Hello Everyone,
“Unto US a Child is born, unto US a SON is given!!! What great words!
We just wanted to tell everybody Merry Christmas and thank everyone who has given towards Christmas, as well as the normal needs this year for us personally and for the Children’s Home. At this point, the bills are all paid!
Christmas will be another fun time with the twelve new kids who have never experienced Christmas at the Children’s Home before. We have the tree up, lights on the outside of the house, made Christmas cookies, hung the stockings and have been watching Christmas movies for almost a month now. The kids keep asking to look at Christmas pictures from the past. The excitement is almost palpable. Amber sat down with the kids this past week and talked about the true meaning of Christmas. They talked about how giving gifts reminds us of the greatest Gift of all. That Jesus came, to dwell among us, to die for us and as Fernanda said, “He didn’t just die, He rose again so that we can have victory over sin!” It’s so wonderful to realize that He just didn’t dwell among the people 2000 years ago, but that He still dwells in us and with us today! He’s the gift that keeps on giving!
We are planning on celebrating Christmas Day with two other churches in the area. We’re going to have special music, some preaching, a big feast and games. We will be inviting Rogelio (the little boy who was run over) and his family, as well as many others to the fiesta. Please pray that God will work in their hearts to not only accept the invitation to the fiesta, but that they’ll also accept the Gift that He is offering them. We will also be taking up a love offering for a national pastor and his family. They have really been struggling financially. They don’t know anything about it and it will be a fun surprise to take to them.
We’d like to share a facebook post about a wonderful early Christmas blessing for us. One of the most amazing stories of God’s love and His providence in the lives of the children we receive.
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Gaby, at 2 yrs. old and her two-month-old baby sister were taken by the state and placed in a children’s home for infants. Through the years Gaby had been adopted on two separate occasions but returned to live in the state run home. We received 14-year-old Gaby last April. In the last several months she has given her heart and life to Jesus Christ and become such a wonderful part of our family.
We knew that Gaby had a little sister who had also been adopted but by a different family. We encouraged Gaby to continue to pray for her little sister that God would place someone in her life to share with her the amazing love of Christ and that she also might one day accept Christ as her Savior. Last month we received a phone call from the same home that Gaby came from about a 12-year-old girl named Johana. We asked Gaby and the others from that home if they knew a girl named Johana. And Gaby said yes, her sister’s name is Johana but she had been adopted. I then asked her what the age of her sister was, but she didn’t know because it had been so long since she had seen her.
I began to pray for this little girl “Johana”. Gaby was sure that it couldn’t be her sister because she really didn’t think her sister was that old, but more importantly her sister had been adopted. Last week the DIF called again about this girl and made plans to bring her here today. When she came in, we realized in fact that this is Gaby’s little sister! She had been adopted twice but removed from the homes because of abuse. Can it be possible that God has entrusted us with this little one also so that she might come to know Him??? God is so amazing! After four adoptions, two little sisters have been reunited in a home and it is God’s good pleasure to give us the opportunity to share His love with them!!! We are so incredibly blessed!
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If you haven’t already and would like to connect with us on Facebook we are Amber-Stephen Benedict, or you can look up the Children’s Home page “Casa Betania Fuente de Vida”.
Since Johana arrived last Friday, Gaby has been witnessing to her almost non-stop. She truly desires the salvation of her sister. You may remember that it was at Gaby and Fernanda’s quince that two young men accepted Christ. It’s amazing to see how God works in and through, not only His children, but the Government, parents, and all facets of His creation. The same day that we received Johana, we also received seven-year-old Juan. He comes from a family who has substance abuse problems. He seems to have really made a connection with Mary, which is very nice. Please pray for these kids!
Please pray for Mary also, as she was diagnosed Tuesday with Typhoid. She’s been feeling run down and then last week caught a touch of the flu which didn’t seem to go away. After quite a few visits to the doctor, she is now on antibiotics and she’s beginning to feel better this morning.
Once again, Merry Christmas to all, and may Christmas day find you all in your church and, like the shepherds that first Christmas, worshiping the One whose birth we are celebrating, giving Him the present of your presence, praise, and adoration that He deserves. “Unto US a Child is born, unto US a Son is given!!!!!” It’s time to celebrate!
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
