Sarah, Matt and Caroline Day 1 with some of the kids.
Funny we didn’t even know them then and now many of them are like family to us!
Caroline holding precious Baby Carol. This girl can’t talk or walk but still continues to be such a blessing to her family. Caroline fell in love with her instantly. Since we’ve been here her Mother, Maricruz’s faith and prayers have changed drastically. Her prayers went from God why did you send me a sick child? Why are you punishing me to prayers of praise and rejoice! God has opened up so many doors and provided money to get Carol a CT scan. Just recently too there have been many other exciting plans God’s in the process of. Please keep her in your prayers and stay tuned for more on this!
Mi familia minus a few…. On the left is Grandma (Freddie) She is deaf and mute along with her 2 siblings, yet still just as happy as can be. We’ve been praying over her asking God for healing so she may sing His praises and rejoice with her Grandchildren. On the right is the Mom (of some of the kids) Jessika. She’s the most loving mother ever, for sure a servant as she cares for her neice Carol and her other sister’s children like they’re one of her own. An incredible young woman who we’ve been sharing Christ with! Please we ask prayer for them too!
Mafer aka Sassy Sas and Alexandra (cousins) Sas is just that, loves attention and strutting her stuff haha. Can’t help but love her. She gets mad when we play with anyone else cept for her! Alexandra is 10, the sister of Carol and Andri. Such a gentle, happy girl but often gets looked over because the focus is on all her little cousins. She just desires to be loved and feel that love…
(another story coming soon on Alexandra and Pierina too!)
This is Pierina. My fav girl, 11 years old. I often feel like a mother to her, as well as all the other kids. Pierina was forced to grow up real quick due to many circumstances. She’s often in charge and the caretaker of ALL her little cousins. She does such an amazing job! She’s full of love and serventhood. I admire her generousity she reminds me of the verse… “Those who are last will be first…” since she’s always thinking of others. During the week she gets one meal a day then on the weekends she gets breakfast and dinner. After VBS she was given a peice of candy, without any thought she put it in her pocket, looked at me with a big smile and said! I’m going to give this to Maju (her little sister!) Wow. Of course I snuck her another piece for herself though. Ahhh I just love her! She’s also been coming to Bible Study with us 2x/week and I’ve been able to sit down with her sharing verses and the greatness of Christ’s love. Praise the Lord!
Andri (Alexandra’s bro) and Maju (Sas and Pierina’s sis). Always full of smiles. Andri has shown some amazing progess. He’s been traumatized from the Earthquake and had difficulties interacting with others. Over this past month now he’s full of smiles and laughter! Maju is just a breath of fresh air, a little Sassy Sas in the making! So precious!
A bunch of us with some of our Family. Monica is in the Green (mother
of Alexandra, Andri, Majelli and Lesly) Jessika to right right of her
in blue (mom to Pierina, Mafer aka Sas, and Maju) Grandma Freddie in
the stripes and Baby Carol with her Mother Maricruz. What a wonderful family!
2 weeks of VBS was one group’s main focus here in Tambo. Close to 100
kids would turn out each day. Someday I would help translate or lead
games, but mostly I spent my time visiting with families and doing
Bible studies. I went to their house to pick them up before it started
and walked through the dusty streets with about 10 kids hanging all
over me! haha. I sat wtih them as they learned, colored. After coloring
they all ran over to me to with their papers while I stood there
watching them play games.
with the kids. I felt like a mom to them from then on. 🙂 hah
These are the girls + Pierina who we have been doing Bible Studies with about 2 times a week. Maria, Angela, Elena y Angela. God introduced us to eachother Day 1- Elena was wearing a bright green shirt! They were our first friends in Tambo that day and the second they served us a full lunch (although they can barely feed themselves-so humbling) Maria has the joy of Jesus all over her! My prayer is that she’ll raise up in this community to disciple others, especially Pierina! Through this experience God taught me boldness and no fear. All the words that were spoken were from Him. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing gift of Spanish which was absolutely awesome to be able to use to translate the Bible study!
I ask that your prayers do not sieze for our new families in Christ who we’ve been able to minister to this month. Pray that God will continue to reign His love down on this town and in the lives of all. Also specifically for the health issues of Baby Carol and Grandma Freddie.My greatest desire and prayer is that they will all come to know Jesus and build a close personal relationship with Him.
One more day of ministry then it’s goodbye time. Pray for my team and I as we’re saying goodbyes–it’s not going to be the easy. Thanks so much! I love you all and Jesus does too! wink!
