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Lydia Martinez with just a few of her 400 kids.

It's 5 a.m. in Guaimaca, Honduras at the orphanage Emmanuel. A rooster's crow blends sweetly with the chatter of waking children. Birds are singing, too. The crisp air promises a lovely day. But for Lydia Martinez, a 52-year-old "mommy" to several hundred children, there's little time for reflection. She calls to a teenager and recites precise instructions in quick Spanish cadence, then hugs a small, cherub-faced child before gathering all the kids in a giant circle for their morning devotions.

When Lydia married David Martinez in 1976, she spoke no Spanish and had no desire to have children. Now, as parents of over 400 Honduran orphans, Lydia and David welcome any child who approaches their gates. A sign reading When my mother and father forsake me, then the Lord will take me up (Psalms 27:10) is posted at the entrance of the orphange, and the Martinezes have taken those words to heart. They have become God's hands and feet in serving the children of Honduras.

How did this couple journey from the good life in Oxnard, California—where they enjoyed a nice house, expensive cars, and the freedom of being childless by choice—to a life of daily sacrifice in a Third World country?

David, 55, dressed in his customary uniform of untucked shirt and blue jeans weighted down by a huge ring of dangling keys, explains his transformation this way: "When I married Lydia, Honduras was only the vague name of a distant country to me. I had returned from Vietnam, and I drank heavily and played hard. I found material success in the business world. But everything changed in February 1983, when Lydia and I became Christians."

David and Lydia Martinez.

Some changes were immediate—going to church and Bible studies, dropping bad habits. But no one could have anticipated the biggest change of all.

During a time of prayer and meditation, David had a vision in which he heard God tell him that Honduran children needed someone to feed, clothe, and nurture them. God wanted someone to "plant them as seeds for Christ."

Feeling inadequate, but haunted by God's call, David informed Lydia that they needed to visit Honduras. They arrived in the Central American country in May 1987, not knowing what to expect. What they saw was horrifying. Hundreds of hungry, homeless children were on the streets. Some were sniffing glue out of juice cartons to quell their hunger, while others sifted through garbage and stepped over open sewage in search of moldy bread. The children's most common plea for a "home with a father and a mother" solidified the couple's resolve that their future was here. They returned to California and sold their house, cars to raise money for what they were certain God was calling them to do—build a home for Honduras's forgotten orphans.

David soon received ordination as a minister through the ministry Amor Cristiano Internacional (Christian Love International), and Lydia was ordained for missionary work. Then, in the fall of 1987, they returned to Honduras with everything they owned packed into a few suitcases.

In Guaimaca, the couple bought two horses and began exploring the countryside in search of a home for the children. The difficulties of daily existence became real. They discovered that Honduras, with a population today of over 6 million, is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Education is reserved for the privileged. Most people work in the fields, and a rural home is typically a tiny thatch-roofed hut. One-fourth of the children are malnourished. Infectious diseases, mental retardation tend to be accepted as "normal" rather than the result of poor diet or lack of sanitation. The AIDS epidemic is also a stark reality.

Those first days were hard. On horseback during the rainy season, David lost 53 pounds. Lydia contracted malaria and struggled with doubt and depression. She missed her cars, her piano, and even her electric hair rollers. She now jokes, "I traded my white Cadillac with leather and air for a white horse with a leather saddle and rural air."

Eventually, David and Lydia discovered an old cattle ranch for sale. The buildings were in disrepair, but the acreage seemed promising. Using their savings and funds raised through generous donations, they purchased the property.

There was no electricity, running water, or means of outside communication. Still, putting compassion and faith before practicality, the couple immediately brought in five children ranging in age from 1 to 5. In December 1989, Orphanage Emmanuel ("God is with us") opened its doors, and the new "family" celebrated their first Christmas.

Miracles big and small
The children had all faced abandonment and were suffering from malnourishment and dysentery. Some of them became violently ill when Lydia followed a village woman's advice and used a potent concoction to rid them of head lice. "The Lord protected them from my incompetence," Lydia recalls with tears in her eyes.

The Martinezes discovered that abuse was a common story for many of the kids. One child had been beaten so severely by his stepfather that he sustained 13 fractures and had to wear a body cast for several months.

Since those early days, Orphanage Emmanuel has taken in many children who are disfigured or mentally handicapped—kids who are typically rejected by other orphanages. No child is turned away from here unless they require extensive medical care.

The kids attend a campus school run by teachers from a nearby community. The first class graduated in 2002, and the graduates may leave or stay on and work. Some are learning English as well as computer skills in a donated lab. In the afternoon, older children learn trade skills such as woodworking, sewing, and baking. Worship is an integral part of daily life. The children and staff gather in an ever-expanding circle every morning to worship with songs and prayers.

In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch raged through Honduras, killing thousands and leaving 1 million people homeless. David and Lydia remember the chaos and destruction. But what they remember most is how God protected Orphanage Emmanuel—despite the floods and violent winds, no damage was done to the Emmanuel complex, and not one person was injured. "We attribute these and many other miracles to God's faithfulness," says Lydia.

Every child's worth it
Lydia and David, also known as "Mommy and Poppy," are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ministry now employs a permanent staff of 10 and a regular rotation of volunteers—individuals and church groups that visit for short- and long-term mission experiences.

The need for additional manpower at Emmanuel is evident. David is not only "Poppy" but also administrator, pastor, maintenance man, and jack-of-all-trades. Lydia oversees the work of the older children as well as caring for ongoing needs, including a recent outbreak of chickenpox. Some of the hurts are emotional, and she spends many more moments easing saddened hearts.

Naysayers might suggest the burdens of the orphanage are too great for such a small team of workers, particularly if more children are allowed and staff does not increase. The Martinezes readily concede that their task is Herculean, but they're trusting God to fulfill the vision He gave them.

"When I become discouraged and think of the cost of each child physically and emotionally, I also remember that child's worth," says David. "Do you have photos of favorite people on your refrigerator? I think God has photos of these children on His refrigerator, too. We're just an ordinary couple who have faith in a God who performs the extraordinary."

Susan Simmons is a freelance writer in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

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