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Many Thanks! First, I would like to say thank you to all of you who gave money, donated clothing and items, allowed us to borrow tools, and/ or supported any of our mission fundraising. Because of the support of our school family we had the funds and materials to: Build two 12x12 additions and two bathrooms. Put on a VBS for 150 students Pass out hundreds of gifts to the neighborhood children Build 38 beds Paint 4 houses Provide a Community Outreach dinner and worship for over 400 people where we were able to: Feed the families a nice meal Lead worship and share the message of Christ Pass out bags of clothing for each family. Second, I would like to thank all of our adult sponsors. You were an amazing team! None of this would have been possible without your willingness to serve and share your expertise. Finally I would like to thank our amazing students! They worked from sun up to sun down. They started early on the work projects, then washed up and transitioned to VBS for 150 kids every day. They had great attitudes and never complained. Please enjoy the pictures and touching stories below and be encouraged by the passion and dedication of these amazing young leaders.With their leadership and strong work ethic I think we can get excited about the future! |
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A Message of Hope from the Mission Field And if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
It is easy to get caught up in our headlines today and be discouraged. The tragedy in Connecticut, the state of our economy, the disdain for Christianity in America and all of the other dark and twisted things going on in our world could easily make us all lose hope in our country's future. However, I want to share a perspective of hope that I found in the most unlikely place....Mission, Texas. It is unlikely because Mission is one of the poorest communities in the U.S. Most of us have never seen, much less experienced, the level of poverty that exists here. And as always, the most helpless victims are children.
For most of these children the father has either abandoned them or is never home because he is forced to travel to find work. But for some families, having the father at home is even worse. One of the darkest moments of the trip happened on the first night after VBS when some of our adult team members were taking children home in our vans. They pulled up to the place where one of the little boys lived to find the sheriff's car parked out front. The little boy said, "I guess my dad beat my mom again." Another little girl shared, in a very matter of fact manner, what happens when her dad beats her mom. It was chilling to know that this was the normal course for so many of these children; but even though violence and darkness seemed to be so pervasive in this impoverished Colonia, there was no denying that God is calling His people to this place to offer hope that can only come through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. John 1:5 says, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Our students were beacons of light in this dark place and a huge encouragement to a small church who has taken on the attitude of Christ who said, "Let the little children come."
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Project 1
The Quiroz Family
This family of 9 was living in an old 600 sq. ft trailer. They came to the Lord three years ago after struggling with blended family issues, abuse, poverty, and the greatest need of a Savior. The Lord performed many miracles: salvation, healing, and keeping the family together. The parents and their children are now actively involved in church and continue to grow in their walk with the Lord. Mr. Quiroz works as a drywaller, but is currently unable to find work. He not only helped us drywall his addition, he was happy to offered his expertise at the home of our second project as well. |
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Project: Add a 12 x 12 bedroom and a 6 x 8 bathroom addition to the back of the trailer. |
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Click here for more pictures from this project.
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Project 2:
The Sandoval Family
This family of five was living in a small camper trailer (pictured below). They are involved in church, and they have a four-year-old girl with special needs. She was born with a curved back (seen in the picture), but from her attitude you would not be able to tell anything is wrong. She is always happy, playful, and cheerful.
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Need: Bathroom and Extra Bedroom
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Click here for more pictures from Project 2Our fabulous painting team also painted two other houses!
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