The importance of a father in a child’s life is an important one. The role itself is a blessing and an honour full of challenges, discovery, and emotion. Dennis and Diane Unrau are HOPE Agents in Hogar de Amor, Mexico.

Dennis’ role as a ‘Dad’ is a unique one as he’s had the honour of being a father figure to hundreds of children over the years. This Father’s Day, he shares his story . . .

“I consider it a privilege to be a father and became a father in December of 1980 when our first child was born. Our first experience at parenting was a whole lot different than we expected as our son Jeremy was born with severe Cerebral Palsy. I learned about things such as seizures, surgeries, and caring for a child who could not verbally communicate. Jeremy was followed three years later by our daughter Jennifer, and three years after her our last child Dustin was born.

A few months before we knew that we were expecting Jennifer, we began to receive foster children into our home which opened our eyes and hearts to the needs of other children as well. Over the next five years, we cared for 13 children in our home; up to three at a time besides our own children.

When we felt a call to come to Mexico and work with children, it was a decision that we made with our family. Our kids weighed in and it was agreed that we would come with a one year commitment. That one year has become almost 22 and our own kids, after graduating from the university here, have returned to Canada and established their careers.

Since we have been house parents here in Mexico, we have directly cared for more than 200 children, walking the floors with crying babies at night, travelling with kids back and forth to school and church, shoe repair, camping trips, celebrating birthdays, hugs during TV time, etc.

We have been responsible indirectly for fundraising, role modeling, and mentoring for several hundred more children over the years. The ministry currently cares for approximately 180 children, from babies to university students.”

Happy Father’s Day from Hope for the Nations!