The Journey Continues: Paulino & Gilberta Esquivel

Editor’s note: This is the first part in a two-part column. Part two will be published on Sunday, Nov. 3.

My journey this week takes me to my good friend Mark George, member of First Baptist Church in Lockhart. His missionary experiences in Mexico are powerful. He was especially complimentary of Paulino and Gilberta Esquivel.

“I have never met a couple so trusting in the Lord," George said. "They have dedicated their lives to ministering to God’s special needs people.

“When I made my first visit to Paulino in 2001, he had been the pastor of Iglesias Baptista La Trinidad in Piedras Negras, Mexico, for many years," George said. "Paulino and Gilberta were involved in many community ministries and through the church had started a day care in 1992 for single moms working in the factories. This allowed moms to go to work while their children were in a safe day care. It was provided at no charge and this was a tremendous testament to the power of Christ working through the church.

"It was during this time when they received their first request to take care of a special needs child. Initially they could not accept the child because they did not have the facilities to meet special needs," George said. "Then a 7-year-old boy was brought to the church who was only 24 inches in height. He had a bone growth disease that prevented his physical development. Paulino allowed this mom to leave the child at the day care for a few months. As the other women brought in their children, they would come and coo at what they thought was a baby until the child responded with the vocabulary of a 7-year-old. It was too much for some of the parents of the other children and resulted in him giving up the young boy.

"One afternoon an elderly lady, who was not well, came to see Paulino. She shared with him about her family and a grandson she was currently raising," George said. "She told Paulino that her grandson was mentally ill, and that if she had not agreed to take care of him, he would have died on the streets. The grandmother had taken care of him since his birth and deeply loved him. She wanted to make sure someone would be there to care for him when she died. She asked for Paulino to take him in and care for him. At first Paulino did not know how to respond since they did not have the facilities to care for such a request. But her sincerity and devotion to her grandson was so strong, Paulino felt that he had to take her request to the church deacons. The deacon’s response was, 'No, absolutely not!' With a sad heart Paulino had to tell her the news.

"Looking back, Paulino believed God was preparing him for the new calling," George said. "It wasn’t long after this first encounter when another lady came with a similar story. Again, he brought the request back to the church, and this time he made a strong appeal to help in this way. Again, the deacons said, 'No, absolutely not!' Many more children came, and the thought of not being able to care for those who could not care for themselves was becoming unbearable for Paulino. He tried to go about his daily work as pastor; however, those encounters with the children of such great need kept Paulino from sleeping. He thought, 'How can I tell others to do unto others as you would have them do unto you when I don’t help these people?' This question and more tormented him day and night," George said. "Paulino began to look everywhere to find a place to take these special people. He went to churches, government offices, and private places. No such facilities existed.

Next week I will share how God worked through Paulino and Gilberta to start one of the first special needs homes in Mexico.