Dear Friends:
Our next ministry weekend in Palomas is on February 8! We would love to have you join us! This last month, we had about 15 volunteers, helping us set up rooms for the meetings, prepare a worship time, check-in kids and parents, teach, translate letters from the kids to their sponsors, meet with Pastors, encourage and pray with people, distribute used clothing, and clean everything up at the end! It was a fun time of ministry! We can always use more people! In February, we would love to find a plumber who can come and help us install a new furnace, as our old one has quit working, and it is really needed during this cold winter! And, we are always blessed when a handyman or handywoman comes down to go through and repair things in the orphanage.
Every month, we spend about ½ hour in worship with families, ½ hour teaching groups of elementary, Jr. High, High school and college kids, spend time with Pastors planning, and praying with those who request it. It is truly a blessing to see how God is meeting us and encouraging people in Palomas who are involved! Our goal continues to be to help transform a town into a place where revival in Jesus is occurring all around, and destroying the works of the devil and the world that are trying to destroy what God wants to do in people’s lives.
Last year, our theme Scripture verse for our teachings was Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you, plans for good, and not for evil; plans to give you a future and a hope.” This is so needed in Palomas, where people often cannot think outside of their daily lives, where it is often difficult to have enough food or clothing or any warmth during the cold winter months. Unfortunately, the lures of easy money and prestige from the cartels, drugs, prostitution, illegal border crossing are constantly attracting the people of Palomas, along with the fear of bad things that can happen if they do anything the cartels do not like. It is a difficult place to live, seeking and trusting in God for His plans. And yet, God can do amazing things, miraculous things for people who turn their lives over to Him.
The fears that young people feel are overwhelming: Fear of lack of acceptance, fear of failure, fear of harm, feelings of hopelessness. That is why this year, our theme has been Deut. 31:6—“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." This last month, we talked about how God equipped Moses to overcome fear and deliver his people from slavery in Egypt. We talked about how those same people were full of fear and how they kept wanting to go back to Egypt, which seemed more secure than living in the desert and having to rely on God for their food and clothes and water. We talked about fear of entering into a land of abundance that God was preparing them for, and how long it took for God to get ahold of their hearts so that He could deliver His promises to them! Fear is a constant problem that interferes with God’s plans for our lives. We will continue working with the families in Palomas to help them overcome those fears, trust God, and look for His miraculous provision!
Honestly, I think that all of you sponsors are being used by the Lord to provide miracles these families would never have otherwise experienced! Think of it—So many kids able to complete their education, and even go on to college or trade schools. And they receive blessings of school supplies and uniforms, notebooks and pen and pencils, and even food when it is needed. These are blessings that will help them overcome the generational curse of poverty, and hopefully strengthen their relationship with the Lord so that they can begin to move mountains in His name!
I know that the kids pretty much universally thank you for your help in their monthly letters, and I want to encourage you that it really does mean a lot to them and their parents. May the Lord bless you for acting as Jesus would act! Please keep them in your prayers!
May 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 & Pat