Living for Eternity

My husband and I started attending a new church called The Mission in Dayton, Tennessee.  Right now it is small and I love it.  I feel connected and the Bible study is solid and always challenging.  We are doing a short study on Ecclesiastes.  I have always loved this book.  Makes me feel like I'm alone in thinking that life is hard and not easy to figure out.  On Sunday we looked at chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes.  "For everything there is a season, as time for every activity under heaven."  All of us have high points in life and low points in life.  Right now Ryan and I are happy and making it day by day...its not really a high point or a low point...it just life.  There are days when I think my life is falling apart because I get an unexpected bill or something (I'm a bit dramatic) but when you look at life as living daily for Christ...building His Kingdom...for eternity that bill doesn't seem to weigh so heavy.  Also, wanting more space or a relaxing vacation or more stuff doesn't even compare to the fact that there are millions of people on this Earth who don't know Christ.  

Even though I work at a mission organization where our goal is to give everyone on this Earth at least one chance to hear the Gospel message I still get caught up in what the world deems important (being power and riches).  On Sunday night God really slapped me in the face...I sort of live for eternity but I also sort of live for stuff that is meaningless.  I know God has been trying to get this through my head and heart for months now.  I pray that I won't so easily forget that this world is temporary and we are here to love and serve God.  When I was in high school my favorite verse was Philippines 1:21, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."  I was reminded of this verse Sunday night...I want my attitude to be like Paul's. 

There is always a need

Sometimes it is hard to hear all the needs in this world because I don't have the recourses to meet them. It is so hard to meet one need but not the thousands of others. There are countless children who need sponsors (some who have never had a sponsor while others lose their sponsors and need a new one), medical needs, promising students who need money so they can further their education at a university, children orphaned because of AIDS who have no one to feed and care for them, and the list goes on. Depressing huh...
Today I am feeling a bit hopeless because I know we can't help everyone. There are countless aid organizations (Christian and not) who are helping the less fortunate yet there are still so many people living below the poverty line. I don't think it is fair...and it is hard for me to get my head around it.

Although, I am thankful that I can put my trust in the Lord and rest in the fact that He is in control. God loves this world and has a plan to save it...I just need to be willing to be used by God no matter what that means. For example, I desperately want to GO to Lima and play with the precious kids at the childcare center or GO to Uganda and meet the girl I sponsor and encourage her and her mom (who is raising three children on her own). But, God has me stateside; sitting at my desk, typing away at my computer supporting the work AMG is doing all over the world. It's not glamorous and sometimes it is even a bit boring, but it is necessary.

VBS in Lima, Peru

Each year in February the childcare centers in Lima hold a Vacation Bible School for one week.  The children learn Bible stories and memorize a verse each day.  They play games, sing songs and do crafts...similar to VBS in America just with a little less production :).  At the end of the week there is an award ceremony where the children who learned all the verses, those who arrived to VBS on time each day, and the teams who won the games receive prizes.  This year the prizes were beanie babies, necklaces, and bags of candy.  Enjoy the pictures!

Ages 3 to 6 coloring a picture to go along with the Bible story they learned

Playing Volleyball and Soccer

Singing Songs

 Happy with their Prizes!

I think the children had a fun week :)

Reality Check

Currently my husband and I live in a one bedroom apartment.  We have lived there almost two years now and recently I have been feeling like we've outgrown the space.  I so desperately wanted to move to a two bedroom townhome or apartment.  Well, we decided that it wasn't necessary at this time to move to a larger space so I have started to redecorate and reorganize in order to make our 800 square feet one bedroom apartment a bit more homey.  This past weekend I bought new curtains and such to freshin' things up.  Although I started to get discouraged because I can't afford to buy much, only a little at a time.  THEN...

Monday morning Pete (one of our Mission Adventures team leaders) shared about his recent trip to Uganda.  As I watched his power point with pictures of children wearing rags, sitting in the dirt and malnourished I felt awful for wanting more than I already have.  I know it is a broken record to say "there are starving children in Africa." BUT there ARE starving children in Africa.  Now, this doesn't mean we can't have nice things and enjoy what God has given us but I MUST keep things in perspective.  Why do I need more when many live in a hut with a dirt floor and barely eat once a day.  I really didn't need more space and I don't need to worry about not having enough money to redecorate.  God has blessed me and my husband with more than enough and we are blessed to be able to share what God has given us with those less fortunate.  These precious children are so beautiful in God's site and I pray that through AMG International or any other relief organization their needs would be met physically and spiritually, to the Glory of God. 

Are you interesting in sponsoring a child in Uganda or in another country? CLICK HERE. Sponsoring a child through AMG International provides them with nutritious meals, clothing, education, medical care, love and encouragement from the loving Christian childcare staff and most importantly he or she will learn about the saving grace found only in Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 7:19-21

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 

Dr. Spiros Zodhiates Childcare Center in Lima, Peru

After the passing of our dear Dr. Zodhiates the Apon family (the Peruivan family serving AMG Peru) decided to name one of the childcare centers in Lima after him to honor his dedication to serving the Lord and those in need.  I just received about 25 new children who are desperately in need of sponsors.  Each of them have such joy in their smiles even though most of them are so poor they don't have electricity or running water in their homes.  Here is a photo of where most of these children live...their homes are made from scraps of metal, cardboard, bamboo...really anything they can find. 

Here are four precious Peruvian children whose smiles and faces will capture your hearts.  They are in need of sponsors so please pray about sponsoring one of these children yourself or that soon we would find sponsors for these four and the many others living in Lima who need someone to give them hope for a bright future in our Lord Jesus.  

This is Greicy Mesia Acosta (SP: 1044902) and she is three years old.  Her father makes $50 a month working as a mason while her mother stays home and cares for the children. Greicy has one older sister and they live with their parents in a small home with only one room and no running water or electricity.

THIS CHILD IS NOW SPONSORED!
This happy girl is Gaderin Olortegui Panduro (SP:1044886).  She is six years old and in 1st grade.  Her father makes $69 a month as a vendor while her mother stays home and cares for her children.  Gaderin has one older brother and they live with their parents in a small home made from cardboard and bamboo...just like the houses you see in the picture above. 

Luis Fernando Villegas Mejia (SP: 1044851) is four years old.  Both his father and mother work on public transportation selling candy and other goods.  Their combined income is $160 and with that they try and provide for their four children although it is difficult to pay for school supplies and medical care. 

This cutie is Jose Anderson Lopez Vargas (SP: 1044844).  He is seven years old and attends 1st grade.  His father works odds jobs and makes about $50 a month while his mother stays home to care for Jose and his older sister Maria.  Together they share one room in a small shack made from cardboard and bamboo. 

I count it a joy and a priveldge to be serving with the AMG International Child Sponsorship Ministry.  I am blessed to see needy children's lives transformed into Christ's likeness and receiving lifes necessities because of a sponsor praying and supporting their child.  If you are interested in sponsoring any of these children click here or to learn more about  AMG Child Sponsorships click here.