06/14/08

Welcome to "Kid Focus"!

This page focuses on a child either in Mexico or out of the Spanish ministry at my home church in Georgia. This will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about these precious kids and have a part in their life by praying for them and their families! Prayer is truly the greatest gift you could ever offer someone. Thanks for visiting this page. May God bless you always!

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January 31, 2008

I would like you to meet... Azucena!

Azucena is a great young lady who has been attending our church for about 5 years. She is 18 years old and a senior in high school. After graduation, she would like to study medicine and become an ER nurse. She is the oldest of 6 children, and her brothers and sisters also attend church. Azucena was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and came to the United States for the first time when she was 4 years old. Her mother and father are Catholic and have raised their children in the Catholic religion. Her parents have been very supportive of their children attending our church over the past few years, and we are very thankful to have this great family of kids as part of our ministry!

Azucena is a very sweet, gentle, intelligent teenager. I have no doubt she will accomplish her goal of becoming a nurse and she will do a wonderful job! She speaks beautiful Spanish and English and is always very helpful with the little kids who attend church. For the past several years, she and some of the other teenagers have helped with the kids craft classes at Vacation Bible School. I know she is also willing to help out with whatever I might need! She is very close to her sister and her cousin. They are always together.... laughing and having a good time. Some of the things Azucena enjoys are reading, listening to music, talking on the phone, and cleaning!

The teenagers in our ministry are taught that regardless of their family's religion, it is important to have your own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that the Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift of God and is available to all mankind. We know that salvation is not earned by good works or deeds and that nothing we can do could ever gain us entrance into heaven. Sometimes it is hard for the young people in our ministry to differentiate what is God's truth and what is man's tradition. I believe Azucena understands the difference and is at a very important place in her life right now as she seeks to make her own decision. I asked her if people would pray for her, what would she ask them to pray for? This was her response, "I would like for them to pray about me building my faith, get my life on the right path, and decide if I would like to follow God and become a true Christian." Azucena also said she likes coming to church because she gets to learn new things that she never knew before and she also gets her doubts right! :)

Please pray that God would lead and guide Azucena in these decisions and that she would make the right choice. Pray for her and her family. Also pray that Azucena and her siblings would continue to come faithfully to church and they would grow in knowledge of Him.

I am so proud of the sweet young lady Azucena has become and I pray for God's greatest blessings upon her life.

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July 14, 2007

I would like you to meet... Eric and Michelle!

Eric and Michelle are two precious kids who have been attending the Spanish Ministry in Georgia for about 2 years. Eric is 7 years old and Michelle is 10. They live with their mom and step-father. Eric is very funny and outgoing, while Michelle is shy and quiet. They are always so excited about coming to church and have a great time in class every week. They are both a lot of fun and a joy to have in our ministry.

Eric and Michelle were in a horrible accident about a week ago. They were home alone when a fire started. Thankfully a neighbor was nearby and rescued the children. Eric has 2nd degree burns on over 70% of his body. Michelle also received 2nd degree burns, but the majority of her burns are on her arms. She has been recovering very well and hopes to be released from the hospital within the next day or two. However, Eric is currently unconscious and on a breathing machine. I ask that you please be in much prayer for these two precious kids. Pray for their complete and total healing- physically and emotionally. This was a very traumatic experience to go through and I hate to see the pain that these kids are enduring.

We know that God is able to do more than we could ever ask or think! Let us join together in prayer on behalf of these two very special children. Thank you and may God bless you all.

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October 26, 2006

I would like you to meet... Salvador!

Salvador is one of the children here at the Rivers of Mercy Children's Home here in Mexico. He is 9 years old and has been in the home for 3 years. He is so adorable and has the cutest personality. His mom has several other children and put Salvador out on the street when he was 6 years old. After being alone for a while, he was placed in this children's home. He loves playing soccer and being with the other kids. He is always happy and smiling! Salvador is a joy to be with and has already become very precious to me in the 3 short weeks that I have been here. Please pray for this child- ask God to keep His hand upon Salvador all the days of his life and lead him in the correct paths always. Thank you for your prayers and concern for the precious children of Mexico!!! May God bless you both now and always.

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June 19, 2006

I would like you to meet... Sibonei!!!

Sibonei is 9 years old. She was born in the United States after her parents moved here from Mexico. Next year, she will be in the 5th grade. Sibonei has one brother named Yonatan. They have been attending class for about 3 years. Their parents are very supportive and encourage the kids to be faithful to church. I am so grateful for this family!

As you can read under latest news, Sibonei recently accepted Christ as her Savior. It has been a  blessing to already witness changes occurring in her life. I told Sibonei that I wanted to take her picture for my website. She chose to be photographed in front of the chalkboard where she wrote, "I'm a Christian". She comes to church every week because she likes learning about God. Sibonei said the most important thing that she has learned at church is about how God can clean her heart. Sibonei also enjoys singing, hearing Bible stories,  reading the Bible with her mom, playing outside, and watching TV.

Sibonei's favorite Bible verse is John 1:12- the verse I shared with her the night she accepted Christ. Last week, Sibonei told me that she wants to work at a church when she grows up. It is so wonderful to see the hunger she now has for the things of the Lord. For many years, I have prayed for God to raise a child up out of the Spanish ministry who would serve Him in the ministry. Perhaps my new little sister in Christ is the one for whom I have been praying.

I asked Sibonei what she would say if she could tell the whole world one thing. She responded simply, "I want the people to believe in God and to trust in God."

Please pray for Sibonei as she begins her new life in Christ. Pray that the rest of her family would also get saved. She has already shared her decision with them, and so far they have been receptive. Hopefully the changes in Sibonei's life will serve as a witness and testimony to her family.

Thank you for your prayers and support- you are making the difference in the lives of many precious children!

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February 24, 2006

I would like you to meet... PANCHO!!!

Pancho is 16 years old and was born in the Federal District of Mexico. He moved to America when he was a little boy. Pancho loves sports- especially football, basketball, and soccer. He just recently made the high school soccer team, and I am looking forward to seeing him play. He has 2 younger brothers and 2 younger sisters. He takes great care of his family and is wonderful with his baby sister. Pancho is a great young man, and I am so proud of him!

When I first started the Spanish ministry 6 1/2 years ago,  I had 2 children for the first class- Pancho and his sister Adriana. The next week, they brought their 2 younger brothers. Pancho and his brothers have been faithful ever since! I am so thankful for this dedicated teenager. He has been a great example to his family by attending church almost every service over the last 6 years. Even at the young age of 10, Pancho would go on visitation with me every week to invite more children to come to our class. At that time, my Spanish was very limited so Pancho was a great help to me! He translated for me and taught me many new words and phrases.

I thank the Lord for Pancho. He is so kind and always willing to help out with whatever I need. At a time when most teenage boys would rather be going out or spending time with their friends, he continues to attend class every Wednesday. When I go on the bus to pick the kids up for church, I know Pancho and his brothers will be waiting- Bibles in their hands and smiles on their faces!

 My faithful student- Feb. 23, 2000