ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION !!!!!

The daycare has now been open for two years!!!! After a year of construction we were able to open the doors to the community in March of 2007. There were only five kids. Now, we are caring for 33 children with a waiting list of 20 Ninos. It is only by Gods grace and faithfulness Open Arms is what it is today.

It is amazing what God can do with $1, a big dream and some faith.  Isn’t it amazing that God would choose you to be a part of his plan to rescue these children from the streets and orphanages? Through your prayers, financial support, and or service in Mexico, you have helped these families stay together while breaking the cycle of poverty and abandonment. Because of our help, the children are able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and know the love of their Father.

All the children of age that can understand and comprehend who Jesus is and what he has done for them on the cross have accepted Him as their personal Savior. Eight mothers, have accepted Jesus just in the last year, and many families are now attending church!!!

Ordained Ministers:

Daniel and Heidi have officially become ordained Ministers. They are now legal Pastors who can marry, bury, baptize and preach the word of God. They are very excited to have this honor, and feel even more responsible to share their ministry and love for God.

Please pray for this couple as they pastor the children and families of the daycare, comforts the lonely, counsel the hurt, cloth the poor, feed the hungry, and open their arms to the people of Mexico. They need your prayers for the strength, guidance, wisdom, rest, energy, and renewed spirit, everyday!!!

SPREADING SALVATION SEEDS

Every week we are amazed at how much the children are growing spiritually. One sermon last month was on evangelism.  We talked about how you can’t measure the amount of love God has for us, because He loves us and sent His one and only son Jesus to die for us and save us. And, if we have accepted this sacrifice & this immense love, we too need to share this with the people in our lives.

We challenged the kids to try and make it a point to talk to a friend, a neighbor, or someone in their family about Jesus. Dulce, 10, took this to heart and came to the service the following week ready to share her testimony of leading her aunt to Christ. She shared with us that when she told her aunt about Jesus she recited John3: 16 and that is what brought her to Christ.

We too can learn from a child and fulfill the commandment in Mathew 28.19

“  Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

The seeds are beginning to grow!!!

Favian, 12 years old has attended the daycare for a year. Most of the time we don’t know if the seeds we plant ever blossom outside of the daycare, but Glory to God they have!!! Favian’s mom has told us that he has been teaching her and his cousins how to pray at home. And he has helped his brother pray through bad dreams. His mother is now attending our weekly Bible Study. Thank God for all of you who plant seeds into Open Arms.

Additionally our little baby Samaria is now six months old. She is rolling over, sitting up, and she loves to show off her two front teeth.  She is so blessed and she is a wonderful blessing to our lives. Three times this last month Samaria was prophesied over and it was said that she would be a Pastor one day. Praise the Lord!!! God is already revealing the amazing plans he has for our little girl.

In other news, two of our workers, Griselda and Maricela started their own Bible study in one of their homes. They not only minister to the kids at the daycare but to the women of the community, as well. Last summer we remodeled Maricela’s home when her and her three children were living in a one-room house. Now, this house is being used to share the love of God to the others in La Mision!!!

Also the children’s church every Wednesday has taken off and the kids love it. We are expecting God to do big things during these services.

Additionally every Wednesday morning, Miriam, holds a Bible study at her home. The Bible study is now over 25 women every week. And, many of the mom’s at the daycare are requesting an hour off of work to attend. Furthermore, every Friday night there is a Youth Bible study here at the daycare for about 10- 15 youth in the community. Cynthia, who is Miriam’s daughter hold’s her own study in a safe place where youth can come and fellowship. Last Friday several new youth came to the service, and many gave their lives to the Lord!!! Pray with us that these ministries continue to flourish and that more come to know the love of Christ.

SEEKING SALVATION

We are so excited to share with you what God has been doing at Open Arms this past month.

A missions team from The Sound of His Voice Fellowship in Visalia CA, came to minister to the children and their mothers. God has opened the hearts of many of the mothers who attend our monthly moms group. This month Pastor Rebecca shared her testimony of how she had hit rock bottom and how Christ pulled her out into his loving arms. Many of the moms could relate to her story and through this many gave their lives to the Lord.

Also this team brought a great VBS for the kids. They learned about the armor of God, and how to use it through the power of prayer.

PRAYER PRAISE!!!!!

Our prayer for children’s church at the daycare has been answered. God is good and has brought us the resources to begin a worship band and a midweek service for the kids at Open Arms. Most of the children in the daycare are un-churched so our prayer was to bring church to them. Our 1^st service was on January 28^th. Our goal is to get more and more kids involved in the service so God can reveal to them their gifts and talents.

WORK BEGINS ON OUR NEW LOTS…

With the help of our financial partners we have been able to start the process of cleaning out the lots, leveling out the dirt, and we have begun to dig for the septic tank.

The foundation and framing of the new 6000 sq ft building will begin this spring.

Join our adventure as we watch God provide for the many needy children of our area.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

We pray you all had a great Holiday Season filled with blessings from God. Every month we pray that God shows Himself to you in a new and real way. We pray for health and financial break thru’s.

We believe God has big plans for 2009. We firmly believe He has called us to continue the expansion of the daycare on the new lots we purchased last year.

Additionally, we believe we need to focus on the spiritual growth of the children and their parents.

Also, want to start a child’s worship band and a midweek service at the daycare for the children. We are also continuing our monthly mom’s group as a way to evangelize and bring the mom’s to Christ as well.

TAKING A LOOK BACK…

In 2008 we have seen many wonderful blessing & miracles that God has bestowed upon Open Arms. We are so blessed by all of you, and all you do for Open Arms!

We were able to accomplish so much this last month on our dorm project with the help of many great groups.

Intervarsity Bible Study helped each Saturday this past month by nailing the chicken wire so that the building would be ready for stucco.

Corona Del Mar Community Church came and helped out for a weekend to help finish detailing on the dorms they also made lunch for the kids at the daycare, and had fun crafts for the kids to do.

Last but not Least we had a new group come down from Utah; Sonrise Fellowship. They brought with them a huge blessing & new Wal-Mart clothing.  They also worked at the dorms getting the four bathrooms finished. They were able to finish the tile and the grout!!!  Not only that they began installing the fence surrounding the dorm property.

The month of May was a very busy month. We had many groups come down and help us with the project of the dorms. Heritage Christian School from Bakersfield, CA brought a group of junior highers down to lay the foundation of the second dorm building. Also, Intervarsity, a ministry at UC San Diego brought a work crew down to help pour this slab. We also had the adult Masters Commission from Scottsdale Dream Center in AZ come down for a week to minister to the children and help with the dorm project. They put on a great show for the kids and showed what it really means to serve. Additionally, Corona Del Mar Community Church came down and blessed the children with a VBS on Noah’s Ark and primed the dorm building.New Life Church from Alamo, CA also brought blessings this month. On the weekend after Mother’s Day, a group of women from the church came down, along with a group from El Faro church in Sacramento, CA, and hosted an event for the mothers of the children here at the daycare. Each mom received a bag of gifts that included a Bible, a photo frame, a candle, a journal, and some snacks. A wonderful sermon was also given, along with some great worship music. The mothers were very touched that someone would go out of their way to bless them and we pray many seeds were planted. Please pray that these mothers come to the Lord.Along with that event, a registered nurse from the group also gave a CPR class to the workers from the daycare and from the local orphanage. This class will allow each worker to better handle an emergency situation.Many other blessings have happened this past month. Two brothers, who both had their optical nerve damaged before birth, both needed an updated pair of lenses. Because of the little money that their mother was making, their mother was not in a position to pay for them. But thanks to a friend, Judy Dawson, these boys were able to receive a new pair with a new prescription. The boys are now able to see much clearer.We have another praise report about the side lot. Because of all of your support, all of the money for the lot was raised and we were able to purchase it on May 14. We want to thank all the churches and individuals for their generous hearts in making this purchase possible. May God richly bless all of you.

On April 30th we celebrated what is known down here in Mexico as “Day of the Kid.” This day is to celebrate the children that are so many times forgotten about. We celebrated it here with a big party, cake, and a piñata. All of the kids enjoyed this wonderful event.

Furthermore, we have a praise report. New Life Church in Alamo, CA has decided to give Open Arms a $1 to $1 matching grant to help pay for the side lot. We would like to thank them for their generosity. We would also like to thank those of you who have already given towards this purchase as well. So far we have received $8,000 towards the lot. That with the grant included, we have a total of $16,000 so far. That leaves us with only $9,000 to go. If you have not already, please pray that God will provide the money needed for this lot.

Additionally, this month we accepted two new kids at the daycare, Aaron and Alexis. They are 6 year old twins who just moved up here from San Quintin, which is three hours south of Ensenada. Their mother decided to move up, knowing that there is a safe place to put her kids while she is at work. Please pray for them and their spiritual journey, as they have already decided to accept Christ as their Savior.

Our Easter activities this year were great. All of the kids painted eggs and had a traditional Easter egg hut, which was a new thing for many of them. Additionally, each child received their own basket with candy, eggs, and toys. Most importantly, the kids received a lesson about the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, two more children were also added to the daycare. Favian, 10 and Orlando, 6, have joined the Open Arms family. This family was homeless for a time until someone took them in and allowed them to live with her family. The boys are now attending school and enjoy the daycare’s bible class. Their mom is now working and is now more able to support her kids.

Additionally, another one of our prayers looks like it is close to being answered. Ever since we came down here, we have wanted to purchase the lot right next to the daycare, but because we could never find the owner of the lot, that option was never made available to us. After two and a half years of praying, one day Daniel met the owners by chance in the store next to us. What is more, they are not only willing, but wanting to sell! Even more amazing is that they want to sell it for under market value. Praise God! It is amazing to see how this comes together. The owner is giving us one month to get the money together to hold it for us. The price of the lot is $25,000. Please prayerfully consider being apart of this great investment which can affect many lives, as we plan to expand the daycare.

The month of March was an exciting month for us. On March 5th, Open Arms celebrated its one year anniversary of having our doors open to the community. A year ago we opened our doors to five children, and since then we have grown to 27 kids here at the daycare. One year ago we would not have been able to support 27 kids financially, but thanks to all of our individual and church supporters, we are now able to financially provide for these children. Watching the growth of these kids, seeing how they develop and learn about the Lord is such a wonderful experience. It is amazing to see the change in their lives.

This month Dulce Maria was blessed by a special couple from Corona Del Mar Community Church. Dulce is 10 years old, whose mom works at the daycare. She has used glasses for many years, and the glasses have been worn and broken with time. Because of the family’s economic situation, Dulce did not want to ask her mom for a new pair, so she lived with glasses that were broken and glued back together many times. This couple decided to sponsor Dulce and is buying her a brand new pair. Now, she is able to see better with an updated prescription and clearer lenses.

On February 5, Open Arms purchased the kiddy corner lot. This lot will go to the expansion of the daycare, where a duplex will be built that will eventually be used to house two missionary families and a large playroom will be built for the older children. We would like to send a special thank you to Sandy Souza for donating the money for the property.Additionally, the daycare continues to grow. Harely, Misael, and Nathael Machado have joined their cousins Said, Arturo, and Ivan here at Open Arms. We are proud that we have and will be able to watch this family of cousins grow and watch them develop a relationship with Christ. Please pray that through these children, God will touch their parents and grandparents and change this family completely for the glory of God.Also, five other children were enrolled here at Open Arms in the past month. Please keep them and their families in your prayers, that God will change their lives and will bless them in a great way.