Pastor Javier views the ashes of all that remains of the children’s ministry in Buenos Aires on Friday morning
Dear friends,
On Friday I received a message from both Javier and Cristina which I will place intact into this blog.
On December 21st Javier messaged via WhatsApp:
Good morning my brother, may God bless you. Yesterday at 11 o’clock at night, almost at midnight the children’s feeding ministry facility in the village of Buenos Aires was burned to the ground.
Today we woke up to the work of cleaning the place with the children from the feeding ministry program. Everything was a total loss. We had many things that we used for the children’s ministry which were turned to ashes.
In spite of all those things I know that God is with us fighting the battle. To God be the glory. To him I give my strength and my time and thank Him for the life that He gives to us.
Yesterday we got toys together for the children’s Christmas party which was to be on Saturday. Today (Friday) we woke up to this. I thank God for the tests. Through trials He strengthens our faith.
Cristina messaged:
Brother Steven. We received bad news today. At about 11:00 pm last night the children’s feeding program kitchen was burned to the ground. The children and I are very sad. Tomorrow we were to have our Christmas party there with the children, but today we received this news.
Everything was lost.
There was a plastic bottle at the site of the fire that had held gasoline, and which apparently was the accelerant which was used to start the fire and which caused everything to be consumed very fast.
This is the children’s program in action:
Friday morning. The aftermath of the fire:
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In Genesis 50:20 Joseph stated to his brothers:You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people.
Some of the children that were being ministered to in the Buenos Aires children’s ministry
I believe – in pure faith – that this will be true here in this tragedy as well. I have no physical evidence upon which to place this faith, other than the fact that I know that God always brings good from ashes and turns that which was meant to destroy, into something that will bring him glory.
Although the facilities of the children’s feeding ministry in the little squatter’s village of Buenos Aires may not have looked like much from a Canadian or American perspective it was completely national, the best that could be afforded by those who began and ran it, filled with tremendous love, and was being powerfully used by God in the lives of some of the poorest children and their mothers in this little impoverished village of shacks and mud pathways.
Cristina recently wrote how blessed she was to see her helpers who are now teenagers and love Jesus, who had come through the children’s program and had begun in it as young children. She also wrote recently of children who are bringing their mothers to the meeting times, and of young mothers who now attend and help – thereby being loved on by both Cristina and the other women running the ministry, as well as by Jesus himself. This children’s work is growing, with more in attendance all the time.
As of Thursday midnight, everything is ashes – that is, the facilities are ashes – not the ministry, or their love for the children, or for Jesus!
One of the beautiful little ones being fed and ministered to
Last night when I spoke to Cristina and asked her what they would do on Saturday she said that Saturday is to be the children’s Christmas party and they would meet anyway despite the fire; simply in an area of the grounds that were not blackened by soot and ashes.
She also told me something that was very encouraging to both of us. She said that many of the neighbors in the little village were very supportive and expressed sadness for their loss. But most importantly to Cristina, she said that they were referring to the ministry as an “evangelical church”. In other words, a huge impact has already been made in the community by this little ministry to children and mothers, and it is seen for what it really it – the hands and voice of Jesus himself.
I don’t know what we can do from our part, but I would like to see us pull together and help them rebuild. The work is national and best done that way. However, that doesn’t stop those of us who love this ministry, Javier and Cristina, but most importantly Jesus, from assisting them financially during this time of crisis.
Canadian Donors (to receive a Canadian income tax receipt):
In order to best facilitate this need quickly all funding for this specific project (from Canada) can be sent to Provision of Hope through the following on-line charitable donation link:
Donate
By clicking on this link you will be taken directly to the Provision of Hope Donation Page. There you will see a heading labeled “One-Time Donation”. Ignore the drop-down below it and go directly to the “Please Add Comments or Suggestions” box and type in Mexico Children’s Feeding Program. This will ensure that your gift goes directly to this critical need following this tragic fire.
U.S. Donors (to receive a U.S. income tax receipt):
The aftermath of the arson attack. This is what was left of the children’s ministry on Friday morning
From the United States, tax-receipted gifts can be given for this specific need by sending funds as usual, made out to NewSong Church. However please make sure to mark clearly in the note area of the check “Mexico Children’s Feeding Program”.
Send to all U.S. donations to:
NewSong Church
P.O. Box 451839
Grove, OK 74345
Thankfully, despite the huge tragedy of this arson there was some good news from Cristina as well when I spoke to her late on Saturday night. The tables and benches that are used for the children were being stored in another adjacent building and were not burned in the fire. Everything else was destroyed, but thankfully these were saved and will continue to be able to serve the children in this ministry.
Also, true to Cristina’s promise to the children, the Christmas program was celebrated on Saturday (one day after the fire) with a tremendous turnout and a show of support. Jesus Christ was honored, and his name was glorified despite the present setback.
The ashes that remain
I thank you in advance for your love and support for our brothers and sisters in their work in Mexico.
I have posted photos of the children’s ministry in Buenos Aires onto the Ministry Webpage under the “NEW PHOTOS SECTION” – the very large red button at the top of this page. Also, please view the above videos to see what ministry work is really like in so many places around the world. The floor and complete grounds were dirt and became pure mud in the rainy season, the “kitchen” most certainly would not have passed a food inspector’s scrutiny, nor, I can guarantee you, did the workers have a “Food Handlers Certificate”, there were no walls, the serving tables and benches were only recently upgraded from wooden planks on cinder blocks, and all of the accouterments were bare-bones. But I have found long ago that beautiful facilities don’t necessarily impress God too much, nor do they necessarily signify an active or God-serving ministry. Although nice amenities can be helpful and useful in any work, He always looks past the tools and desires to see the heart.
I know that this was not a usual Christmas letter or blog. But this is the current need.
May you be filled with the mystery and joy of Christmas as you remember and celebrate the incarnation of our Savior. He came the first time as a helpless baby, but He is coming again very soon as the Sovereign Lord – King of kings and Lord of Lords!
May your Christmas season be filled with the love and joy of friends and family.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Steven and Theresa
