Dear Friends
What an amazing month it has been! As we began collecting information for the new school year, we realized that we needed new sponsors for 40 students for the coming school year. A month ago, we began putting the word out! Then, just a week ago, we were still short about 27 student sponsors. Literally in one week, many people stepped forward, and we got sponsors for every applicant! What a blessing! What a miracle!
When we met with the students last Saturday, we had a great time praising the Lord, praying for the students, writing letters to sponsors, and obtaining a whole bunch of school supplies and new backpacks! They were measured for school uniforms and shoes. Formal uniforms and shoes will be given out in September in time for the Independence Day parade. Sport uniforms and tennis shoes will be given out in November in time for the celebration of Mexican Revolution.
It was like Christmas in August, and it really built the kids up in their anticipation of starting the new school year!
Please set aside time to pray for your sponsored student(s) this month—we are praying that they will be discerning of the path God has for them to take and to avoid the enticements of the world all around them. We are praying that they will all come into or further develop their relationships with Jesus as Lord of their lives. We are praying they will seek to do well in school. We are praying for protection from the evil one. We are praying that Jesus will become real to them in a personal way this school year, and they will develop testimonies of how He is touching their lives.
We would like to really encourage you to answer your student’s letters. If you need help, we will see if some of our volunteers can write letters to the kids on your behalf. It is important to them to feel that their sponsor cares about them, and it can really help encourage them when they might otherwise choose a negative path.
FOR MORE PICTURES OF THIS GREAT DAY CHECK OUT THE CASA DE AMOR FB PAGE!! Facebook.com/Casa de Amor para Niños.
Two years ago, our theme for the year was from Romans 8:37—in the face of adversity, we can become more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Last year, we reminded them of Jeremiah 29:11—God has plans for their lives, plans for their welfare, to give them a future and a hope. This year, our theme is from Deut. 31:6, we are to be strong and courageous when we face the giants in our lives, because God himself will fight our battles for us, if we will only stay close to Him!
We are seeking and encouraging breakthroughs not only in the kids’ lives, but in their whole family. There is so much adversity out there in their world, where their parents barely scrape by financially, there is the lure of the cartels and easy-to-get controlled substances, social media with all of the negative things they are exposed to, hormones at work, gender and sexual confusion being taught all around them, it is a difficult world for them to grow up in. But, if they can stay close to the Lord, they will overcome!
We are so blessed to report that we now have 14 kids in college! That is a great success story! We are praying that the education they get in college will be a great benefit not only for them, but for their whole family!
Next month, we will be in Palomas on September 13-15. We would love to have you come and visit and meet your student. We are also preparing to interview some missionary couples to come and live at the orphanage and help us build it back up to a full house of 12 girls again after all that occurred during Covid. Please pray for us in this process, that we fill get the right couple, and that all provisions required will be met!
The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Jim and Pat