Perspective can make a big difference in how we deal with people and situations, can't it? The other day I heard a friend bemoaning the fact that the engine in her car needed to be replaced, but then she followed up that news with these words, "But I keep reminding myself that this is a rich person problem." She's right. We have to be blessed to have a car in order to replace an engine. The majority of the world will never have that "problem." Perspective. It's been a tough few years for many of us in a lot of ways, particularly financially, it seems. We've all made cut-backs and downsizing and being careful where we spend our money. If you're reading this on a computer, be reminded that we are rich. It may feel "tight" to us, but we still have food to eat and cars to drive and a place to live, wherever that may be. We are blessed.
We've recently been offered the opportunity to once again reach out with the hands and feet of Jesus to people to whom food and shelter and safety are luxuries that are not always readily available. Due to the continuing violence in Mexico because of the warring drug cartels, as well as a drought affecting the ability to grow the crops that feed their families and provide any kind of livelihood or sustenance, a great many Tarahumara Indians in Mexico are showing up at Una Esperanza, our children's shelter and ministry center on the outskirts of Juarez. The plea for help and food is growing more and more deafening. There are reports of mass suicide and despair among the Tarahumara down in their native Copper Canyon region, and many, many are leaving the homes they know to try to find food for their children.
In the midst of our own financial downturns and struggles, we would appeal to you and remind you that the situations we face are "rich people" problems. We would ask you to consider a shift in perspective and we are asking for your help. We do not have the funds to feed these people, but we are convinced that this is what Christ would do. We are asking you to join with us in making it possible for our ministry center to be open at least one day a week, feeding many children and families that have no where else to turn. We would love to be back at our former schedule of three days a week, if God provides for this through His people. We have been contacted by workers that will donate their time freely to go and prepare the food, to care for and serve the people, but they need us to provide money for food.
We are reminded of Matthew 25, where Jesus speaks to those who minister in His name - "I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." When we are generous to others, we are never more like our Heavenly Father.
We can provide food and Bible lessons for 100 children for $100 per day, and we would love to be able to feed these children 12 times a month. We have never asked for help for ourselves. We trust God to provide for us. We are asking for help for these children, who have no voice. The ministry center has been closed for the last two years due to a severe lack of funds on the part of this ministry, and this has broken our hearts to know of the need that continues. The faces have names to us, and we know they have names to Jesus, too. We would also like to bring up another need that someone may be able to meet. Our on-site missionary, Patsy, is in dire need of a vehicle to get her to Una Esperanza and back in a safe and reliable manner. Over the past eight years, she has literally driven the life out of her mini-truck in obedience to her calling, and is in need of a car or truck. Maybe you can help with this need.
If God impresses you to give of your resources to help get the Una Esperanza ministry center open again, you can utilize the donation link below or mail a check to the address listed at the bottom of this email. Our children's home in Arizona remains a place of safety and love for children in need, and we are grateful for God's faithfulness in providing opportunities to minister in His name. Thank you always for your prayers.
