Graduation and College
On July 26th, we celebrated the graduation of 13 of our students from high school (PrepaNET). We held a formal dinner with roast beef, lamb, and all the trimmings. Encouraging words were shared with each of our students from some of our ministry partners in the United States. The principal and vice-principal from the PrepaNET school also joined us for the evening to encourage the students. After the formal items of the evening, and many shed tears of joy, we ended with a mariachi band, music, and some harmless dancing. It was a great time of celebration for everyone who attended. We are very proud of all our students and what they have acccomplished in their studies.
ESPERANZA :
Daniel Moran Vega–> Is at Bible College in Piedras Negras, MX.
Mario Paredes Alcantara–> Is working and waiting to enter a University
Enrique Rodriguez Paredes–> Is at Bible College in Piedras Negras, MX.
GENESIS:
Laura Castañon Ledesma–> Is studying Administration in Tourism at ‘The University of the Valley of México’
Karina Castñon Ledesma–> Is looking for a job in order to save money for when she goes to John Brown University in the USA. She will be entering college in January.
Diana Gallegos Mendoza–> Is studying to be an Educator at Boise Bible College in the USA.
Carla Delgado Solis–> Is studying Administration in Tourism at ‘The University of the Valley of México’
Liliana Castañon Ledesma–> Is studying Gastronomy at ‘The University of the Valley of México’
BETHEL:
Daniel Gallegos Mendoza–> Daniel is studying at ‘The Autonomous University of the State of México’ at the Chimalhuacán campus. He is studying social work. He wants to help people who have problems. Daniel is also working at Walmart right now.
Ricardo Gallegos Mendoza–> Ricardo is studying at ‘The Autonomous University of the State of México’ at the Tejocote campus. He is studying languages because he wants to be a language teacher and travel the world. Ricardo is also working at Walmart.
Jesús Gallegos Mendoza–> Jesus is studying at Bible College in Piedras Negras, MX. He wants to learn more about God, be a better person, and follow God’s will.
Elvis López Piña–> Elvis is currently enrolled in a program to learn more English because he plans to attend Boise Bible College in the USA. He hopes to study Youth Ministry He wants to be an English teacher in Mexico some day. Elvis is also working in Walmart.
Florentino García Morales–> Florentino is working with computers in the morning and works at Walmart in the afternoon. He is only temporarily working with computers until his classes beging on the 19th of September. He wants to study pedagogy. (The study of teaching) Florentino feels very dedicated to instructing and teaching children and teens.

Here at Niños de México we welcome the company of those who wish to partner with us. One way we do this is through our internship program. What is it like to be an intern you may ask? We questioned a few of our former interns in order to give you a better idea of what it’s like in the Life of an Intern.
First off we wanted to know what the interns thought of NDM in their own words. The answers can be adequately summarized into the following: NDM is a place where children are brought in order to be a part of a family. To be taken care of and shown the love of Christ. The hope is that the children will feel what it is like to be part of a real family and feel real love.
When asked what their favorite memory was during their time here, a unanymous answer came about. The experience was different for each intern but they each seemed to remember their best memory as when they truly saw how Niños de México is a family. There are many moments at NDM that will bring this aspect of the ministry to light while you are here.
We also asked about the spiritual impact of the internship on the interns personally. There were various answers ranging from getting back in sync with Christ, learning to have their hearts broke for other people around the world, and learning about the blessings that we take for granted each day. While here we try to have a devotional time each week with the interns but much of what God teaches and uses to impact them is done through living with and loving the children here at our institution. Our hope is that through experiences in our internship program, people will learn to see a bigger picture of Christianity and how to grow their personal relationship with Christ.
Being an intern is not all happy moments and easy streets. We also asked what was the most difficult part of being an intern at NDM. Communication due to the language barrier was the most popular answer given. So if you are planning on coming down to help at NDM, practice your Spanish and be prepared to struggle a little with communication.
Finally we wanted to know some hints and tips for future interns. So here is a short list of hints and tips from REAL NDM interns:
1. Be with the kids as much as you can. It goes by way too fast.
2. Bring a laptop, you’ll want to talk to family and friends back home.
3. Go to Chilapa.
4. Don’t be afraid to talk to people, even if your Spanish isn’t that great.
5. Bring some good books to read.
6. Be flexible
7. Don’t think you’ll just “get over” your tummy ache. Tell someone.
8. Get to know the staff, they can teach you a lot.
9. Be a servant.
10. Practice your Spanish
11. Understand from the get go that we are not here to be best friends but to assist everyone at NDM in helping get stuff done and so at times to realize that we have to set aside being friends with the kids to and make them follow the rules.
12. Understand that the kids see a lot of people come and go and so at times that’s going to effect how they interact with you but to not let that bother you but to keep loving them and talking to them, and being the hands and feet of Christ in everyway possible.
13. Try EVERYTHING

Summer Group Projects
This summer we were blessed to have many groups come down from the United States in order to help us with projects, experience Mexican Culture, and to show love to our children. The following are the groups that joined us and what they did:
Campus House from Western Illinois University –> Put on roof sealent and a silver coating in order to reflect heat off the roof at Bethel House
First Christian Church from Greenville, IL –> They ran a special program for our school teachers in order to help them in their teaching methods
Westside Christian Church from Springfield, IL –> Put on roof sealent at Daniel Rangel’s house, painted the Rangel house, painted at the IBAAN school, and painted part of Genesis House.
Longview Christian Church from Longview, TX –> Put on roof sealant at Agape House. Changed the water tanks at Agape House. Painted the girls’ rooms at Agape House. Painted the gate at Genesis house.
Carmi Christian Church from Carmi, IL –> Layed tile at Bethel House. Had a pizza and Ice Cream party for all the kids from all four homes.
First Christian Church from Florissant, MO –> Layed tile at Bethel House. Painted the bathrooms at Esperanza house. Put sealant in the corridor at Genesis House.
Supporters of Graduates from PREPA –> Graduation Party
First Christian Church from Union, MO –> Put sealant on the roof at Agape House. Painted various things at Agape house. Painted at the IBAAN school.
Tamoka Christian Church from Ormond Beach, FL –> Helped with VBS at our local church in Mexico. Painted the preschool at IBAAN. Had a hot dog party for all the children.

We are always looking for groups that would like to come down at any point in the year in order to spend time with our children and serve in Mexico. Look into our short-term mission trip opportunities for more information.