“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:11

Orphan Grain Train

For over twenty years, Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) has been blessed by so many generous people who’ve donated food, supplies, clothes, and furniture through Orphan Grain Train (OGT).  What gifts of compassion and generous kindness have been given to people in need because of these donations!

“The donations brought to YLM through OGT are an answer to many prayers,” Rev Dr. Karl Heimer, CEO of YLM, exclaimed with joy as the 53 foot OGT trailer was being unloaded, “Many times, they’ve brought in donated items, such as an office chair or twin bed, and within a day, there’s a need for that specific item.  Other times, we pray for something specific, such as the need for new mattresses to replace the ones in the Dormitory.  And here is God’s answer!”

Donations such as these make it possible for YLM to extend the generosity to other organizations in the El Paso and Juarez communities.

SafeHOME

SafeHOME Family Services, takes on Child Protective Service (CPS) cases dedicated to keeping children out of the foster care system and within their families.

“We do a lot of educating,” Luz Cano, Human Services Tech, shared over a cup of coffee one rainy afternoon, “We ensure the safety and welfare of the children, help families learn proper care and safety in regards to infants and children.  Our goal is to keep families together by empowering them instead of enabling them.”

Although SafeHOME only takes on CPS family-care related cases, they are not government funded and work with an extremely conservative budget.  This creates a need for community connections to solicit donations when items or funding is desperately needed.  YLM has donated baby clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets several times, as well as a twin size bed needed urgently.

It’s truly a blessing to be given the opportunity to share God’s love through actions, service, and time.

Zaragoza Rotary Club of El Paso

Last year, the Zaragoza Rotary Club of El Paso has become a constant source of volunteers at YLM.  They started by helping at the 6^th Annual Health Fair, where over 900 backpacks where distributed to children.  In November, they provided free translators to help with the MOST Ministries Water Clinic in Anapra and Kilometro 30.  In December, over twenty of their members were an amazing help during the Joy Distribution as over a thousand people came to the YLM campus for food, blankets, toys, and jackets.

“The Rotary Club is made up of service-minded people,” Pastor Heimer shared, “They want to improve their community, serve others, and invest their time, skills, and funds in helping people in need.  This is what we do, every day of the week, in one way or another.”

Rotary members continue to come on Saturday mornings to help with the Food Pantry, from two of them to twenty, but all are greatly appreciated as they work alongside church members and other volunteers.

Pastor Heimer couldn’t keep from smiling as he observed Rotary members and church members working side by side, “We are called to take the Gospel into the world, not keep it within the walls of the church.  This is a beautiful example of how that can be done in a kind, loving, and compassionate manner.”

As YLM continues to change lives through simple acts of kindness, there’s great joy in the opportunities presented to form partnerships with other organizations for the purpose of reaching more people in need of God’s love, grace, and mercy.