A family built on faith and love.

Bonds of Love Orphanage was born from a lifetime of serving children.

In 2009, our family answered God’s call to become missionaries. My parents, Jorge and Nelly, left California and moved our family to Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, where they dedicated their lives to serving at a local orphanage. Over the years, they cared for more than 300 children, each with a unique story of hardship, resilience, and hope. Alongside my younger brother, Obed, I grew up surrounded by those children. They became more than friends—they became family.

After graduating from high school, I returned to the United States and served four years in the U.S. Army. When my service ended, I felt called to return to Morelia to continue serving alongside my parents. For years, my father dreamed of building an orphanage where every child would be deeply loved, known, and given the opportunity to flourish. Together, we decided it was time to turn that dream into reality.

In March 2023, Bonds of Love Orphanage was officially founded as a nonprofit organization. We began searching for land, designing the plans, raising support, and trusting God to provide every step of the way. Construction began on May 3, 2023, and on December 18, 2024, we opened our doors to our very first eight children.

The name Bonds of Love came from a moment my mother describes as God whispering those words to her heart. We believe love is the strongest bond a person can ever experience, and every child deserves to know unconditional love, belonging, and the security of a real family.

Today, our home is filled with 24 incredible children, with more expected to join us soon. Every child lives here full-time as part of our family. My parents, my younger brother Obed, my wife Anel, and I all live on the property alongside the children because we believe an orphanage should be more than a place to stay—it should be a place to belong.

One story that perfectly captures our mission is about two siblings who came to us after living on the streets. Their mother struggled with drug addiction, and the children endured hunger, cold nights, fear, and uncertainty. During a counseling session, the older sister, who was only eight years old, shared something that has stayed with us ever since. She said that before coming to Bonds of Love, she had always been cold, hungry, and scared—but since arriving, she had never felt cold, hungry, or scared again. Today, she calls me “Dad.” While I never expected to hear that word, it reminds me every day that being a family is not simply what we do—it is who we are.

Our campus now includes a family residence for our children and staff, a kitchen and dining hall, and a visitor center that is nearly complete. As we continue to grow, we are preparing to begin construction on a third building that will expand our capacity to approximately 60 children. It will include additional bedrooms, an infirmary, a maintenance workshop, a study hall and library, a movie room, and a large laundry facility to better serve every child who calls Bonds of Love home.

What began as one family’s calling has become a shared mission with people around the world who believe every child deserves to be loved, protected, and given the opportunity to build a brighter future. We are incredibly grateful for every volunteer, missionary, friend, and supporter who has walked this journey with us. Because of your generosity, more children are finding not only a safe place to live, but a forever family.