Dear Friends:
As we start the New Year, it is a great time to make our plans. What will we do this year? What will the New Year hold? Will it be better or worse than last year? I must admit that as I get older, I face the new year with some trepidation. Honestly, this last year held enough problems, but it ended up being a great year in our family. We have a great deal of comfort in knowing that our God knows the beginning and the end and everything in between. He plans for our good! He knows how much we can bear! And all of us that are in Him are surrounded by His great love!
Jer 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Jer 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;
Isa 62:5 as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.
Matt 6:8 your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him
Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus
We must keep in mind that our Creator knows us fully, that He has a plan for all of us that fits in His grand plan, that He loves us, and that all we will go through, He already knows, and somehow it will work for the good. So, we really can look forward to this year knowing that His Grace is sufficient for us in every situation.
Trusting God is often difficult for us. So often, we think we need to be in control of the things that affect our lives. We think if things don’t go they way we want, then that is a bad thing. But, if we are really trusting God, we must go through the good, the bad, and the painful, knowing that somehow it will all work together for our good and the good of others. Rom 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
So, let’s seek to become more like Jesus in all that we do this year, and everything will work out!
We had a great Christmas celebration at Casa this year, with over 300 people attending. Thanks so much to our volunteers and all of you who support Casa for making this happen. We have found that the celebration is more meaningful for people if all of the Christian community comes together to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We had extra clothes and food to give to the poor this year, and our girls at Casa spent a day going around town, finding those who were the poorest, and blessing them with Christmas gifts of food and clothing.
Also, for New Year’s, Pat and I took the girls to Chihuahua for a few days’ vacation. Some of the girls got to visit siblings they have been separated from, and all of us enjoyed walking the beautifully decorated streets around the Plaza in town, hanging out at the mall, watching a couple of movies, and spending time visiting with Angel and Cecilia at their home! We attended a church service that was exceptional! It was a great way to start the New Year. We pray your New Year will bring many blessings in your life and that of your family.
We hope you had a Merry Christmas and enjoyed time with your families!!
This year we changed the dynamic of our annual Christmas party and had only one big party. We had an amazing time with our students, their families, and members of the community -- over 300 people attended.
The worship group from the church El Dios Viviente lead the service. Edgar Almaguer, the preacher from the church Puerta del Cielo, preached about the real meaning of Christmas. He spoke about how Christmas is a time to remember the greatest and unique gift God gave us, to come to this earth to save us.
We had our own version of a “Christmas Market” for everyone to play different games such as Tic-Tac-Toe, darts, bingo, decorate a boot, free painting, face painting and more. Plus, we had food and refreshments for everyone. This event was only possible thanks to our volunteers from Durango, CO, Santa Fe, NM, and El Paso, TX. Each group of volunteers did an extraordinary job helping from beginning to end; again, without them this celebration wouldn’t have been possible.
It was evident that everyone that attended had a blast. All of our students and their siblings received Christmas presents (see picture below), which all of you make possible. There are no words to thank you for all of the support you have given this program.
I hope you have a blessed beginning of the year!