Erin Vogel
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Read along as Erin blogs about life at Dulce Refugio.
Where to begin? My life from the time I was born has been kind of chaotic. My parents divorced soon after I was born. My mom re-married a few years later and life in our blended household became crazy. When I was 9 years old my stepfather sent my brother and I away to live with our biological father and grandmother. At the time I thought it was the worst thing to ever happen. Looking back on that I truly believe that this is the greatest blessing that could have ever happened.
My aunt took me to Sunday School with her and I met the most fabulous Sunday School teacher ever. It was her that lead me to Christ and that changed my life forever. Although life at home was never easy God gave me the strength to cope and get through the hurts and struggles of rejection, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. It is my greatest prayer that God will use these events in my life to help others and I truly believe He is doing that.
Two years ago I was preparing to serve a year in Africa. A few days before I was supposed to leave the plans fell apart and I was asked to wait. This waiting period was a real time of spiritual growth for me. Within weeks God totally closed that door in Africa but it still was unclear of what I was supposed to do.
Almost immediately God provided a full-time job, a home and within weeks my church asked if I could co-lead a team to Dulce Refugio in Aguascalientes the following summer. Fundraisers and team get togethers starting happening and on July 7, 2007 we arrived at the orphanage. From the moment we arrived I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and I knew I was "home". The team returned to Canada two weeks later and I spend another 5 weeks serving at the orphanage.
During this time, little baby Jose arrived at the orphanage and it was love at first sight. I became his full time caregiver and "mama" and I knew my time at Dulce Refugio would not be over at the end of the summer. Reluctantly I left for Canada at the end of August and started preparing to return for January 2008. God did some very amazing things and provided for me to return two months earlier in November.
The past six months have been the most incredible journey. I feel so very blessed to be serving here at Dulce Refugio and I look forward to seeing what God will do here in the coming months. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated!
Blessings,
Erin Vogel
