These Times for 1977

THESE Your turn in court everyone will receive a summons to this court—by Edward Heppenstall How to conquer depression Door of Faith Orphanage a place to call home Look younger and feel it too! sA3 ksitt.A.c._1•-t--At tot --cow ,,,,,, 4 FAITH „A HAVE FAITH IN \Apt JE.p4 ORFANATORIO asp IMPORTANTE OO VISITANTE P" EN LA = !SITAR L Mr". Since its beginning seventeen years ago, the Door of Faith Orphanage has fed, clothed, and Door of Faith sheltered more than eleven hundred needy Mexican children. Orphanage- by Rhonda Casey a place to call home 2 THESE TIMES/ September 1, 1977 Cover by Dave Darner, inside by Curtis Casey I 'M COMING home. It's all right if there isn't a bed. I'll sleep on the floor," writes sixteen-year-old Esperanza from her boarding school in Navojoa, Mexico. Home, where it's beans at noon, bean sandwiches at night, and refried beans for breakfast; where money's so scarce that all you can do is stare as the ice cream man jingles his way past the front gate. For her, home is Door of Faith Orphanage, a sprawling 160-year-old dude ranch, forty-two miles south of Tijuana in beautiful La Mision Valley, Baja California. In this quiet valley large eucalyptus trees sway in cool summer breezes, and decorative rocks painted white in the Mexican tradition grace the sloping landscape. It's the only home Esperanza remembers, and she's willing to sleep on the floor to be there. Door of Faith was founded in 1960 by Curtis and Sylvia Freeze, better known as Mamma and Papa Freeze. Since that time it has fed, clothed, and An aerial view of the Door of Faith Orphanage and La Misi6n Valley, Baja California. sheltered over eleven hundred needy Mexican children. established in the community. When a their homes at night to pray for the new baby is expected in the village or sick," says Papa Freeze. "We'd walk An escape from poverty. Children a family is without food or dothing, over little kids lying on the ground who come here are given a chance to Door of Faith is there to help. wrapped in rags. They went to bed step out of the poverty from which Ensenada social workers team with without a thing to eat. It got hold of they come. Rosario Cruz, for example, Door of Faith when a desperate me to where I couldn't eat; Mamma completed her training in bilingual situation arises and clothing is needed. couldn't eat. I said, 'We have to do education in the state of Florida this During the tragic floods in La Paz last something to help.' " past year to become a teacher. Oscar year, the Freezes helped Mexican Ramirez is working and interpreting authorities by supplying clothing and A small beginning. But at the time for a construction company in other help to survivors. they didn't know from day to day Ensenada; and Esperanza Cruz, who A humble man with little education, where the next dollar was coming came to the orphanage in infancy and guitar-playing Papa Freeze taught from. "Then one day thirty-five dollars wrote the above letter, has returned himself Spanish from a high school came in," Papa Freeze related. "I said, with her husband to help him pastor textbook years earlier in response to 'Mamma, we're going to rent us a little the La Mision Church. God's call to work with building and start feeding some Through their work, Door of Faith Spanish-speaking people in Puerto hungry little kids.' " has gained the confidence of the Rico. Then in 1958 God spoke again. They found a small house for Mexican people and become Never one to question God's leading, thirty-five dollars a month, then Freeze packed his suitcase and headed hopped into their old International Rhonda Casey, free-lance writer, teaches for Tijuana, Mexico, to start a new pickup and drove several hundred history, English, and journalism at a church. miles up and down California's Central junior high school in Sacramento, After a few weeks he and Mamma Valley, picking up beds, chairs, tables, California. Her articles have appeared in Freeze developed an inescapable and what-have-you from well-wishers. such publications as "Woman's World," burden for the Mexican children, many Papa Freeze remembers those meager "Today's Family," "Lady's Circle," and of whom lived in cardboard houses or beginnings. "Well, we wasn't broke, "Guideposts." abandoned cars. "They'd call us into but we's badly bent!" Photograph by Von Freeze THESE TIMES / September 1, 1977 3 115701t4 t NU tiniZ/It. u r, 1. 1 ', LS TUNlk19 115 II .ire I 411 I sINLIGII Isl 111,11, Ill, TT ,liriNu )OR OF FAITH ORPHANAGE VISITORS WELCOME ADMITEN VISITANTES Agnes Freeze helps "mop up," following one of the recent dam breaks, by clearing the debris which might back water up into the nearby buildings. Two weeks later eight children were me," he says, " 'your work in Mexico man never knew what he gave his life living at Door of Faith, and a work to is done. You're in jail, and everything for." which the Freezes would devote the is ruined.' But then a scripture came to People of all faiths help support rest of their lives had begun. "Started me: 'Greater is he that is in you, than Door of Faith, as do groups like the there," beams Papa Freeze, "and we're he that is in the world' (1 John 4:4). I YMCA, Kiwanis, and Scouts. Von still a goin'." thanked God right then and prayed, Freeze, a son, who came in 1969 when The "goin' " wasn't always easy 'Unto him that is able to do exceeding the burden of work became too great though. Shortly after their move to La abundantly above all' I ask or think, I for the older Freezes, laughs and says, Misibn in 1963, tragedy struck. It was thank You, Father, for delivering me. I "Papa Freeze calls us the 'United unusually dark as they drove home refuse to doubt, I refuse to worry, I Brethren.' " along the bumpy Mexican road, the refuse to fear." back of their pickup camper loaded Donated food and medical services. with supplies purchased in San Ysidro, Three days after the accident Papa One of the biggest expenses is food, a town just north of the U.S.-Mexican Freeze was released on eight hundred and fortunately much is donated. A border. dollars bail put up by Dr. Wilson, a one-hundred pound sack of beans As they passed a bar and restaurant Christian who read of the accident in makes only three meals, and it takes a man plunged in front of their truck. the newspaper. Freeze was later nine to thirteen loaves of bread for just Seconds later a stunned Papa Freeze deared of all charges. one meal. "Meat is so rare," admits got back inside the camper. "He put One hour after his release, a U.S. TV Agnes, Von's wife, "we don't even his head down on the steering wheel," station called for an interview. Soon think about it." says Mamma Freeze, "and he just thousands of people had heard of Door Like food, medical and dental cried. 'Mamma,' he said, 'we're into it. of Faith, and hundreds offered their services are donated. Dentists from . That man's dead.' " help—a significant turning point in the nearby San Diego naval base care for Freeze remembers his time in the work. "That was the way God began to the children's teeth, and two nurses Tijuana jail. "Something would tell move," Mamma Freeze told us. "That from the Ensenada Health Department THESE TIMES is published monthly (except July and September, when semimonthly) by the Southern Publishing Association of Seventh-day Adventists, 1900 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37210. U.S.A. Second-class postage paid at Nashville, Tennessee. Subscription price $9.00 a year. Copyright, Southern Publishing Association, 1977. Volume 86, No. 10, September 1. 1977. 4 THESE TIMES / September 1, 1977 Photograph by Dave Coslett Their affection carries over to the with a scripture. "The Bible says in children's relationships with one Hebrews 11:6, 'But without faith it is another. impossible to please him: for he that "One of the most beautiful things at cometh to God must believe that he is, our home is the closeness of the older and that he is a rewarder of them that children to the smaller ones. It's not diligently seek him.' " unusual to see all ages (even high Their faith is rewarded, time after schoolers) in a circle, enjoying games time. A small boy once told Papa together. They love each other. Freeze, "We have no more flour and Ofttimes the older ones will help the only one can of milk. Now what will younger children with problems. we do?" When giving candy or fruit, they "I thought for a minute," remembers always call off the names of those not Freeze, "and the story in Genesis 22 present to make sure there is one for came to me where Abraham and Isaac them. I never cease to marvel at their were going up the mountainside, and thoughtfulness for each other." Isaac said, 'Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a A typical day. Life passes in a burnt offering?' And Abraham said, pleasant, but brisk, routine at Door of 'My son, God will provide.' So I said, Faith.

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