A summer of tests

It is with great joy that I share with you some of our activities of this summer. I had the great opportunity to return to the United States after 21 months in Mexico. While I love to be in Mexico helping the children, the stress in dealing with Mexican officials and the many challenges we face there had taken their toll on me. I became very ill in Mexico and had to return to the US for some time with my husband and family. I came back in April and brought Lauren with me. I am happy to say that I now feel wonderful and I am ready to go back to be with the children.

I brought Lauren with me so that we could have some medical tests performed for her. In Mexico her neurologist thought he detected a tremor in her leg and because of her past injuries, delivered by her birthmother, prescribed an anti-seizure medication. I never felt right about this because I had never seen any signs of seizures. I had at that time determined that I should get a second opinion in the US. After many trials I received the proper papers to bring Lauren with me. Once here the New Mexico Children’s Medical Services made it possible for her to receive an electroencephalogram (EEG) to determine if there was any seizure activity. In addition we had audiological and ophthalmological exams as well as tests of her motor, cognitive and language skills. Lauren came through all tests with flying colors. In none of the tests did they find anything that should raise concern. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for the way he has blessed this child who came to us so damaged that the doctors told us they didn’t believe she would survive and if she did, she would have severe physical or mental handicaps.

In the spring of this year we had two volunteers who came down for about a month each to help out. Both were wonderful and helped me when I really needed it. One was from Prescott College in Arizona and the other was from Queens University in Canada. Both were greatly impressed by our work and I was equally impressed with them. They wrote of their experiences for their schools and one has shared them with me. I will share some excerpts with you.

I wish to thank each of you for your interest in our project and for your generous donations to help with this work. If you haven’t contributed in a while, I hope that you will consider doing so now. Stan is cutting back on his work and will be joining me for much of the year. That will help both the children and me. With this in mind, we will be trying to expand our efforts and help more children. Your donations will help us to make this possible. I know the Lord will bless you as he has blessed my family and me.

Gloria Call, President

For decades, government experts, politicians and academics have been wrestling with two critical social problems, poverty and abused children. …I decided to …explore organized projects, which have been put into place to provide welfare, health and positive effects for children. Throughout my search I began to become increasingly frustrated because many of the article and stories that I read focussed on the problems of revolving-door foster care, This system often seems to shuffle discarded, deeply troubled and increasingly desperate boys and girls from home to home with no clear goal. Finally, I came across Radiant Futures Orphanage’s mission statement. This organization motivates individuals to see the possibilities and to feel the hope in challenging situations, whereas, other established projects seem to focus solely on the problems. This non-profit organization offers abandoned and abused children the chance to thrive in a permanent home, which I find truly inspirational.

Having been exposed to the people of Mexico and their culture during previous visits to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, I was able to personally witness the large clusters of risks that children encounter on a daily basis, as a result of living in a developing country. Mexico’s population has grown to well over 85 million people, however; there are not enough homes, schools, hospitals, employment and resources to meet the needs of every individual. Moreover, Mexico is a country of young people, "one out of every three Mexicans is under fifteen years old and many families struggle with the challenge of supporting so many children" (Kalman, 1997). I was alarmed with the increase in the number of abandoned and street children, I became focused on wanting to support a network of caring individuals whose goals where to teach children their own individual worth in order for them to achieve success in all avenues of life.

It was here, in this loving home that what doctors have deemed as ‘unadoptable’ children were given the chance to thrive in a loving and permanent home. In a world that often seems selfish and abusive, Radiant Futures provides sanctuary for the most wounded of society’s young. Presently, these children are laughing, running and communicating in both English and Spanish; these personal triumphs which had once been deemed unachievable … (These) inspirational stories of … emotional and spiritual rebirth … (are) a tribute to a project built from the heart up.

Renee Ross
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

The board of directors and committee members wish you happy holidays and thank you for all your support.

Gloria & Stanford Call,
Barbara Rogers, Argelia Lewis, Doug Azar, Paula Castle,
Cindy & Brent Frame, and Cecia & Tyler Croft