Visits to Homes

We are now into the second half of the year, and some schedule changes have been made, though unfortunately not all of the ones we had hoped for.

We have successfully been able to shift the tutoring program from five groups to four, and we are pleased to report that in answer to prayer we now have three volunteers who are helping us with this program at some of the points of the week (we are also currently exploring the possibility of a couple of other helpers providing some extra tutoring to the teens who would most need it).

Please pray for wisdom as we lead devotional times with the teens, that we may disciple them well.

We have been able to go into one of the two elderly care homes and have been pleased to be able to deliver not only the refreshments - as we were doing before - but now a time of singing, praying, and devotions. We rotate our team through who is in charge of leading the devotional message, and we can also report that one of our new volunteers has a gift and a passion for preaching and is getting involved in this ministry too.

It is lovely to not only be able to lead something from the front for the residents of this home, but to also be able to take some time after the structured program to walk around, sit with them, and chat individually. Several of them have expressed directly how grateful they are that we would visit and how just the simple act of sitting & talking with them means so much to them. It is a real privilege to be the hands and feet, ears and mouth, of Jesus in this way, and we appreciate being able to hear their stories and listen to all that they want to share.

Please pray that we would be able to continue to encourage, uplift, and edify them during these times, both in the messages and worship songs we can deliver from the front, as well as through the one-on-one conversations that can be had with them afterwards. Please also pray that the other home would extend an official invitation to us to re-enter and do the same there, as that has not yet been given.

Unfortunately, the kids' club has not been able to start owing to ever-changing restrictions. Puerto Barrios as a whole keeps switching between being classified as a yellow zone, orange zone, and red zone, and on top of that the school whose grounds we use has shifted back from whole classes to small groups, all of which meaning we can't run our large club quite yet. Please pray that the club may become a possibility again soon.

In the meantime, the extra time we had made for the kids club, and for the second home that we can't yet enter, we are using to do home visits to families and individuals in need. Some of this is the families of the scholarship kids, such as one whose father was tragically killed in a robbery recently, and some are individuals we know who have economic, health, or other needs. Please pray that we might be able to encourage them in the Lord as we meet with them, share, and pray for them.