She did it!

Well she finally did it! My mother graduated with honors from the MCC LVN nursing program at the age of... she'd kill me if I told you! After all these years she is finally doing what she has always wanted and we are so happy for her!

The Family at the Graduation Ceremony

Mom and Grandpa

Grandpa said after the graduation, "I wouldn't have missed it."

Spanish, Spanish and more Spanish...

So tonight at Kidz Club we had over 30 kids come which as usual meant we had lots of kids that don't speak English! That was fun, but what was unique about tonight was that we had about 6 or 7 moms come out and join the fun... NONE of which could speak a word of English! Yikes, but I survived... I even translated the testimony shared at tonights event to some of the women! Not very well, but hey I translated and prayed with them... in SPANISH!!!! I am amazed at God and His grace, truly amazed. When I think of all He has blessed us with... it truly overwhelms me!

Oh, and I kept saying "pescados" instead of "pecados"... "fish" instead of "sins"... aparently Jesus did not come to earth and die for our "fish", who would have known?!?! Maybe I should have attended Bible College after all!!! KingsWay would be so proud of their honor roll student!!!

Love you guys,

Amanda

Kidz Club goes Swimming!

Areili was one of our toughest cases here at Kidz Club... She is a beautiful, smart and very active five year old with the mouth of a sailor to say the least!!! She comes from a sad home and sad circumstances and has learned at a young age that pain is very much a part of life.

Sometimes, we wonder if what we are doing at Kidz Club every week is making a difference. But this Sunday night at the swimming pool, God proved once again... that He does use our small sacrifices to change lives.

Cristina, our kids club leader, had decided earlier this summer that we should take the children whose behavior had improved over the summer months to the public pool. I was a little nervous about this... it would take a whole page to explain why, but trust me this plan made me nervous!!! Luckly she followed through and last night we took over 15 children from the EVA apartment complex in our vans to the pool! Over 15 of our kids proved themselves to be trustworthy and 'improved', that alone say's a lot about the power of God. But Areili's story say's even more. For the last several weeks I have witnessed a child, who was bitter at the entire world, who loved nor trusted no one... open up and almost bloom in front of my eyes. I've wondered if one day a week can make a difference in these children's lives... and seen the difference it has made in this one life alone. Last night this little five year old ran with open arms to meet the group, followed us around the entire evening... didn't say a single offensive remark to anyone and most importantly of all, she realized that she was loved... and in return, this beautiful little girl... LOVED back! And that, my friends... makes it worth it all!

~ Areili ~

My Mom Moved to McAllen!

Well probably not many of our readers know this, because my mom NEVER tells anyone anything!!!! But this August 17th Diana Claverie (my mommy!) graduates from the nursing program in Waco as an LVN and will be taking the Spanish courses at Kingsway here in McAllen with Jason in hopes that God will better be able to use her in Short Term Medical Mission Trips... and in Waco too as she works at the Family Practice Health Center next Spring! We are so proud of her and sooooooooooo excited to have her here with us on the border for the next several months!!! So, when your in church over the next few weeks and your thinking... "what in the world happened to Diana." ...Well, she's with me!!!