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What a busy month May has been! We want to thank each of you for your prayers for Tony this past month. We have, once again, seen God’s hand at work through this situation. Though he still has a couple more trial dates to go we see that God is allowing for the truth to shine. Please, continue to pray alongside us for this situation to be completely resolved. 

This month we also were able to take kids from both Happy Tummies San Juan and Panyebar to the zoo in Guatemala City! We had over 110 kids and teachers with us. Everyone had so much fun; the kids couldn’t believe their eyes, seeing all the animals up close and in person had them mesmerized! It was so awesome watching them experience this trip and reminding them that all they were seeing was God’s creation. 
Our ‘team season’ is starting this Saturday. We are so excited to start this season and see many familiar faces and as well as many new ones. It’s such a joy for our staff to minister alongside each team; we feel comforted knowing we’re not in this alone. The children, the abuelitos, their families, and all that come in contact with each team are changed. As Pastor Luis always says, “you never know how far your ripple effect will reach!”
These Things
2 Peter 1:1-15
We find the words ‘these things’ in the 2 Peter 1:3,8,9,10,12 and 15. If in 15 verses we see the words ‘these things’ 6 times, we better pay attention to what ‘these things’ are. In verse, 5 Peter starts a list of ‘these things’ to live by according to God’s desire. He is writing these letters to the believers in other countries as they were being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter where they were or where you are, these things apply to our lives as we try and live according to God’s desire. 
 
“ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”  2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV

With all my respect, I’m very certain you know the meanings to these words but I want to emphasize the meaning of the word virtue:   moral excellence . Knowing that, I want to encourage you to read these verses and go through the list starting with ‘diligence’. You can find three applications if you do these things. 

Application 1 - “ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8). Our knowledge of Him must grow.

Application 2 - Negative consequences “ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins ” (v.9).  You are spiritually blind and have already forgotten the purification of your sins. 
 
Application 3 - If you do these things, “ Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall ” (v.10). This is why Peter tells us twice that he won’t get tired of remembering these things. “ Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth ” (v.12). “ Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance ” (v.15). 

How important it is to remember ‘these things’. I encourage you to keep ‘these things’ in your heart and if you can memorize them that is even better.
These two ministries are similar. Someone recently asked us what our favorite ministry is: Happy Tummies, Abuelitos, Home Visits, School Visits, etc. As we started blurting out our favorite ministries we really couldn’t make up our minds. Every single ministry has a special place in our hearts for different reasons. The Conference and the Congress have a special place for us because we know what it’s like to work in full-time ministry. Full-time in the ministry means being available, ready, and able 24/7. Knocks on your door for prayer and medicine, phone calls at any time during the day or night. There is something so fulfilling and so satisfying about serving the Lord full-time. 

As humans we do get tired, and sometimes we forget to take a step away and take time to just be with God and refuel. There is something so uplifting and renewing about spending three and a half days alongside many others who are in ministry. Time spent learning, sharing, and being ministered to, hearing someone else teaching, and taking notes and highlighting verses in your Bible. You feel empowered! You feel like you are ready and have learned so much to take back to your church and/or those to whom you minister. 

The Bible Conference takes place in July and we have a team from Riverview Baptist Church (VA) ministering alongside us. They raise part of the funds needed to make this Conference happen. The Pastor’s Congress takes place in October and Impacto raises all the funds for it. This year we are feeling very behind in our raising of funds and are considering only holding the Bible Conference in July. We are a ministry of faith and have started many ministry projects by faith. We also know we need to be wise. At this point and time, we are not sure it would be wise to hold the Congress with the lack of funds we are facing for this specific event. 

We ask that you take the time to pray and consider partnering with us as we minister to those who minister full-time. Any donation helps to fill the cups of those who fill others. We have not heard of any other Conference or Congress that offers what we offer, in a place that is so beautiful, and for the offering we ask (around $25). Out of the 150+ pastors and leaders we had last year, 48 of them did not pay as they couldn’t afford the $25 we ask for. We don't want to turn anyone away as we know this might be the only time they have to refuel and replenish themselves. 
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
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