faces

Some of you have been asking me to show more photos of what my life looks like here.  

As you all know we work with street kids.  

This is why God called us here, it is our passion and our driving desire to be in Africa. 

However, we do see other faces during the day besides.  Take a look.

A little boy in Amira's class. 

The security guard at the mall

Brooklyn's best friend

LOVE his hair!

Her mom is in the same ladies group I am in

A gardener

I just love his sweet little face

Amira's best bud

Stay tuned for more....

youth group parties

So often I have shown you photos of the kids on the streets and that aspect of our lives, but I realized that you have never seen the kids we work with from our church.  

God has allowed us to be a part of an aspect of ministry that is pretty diverse.  On one hand we are ministering to homeless children, and on the other hand God has also put it on our hearts to run a youth group through our church here.  Both groups of kids are around the same ages, from 12 - 18.  Both groups of kids have questions, concerns and dreams for the future.  So, here is a glimpse of another aspect of our lives here.  These photos are from a pool party that we had on Saturday. 

Pray for these guys!  They are an awesome group of kids!  Pray that Luis and I have the words of Jesus hidden in our hearts for them.  Pray that God gets a hold of them and revival breaks out in their hearts.  

They were playing pool Rugby.....I think the girls won

Run Forrest Run!

I am wondering something....Does true faith begin when we have nothing left to offer but that next step?  When our prayers are “God make me willing to be willing”.  When all we want to do is wait out the world on a tree stump because we are just to dang tired to go on? 

I believe that God is saying to us “My child all I am asking for is that you put the right foot out.  Give me that one step and trust me for the strength to lift the left foot.”   

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a

 great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything

 that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, 

and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us.  

Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfector or our faith! 

 Who for the JOY SET BEFORE HIM, 

endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the 

right hand of the throne of God.  

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, 

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  

Hebrews 12:1-3

What is hindering you today?  Is it your fear?  Is it your doubt?  Is it your frustration and your weariness?  

There is an entire cloud of witnesses cheering us on today!  People who know exactly what we are going through!  Who probably remember well the weariness, the fear and the exhaustion of life.  But, they made it, and so can we!!  

Jesus is the mark folks!!  He is standing at the finish line cheering louder that the rest!  We have all of heaven on our side.  

It is painful and hard now!  The cross was heavy and burdensome.  But there is joy waiting at the end!  ENDURE! 

I also liked the Message version...

Hebrews 12:1-3

The Message (MSG)

12 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Thankfulness is a weapon!

Discouragement has been a constant companion these past few weeks.  So heavy, it has threatened to suck the life and fight out of me and drag me down.  A desire to just give up, go home and work a quiet job in a sparsely populated area of the United States has been very very tempting.  Am I reading anyone's mail right now?

This is what I read this morning in my devotions.  I hope that it brings comfort to your heart as it soothed mine.

Sacrifice thank offerings to God.  

Fulfill your vows to the Most High, 

and call upon me in the day of trouble.  

I will deliver you and you will honor me.   

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me

 and he prepares the way so that I may 

show him the salvation of God.  

Psalm 50:14-15, 23

Somedays its a sacrifice isn't it to be thankful isn't it?  Self pity is an enemy against the peace and joy of Jesus.  Lets send it to flight with the weapon of a grateful heart.  We have a choice to make.  We can choose to be thankful in our own personal valley of the shadow of death and remember that God almighty has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies!  Our cups overflow with so much of the goodness and mercy of God that we will never be able to contain it all!

Even though it looks bleak and dark the thing we can always be thankful for is the fact that God almighty has called us by name an has chosen and has written his seal upon our hearts!!!  REJOICE IN THAT TRUTH!!

During this time it has been good though because it has caused Luis and I to really examine why we are here in Zambia.  Introspection is always healthy don't you think?

We want to help hungry hurting street children find help and hope and a new life in Jesus!  God reminded me of a dream he gave me almost 2 years ago where we were feeding street children and helping them find homes and help.  He reminded me that we are not to have a home for them, but rather we are supposed to be the first line of defense, so to speak.  They come to us on a regular basis, we target who is serious about change, and then we work directly with those and help them take the next step.  It doesn't work to pluck them right off the streets where they have had complete freedom and no rules and plop them down in a world with rules and regulations.  They need transition.

What do we need?  Loads and loads and loads of prayer!!!
We need a ministry bus.  And we need workers!  How does God want you to get involved?  Do you give financially?   Lusaka is an expensive place to live and raise a family.   We need at least 4,000 usd a month to live.

Also, if I may be so bold as to put this one out there.....it always boosts our spirits to get care packages from home.  Crystal light and Reeses candy is always a bonus.  :-)

If God is laying it on your heart to donate financially .... go to

 tscnyc.org / give / contribute to a missions trip / morales family zambia

Or you can mail a check or money order to 

Morales Family 

Times Square Church 

Missions department 

1657 Broadway FL 4

NYC, NY 10019

earmarked Morales family / zambia