… and that is what they spoke.
The final morning, we woke extra early. We had devotions and prayed, then we had each of the children, staff and our team, dip our hands in paint and make handprints on one of the walls. We did this to symbolize our commitment to work together in this tremendous ministry. We finished up painting and got ready to head back down to Aldama. Before we departed the staff and our team all got in a circle and shared our experience. I had a melt down! I struggled through exasperation and tears to communicate my thankfulness and the blessing it was to be a part of this experience. I am still grateful for Tio Caesar and the staff at Guachochi, for the beauty of the children, the diligence of team Project 28:19 for this life altering experience.
We made it back down late into the evening and the staff had a scrumptious meal waiting for us. With only one day left, we took the morning to do some tourist stuff and sight-seeing and made sure we were back for when the children returned from school. When we got back, we were blessed to fellowship and enjoy playing with the children. We took the opportunity to bless and cook for the staff and children. That night we had a special service and Papa Ed spoke to the children. His words spoke deep into my heart. He told those children that they were no longer orphans, and that he would be “the best father they could ever have!” In all my years in ministry and in all the years of knowing Papa Ed, I can honestly say… He is. Again, we finished the service with the trademarked “hug line.” The next day we woke, had breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport.
What started earlier in the year as an idea to “do a mission trip,” became a heart changing, life altering, ministry infusing experience that I had never expected, but am looking forward to again next year. Thank you, Papa Ed, and Mama Rosa and all the staff and children of both Lily of the Valley Aldama and Guachochi. We are forever cleaved in the spirit.
by Pastor John Sorrentino Jr.
In October of this past year, my wife and I were privileged to lead a team of youth pastors and youth leaders aptly named Project 28:19 to our Lily of the Valley orphanages in Aldama and Guachochi. What made this trip extra special was that thirty something years ago, Papa Ed and Rosa were "Pastors Ed and Rosa," my youth pastors. Then Pastor Ed would take our youth down to the slums of Tijuana and we would minister to the destitute and pass out food and clothing. He and I would do juggling shows for the children. So now as an associate pastor of the church that he sowed into me, to be able to take a group and sow into the ministry and children that he and Rosa now serve was an experience that none of the others could feel. As the son of the founders of the Lily of the Valley Orphanages, there has always been a connection to Lily. But just because my mother makes weekly trips to Lily in Tijuana, that doesn't transfer to me. God doesn't have grandchildren. I, myself needed to make an investment. I needed to sow. I needed to go.
Back in March we decided to make this trip. We wanted to go with a purpose. We wanted to be a blessing. As a group, we all went out and raised money, got sponsors and planned this undertaking for fourteen of us to fly down.
We expected to minister. We expected to be a blessing. We intended to sow. What we received was so much more.
We arrived in the capitol city of Chihuahua and were greeted by Papa Ed and Mama Rosa. After a thirty-minute drive to the suburb Colonia of Aldama we arrived at the orphanage. The pure outpouring of love by the staff and children we were greeted with was amazing to me. Right then I knew we were in for a special week. It was wonderful to see Samuel and Mary Elena. Two of the staff who grew up in the Tijuana Lily. Through the incredible generosity of our church, New Covenant Tabernacle and other donors to our GoFundMe, we could immediately go shopping for food and supplies for the week. We went to the market and bought pallets of meat and vegetables. We were also able to purchase paint and supplies. When we returned to Aldama, we had a beautifully prepared meal, both physically and spiritually. We participated in our first “hug line”, where Papa Ed and Mama Rosa have the children line up and give and receive hugs from each other. The love for each other they displayed was so evident it caught me off guard.
The following morning, we packed up the vehicles with food, supplies and our gear and headed off to Guachochi, A small mountain town in the south-western portion of the state of Chihuahua. The six hour or so drive up into the mountains (elev. 7000ft) was such a refreshing time. Papa Ed, Mama Rosa and I were able to reminisce on “old times” and previous experiences. Our team was fellowshipping and sharing each other’s testimonies and stories as well. We arrived at the orphanage mid-afternoon and again we were flooded with hugs and love from the staff and children. We were so blessed to see Karina, one of the children who grew up in the Tijuana orphanage, and was now one of the staff in Guachochi. We spent some time unloading and planning the attack on projects for the few days we were to be there. We were served a delicious meal and again we received a spiritual renewal of love. One of the boys, Daniel, played the guitar and sang to us with such an anointing, we couldn’t hold back the tears. We worshipped and the spirit of the Lord rested in that room.
The next morning, we woke before sunrise and had prayer and devotions with the children and staff. The Bible says in James that, “…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” There is no wonder why God blesses these children and supplies all their needs. Their prayer was strong and filled with faith. When you totally depend, and rely on God to live, there is no room for doubt. Our project for the two days was to paint the exterior of the three buildings. We hit the ground running and all of us were blessed to do anything and everything we could. We didn’t let the rain stop us. We were going to complete what we started. That night we were invited to join the staff at their local church and praise and worship with them. Psalms 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!” Not being bilingual, I didn’t fully understand the service. But, I am fluent in the language of love… and that is what they spoke.
The final morning, we woke extra early. We had devotions and prayed, then we had each of the children, staff and our team, dip our hands in paint and make handprints on one of the walls. We did this to symbolize our commitment to work together in this tremendous ministry. We finished up painting and got ready to head back down to Aldama. Before we departed the staff and our team all got in a circle and shared our experience. I had a melt down! I struggled through exasperation and tears to communicate my thankfulness and the blessing it was to be a part of this experience. I am still grateful for Tio Caesar and the staff at Guachochi, for the beauty of the children, the diligence of team Project 28:19 for this life altering experience.
We made it back down late into the evening and the staff had a scrumptious meal waiting for us. With only one day left, we took the morning to do some tourist stuff and sight-seeing and made sure we were back for when the children returned from school. When we got back, we were blessed to fellowship and enjoy playing with the children. We took the opportunity to bless and cook for the staff and children. That night we had a special service and Papa Ed spoke to the children. His words spoke deep into my heart. He told those children that they were no longer orphans, and that he would be “the best father they could ever have!” In all my years in ministry and in all the years of knowing Papa Ed, I can honestly say… He is. Again, we finished the service with the trademarked “hug line.” The next day we woke, had breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport.
What started earlier in the year as an idea to “do a mission trip,” became a heart changing, life altering, ministry infusing experience that I had never expected, but am looking forward to again next year. Thank you, Papa Ed, and Mama Rosa and all the staff and children of both Lily of the Valley Aldama and Guachochi. We are forever cleaved in the spirit.
Would you consider a short term mission trip? Contact [email protected] or office@nctministries.com for more information.
