Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing this letter to you humbly and with great need ~ actually without any need. See, I have a God that is able to abundantly supply all of my needs, and He is the only one that can truly help me.

What has been going on?

In January, I moved to Imuris, Sonora. I moved with the thought and plan that I would be able to continue to work for Insight. After my computer box getting wet from a hole in my shower and from it taking over 2 weeks to get internet installed in my home – I lost my job.

During the two weeks of “vacation” from Insight, I started 2 other jobs here in Mexico.
The first one is being an English teacher at the junior high on the orphanage property. There’s only 2 boys in the class that don’t live onsite (their parents work here). I love this class because I know them all so well so it’s more like home schooling for me.

The second job is at the local high school in town – again I’m teaching English. This one isn’t quite as fun – especially the junior group. The first day was okay, but after that, I can’t even tell you how much was thrown at me while I was writing on the white board – everything from gum to paper wads to pens and pencils. They’re getting a little better now, but there’s still a lot of work to do.

Why teach English?

If anyone wants to go to a Mexican University, they have to be fluent in English. With their application, they have to take an English test and pass with a 7 (a C). In their universities, they have classes completely in English. These kids’ lives are important to me, and I want to help them succeed.

With this, I am teaching 4 different classes 3 times a week – That’s only 12 hours of “work”. Do I get paid? Sure, but it’s less than I made as a hostess at CoCo’s when I was 16.

What about my family?

Yes, I have a wonderful family back home in the states, but I also have an amazing family here as well. Three days ago, my boy, Jesus Humberto Bonilla Miranda (you know, the one I have sponsored for the past year and a half), told me his whole life story. It’s the first time he’s ever told me about his situation and why he’s here. I’m not going to get into it because it’s “his life” and “his story”, but I will tell you how it ended. It ended with me calling him “mijo” (my son) and telling him that I would fight to get custody of him.

Tomorrow, I am going to Cajeme to ask for temporary custody. He’s 14, he’s a little bratty at times and he gets cranky and somewhat mean when he’s tired. He hates doing his homework, but he’s amazing. More than that, he’s my son.

Half of the time we’re like mother and son and the other half we’re like brother and sister. We have 2 games that we play a lot. One of the games is where we slap each other’s face until someone says to stop. The other game is called “cochino” which means nasty or pig. We give each other a pig nose, and we see who can give it to the other the longest. Both of these games are like mercy to where the winner is the one that doesn’t call quits.

That’s my son, but there are more people in my family as well.

Adrian is 16 and he’s my little brother. I love him a lot and he is always helping me with Jesus and other other family member, Guadalupe (he’s 12). I am always amused at the stuff that we all do together – from drawing in the dirt to basketball, soccer, reading, playing 21, to helping each other in the kitchen and washing dishes , and even changing and bathing Mikey (he’s 2). Mikey’s first word was Ana (my name) and he will sometimes call me mom. I’ve been trying to get him to stop, but he still does it from time to time. He also gets a little feisty when he has to share my attention with anyone.

Shane Claiborne puts it beautifully in his book, The Irresistible Revolution: living as an ordinary radical:

It’s a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends and family with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle… Servanthood is a fine place to begin, but gradually we move toward mutual love, genuine relationships.

This is what I have with these boys. This is what I have with the other 87 kids here as well. They are all my family, and there are a lot more that consider me their mother, their sister, and their friend.

What do I do in my free time?

One of the kids here asked me that same question and I just said, “I come here”. See, I don’t really have any free time. I don’t want any. They told me that all “non staff” visitors have to leave at 6 p.m. because they have to lock the gate. Well, I said, “What about if I walk home. Can I stay until 8?” After some arguing, they agreed.

Here’s a sample day of mine:

I get up and get to the orphanage by 7:20. I take the teens to their high school in town. I go home, eat and get ready for the day. Then, I teach and go to the orphanage to be u have no idea how much they with the kids. While I’m there, I help kids write their sponsors in English, help Crisel learn how to read and write (she’s 16), help in the kitchen, watch kids while they do their tricks (you have no idea how much they enjoy someone ‘paying attention’ to them), talk kids out of running away, help them with their homework, play games, break up fights, comfort those that are hurting, play nurse, and just sit. Sometimes when we’re watching movies I will have one or two kids on my lap, another on my shoulders, and two on my sides.

They need love, and sometimes physical. These are all things that I do until I get kicked out, go home, rest, do my chores, and get ready for the next day.

Mother Theresa once said, “Following Jesus is simple, but not easy. Love until it hurts, and then love more.”

What about now?

So, here I am. At times, I still don’t feel like I spend enough time with the kids. There are always times where some will say “Can you spend time with me today?”. “Of course” I always say.

My money from Insight is starting to run dry. Of course, I will get my tax return, but that’s about all I have. I could try to get a job in Nogales, but the commute alone would take away two hours from the kiddos. I don’t have any worries that all of my needs will be met. I’m not living in super deluxe conditions. I know a lot of people don’t think of Mexico as a “suffering” place, and neither do I. But, I will say this. As you take a hot shower in your heated house, thank God. Praise him that you don’t have to go outside, turn on your gas, light the broiler, open up the water pipe, and then wait 30 minutes. It actually not a big deal, I have gotten used to it. It’s just a part of life. For the first few weeks, I didn’t even have this option. I took ice cold showers. It reminded me of Romania (who cleans their pipes every summer so there’s never hot water). Yet, it is definitely harder to take cold showers in the winter. I ended up making my own lines to the popular worship song “I’m trading my sorrows”. It’s “I’ll praise you when I’m warm and when I’m cold.”

Any way, back to what I was talking about. If you would like to be an instrument of how God provides for me, to allow me to have more time with them, you can do one of the following things. You can deposit money directly into my Bank of America account (272863629) or you can send a check to my dad: William Whisnant 2644 S. Reyes Mesa, AZ 85202. I was going to get a PO box in Nogales, but that costs $100 a year and I would be forced to go there more often. I also started thinking… How much more faith will my parents have when they see how God provides through people? Don’t get me wrong, they have faith – they are just used to being the ones that God uses to provide for me. Feel free to pray and/or give one time, monthly, or as you feel lead.

I know I will be fine. But more than just giving, try to come. See for yourself. Meet the kids.
Mother Theresa once said, “God takes care of the lilies and the sparrows, and God will take care of you. Just come.”

God bless,
Hannah Whisnant
Hannah.whisnant@gmail.com
480-280-3973