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Editor’s note: This is the second part in a two-part column. The first part was published on Oct. 27.
This week my journey takes me to the ending of the story Mark George shared in last week’s column about Casa Bethesda in Piedras Negras, Mexico.
“God’s Spirit continued to move in the heart of Paulino Esquival," George said. "There was another visitor, but this one was different — Paulino had never met this elderly woman or seen her before. She began to tell Paulino about her love for her son and how she had cared for him all his life. She told him of her illness and that she did not have long to live. In his heart, Paulino knew God was calling him to care for those who cannot care for themselves even though he had no resources to assume such a responsibility. But there was a difference in this case because the lady never asked him to care for her son. Instead she told him a story: ‘After I prayed for protection for my child, a man sent from God came to me and said, ‘Go ask Paulino and he will care for your child.’ She did not know this man’s name and never saw him again; but believed he was God's messenger.
“At this point Paulino took the request back to the church," George said. "This time he entreated them. 'We need to care for these children because they have absolutely no where to go.’ Again, he was told ‘No, absolutely not.’”
"Paulino faced the biggest decision of his ministry. He resigned from the pastoral position that he had served in for many years. ," George said. "It was very hard to give up because all he had ever wanted was to serve God as a pastor. But it didn’t take long until Paulino and his wife turned their personal home into the first special needs home of its kind in Mexico. In prayer, Paulino asked God, ‘I will do what you ask of me, but I cannot go about raising money, food, clothing, speaking at churches and begging for help. If you will provide, then my wife and I will dedicate the rest of our lives to whatever You have planned. God, I know this is a job that nobody will do, so I ask you to provide for everything.’ On Aug. 28, 1995, Paulino and his wife began to care for those that cannot care for themselves.
"Confirmation quickly came. The first American pastor arrived in August 1998 followed by volunteers from many Texas churches, including First Baptist Church San Marcos," George said. "Roy Miller, Bill Yager, Ed Fauver, Jimmie Scott and the Livingston family including Stan, son David and daughters Susan Jobson and Sandra Hierholzer. They crossed the border many times to help build an expanded orphanage to serve as the permanent home for people whose disabilities caused them to be 'thrownaway children.'"
In 1999, it became known as Casa Bethesda, and in 2000, God brought Sister Andrena Mulligan, a Catholic nun from Ireland and the Marist Sisters Congregation, to be the staff therapists.
Paulino told Mark George that he would like to retire because he is not well. God has sent two pastors to assist — Omar and Pablo. His own family includes his children, Carlos, Alejanera and Alfa, and five grandchildren with whom he longs to spend time.
In 2019, Casa Bethesda has grown to include a permanent home to 15-19 individuals who were abandoned persons with diagnosis including cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome and multiple sclerosis. Rosario, who arrived in November 1995, is still a resident. The website , gives much more information.
Paulino's life verses are:
- “Then Esau looked up and saw the woman and children. ‘Who are these with you?’ he asked. Jacob answered, ‘They are the children God has graciously given your servant.'" - Genesis 33:5
- “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” - Hebrews 11:8
