Warmest Wishes to All of you this Blessed Season

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given,
And the government will be on His shoulders and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Warmest Wishes to all of you this Blessed Season!

As we are in the midst of the holidays we love to stop often to remember who is the reason for the season. It is so easy to get so busy that we just get tired and cranky and lose the joy that is meant to be felt this time of year. This year has been fabulous and we are so grateful to God for His love and grace. It was busy but so very good.

In January, Amy’s sister Sue was able to come and visit for the first time. We were VERY excited and it was a very special time for us all. She made curtains for the house and it really is so much more a home that way - especially since they were made with so much love. We laughed a lot that week.

After she left, Brian came to live with us for 6 months. He was sent here for mentoring and we got to watch God change him. He is now home with his mom and sisters.

In May/June we traveled north. It was amazing to see how big our family in Christ is! We have brothers and sisters all over the world! We really enjoyed spending time with all of you. It was quite a whirlwind tour as we traveled through 17 states in the US and 5 in Mexico and stayed in 6 of them during 6 weeks. Whew!

When we returned it was time for the summer rush. We welcomed Jennifer and Jordan Burch (from Indiana) who stayed with us this summer to help with the reading and math classes. They really did a great job as we hosted 30 children for private tutoring. God allowed us to begin a youth group this summer for ages 12 and up which they led till September. They also helped with the team that came and started building a bathroom for Juan and Ofelia which is now usable! Thank you!

Our summer team came from Olivet Gospel Church, The Bronx, New York. They were a terrific group and worked very hard. They hosted Vacation Bible School and a medical clinic and also helped with some construction. Many children came to VBS and the people that came to the clinic were treated medically as well as spiritually as the nurses took time to pray with them all. Thank you!

In September we welcomed Elizabeth Bayly (from Ohio). She stayed 10 weeks and helped with Kids Club, prepared the study for the youth group and helped watch the children who came with their parents to adult study twice a week. She was also a great help to Amy around the house, with home schooling and with Laura. She made quite an impact on the girls from youth group. Thank you!

In September Laura came. She initially came to the house to learn to read and write as she had never been to school. She started staying over for the night sometimes and then her mother dropped her off one day and did not come to pick her up or visit her. One month later, on December 1st, DIF (Child and family services) came and said that she has to stay here until further notice. She also has 3 other siblings who are still living at home with their mom and her boyfriend. Please pray that they are safe. Chuy has the job of checking on them and seeing that they are being fed and bathed, and not sleeping on the dirt floor. We pray the adults will want to change. If not, due to the fact that we work with Eirene, a not for profit with legal papers to care for children, they may come to our house to live too.

In October, The Hennessy family came to live here for a while. They have started English classes for people in town on Monday and Thursday. Rob is helping Chuy with whatever he can and Kelly is taking care of their 2 children, Janie (2) and Bobby (1). She is helping with the youth group and helps with Laura, too. Thank you!

In October Amy was blessed to go north for ten days to attend two conferences and visit with her family and friends. Seeing them twice in one year was a real treat. In December we made a very quick trip to the border to pick up some boxes we had there. Thanks to those of you who sent them! It was great to be able to attend Services while there.

Arlene (14) is a freshman this year and home schooling. Her favorite subjects are History, Reading and Creative Writing. She loves to make jewelry and do crafts. She is such a big help with the ministry. She got braces this year and is so grown up.

TJ (12…almost 13) is in eighth grade. He loves Biology and History. He plays the guitar and is doing very well. He would spend all his time playing if he could and has a real ear for music. He leads the singing in Kids Club and adult study. He still likes video games when we have time (not very often).

Rebeca (11) has grown about a foot this past month. She is in 6th grade and likes science and reading. She likes to make jewelry, baking and playing with Grace. She is very good at drawing and loves art. We hope to find someone to teach her a bit more as Amy is not talented that way.

Grace (10) is in 5th grade this year. Her favorite subjects are spelling, science and English. She started ballet in the city this year and is getting very coordinated (also not her mother’s talent ) She loves to play with Becky and Laura, dance, play outdoors and cook.

Laura (7) should be in second grade but we have her in first. She has just learned to read and count to fifteen. Her handwriting is really coming along. She is happy and now unafraid. We are so glad to have her here. She did not know how to play but is learning quickly!

Chuy is doing very well. Soooooooo busy. It is great that he has a couple of men to help him out now. He is trying to spend more time studying so he can be prepared for teaching. Please pray that he can have this time.

Amy is good. She loves to be with her children and husband and watch them grow in the Lord. They are such a joy. She also enjoys time reading and listening to music.


The ministry schedule is: Tuesday night Adult Bible study, Wednesday, Youth group, Thursday donation pick up and distribution and Friday Kids Club and Adult Study. It seems we are about ready to start a Sunday worship service as our adults are very excited about learning about the Lord and want more. We are still in the process of getting all the papers in order for an official orphanage. The lawyers were ok with some kids staying in our home for now but we need to get this finished! Pray that it will go smoothly.

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you this year and always. May you have the Peace that surpasses all understanding and joy beyond compare!

Love,
Chuy, Amy, Arlene, TJ, Rebeca, Grace and Laura

Youth Outreach Project Funnies

On Sunday when we took the youth to do the outreach project they saw a few things they had never seen before. Things that we take for granted or have lived with for a very long time. The first one was when we stopped at Burger King to get an ice cream cone. They all washed their hands. You know those automatic hand dryers? One of the boys didn’t know what it was. He only saw a picture of a pair of hands and some arrows pointing up. So, he stuck his hands up the hand dryer and was shocked, electrically. The second thing was a soda fountain. They were amazed that it had so many different varieties of pop and all you had to do was push a button and whatever kind of pop you wanted would come out. These are only a few of the things that were new to them.

Youth Outreach Project

This past Sunday we took the youth group from Camichines on their first outreach project. We went to a very lost area of the city of Guadalajara. They helped pass out food and clothing to the people who came. We were very impressed and are very proud of these kids. Before the outreach they collected bags and bags of clothes and coats to pass out there. While we were there, they did a very good job at passing out clothes, talking to the people and playing with the kids who came. The purpose of this project was to teach them to serve and to show them the consequences of drugs and alcohol. The kids were very affected by this project.

Laura Update

Laura is well right now. She is growing like a weed, finally. Her teeth are starting to improve. This week she lost a tooth and was super excited. On December 1st the government office of child welfare came to our house. They talked with us for a little bit then went to see Laura’s family’s house. They were appalled at what they found. The children were sleeping on the dirt floor with filthy blankets and had no food. The children were also filthy. The people of Mexico keep their children very clean even if they have little money. So, this is not normal. Laura now has to stay with us because we are working with Eirene A.C. and they have all the papers to help the needy of Mexico. Praise God! It was evident in the way all this happened that He was in control. Lots of tense moments but it all turned out way better than we could have imagined. The government also dropped off food (dry goods) so we can provide meals for the other 3 children 3 times a day. We are looking for a neutral place to do this as for the moment, they make Laura nervous and we do not want all of the family here. They gave us strict orders that the food is only for the children and that nobody can take Laura away for now. The government gave the mom a list with which she needs to comply or she will lose the children. This list includes bathing the children, a house with floors (not dirt) finding them a bed and sending them to be fed every day, for now. Please pray for these children and that the mom has a change of heart and wants to work and keep the children as we know from the comments overheard that she really thinks this is a joke. She is very manipulative and thinks there will not be a problem. Well, the DIF office made Chuy their eyes and ears here due to our association with Eirene. She has no idea….

Kids Club

Kids Club is pretty much the same. It has diminished in number because it is a very busy month here. The kids are out helping their parents harvest the corn fields, the virgin’s birthday is on the 12th (this holiday is celebrated for many days and makes us very sad), some of their families come down from the states and there are many parties.