Challenging? Surprising? Difficult? Yep, that and a whole lot more has been the pattern for 2020! It was most certainly not the year any of us had planned or expected! It seemed to be one thing after another; a pandemic that was threatening our health and our lives, political unrest all over the world, hurricanes, fires, storms, job losses and more! Nevertheless, the Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

A Big Announcement

One way that Impacto gives thanks is by not giving up but continuing to move forward with the ministry to which God has called us. This is precisely why in 2021 we will see the start of two new Happy Tummies! In fact, one church is already feeding the children who come each week during Sunday School! Both of these Happy Tummies will be directly linked with one of our Nueva Vida Churches in their area. Our hope is that while we will minister to children from these churches we also will be able to minister to other children in the community as well as their parents. God willing, Happy Tummies will be the conduit for many families to come to know God and accept Jesus as their one and only Savior!

The first months of 2021 will be spent getting facilities ready for the children -- this includes the kitchen, bathrooms, main dining/classroom area, as well as all the resources they will need. Although as construction and maintenance is happening, both Happy Tummies will start feeding some children. We praise God, because He has already provided for this phase and, once again, we are in awe of His provision! However, we do need 80 new sponsors to provide US$35 monthly for the Happy Tummies children at these two new sites. Remember, Happy Tummies is a part of our Compassion Ministries.

Both Happy Tummies are in areas with big needs, areas with malnourished children; most importantly, areas where the Gospel needs to be heard. They are in areas where children are vulnerable to join gangs and to be taken from family with false hopes and promises.

Giving Tuesday is the perfect time for you to join us in this new undertaking. You can donate by clicking the DONATE NOW button above or entering our website here and make a gift to our Compassion Ministries. We have prayed long and hard about the new Happy Tummies, and we know God is calling us to take this next step. Our goal is while we suppress the momentary hunger here on earth we will show and lead them to Jesus who is the “truth, the way, and the life” (Jn. 14:6) for a wonderful eternity with our Father!

We recently celebrated one of my favorite days of the year: Thanksgiving. Sitting at the table with my wife, I asked her if there was something specific for which she was thankful. Our conversation took us back in time as we remembered many crises God permitted us to walk through. During those times, we were held in God’s mighty and marvelous hands as He brought us through each and every one of them.

We realized that we could not count all our blessings even if we tried because there have been so many! I’d like to share with you what Psalm 40:5 [NCV] says, “if I tried to tell them all, there would be too many to count.” I’d also like to share with you the lyrics to this hymn my mother taught me 45 or 50 years ago in the hope that you will draw encouragement from it as you pause to give thanks for the many things God has done for you.

Count Your Blessings

(by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.