Argentina – Denise Miranda
On my first day out ministering in Argentina I felt very inadequate. I felt so unqualified. It had been decided (not by me) that I would not have an interpreter, so you can imagine how I felt traveling the dirt roads of the neighborhood, La Banda in Santiago del Esterno. I was walking behind our national and Yolanda, our church plant coordinator and wondered, ‘what am I doing here?’. However, as inadequate as I felt I said Lord, use me to minister to your people here in Argentina – even if it’s with just a smile. I can offer that, Lord.
We continued our day going house to house and wrapped up in time to prepare for the evening service that was to be held in the church we were establishing there in their immediate community. After praise & worship, we had speakers, as we did every evening. After service we all stayed and spoke with the people and prayed as needed. I noticed one gentleman that seemed to be waiting to speak to me. I finally got to him and was able to introduce myself with a smile and a handshake. He said to me that he’d seen us around and knew what we were doing in his community but no one had gone to see him. He said, in fact ” you were the only one who smiled to me and my daughter today when we saw you in the street. Wow! Talk about the Lord hearing our prayers AND answering them, too! I was floored. He went on to tell me that he wanted what I had…..peace, love and joy! Praise the name of Jesus! Remember that some people may never open the Bible but they see YOU.
We are truly representatives of Jesus Christ; ambassadors as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says.
Here is a picture of the man who I was there to minister to, but in fact ministered to me!
~Denise Miranda
Denise and friend from Argentina
Acuna Mexico – Lidia Escobedo
My husband & I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Acuna Mexico to visit an orphanage. We were blessed by spending time with the children. We played games and the ladies polished the little girl’s fingernails. We blessed them with Christmas presents. It was a blessing to be able to share our time, love and see the joy in their faces as they accepted the presents.
Visiting this orphanage brought back memories from my childhood. Growing up in a single parent home, we didn’t have much. What we did have was a loving mother that gave us a lot of love, which is more important that material things. Children need love more than anything in life. We were so glad we were able to be a blessing in these children’s lives. God used us to bring joy and love to them on this visit. We were truly blessed. We give god the Honor and the Glory for making this trip possible. Thank You Lord.
- John & Lidia Escobedo
