THE BIGGER PICTURE #1

 
"The Mission Dormitory Program~1955  

“MISSION DORMITORY PROGRAM with parent-supported children is one of the hopes for future national workers.  These unique dormitories work out best on established fields where the missionary has already earned the confidence of the people and Indian parents bring the children in.
There amid familiar surroundings and where the parents can from time to time to see the children,and how the dormitory program works.
The children attend regular Mexican public schools and during non-school hours come under the supervision of the missionary for guidance in the things of the Lord.
The above eleven boys are from the Ediger’s dormitory at Cuautempan.  The two big girls are hired cook and housekeepers, the little girl is sister to one of the two.
Purpose of the dormitories is that by the time the children become 18 years of age, numbers of them become Christian laymen, or ready for advanced study at the Bible School in Tamazunchale.”

Some of the Girls Home gals in front of their dormitory

Typical Indian Family

Teaching a class

Emma Manzano, Girls Home director

Attending public school

Home work ~Evening Bible Study

Everyone has a chore

Joaquin

“TRAIN UP A CHILD…” Proverbs 22:6
~by Mrs. Betty J. Ediger, 1957 or 58

Up to what shall we train him? 

First Boys Home in Zapotitlan ~ 1949-1952

What are the ends or goals to which the national is to be led?  To live “completely” he must live in understanding of the importance and significance of the home, state, school, social life and church in his daily living.
Jesus said “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly”.  During our first years on the field several young boys were brought to us to “train up”.  This later developed into a Home for Indian boys and girls, a home where Christian ideals were to be taught to a people who formerly were completely engrossed in pagan ideas and sinful practices.  This presented a tremendous challenge to us as we developed the work of the Hostels,( Casa Hogares, Boys or Girls Homes).
To the Indian parents, there children are a great asset.  The whole economy revolves around agriculture, where modern methods are little heard of.  Therefore, every boy from the time he can hold a hoe in his hand is expected to work in the fields.

The daughter begins to help her mother tend the babies and carry wood and water at a very tender age.  In view of this even the most Christian and conscientious Indian parent is reluctant to let his child go.
For the missionary this way of thinking is hard to understand.  It also puts a burden on his heart as he sees a child in the home developing over a period of 2 or 3 years and then have to leave him because the parents need him in the fields.  At the same time the parent doesn’t see the need that the missionary sees.
Why do the clothes have to be ironed? (true, they look better but can’t we see that clothes wear out sooner with so much as once a week washing and ironing?)
They wonder why a hair cut is necessary at least once a month.   I am sure that many times they think that we ought to pay them for the privilege of taking care of their children, instead of having to dig a monthly allowance for their children out of their meager earnings.
What advantage is there to learn to read?  Apart from the Christian parent who places a premium of value on the Word, there just isn’t any practical value in book learning.
Apart from stacks of communistic literature with its brightly colored illustrations, many homes do not know what it is to receive a letter.  Or another question comes to this missionary.  Why teach hygiene and cleanliness to children whose parents live in villages where water has to be purchased after having been carried for miles up the mountain in clay jugs or tin cans or how can they grasp the idea or see the necessity of building better homes, outhouses, etc. when there are not trees for lumber nearby.

Some of these obstacles have almost overwhelmed me at times, yet at the same time the “fruit” has been rewarding.  To hear the remarks of visiting parents say “I don’t know how to read, but Johnny or Mary reads the Word to me when he comes home for vacation” is encouraging.
There is a desire to learn to read so they may read “His Words”.

First Boys Home in Zaptitlan~Becky with Dad & Mother ~1949

The opportunities for the parents perhaps have passed, but their hope is in their sons and daughters.  Many of the boys and girls in the Hostel become lay teachers, that is they explain the Word and other teachings the children have received penetrate the hearts and minds of the parents and neighbors.
Although the economic and cultural barriers have been difficult to cross, we have seen definite strides forward in their own living conditions.  Of course, we realize that the power of God’s Word and its teaching of the possibility of changed lives through salvation in Christ Jesus bring the results.  Children trained…(rest of article can’t be found at this time.) HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, JOAQUIN