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February, the month of love! This month we celebrated the love of Christ for us as well as the friendships of the children and abuelitos. The children from both Happy Tummies put on shows for the staff as well as for Larry and Carlotta to bid them farewell. They dressed up, sang songs, and danced. The children and abuelitos had secret valentine's who they exchanged gifts with and Impacto made them each a small gift bag. It was a joyful occasion as we were able to spend time celebrating love with some awesome kids and abuelitos. Also this month a team from New Life Church, MD ministered alongside us. We were able to celebrate with them the opening of Happy Tummies in Panyebar and they also helped with the construction of the library. We've had a busy month planning for a new year. We are so grateful to be a part of shaping these children's lives. Thank you to all who pray for and give to Impacto; you are helping to shape these children's lives, too.

Musical performance 
by some of the children.
Giving the Walsh's some gifts, presents from Impacto, and clown performance.
This year we have decided to celebrate birthdays of the children and Abuelitos every three months. This will allow us to have a huge party with special food and presents for them all. Doing this brings us to ask for your help. We want to buy each child a full outfit including undergarments. The Abuelitos will receive a few items for around the house such as a towel, laundry detergent, dish soap, and some staple food items. We need US$20 per child/Abuelito to make this happen. For the first celebra-tion, we have 12 children from Happy Tummies San Juan/Panyebar and 3 Abuelitos. Please consider donating to our birthday fund. Many of these children and Abuelitos do not receive presents or have any celebration at home. This is a chance to shower them with the love of Christ. Donations can be sent by check to
Impacto Ministry
9690 Shepherds   Creek Place
La Plata, MD 20646
and  Birthday Gift  should be written on the memo line. You may also make donations through PayPal by clicking here . Thank you once again for your willingness to give.


Pastor Luis & Dinora
Pastor Luis' Corner

 

Investing in Your Future

 

"Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is  that more be credited to your account."

Philippians 4:17

 

I want to share with you some thoughts I had about a Rick Warren devotion. It would take me a thousand newsletters to explain this verse and what is in my heart but I will try to put it into as few words as possible. 

 

Paul said that the best part of being generous was to receive all the benefits from God. After God, according to the Bible, there are only two eternal things:  His Word, and people. The Bible says that He put eternity in the heart of man. Each time that you are generous with people you are investing in your eternal home. Jesus called this principle "accumulating treasures in heaven." In fact He used this expression six times in the Bible. If Jesus repeats something six times, you better pay attention. If you don't, you will lose your blessing.

 

Christian life is not about accumulating things here on earth. Life with Christ 

consists of accumulating things in heaven. The Bible says there could be negative consequences for accumulating things here on earth. There are thieves who can steal, termites and rust that can destroy. So, it's best to accumulate in heaven where it cannot be destroyed.

 

This makes a lot of sense. Why? Because obviously you will spend much more time in heaven than on earth. God's Word says that we have 80-100 years on this earth and that when we leave we won't take anything with us. So, it's smart to think that we will need more over there than here.

 

How do you accumulate treasures in heaven? How will you ship them in advanced? There is no divine UPS.

 

The Bible says you can send your treasures when you invest in people. Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:35-36) He then goes on to say, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40b)

 

" Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. "

 

In this verse Paul expresses his gratitude to the Philippians for the financial support they had offered him. But he told them the most important part of helping and what gave him the most joy was that their sacrifice and generosity was giving them treasures in heaven and benefits here on earth. They invested in Paul but also in their eternal home. I invite you to wisely and joyfully invest in your eternity.