Campamento

For two years now we have taken the week before Easter to go to a church conference in San Pedro Sula, about 3 hours away.  All the Great Commission churches come together and there are thousands of people there representing many different countries across Central America and the states. 

Thanks to your generosity we were also able to invite the girls from the store to join us this year… Leili who is 18 and lives in Armenia Bonito where the Pettengills minister, Tania who is Lesthers niece and the accountant for the store, and Beti who is Carolinas cousin along with her 3 month old little girl.  I was not sure where each of them stood in their relationship with Christ before we went and I can say with assurance that this week was a growing time for each one.  Please pray for Leili who has not been in church for some time now and does not like any of the churches she has visited nearby.  We were able to encourage her to try out the new church plant in Armenia and are praying that the Lord uses that to minister to her. 

One of the difficult things for me throughout the week was with Y and C.  Sometimes I just want them to be grown ups.  I want them to be moms who think for the kids more than for themselves.  I want them to take responsibility for their actions and show thankfulness for what they have.  But guess what?!?  Sometimes they act like spoiled brat teenagers who just want to hang out with their friends and go to the pool more than they want to put their baby down for a nap or get a bottle ready on time.  And sometimes they complain when they have more than what they need.  And sometimes they are jealous of their friends who are 18 and aren’t trying to figure out how to be moms.

I know that they are learning, they are growing, and by God’s grace their hearts are changing little bits at a time.  But please pray for me to have wisdom as I guide and lead them.  Pray for them to be full of joy about being moms and not see it as a burden.  Pray that they know more of Jesus every day and are able to show their heart changes in their attitudes and gratitude.

One thing I loved about the week was getting to see Lesther take an active role in ministering to the girls.  He kind of goes between being brother and dad, giving advice, holding a sleeping baby, offering to go get the cars when the babies just can’t wait another moment, treating the girls to dinner, etc.  They are learning to accept him and respect him as a man in their life… and for these girls that is a really big deal.

Keep praying for Spiritual growth… each of these girls has their own separate heart struggles… but so do I :)  And thank you for making this time possible for us!