A Dislocated Elbow, Pigs and the El Camino Cafeteria

Last week at school, I (Reagan) was in the middle of a history lesson when an administrator rushed in and asked if I could take a student to the hospital. I quickly handed off my class and ran downstairs, where I met a fifth-grade boy trying to hide his tears and his concerned grandmother—one of our beloved staff members. He had fallen on his way back from the library, and the swelling in his arm was immediate.

During the short drive to the hospital, their whispered prayers filled the car. I was deeply moved listening as they cried out to God for healing and protection. At the ER, doctors confirmed his arm was dislocated and needed to be reset. I was able to bring his mom from work so she could be with him. Those quiet moments of whispered prayers showed a faith and trust in God will stay with me. Praise God, he is recovering well.

One exciting addition to our work has been a growing sustainability effort—especially a pig project! One of Chase’s goals has been to help the children’s home become more self-sustaining. Along with our garden and chickens, we’ve expanded into raising pigs. Thanks to a nearby property, we now have space to grow this program. Recently, one of our sows gave birth to seven healthy piglets. These will either be raised to provide food for the home or sold to help offset costs. This effort also supports the hospital cafeteria, which serves patients and helps cover expenses.

In September Chase started a school lunch program to meet a need for students and their families. They typically sell between 70-80 plates of food a day! Originally the lunches were being prepared at our children’s home and then transported over but now the  school has its own on-campus cafeteria! Last week, we officially opened a kitchen on campus, allowing students to buy meals directly. This creates new job opportunities and strengthens the long-term sustainability of both the school and the home.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support—we are grateful to see God at work in both the big and small moments.