Update from Annemarie
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- Published: Sunday, 05 June 2016 16:30
- Written by Annemarie N.
AN UPDATE FROM ANNEMARIE… Avant Missionary at El Jordán
I remember first meeting Leidy in jail – she was 20 years old, 7 months pregnant and sharing a room with her mother and younger sister. Because this was her first time in jail, she was released after only eight months. Her mom is in jail for the second time so this time most likely will be sentenced to minimum eight years. Leidy was released the night before having her second daughter, Romina, who is now eight months old.
Corina knows the family from almost twenty years ago when they were all on the streets. From the time Leidy was about six years old and her older sister Laura was 8, they would come to the streets to pick up “Christmas on the Streets” meals to share with their younger sisters. Leidy told me she began coming to El Jordán with an aunt when she was eight years old. A few years later, Leidy and her 4 younger sisters were put into a children’s home where Leidy was until she was in her mid-teens.
In February of this year, an El Jordán volunteer went to visit Leidy’s niece and met up again with Leidy. That´s when she decided to sign up for El Jordán classes this year.
Our Struggles
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- Published: Monday, 29 February 2016 17:30
- Written by Corina Clements Soria
This is El Jordán´s theme verse for this year:
“Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is the good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is the good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
What good is external change, no matter how delightful it looks, if the core is rotten? It is worth it to have your friends or acquaintances think you´re great… but be in complete rebellion to the ONE who holds the universe in the palm of His hand? Why expend all our effort, heart and soul into attaining “ALL” in this life but be empty handed when we greet eternity? Do we do any favors at El Jordán - applauding lifestyle changes in our girls that “look good” when demons lurk inside sneering… smirking and taunting when “their” girl has heard about God and the Bible, but staggers and falls into the mud yet again???
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Ephesians 2:1,2
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Ephesians 2:1,2
If you are dead, no matter how you disguise or decorate the outside, you still are dead… you are still a lifeless marionette in the hands of an evil puppeteer, the ruler of this world… That is why Romans 12:2 is such an important verse… It gives us the sequence that must be followed…
Faces From "Christmas On the Streets" 2015
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- Published: Tuesday, 09 February 2016 21:30
- Written by Corina Clements Soria
“Christmas on the Streets´” hubbub of activity has faded, replaced with focusing on the planning, organizing of this year´s activities…However, even after these 6 weeks, certain faces from “Christmas on the Streets” are still clear in my mind… Unfortunately, I never seem to remember to take pictures…all I have are pictures from my heart…
* * *
Sometimes when teenagers come and help with the preparations it´s a “camouflage” to hang out with friends or other times they´ve been “strongly encouraged” by their mom or church leader to get involved in “service”… …but 13 year old “Germán” showed up by himself (sometimes with his little brother) looking “cool” in his baseball cap, gel slicked hair and earphones constantly plugged in his ears… Day after day he´d come, quietly bagging our popped corn, wrapping gifts or doing whatever needed to be done… Why did he come?
“And your mom?”, I asked.
“She´s not here, she went to Sucre (16 hours away…)…she´ll be back on January 15th…”
“And who are you staying with?”
“My brothers” (two a bit older than Germán and a 7 year old…)
I tried not to look too horrified so he wouldn´t feel hurt... “Your mom left you by yourselves? She´s not coming back for Christmas?”
Celebrating 15 Years of His Faithfulness
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- Published: Saturday, 06 February 2016 21:30
- Written by Corina Clements Soria
This past October El Jordan celebrated 15 years!! In many Latin cultures, 15 is the “sweet 16” of North America, and here in Bolivia it is celebrated by going all out. For us at El Jordan it was a day to celebrate, but not because of the number but because of remembering God’s faithfulness through out those years. We invited just about everyone we could, who had had a part in bringing El Jordan to where it is today. Between adults and children there was over 350 of us!! What a testimony to God’s hand, mercy, love and grace for us. (we do have a wonderful PowerPoint showing El Jordan’s journey but due to third world tech problems, we haven’t been able to upload it yet!)
Joy and Sorrow...
Many times in El Jordan, we have the joy of celebrating milestones with our students and many times we also are the ones to walk along side them in their heartaches.