Esther and Mordecai were born for such a time as this. They aren't just average dogs. God had a huge purpose in mind for them when they were born. It's time we told the story of how they came to be, their importance in our lives and the difference they make in the work of the ministry. They play a part in what we do here in the care of the orphaned and abandoned boys of Nicaragua.
In June, 2011 we were hosting meals for the visiting Book of Hope mission group. One particular day, a group from North Carolina was also stopping by for the first time to introduce themselves and see our ministry operations. A total of 38 people would be in our home for lunch that day; so off to the local mercado we went for last minute supplies. We had a little over 1 1/2 hours to shop and get back home before our guests arrived.
This is where the differences between us as a married couple begin to show up. I'm detailed and usually on a schedule to accomplish my list of to-do items. My husband is casual and enjoys the sites. I send him off in a direction to retrieve one item and when he comes back all I get from him is excitement and a lot of chatter. He's saying something about puppies; while not really listening, I respond "oh that's nice" and continue with my shopping. On the way out of the mercado, I had one last stop to buy tortillas. While I'm standing next to the vendor, counting out tortillas along with her, Preston is behind me and says, "there they are". By "they", he is referring to the puppies. I collect my tortillas and turn around to look at what has got him so excited. Big mistake, BIG! The vendors here know how to reel you in when you give them half a nod. As quick as a blink, I was holding one puppy and Preston was holding another. Preston asks "Cuanto cuesta?" The vendor replies back - 300 cordobas, each (less than $15 US).
Arriving home, we were in overdrive. We had to find a container to house the puppies, put them in a safe place out of human traffic, get a small bowl of water, and since we had no newspapers, old towels would do as a bedding. Next, we had to finish preparing lunch.
Throughout the day, the puppies would cry out and various guests would go back to see what the fuss was all about. It was not until after supper, that evening, before I would find the time to check in on the puppies. As I sat down next to the trunk where the puppies laid, I found myself thinking about all the work involved in training puppies, the expense of food, shots, vet bills, loss of freedom to go whenever and wherever we wanted. What possessed me to agree to buying puppies? Most months we couldn't feed ourselves adequately and now we had puppies that would soon be full-grown dogs to feed. Panic doesn't even begin to describe the emotions that were hitting me. I sat on the floor, petting the little things and tears fell down my cheeks as I repeated again to my husband, "How are we going to take care of them?"
The next morning, the Book of Hope group came by for breakfast. One of the women, immediately took me aside to talk. She started by saying that she and her husband love to support missionaries in unusual ways. They would like to support our dogs; take care of everything for them. I was overwhelmed. All the panic and anxiety I had felt through the night and into the morning was gone in an instant. This kind woman named Terry, whom I had never met before, she and her husband (whom we still have not met) were going to be "padrinos" to our puppies. The term padrino is Spanish for godparents. Every single month, there is a draft made to our ministry account for the total care of the dogs.
This testimony speaks to us every day about the faithfulness of God to provide. Even if we make decisions which might be questionable, God in his goodness has a solution. When we think back to the events, it was predestined for Terry to be on that exact mission trip in order to be used by God. How many people would ever think about supporting dogs? And God knew that this woman and her husband were the perfect couple to meet our need.
Naming our dogs was easy because of the assignment on their lives. Esther and Mordecai were indeed born for such a time as this. These dogs are an important part of our ministry. The boys that we take care of have a lot of emotional issues. They have walls so high and thick that they have built around themselves, at times it is impossible to penetrate; but boys will relate to dogs.
We have picture upon picture carved into our minds and hearts of the number of times that each boy has had moments when it was just them and one or both of the dogs. We have one boy with OCD behavior that will bury his face into the dogs neck. The boys love on the dogs from when they get up in the morning and each will in his own way tell the dogs good night. These dogs are very therapeutic for the boys.
Every morning, we awake to sloppy wet kisses and the unconditional love of our dogs. Esther and Mordecai are a blessing to us in so many ways. When we have days that are difficult and lonely, they are there to heal us. When we get to stressing about the lack of funds to pay the necessary bills, all we have to do is look at the dogs laying at our feet and we know that all will be well; we have proof of God's provision.
They are 22 months old, Esther weighs about 50 lbs. and Mordecai, the "magnificent specimen" that the Vet calls him, weighs in at about 95lbs. We can't get an accurate weight because Mordecai's feet hang off the Vet's scale.
The "kids" as we all refer to them, are always close by; trailing either Preston or myself (Sandra). They love to sleep under my desk when I am working. They take turns switching out as to whom will
occupy the space. Today for the first time, they shared the space which left me having to be a foot away from the desk top so that my chair wheels would not run over their feet.
It was a very good day at the mercado back in June 2011, Esther and Mordecai are 2 very privileged dogs that God had chosen to make a difference in all of our lives.
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