AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico - Children teach the value of sharing.
I watched Alfredo bob his head and have a little conversation with himself.
"Can I call you my little Mexican jumping bean?" I asked the 7-year-old orphan in Spanish.
He contemplated it and wanted to know why. "Because you're small and always moving," I told him.

"Ayyyyyy ... Si," he said, giving me permission. He nodded his head again, seeming to like the idea more, "Si." So that was it - he was my little Mexican jumping bean.
Alfredo is one of 42 children at Rainbow Children's Home, an orphanage in Aguascalientes, Mexico. First Christian Church in Port Charlotte spent last week, April 3 through April 10, 1998, helping build a new orphanage in Santa Rosa, a village 25 miles from Aguascalientes.

Left, Alfredo searches for shoes. Right, Alfredo in a rare quiet moment, stretches after waking up from a nap.

I first noticed Alfredo as he zoomed by me the day after we arrived in Mexico, leaving nothing but a dusty trail. He went zigging by me about three times before I stopped him. He was like Speedy Gonzales. He has a little growl when he speaks, kind of like a purr.
He's 7 but doesn't know when his birthday is.

"Ask my mom, she knows what day," he said openly. "Go find her. She's in the United States. She'll know." His mom left him and his siblings with his grandmother and went to Tijuana. She never came back and his grandmother couldn't afford to feed them all.
He doesn't hesitate or seem ashamed he was left behind or notice his clothes are second- or third-hand. He didn't seem to care his worn shoes were girl's with a pink border. He doesn't mind that he has little living space. The home houses 42. The man who runs it said there should really be no more than 24.

Alfredo's hand barely covered my palm, but it touched my heart. He was happy with only food, a roof over his head and knowledge that someone loved him. I thought about my wants: a sportier car, dinner out every week, a nice wedding ... They suddenly seemed selfish.

Others on the trip felt the same. Stephanie Welch handed Linda Unzicker, who runs the home with her husband Dr. Jim Unzicker, the rest of her spending money sometime during the week.
She hugged others in the group and cried.
"I feel so bad," she said.

Fran Brown also handed her cash over to Linda. Sometime during the week Brown was helping Linda and Linda's watch was two hours behind. Linda told Brown she'd always had trouble with it. Brown took off her watch and gave it to Linda.
Giving seemed contagious. Some left most of what they had brought with them: clothes, money, anything.
During quiet moments of discussion, people would talk about how poor these 42 children are, how they had nothing.
I thought about that.

When it comes to things they can put their hands on, no, they don't have anything. When it comes to immaterial things, they have more than I do. They have more thankfulness in their pinky fingers than I do in my 5-foot-4 inch frame. And, they're selfless - they share everything.

I handed Mayra a piece of gum. She started to break it into pieces for the other four girls who were with us. I told her I had one for everyone. She still broke off a small piece.
"For later," she said.

At one meeting, Len Slagle talked about the sacrifices the group could make to help continue funding the orphanage once they return to the United States. Ron Berfanger said every time you buy something ask yourself three times, "Do I really need this?" If the answer is no, send the money to the orphanage.

Jim and Linda aren't just saving the lives of children and educating them. They are raising missionaries. Any one of the children will tell you about God and what he has done for them. The children are already on the mission field.
Before a church service in Santa Rosa, the children passed out Biblical literature and invited the residents to the service. During the service, Miguel led the song service.

First Christian Church donated thousands to the orphanage that week. Jim said it came at a good time and that money had been running out. He would've had to let some of the construction workers go.

"He pinches every penny," said Sandy Adomatis, who helped organize the trip. The washing machine at the home is used every day. ItŐs broken, requires repairs almost weekly and has to be filled up with water by hand. Yet, Jim couldn't see spending the money to buy a new one.
The church bought the orphanage one Thursday.
"I don't want you to be mad," said Richard Adomatis, who also organized the trip. "It's coming Wednesday." Richard handed Jim a picture of the machine.

Jim said he hopes to house 80 or more children at the new home. He said he turned 38 away last year.

As I looked into the eyes of Alfredo, I couldn't imagine him being turned away. Where would he be today if he had been. I asked myself, but ignored the question. The answer was too tough to handle.

If anyone is interested in making a one-time or monthly donation, it can be sent to: ABC Missions, 694 County Road 3300 N., Fisher, IL 61843-9725. If someone would like a presentation or more information, call Sandy or Richard Adomatis in Port Charlotte, Fla., at 941-625-8783.