Guatemala

I realize that I tend to write about many of the sad stories I come across while serving in the Child Sponsorships department here at AMG. So, today I want to share a promising story of a young girl in Guatemala. Families in Guatemala have a totally different frame of mind then we have in America. Our goals are to get an education and better ourselves, and we can do that because most of us don't worry about where our next meal will come from. In Guatemala most families are just trying to survive. Sometimes that means the children must help farm the land with their parents or a family has to pick up and move to a different town in search of a better life. Thankfully the AMG Childcare Center offers hope for a better future. Recently I came across a letter from a precious little girl to her sponsor. Her name is Leah Lexa and she is not quite old enough to write but the childcare worker writes this about her:

Your sponsored child Leah Lexa greets you wishing you God's blessings, I want to tell you that "Leah is a playful girl, she likes to make jokes to her classmates but she like to study too. The parents are very thankful with you for sponsoring her. She wants to tell you that she is in good health, her father's name is Jesus and her mother's name is Rosa, she attends the church and she says that she will pray for you, your family and friends, so long."

Reading this letter brought me hope because this little girl understands the gift she has been given from her sponsor. Last year over 900 children accepted Christ as their Savior in Guatemala and my prayer is that little Miss Leah Lexa will come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. I pray that Leah Lexa will use this gift of sponsorship to complete her education and take advantage of all the opportunities presented to her so that one day she will be a successful Guatemalan citizen who can help her people and lead them to Christ.

Peru

Peru has always been a special place to me. Both of my grandparents served as missionaries there and my Dad's sister is currently a missionary in Lima, Peru. Growing up I heard exciting stories of my parents adventures in the Jungle of Peru. I have had the privilege of visiting Peru a couple of times and LOVE it there. Everything about Peru is beautiful: the scenery, the language, the people...etc. It is a joy to be able to serve the people of Peru here at AMG International.

Today a boy living in Lima, Peru caught my attention. His name is David and he lives with his mother and many siblings in a small one room shack made from cardboard. He is fourteen years old and does not have much contact with his father. Even through his many hardships the letters he writes to his sponsor are filled with hope and joy because he knows his sponsor cares for him and that there is a God who loves him. He writes "I don't know who you are or what you look like but I love you, God bless you and thank you very much for your support." In another letter he writes, "I'm very happy in the center (childcare center) because we sing songs and learn Bible stories, we always pray for our sponsors..."

I pray sweet David will reach his goals in life and grow to be a Godly man who can lead his family and community in the ways of the Lord.

India

I have been entering in new children from India-now ready for sponsorship! All of these children have in one way or another been affected by HIV/AIDS. Most of their parents have the virus or have passed away because of it. There are even a few children who have HIV/AIDS. As I was reading about a four year old boy named Daniel whose father passed away in 2007 and his mother also has HIV/AIDS I realized that she was my age! Only 23 years old-her husband has died from AIDS, she is suffering for the virus and she has a precious little boy to care for. I can not even begin to get my head around what kind of life she has. All I can do is pray...

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the love you have for Daniel and his mother. And I thank you that even though they are Hindu they came to AMG India to find refuge in their time of need. I pray that little Daniel will be sponsored and that through the sponsorship Daniel and his mother will come to see and know that there is only one God who can save them. I ask that through the AMG India workers they would come to know your deep and perfect love for both of them and that little Daniel and his mother would turn and follow You. Thank you for giving us your Grace and Mercy freely and I pray Lord Jesus that you would open Daniel and his mothers eyes to see You.

Prayer for Uganda

All morning You have been putting Uganda on my mind. Uganda is a country of beautiful people but evil is very present there. With the AIDS epidemic, witch craft, children being enslaved, and extreme proverty-so many needs that only Your power can meet. Lord, here in America our minds can not even grasp what a day in the life of a child would be like in Uganda. As I sit here and look at pictures of children from Uganda, who need sponsors, I ask that you would protect them from war and witch doctors, provide them with food, and the funds to attend school. Most importantly Jesus I ask that your presence would be among them and they would know of your great love for each and everyone of them.

Lord, today my thoughts with Jaboy, a 13 year old boy living in the Philippines. His father died last year and his mother left the family years ago leaving Jaboy alone to take care of his two younger brothers. In a letter he said, "I am stronger for my two younger brothers, I will sacrifice my own strength..."

Thank you for Jaboy's sponsor whose support is giving him the opportunity to go to school, have a daily meal, and most important hear the about the Love of Christ. I pray that you would be real to Jaboy and give him the strength he needs to take care of his brothers and work hard at his studies. I pray Jaboy and his younger brothers would feel your love for them.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strenthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.