Ninos de Mexico Reflection

The following is an excerpt from a letter from Ruthie Wiggins.  She and her husband Lee are retired and live part-time at Niños.  They both teach in the school and are great surrogate grandparents to our children.


     Let me be honest here, I, Ruthie Wiggins, rather enjoy being productive. Taking time to just reflect, think, pause, read does not come naturally for me. However, recently I took some time just to consider some of the top lessons I have learned being at Niños. Because of the richness of this experience I could go on and on, but here are the top six.

 1. People, especially Niños kids, don't owe me anything. My calling is to just be. Be consistent, love, be a sharer of life and the truth, be a listener, be a helper, and be a participant. Some Niños kids respond to me more than others. When I give expecting thanks I am disappointed every time. The outcome of my efforts is orchestrated by one much greater than me.

 2. I've had it easy in life and often took it for granted. The same two parents my entire life, even on our thinnest week we had enough food on the table to keep us satisfied, examples of Jesus all around me, great schools, and many additional perks at my fingertips. Gratitude comes easier now.

 3. Life is worth living. Overall the kids and staff here are far more "up" than "down" people. Tough times, typical complaints, and discouragement you bet, but still an air of hope reigns here.

 4. Time, promptness, schedules, appointments --- all over rated. Don't get me wrong, I do see the value in the stateside way of doing business. However, my life is richer for having lived in a culture where the needs of people and relationships take priority over specific, rigid time frames. Somehow there is more freedom and less frustration living this way.

 5. God is in the stretching business and when stretched I won't break. Being at Niños has pushed our comfort level to new heights. However, God's faithfulness has risen to the task at every turn.

 6. Jesus Christ does not speak English. The Holy Spirit does not whisper in English. His message of love knows no one language.

Visit the Ninos de Mexico site here.