It all began on a hot July day in 1935. A young couple, Jim and Vera, along with two young daughters, drove into Mesa, Arizona, from North Bend, Oregon. They had an old car, a homemade trailer, and one dollar. An old storefront building was given to them to use for a church in which all of the members were dirt poor. Only two people in the congregation had jobs! They visited “cotton camps” and held services for people in several areas. Jim even preached on the street.
In time, Vera’s only brother came to live with them. He lent them money to build a small malt shop next door to the church. For seventeen years they took care of their little church and ministered to people all around. They wept many times seeing little children who needed a home. They were either orphaned or in foster homes, most being moved constantly from place to place. During this time three sons were added to their own family.
All of this time they prayed that God would give them a home to take in these unwanted and needy children. They wanted to bless them with a warm and nurturing place to grow up. They even named this home, Sunshine Acres. Fast forward to another hot afternoon in 1953, when they drove out to see an old boy’s boarding school. It had been vacant for ten years, and was so far out in the desert that they got lost trying to find it going down cow trails and dead-end roads. The three buildings were sitting in the middle of 125 acres of desert land, owned by an older couple who were too sick to care for it. It was in bad disrepair, but with their faith and determination, along with monetary help from the Optimist Club in Mesa, it was purchased. Then the hard work really began.
In order to begin a home for these displaced children, the Arizona Welfare Department listed all of the necessary improvements needed. Electricity had to be gotten from seven miles away, along with an electric pump for the well. The Club members came every week to clean, paint, and furnish beds and bedding. Six months later this little family received a license for ten children. Then a newspaper reporter put a piece in a Phoenix paper about this little, unknown place, and children just kept coming. The situations were so desperate and tragic, that Jim and Vera started bunking the beds and even building smaller bed frames to fit in the corners of the rooms. Soon they had thirty children; 14 girls and 16 boys.
Soon they began building bedrooms on the back of the one room schoolhouse. It took six more months to finish that, and only six weeks later while all of the clan were at a picnic in town, the new addition burnt to the ground. When they returned home, the only clothes the children had left were the play clothes still hanging on the clothesline. After the Mesa newspaper reported the fire the next day, people said, “ We never knew there was a children’s home in the desert!” Clothes, bedding, food…all of it started coming from loving people everywhere. An architect came out and said he was starting plans for a new fireproof building that very day! They used borrowed beds from the Williams Air Force Base during the year it took to construct the new building.
The children continued to come. Frightened, hurting children from the poorest of homes. Sometimes several from one family. In the meantime, miracles and answers to prayers just kept coming. Like a well going dry…goats being raised for food invading the house while they were away..serious illness for Jim…wool blankets showing up from “nowhere” one afternoon..more building and additions..and accepting 24 more children during one Christmas vacation. They were experiencing truth from God’s word: “ Everything works together for good for them that love God and are called according to His purpose.”
This story goes on and on. It is an amazing place that Dan and I were made aware of this past fall when visiting friends. Sunshine Acres continues to care for girls and boys who need love and nurturing. It operates on much less than a state funded home because of the many volunteers and donations. We went “shopping” in the huge warehouses of household things that are completely donated. You could furnish your entire house from what they have for sale. The proceeds go to run this “Miracle in the Desert”. Of course it is no longer isolated, but in the middle of a thriving city.
No child is turned away for financial reasons. They are able to take in the poorest of the poor. And all because the hearts of this couple were so open and determined to pursue this dream. Some of their children and grandchildren have stepped in to carry on! All through the times of trials…and smiles. I want to go back, but this time I want to meet these tireless servants and hear stories of changed lives. I just know there would be some fascinating stories to hear. Just in case you are interested, learn more at www.sunshineacres.org
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