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Mission as Family: The Salazars’ Journey of Faith, Foster Care, and Community
24 Plays16 days ago
In this heartfelt episode of Pause & Think, host Aixa sits down with José and Sherry Salazar in Guatemala City to explore how God has shaped their family’s story through obedience, sacrifice, and love for the vulnerable. From meeting at an orphanage to welcoming 11 children into their home, the Salazars share how faith guided every “yes” along the way — even when the road was hard.
They talk about redefining family, raising biological and foster children side by side, creating space for others at the table, and learning that God’s interruptions are never late. This episode is a beautiful reminder that the Great Commission starts at home and grows through community, courage, and grace.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Pause and Think'
00:00:01
Speaker
We all have a story, and at times we feel we're walking it out alone. Let's pause and think. Join us for honest conversations about adoption and parenting as we lament, encourage, give hope, and explore our true identity and worth in Christ.
Meet the Salazar Family in Guatemala City
00:00:24
Speaker
Hi, welcome to another episode of Pause and Think. This is Aisha. And we're here in Guatemala City in the Darby's beautiful dining room that's welcomed so many people.
00:00:36
Speaker
And today we're thrilled to have Salazar family represented here with Jose and Sherry. They've been dear friends to me for, my goodness, about 11 years, I think.
00:00:49
Speaker
ah We met at the local support group that we started, and we were basket cases. We we were basket cases. We were, and still are in many ways. um But we're just gathered here to to talk about you guys um and the story the Lord is weaving still.
00:01:06
Speaker
But I guess the easiest part is going to be talking from the top.
The Salazars' Calling to Vulnerable Children
00:01:11
Speaker
So um we're just casually chatting with a group of friends in Bogota.
00:01:17
Speaker
And recently, in Jose mentioned that you guys met in an orphanage setting. As many of us start our journey with all this vulnerable family serving. And you guys met there.
00:01:31
Speaker
And so maybe you can tell us a bit about that. And then how was your newlywed life, even from the start, you guys did something different? Yeah. yeah, i we met at an orphanage and um he actually carried in my bags that first night. I wouldn't have guessed that we'd be here this many years later.
00:01:53
Speaker
But it really was nice for us both to have the opportunity to see what God was already calling us to. i didn't We didn't know to what extent or which kids or how.
00:02:05
Speaker
But um that he had already put a call on our life to to care for the vulnerable. And that was obvious. I was a little bit in shock to see a guy as well, like caring about babies and kids. and Yeah.
00:02:18
Speaker
So that's where we met. So Sherry and I were were there at the same time for about two years. Then I left to serve in the mountains here in Guatemala.
Emphasizing Family Over Statistics
00:02:30
Speaker
And after that, we started dating. So we were really good friends for two. ah We started dating after that. and And then I asked Sherry if she would marry me me. And she said yes. And the rest is in the past. And it's been all good. But um but yeah, our experience at at the orphanage is like, what does orphan care mean? We didn't really know much besides kids belonging orphanages.
00:02:53
Speaker
Sure. That's all we knew. That's all we knew back then. i mean, everything was happening through children's home and everything like that. And just our experience there was like, there's something missing. We didn't know what it was. We were young, you know, and we were in contact with so many kids and someone that we got really close to.
00:03:14
Speaker
And that we really love. And even after I left, we stayed connected with them. so So fast forward four years, we got married, newlyweds.
Mission-Driven Family Life
00:03:24
Speaker
And there was a kid and that I really love, I still love.
00:03:28
Speaker
And he was my one of my best men at my wedding. Hmm. So I had him brought from the orphanage to my wedding and he wasn't there because he was he's very special to me.
00:03:39
Speaker
So, of course, that, you know, carry on into sharing our relationship now as married people. And but the kid aged out.
00:03:50
Speaker
um He turned 18. He didn't really have anywhere to go. nom So Sherry I talked about it, prayed about and was like, yeah, ah we should open our home to Him. So we were just newly married, but we knew that we could do it.
00:04:08
Speaker
ah We really didn't know what we were getting into, but we knew that God was going to sustain us. And it was um a great experience for both of us to be able to love on him and for him to be able to just grow with us as we were growing you know in our marriage and just like yeah it was like uh someone that we love and care and still do and now he's married he has kids and uh we're still in contact uh and uh yeah it's been very special Wow. So how did you come to that conclusion, Sherry? Like most mean newly wives are adjusting to that life, but what made you say, no, we need to bring him in?
00:04:52
Speaker
because he was a person and I knew him. And um that was part of the experience of living at the orphanage that we even talked about. We could have older kids too, not just babies. Like we could receive any age because we saw how less likely they were to receive a home. And this was a different case. He had aged out, but it's like everybody needs a family. And so we he was a person that we knew. course. It's not just disability.
00:05:21
Speaker
statistic or a number, but a person that has a history that you have come to love. And so would you say this is how mission shapes family or a marriage a marriage and then a family? Like you guys so from the get-go defined your family life around this mission.
00:05:41
Speaker
How would you explain it?
Influence of Mission on Family Values
00:05:44
Speaker
How would you explain it, Shay? Yeah. Well, yeah, I think that I look back and I see how it's been one way and we just continue to learn and grow as far as how we raise our kids and live in a missional way.
00:06:00
Speaker
But um it's definitely impacted our family. um Yeah, definitely. Because everything that we we do, we're trying to do with that in mind. What is the Great Commission and how can I love my neighbor? And if um this is what's in front of me How can I do that well? And so that's something we're always talking about with the kids um as well. Yeah, and just trying to create opportunities everywhere. I mean, the opportunities are everywhere.
00:06:29
Speaker
Exactly. Just having the eyes, you know, to be able to... walk alongside with with Jesus and see what he's bringing to our lives. It's not to interrupt our lives and our plans, but he also brings people for us to pay attention and to respond like he would respond.
00:06:47
Speaker
You know, I read the book of Mark and and it's just
00:06:52
Speaker
the amount of interruptions that Jesus had on the book. it would have made you think that they were slowing him down to get to the cross. It it looks like interruptions to us. Exactly. Right? But he was never late anywhere.
00:07:09
Speaker
He always showed up in time.
The Ever-Present Need for Family
00:07:11
Speaker
Even when we think that he was late, like Martha and, you know, like a my brother Dyer, like you're late. Like, I'm not late. Yeah.
00:07:20
Speaker
Yeah. Because many people would say that that 18-year-old is like, you're too late. Like he's old. He's old for a family. but you never grow your need for a family.
00:07:31
Speaker
And so your babies, your biological babies grew have been born into this. And I guess one of the most frequent questions has been, for me at least, how are your kids?
00:07:43
Speaker
Like, how are your bio kids? How do you handle their heartbreak? how they So we're going to talk about that later, but but like, can you walk us through how how has this that been, that experience of having this mission, very driven life, and bringing babies into the whole mixture? That that has to be a challenge. Yeah.
00:08:07
Speaker
And it is a challenge. And, now you know, we had to start from the very, very bottom, ah starting with devotionals, videos, things like that, that just, you know, for the different ages of our kids, like how do we present this to them and for them to be able to see Jesus in the midst of this? So ah we started having conversations, devotionals, prayers, ah welcoming people in our home for like a Friday night movie, things like that, and just talking and using the resources that already exist.
00:08:37
Speaker
and bringing to our home and creating ah ah a space where we can have those kind of conversations, not even just through Sherry and I, although we do a lot, but welcoming others into helping us ah shape this mission mind because that's, yeah, I think we're consumed by by by how great we can be. in And we want to live together radical lives that are the opposite.
00:09:06
Speaker
How do we live ah for the glory of God? And that means living for others as well. And so um we've been having conversations with our kids through all the time. I mean, they're going to go through suffering. They're going to have, I mean, my oldest, somebody is going to break her heart, you know, ah and and that list goes on. We're going to face trouble.
00:09:25
Speaker
yeah, so oh And we're going to mess up in our house, too. Like we do over and over. And so having the conversations with them and that are gospel centered and – Yeah, trying to demonstrate that to them.
00:09:44
Speaker
And I mean, you guys, even if before the resources or the conversations, you guys are doing it. I mean, youre you last count i I heard from you was 11 kids.
00:09:57
Speaker
you've You've welcomed 11 little strangers into your home. and your kids have seen this. This is not something you're talking about, but something you're doing.
00:10:08
Speaker
And so... ah How has been that, you know, a foster journey for you guys and in
Journey into Fostering
00:10:14
Speaker
how are you now? It's definitely God's plan because I always imagine having a big family. And so three biological kids at home right now seems small. But then we think about, well, God has brought a lot of people, lot of kids through the doors, even for a season. And um so, yeah, that's definitely something that,
00:10:35
Speaker
When I was back at the orphanage, when I met Jose, I think I even verbally said, I know I thought it, like I could never foster. That's not, I will adopt, we will adopt someday.
00:10:47
Speaker
I could never foster. yeah And so, um yeah, definitely didn't imagine where God would bring us. Yeah. What do you think shifted? from i would never, I could never do that too.
00:11:01
Speaker
Yeah, we're we're doing this again 11 times. um He sustained us through a really hard season.
00:11:12
Speaker
And so then it was like, he can do that. but um I didn't know what that felt like to that extent. And like, okay, he can bring us through a really hard season. So yeah, we can do hard things.
00:11:26
Speaker
They're good things. We all go through hard things that are not good. But it's like a really good thing that we can do. And we know he will sustain us. We know. Yeah, I read a book by John Piper, and he said, Risk is Right.
00:11:40
Speaker
And i just just little little things like that that God has placed on our lives. Or
Faith and Vulnerability in Mission
00:11:47
Speaker
just for me as ah ah sir ah a husband and as a dad and the calling that God has given me to shepherd my family and guide him in his ways, I couldn't neglect this part of his plan for me to carry on to my family.
00:12:02
Speaker
So what would that look like as a man to be able to not only to provide for my kids, but the God invites us and calls us to, to be able to provide for those that don't have what my kids have and how we can ah be a family for those that don't have one for, for whatever reason, maybe temporary, maybe long placement or, or whatever it is. But it's like, how, how can I,
00:12:30
Speaker
guide my family in a way that is honoring to the Lord. And always talking about vulnerable populations that kind of gets removed out of the equation, you know? It's like, and and as a man, and as the pressure that we have in school, you know, utilities and all these things, and like, how am I going to take somebody else?
00:12:49
Speaker
And we talk about it in making sacrifices, and sacrifices to be able to make space for those who need. We say no to things so we can say yes to them, you know? It doesn't count just like an emotional feeling of, like, yeah just welcome kids and and see how it goes, but it really took a little bit of planning in ah and seeing how we can use our resources, our resources, like but the things that God has given us to us yeah to carry on His mission. So as we think ah about the Great Commission, how do we carry our discipleship?
00:13:19
Speaker
Not only to our family, to our household, but we carry out to others as well. And that means caring for the vulnerable for us. And in that way we're we're teaching our kids, we're growing together,
00:13:33
Speaker
You know, and we're allowing other people to see inside and see how oh you could live your Christian life. That is so good. Like, that's so good that you guys have a partnership in the most important area.
00:13:48
Speaker
um in surrendering And to God's plan doesn't mean... not planning. And that's wonderful to hear because oftentimes I hear a lot of emotional talk around these topics, but when you really bring it down to practicality and say, okay, if we're going to do this, then we we don't have time or resources to do this other thing.
00:14:13
Speaker
And that's how we're going to do it. And you actually put it you know into action. And so that is really important. And I have to say, I have the the the blessing of be being ah part of the same church um that you guys belong to, the church body.
00:14:32
Speaker
And we've shared a small group for some time. And I loved last year that you guys were so open, like literally opening your house for anybody to come during the holidays.
00:14:47
Speaker
That is awesome. Because have to say this for people watching ah from the U.S., maybe outside of Guatemala. Latin America is, we're very family oriented and we're very communal.
00:15:01
Speaker
But when it comes to traditions, we can be sometimes territorial. And it's like, it's our family tradition and and he's not into the family. So,
00:15:12
Speaker
You know, the Lord just brings and rips up our idea of family and then brings another idea and it's wider and it's bigger. And you guys just do it in a very beautiful way. And so you said, anybody that's alone for Christmas or New Year's, you know, come to our house.
00:15:30
Speaker
And I'm like, we have plans, but I have chocolate. And I brought some chocolate in. Some good chocolate. Now we're hooked. We're finding that this year. We have extra motivation to do it next year. Because I'm like, they're opening up their house.
00:15:50
Speaker
can bring snacks so you guys can have, you know, that generous table of yours just overflow. So. That's beautiful thing to watch and to, ah you know, acknowledge. And I want to see more men, Sherry, to holding babies and and being that kind of strong because it's, you know, something we need more of.
00:16:12
Speaker
um So a beautiful thing that I saw in Bogota recently, in that regional um ah gathering that Lifeline invites us to, One of the most wonderful things is seeing more dads there, more men there, more pastors. That's encouraging. Yes, it is.
00:16:29
Speaker
Yes, because it tends to be a a the women's start, although i I see a very, you know, equal thing between you guys. But it it tends to be. So what would you say for people that need encouragement? Maybe they want to do this. And I don't know how your extended family reacted to all these very unusual ways of doing life.
Community Support and Vulnerability
00:16:54
Speaker
um But where has your encouragement come from and how do you encourage others? hmm. It's been believers, the church um people over the years. There's always been somebody that the Lord has allowed. Sometimes it took us asking for help and sharing and being vulnerable um because.
00:17:18
Speaker
you Yeah, a lot of the journey was, let's do this, we can do this. And you know, that pride and um yeah, it's taken here and there for us to see, you know, we we need help. This is and for us to be able to share our needs with other people. It's a way to allow them.
00:17:36
Speaker
to come in and help vulnerable as well. And so, um like you said, us in like community last year and sharing and stuff, that was like a newer years for us to like be that vulnerable to share needs and yeah and everything. But ah God has always provided for his mission.
00:17:57
Speaker
I mean, he always has. And sometimes like Sherry said, we have to seek out. and sometimes I just drop them on your lap. I was like, great people. They're going to be there, and they're from everywhere. i mean I mean, we have people from different countries encouraging us. We have people here encouraging us and sustaining us, and and everybody pitching something, you know? And, yeah.
00:18:21
Speaker
So to be able to to be vulnerable and for people to see that we also... ah aren't needed of of grace. And sometimes I just don't even know how to pray.
00:18:34
Speaker
And it's not that I don't know the gospel, but I just, sometimes it's just hard, you know, every word,
00:18:44
Speaker
it's harder to say. So I just ask people, can you pray for me? Remind me of the gospel and things like that, you know, because yeah, ah we're people following Jesus.
00:18:55
Speaker
We ain't perfect, but we desire to honor him and that we see our own need for help. So to be able to share not the, beautiful things that God does through, through this kind of ministry, but also the hardship that goes with it Uh, and trying to navigate those things on this side of heaven, I'm grateful that he left us.
00:19:16
Speaker
Yeah. A body, uh, um, we're, They're loving to us and caring for us in different ways. And we don't worry about to encourage someone who's thinking, oh, but I don't have everything I need. Exactly. That's such an easy way for the church to come alongside in the physical. I don't have everything I need to do this. We never know what age of a baby girl or whatever.
00:19:42
Speaker
And if we saved everything, then our house would be like overflowing. So if we can give things away when we don't need it anymore, and we can also be know that someone else um might be able to share when we do need something again. And so, um yeah, not to let the physical needs either be the reason to... not do
The Role of Grace and Community
00:20:04
Speaker
something. Exactly. I just don't, as as much you know as I go along and walk and trust the Lord and learn more, i really don't see how anybody can do this ah apart from God and His grace and His body.
00:20:20
Speaker
i really don't know how you do this apart from the richness and beauty of God. Mm-hmm. um And we want to hear your story. So if you are wanting to share your either your foster journey, your adoption journey, or you're an adoptee, or you age out of the system, we want to listen to your stories.
Listener Engagement and Stories
00:20:44
Speaker
And you can do that if you go to Pause and Think Podcast or whosami.org.
00:20:52
Speaker
ah you There's a spot there to contact us to share your story. And we love to feature stories that are so encouraging and mostly um highlight what God does. yeah Yeah. It's amazing what God does. When you just look at each other, even in community, and no one has an answer. It's just heartbreak or just an impossible stuff. You know, the government does stuff and it's unjust and it's so infuriating sometimes. And we just...
00:21:23
Speaker
We get angry together and we pray together and we cry together. And then we celebrate together when we see God doing stuff that we can't do. yes And that's the most exciting part. So thank you for being with us and stick around because we're going to have a second part to chat with the Salazars.
00:21:40
Speaker
And it's been an honor to have you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for joining us for this episode of Pause and Think. For more resources and information, go whosami.org.