For the vast majority of my life, I have been working on behalf of children and adolescents… whether in advocacy in local government to improve the foster care system in my teen years in Maine, as a youth pastor in PA and then in California, or as a missionary and advocate for children of Latin America who are orphaned, abandoned, abused, and/or living in the street. In all this time, I continue to come across real-life stories of horrific tragedy and depravity that children are living through, which provoke me (and Abogar) to step up and intercede on their behalf. These children often do NOT have many or any others willing to be there for them and truly go to bat for them. I am not trying to promote myself (nor Abogar) but I am certain that it is of God’s heart (James 1:27, Matthew 18:1-6, etc.) that we would fight for these children. Often, they seem to be unseen, unheard, ignored, neglected, and even worse, they are the ones who so often suffer the most from adults’ decisions and sin! I believe that we are called to make their lives better, and I will always pursue paths to help as many children as God calls and allows me too.
Speaking of children… let me take a little detour in my writing to bring to your minds a television program that was a favorite for many in my childhood, even mine when I could sneak a chance to watch… Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This 80’s comic, tv, and movie media franchise is about four brothers in the Big Apple, who were anthropomorphic turtles fighting the evil around them. Can you recall the names of the four brother turtles? Michealangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael. Their sensei, Splinter, was a rat who trained them well. These ninja turtles lived in the sewage and drainage systems of New York City, and they would rise up above the sewer systems to fight for good as often as they could. They were the sure heroes to come to the rescue.
You may be asking yourself, why is Jesse going on about a children’s tv program. What do these turtles have to do with his point? Well, please let me tell you! On my last ministry trip to Mexico in July, 2025, I became exposed to a very shocking reality that is again causing for me (and Abogar) to need to intervene, intercede, and plead on behalf of precious children there. There is a location where there are many children, estimated beyond 200, though there will need to be evaluation and verification of the real number, who are living in the sewage systems and drainage systems of the city. Unlike the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, these children are not thriving there, but rather are in pure survival mode, and have been growing there for possibly more than four decades. Their only time coming above ground, through the manhole covers, is after dark to scrounge and scavenge for resources for survival.
As these kids grow up, the younger kids will push the ‘adults’ out, who then are homeless and live in the streets. These children fear the police and adults, but they have been very astute to be able to survive without adult presence for years upon years. However, these children need intervention, rehabilitation, and social integration to be thriving and successful in lifelong family and home. This situation needs careful, cautious, and correct intervention and action. In all reality, this is a large undertaking, as there are many significant groups and authorities that need to be included in this process, as well as legal restrictions and permissions that will need to be worked through. While we will continue pursuing implementation of Abogar Mexico throughout Mexico, this one location will require special attention and focus, for us to truly be able to be a part of the rehabilitation and blessing for these precious children.
We continue fostering and developing our connections and relationships with our contacts in Ensenada, Mexico… and we are looking forward to taking our annual Abogar Team Trip in December to partner with a children’s home there, to distribute between 1,500 to 1,700 shoeboxes of blessing to children in the valley around the children’s home. However, in the location where the kids are living in the sewers and drainage system, though we haven’t publicly shared yet, I have been working with local individuals to get Abogar an authorization to start evaluating and reaching out to the children there. We seem to be making headway, and a letter of intent is on its way to the highest official in the appropriate department of the Mexican government, to pursue the permission and access we’d need to be able to engage and work with these precious children.
Truth be told, I am not certain of many of the steps, but I know that the first step is prayer! I, and several others, have been lifting this situation in prayer, and we would like to invite you to join us in prayers… for discernment, favor, and success in how to best minister to and share God’s hope, love, and light through Jesus Christ to these children! Secondly, as we are working to receive an official authorization to begin the local process of evaluation of this situation, some politicians and local leaders are particularly worried about image and impression. Therefore, please join me in prayer that we can form a good partnership that will highlight their willingness to partner in this fight for their local children who are greatly in need, namely these children in the sewage and drainage systems!
Benjamin Franklin has been attributed to have created the famous quote, “DON’T TREAD ON ME” in a cartoon that was created to oppose oppression and fight for personal liberty! It is unfathomable to me that each day, just above these children’s heads, society walks upon the streets under which they are living! My heart senses an echo of this phrase, “DON’T TREAD ON ME,” rising up from under the streets of that city! Who will respond? Who will fight for these precious children to have the personal liberty and blessing of being rescued, rehabilitated, and restored to lifelong homes, family, and society? Will it be you?!?! Join us today… in prayers and finances, and help us fight this good fight!!
