On Sunday, March 7, 2010, a police car pulled up outside Eddie and Lynn Padilla’s house near Ain Leuh, Morocco. “The vehicle stayed all night,” said Eddie. “It was positioned so the officer could watch all the houses around him, and no one could leave.” The next day, the Padillas and their 14 international co-workers were expelled from the nation.

Eddie and Lynn, houseparents at the Village of Hope (VOH) children’s home, had lived in Morocco for nearly four years. They and several other couples from various nations cared for 33 abandoned children, one of whom was disabled. The VOH families had committed to raise the children until grown. “Our desire was to give these kids hope for the future,” Lynn said. “In this country, there is very little hope for these children.” The Padillas parented two Moroccan boys and their biological son and daughter.

The children’s home carefully observed government regulations and had operated for 10 years without conflict with authorities. VOH strictly forbade violating the nation’s laws against proselytization; and all along, said Eddie, “We had been up front. The government knew we were Christians.”

You can find the complete article in the Summer 2010 issue of Calvary Chapel Magazine. To subscribe click here.