The big “whys”
Hello Dear Family and Friends,
Michael here this time. Celeste and I have now been living here in Mexico for nearly a year. We are preparing the Aguas Sagradas ranch, building the Casita, and building our team for the girls that will be coming here to live and receive love, mentoring, education, and preparation for an independent and meaningful life.
As some of the very rare “extranjeros” ( strangers or foreigners) in this part of Mexico, we are frequently met with the question of “why.” Why are you here? Why are you building this facility? Why do you care? And we have many “whys” of our own. Why us? Why now? And particularly, why would so many of you decide to join us on this wild ride—praying, donating your support, coming down to work, and pouring into us and the girls?
Frankly, I have learned to stop struggling with so many of the “whys.” This was a lesson learned years ago when Celeste and I lost our firstborn, our son Corban after only 5 days with him. There were SO MANY “whys” during that time; some that are similar to now: Why us? Why now? So many others. Somehow the Lord consoled my heart with the understanding that there are some things you cannot know. But the ability to trust Him when you do not have all the answers nurtures a faith and a peace beyond understanding.
Some years ago, my heart went out to the many girls who left the safety of the Casa Hogar Orphanage only to be victimized or abused or just fail in life, often due to their own poor choices. I began to ask the Lord, “Why? Why isn’t there some place where these girls can go to be better prepared for life? Why doesn’t someone do something about this crisis?”
The answer I received quite surprised me when I heard Him reply, “Why don’t YOU do something about it?” And so began the origin of Reina’s Hope. But the “whys” continue to this day, but with an entirely different perspective. Now we are asking, “Why are we so blessed to be surrounded and advised by such a capable, experienced, and wise board of directors? Why have so, so many people, some known and some strangers to us, decided to join us with their financial support and encouragement? Why do we feel so blessed to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and which we believe will continue on long after we are gone?”
For some of those “whys,” we have some of the answers – but for so many others, perhaps we just cannot know. But for each one of you – our board, our family and friends, and supporters—we are grateful beyond our ability to express it.
Thank you, and love you all so much!
Until They All Come Home,
Michael and Celeste Peters