Sandra is a 30 year old woman born in Bogota, Colombia. Her parents were illiterates from the countryside. They never gave her any education or direction for her life.

By age 12 she had been raped. But her parents never did anything for her. She was alone and subjected in her poverty. At age 18 she became pregnant but left her son with a family because she had no work to support him. Then she lived with a man by whom she became pregnant who then abandoned her. She named the girl Maria Fernanda.

She returned to her parents who treated her very badly and threw her out again to the streets. Someone gave her a place to stay and she had another girl by another man whose name is Lorena. She then had another girl named Angie. After three years she had another girl named Camila. She lived with all these children in the city of Bogota in any place she could find that would give her a place to sleep and eat. Finally she was pregnant again with a boy she named Camilo.

Because of hunger, cold and total abandonment in the city of Bogotá a policeman who saw her in the street recommended that she go to Santa Marta where she could work selling confections to support her children and she could sleep on the beach. So she went to the bus terminal and someone helped her to arrive in Santa Marta. By asking for alms on the streets she was able to provide for their food. For one month she slept on the porch of an abandoned house close to the beach. But there was a group of men who lived on the streets that also slept in that place running the risk that her children could be abused.

A brother from our church shared the gospel of Jesus and recommended that she taker her children to Hogar La Providencia. After praying and counseling with the psychologist of the home in this case we decided to give housing to the two oldest girls, who were Maria Fernanda and Lorena, 10 and 8 years of age. The girls were given medical attention, clothing and education. Sandra remained with the three on the street. But every day Maria Fernanda and Lorena prayed for their mother asking God that nothing bad would happen to them and that they would have enough to eat.

After a week we went to look for their mother with her three children and we offered them to come and stay at Hogar La Providencia. We brought them and attended to their health and in all of their necessities. The mother along with her children is receiving the Word of God every day.

When they arrived they said that they were Catholics and that they were not going to change their religion. After a week Sandra began to ask more about the Word of God saying that she did want to entrust her life to Jesus to live a new life. Now she is learning to read the Bible. Every day she participates in the devotional and together with her children she prays. Their lives are new. They have changed from their customs of street living. They attend the church and they want to be baptized.

We give testimony that God is working in their lives and we are guiding them by the Word of God. We recognize that this work is the fruit of your prayers and from all the help that Tenth Presbyterian Church has offered to Hogar La Providencia. Your mission team visits every August, the continual visits of Rev. Bruce McDowell, the calls, the emails, and all the supplying of our needs over all these years has taught us how to serve in the Kingdom of God in the best way.

Thank you for the health brigades, the conferences, sponsorship of the children. Thank you for sister Clara Hernandez who always is writing and visiting us to serve the children to celebrate Christmas, making a Christmas tree and giving gifts. Thank you to Susanna Linton who in addition to her prayers supports many children in the Hogar. ‘Thank you’ to brother Omar Cedeño, John Evans, Jonathan Olsen, Kaya Casper, Tom, to the children who pray and help with their offering.

Thank you very much to all the members of Tenth Presbyterian Church that contribute with their offerings for the work of the Kingdom of God in Santa Marta, Colombia. To the pastors, session, deacons, global outreach commission: beloved we love you in the love of the Sovereign and Merciful God. The Tenth Presbyterian Church has been the instrument that God called to make possible this work of integral evangelism of word and deed for the smallest brothers of our city.

Your Servant, Jaime Leal

John Calvin School Construction as of January 2009.

Rejoicing in the abundant blessings of the Sovereign. To him be the glory for his will, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Thankful for all the effort that has been expressed towards us, not only this year, but ever since you have heard of our needs. Your prayers and actions are clearly seen, so that despite all the obstacles we have been able to advance.

The session, my family, the churches, and all the ministry team are conscious that you all have been instruments of God to start and continue our mission. We started with just giving food once a week to boys and girls, with a series of events, sports team, music and giving the word. Now we are ministering to 200 very poor boys and girls, being deficient of all they need for their existence. We provide education, clothing, food, and health. And beyond that we give them the knowledge of the Word of God, knowing that the source of all grace is our Lord Jesus. We pray to God that as you have begun and have shown interest in us, continue praying and supporting the vision and mission of our church. Our needs are many every day. In the Home are 30 children that every day have to be cared for and supervised. In the school are 120 children that every day volunteer teachers are needed to invest their gifts in the kingdom of God. But every day we solve the problem of support and development of what God has proposed to us. Thank you Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.

Jaime Leal

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Regosijos en las abundates dadivas del Soberano, al el Sea la Gloria por su buena voluntad agradable y perfecta.

Agradecidos por toda la gestion que han emprendido por nosotros no solo este año , si no siempre que han escuchados nuestras necesidades, Sus Oraciones y acciones se ven claramente, que a pesar de todos los inpaces hemos podido avanzar.

El Consistorio , mi familia , las iglesias, y todo el Equipo de trabajo estamos consientes que ustedes han sidi intrumentos de Dios para comenzar y continuar nuestra mision, Comenzamos solo con dar alimentos una vez a la semana a niños y niñas, con una serie de ludicas , equipos de deportes, musica ty palabra. Hoy estamos atendiendo a unos 200 niños y niñas de estractos bien bajos , en carrencia de todo lo necesario para su existencia. Damos educacion , vestido ,alimento, Salud . y sobre todos damos a conocer la palabra de Dios, sabiendo que la fuente de toda gracia es nuestro Señor Jesus. Rogamos a Dios que asi como comenzaron y se han interesado en nosotros, continuen orando y apoyandos en la consecucion de la vision y mision de nuestra iglesia. Son muchas nuestras necesidades todaos los dias, en el hogar viven 30 niños, que todos los dias hay que cuidar y velar por ellos. En la escuela hay 120 niños que necesitam todos los dias maestros voluntarios que quier invertir sus dones en el Reino de Dios. Pero todos los dias solucionamos el sostenimiente y desarrollo de lo que Dios se a propuesto con nosotros.

Gracias Decima Iglesia Presbiteriana de Filadelfia.

The Lord teaches me in his Word that I must remain in him always and keep his commandments.

I have to love my brothers and have a common bond in the Lord. I have to rejoice in the Lord always.

I have to be a loving person and not be worried about what I will do. We have to present to him all of our needs, praying and asking him with confidence, because he is our Father.

We learn in his Word that God is God of peace and that his peace passes over all and that I only have to think on the good in everything that is pleasing to God.

Jesus tells me that I have to do everything that I have seen in him and God will be with us always.

We have to be thankful for all things that he gives us, be thankful for all that we have, although we have problems and needs.

We need to bear much fruit that remains because that is what the Lord requires of us. We need to be a fragrance to God and put our faith in him, because the Lord will meet our spiritual and material needs according to his holy will.

Our life is only to adore and glorify God.

Sent by Jaime Leal from Ester Mendoza, an adolescent living at Hogar La Providencia

Devocional Filipenses 4

El Senor Me Ensena en Su palabra que tengo que permanecer en el Siempre , y cumplir con su, s mandamientos.

Tengo que amar a mis hermanos y tener un mismo sentir en el Senor, tengo que regocijarme con el Senor siempre.

Tengo que ser una persona mamable y no tener afán en lo que voy hacer, tenemos que presentarle nuestras nesecidades orandole y pidiendole con confianza, Porque El es nuestro Padre.

Aprendemos en su palabra que Dios es dios de Paz y que su paz sobre pasa Todo y que solo tengo que pensar en lo bueno en todo lo que agrada a Dios.

Jesus me Dice que tengo hacer todo lo que he visto en El y Dios estara con nosotros Siempre.

Tenemos que ser agradecidos por todo lo que nos da. estar agradecidos por todo lo que tenemos, aunque tengamos problemas, necesidades.

Tenemos que dar mucho Fruto que permanezca Porque eso es lo que el Señor nos pide. Tenemos que ser olor fragante a Dios y colocar nuestra fe en El , porque el señor suplirá nuestras Necesidades Espirituales y Materiales de acuerdo a su Santa Voluntad.

Nuestra vida solo Es para adorar y Glorificar a Dios.

Ester Mendoza

Peace from the always eternal Jesus, our beloved Savior. The construction of John Calvin School is continuing, expecting to have this project finished by the end of October.

1. I’ll be taking pictures of illiterate people listening to the Proclaimers. On Monday we are hosting a group of country folk for training. They want to know more of the Bible.

2. Today we purchased 50 Bibles to give to the new disciples of the Scriptures that know how to read. But they like to hear the dynamic narration of the Scriptures on the Proclaimers that you brought.

3. Also there are a group of children that don’t know how to read that are learning the Scriptures.

4. On the farm we are working at cultivation. At this time there is sufficient rain to water the corn and yuca.

5. We are organizing to build a tank for water storage.

6. We are organizing the school and legalizing the papers and educational plan for the high school.

7. La Puerta Church is having Bible studies in homes, with a good harvest of new converts.

8. We are fixing up the new kitchen of the Hogar.

9. By the end of October the school children will move to the new classrooms of the school.

There is much to tell, and many are the testimonies of the faithfulness of our good and holy God.

Jaime Leal

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Paz del Siempre Eterno Jesus, nuestro amado Salvador. Continua la Construcion de la Escuela Juan calvino, esperando poder terminar este proyecto a finales de Octubre.

Tengo algunos correos atrazados por contestar.

1.Tomar las fotos con los radios para las personas que no pueden leer, el lunes tendremos a un grupo de campesinos que le estamos adiestrando y quieren conocer mas de la Biblia.

2.Hoy compramos 50 biblias para regalar a los nuevos discipulos de las escrituras, que si saben leer. pero que les gusta escuchar la forma dinamica en que narar las escrituras los radios que trajeron.

3. Tambien hay un grupos de ninos que no saben leer y estan aprendiendo las escrituras.

4. En la granja estamos trabajando en pro de los cultivos , en esta epoca hay bastante lluvia , para regar el cultivo de maiz , yuca y maiz.

5. Estamos organizando un estanque para almacenar agua.

6. Se esta organizando la escuela y se esta legalizando los papeles y el Plan educativo para el colegio.

7. La iglesia la puerta viene realizando estudios biblicos en las casas, con buena cosecha de nuevos conversos.

8. Estamos adecuando la nueva cosina del hogar.

9. Para finales de octubre pasaran los ninos a las nuevas Aulas de Clases.

Hay bastante que contar y muchos son los testimonios, de la fidelidad de nuestro bueno y Santo Dios.

Jaime Leal

Blessings to all the saints, in Christ Jesus.

I am informing you that I was traveling to different destinations, teaching and visiting to begin a new study group with STR (Seminario Teologico Reformado) in cooperation with MINTS. The places I visited were: Sincelejo (San Pedro Sucre) and San Pedro de Uraba.

On August 29 I traveled from Santa Marta to Sincelejo. In Sincelejo I took transportation to San Pedro Sucre. I takes two hours to arrive there. In San Pedro Sucre I got to know a sister that is leading a church whose name is Olga. She was waiting to introduce me to her group of leaders. We agreed that they would fill out all the documents to register to be part of our institution. I gave answers to all of their questions. The number of students that want to enroll in the program is approximately 15 persons. Among these students are a physician, a bacteriologist, two teachers, a psychologist and other professionals. Their attention was very good. I was with them from 2:00 – 5:00 pm.

These brothers expressed their desire to invite me to preach at their church and I put myself at their service.

On Friday I went to the city of Monteria where I spent the night in a hotel, to travel on Saturday at 4:00 am to San Pedro Sucre. The trip took 3 1/2 hours. At 9:00 am we began with the class that was of much blessing. I learned from the brothers and heard about their lives as parents, husbands and wives, and pastors. We shared much about their ministries. The material I taught was biblical ethics by Ismael Quintero. On Sunday I shared with the leaders and pastor Cristina from the Interamerican Church of San Pedro. On Monday at dawn I returned to my destination.

I thank the Lord for guiding me in everything and I ask as Paul would say, “I ask that your prayers be for the extension of the kingdom of God.”

Pastor Edison Florez

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Bendiciones a todos los santos, en cristo Jesús.

Les informo que estuve viajando a diferentes destinos, enseñando y visitando. para iniciar un nuevo grupo de estudio con el STR en convenio con MINTS los lugares que visite fueron: Sincelejo (san pedro sucre) y San pedro de uraba.

El día viernes 29 de agosto viaje desde Santa marta a Sincelejo. En Sincelejo tome un trasporte a san pedro sucre son dos horas para llegar allí.

En san pedro sucre conocí a una hermana que se encuentra liderando una iglesia su nombre es Olga. Ella me estaba esperando para presentarme a su grupo de líderes.

Acordamos que ellos diligenciarían todos los documentos para poder ingresar a ser parte de nuestra institución. Les di respuesta a todas sus inquietudes. El número de estudiantes que desean ingresar al programa son 15 personas aproximadamente. Entre estos estudiantes hay un medico, una bacteriala, 2 docentes, una psicóloga y otros profesionales. La atención fue muy buena estuve de 2: oo PM – 5 PM

Estos hermanos me manifestaron el deseo de poder invitarme para predicar en la iglesia a la que ellos pertenecen y yo me puse al servicio de ellos.

El día viernes pase a la ciudad de montería donde pase la noche en un hotel, para viajar el sábado a las 4:00am a san pedro sucre. El viaje demoro 3 horas y media. A las 9:00am empezamos con la conferencia fue de mucha bendición, aprendí de los hermanos y escuche acerca de la vida de ellos como padres, esposos hijos, pastores y compartimos mucho acerca de sus ministerios. La materia que se llevo fue ética bíblica por Ismael quintero. El día domingo compartí con los líderes y la pastora cristina de la iglesia interamericana de Sanpedro. El día lunes en la madrugada regresé a mi destino.

Doy gracias a nuestro señor por guiarme en todo y pido como lo diría pablo, Ruego que sus oraciones sean a favor de la extensión del reino de Dios.

Pastor Edison Florez

Peace and glory.

Today Sunday we started worship in the La Puerta Church. It was a marvelous worship in honoring the Sovereign.

We are having worship in the first floor that can hold 200 people, and there is room for the children. We are very happy and we have proposed to finish the second floor by December. We pray that we may celebrate Christmas in the new sanctuary.

On Friday a new indigenous group arrived at the Hogar asking that we support their children that are suffering from hunger and poor health. But we have a problem in that they don’t speak Spanish. We told them to wait until we get to know one another better in this new relationship and look for help. We shared with them rice, wheat, oil, lentils. They left happy and agreed to return in October.

The four children from Uraba arrived. They came to live at the Hogar. I will take their pictures so that you know them and can look for support for them. Two of them can be supported by the Sunday school at Tenth Church.

I was not able to have the conference in Hotel Sol Aruhuaco because of a lack of funds. We postponed it until September.

Pray for my wife Ester so that she does not have to be operated upon again [laser eye surgery]. She is going on Tuesday for a consultation.

Construction work has already begun on the school at the Hogar.

We have a lot of work. On Tuesday I’m going to start a work with a group of professionals that I am discipling. They told me that they wanted to study the Bible and invite their friends. Let’s pray for Monica who is a leader that is contacting the rich people of the city and has invited me to teach the Word.

Tomorrow we have our television program. I will preach and lead in prayer. The theme is the Solas and I only have 15 minutes. They give me time of 1 hour, going four times per week. The cost is 1,200,000 pesos per month. We are looking for someone to support this ministry. Many people who hear me by radio and television are being called [by the Lord] and made uncomfortable by the doctrines of grace. Would it be possible to find someone who can support this ministry of radio and television?

At this time we are seeing more clearly how God letting us get to know more people to whom we can preach the gospel. We are hoping that in 2009 we can have a better national budget so that we can do more. We are hoping that God sends workers to his harvest, Susanna, and all that the Sovereign calls.

I ask that your efforts in the grace of God always support us. My passion for the kingdom of God on the Coast is quite strong and I want to spend it in the service only in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your missionary journeys feed us with love for those who don’t know Jesus Christ. We know that our work in Jesus is not in vain.

Peace evangelistically.

Jaime Leal

**********************************

Paz y gloria.

Hoy domingo comenzamos el culto en la Iglesia La Puerta. Fue un culto maravilloso para honrar al Soberano.

Estamos realizando el culto en el primer piso donde entran 200 personas , y hay espacio para los niños.

Estamos muy contentos y nos hemos propuesto terminar el segundo piso para diciembre. Oremos para que podamos celebrar la Navidad en el nuevo templo.

El viernes llegó al hogar un nuevo grupo indigena pidiendo que apoyemos a su hijos, quienes estan sufriendo hambre y enfermedad, pero tenemos un problema, ellos no saben hablar español. Les dijimos que esperaran para encaminar mejor esta nueva relación y buscar ayuda. Compartimos con ellos arroz, trigo, aceite y lentejas.
Se fueron contentos y quedaron en volver en octubre.

Llegaron los niños del Urabá, son 4. Llegaron para vivir en el Hogar. Voy a tomarles fotos para que los conozcas y busquemos apoyo para ellos, dos de los cuales pueden ser apoyados por la escuela de la Décima Iglesia.

No pude dar la conferencia en El Sol Aruhuaco por falta de presupuesto. La aplazamos para setiembre.

Oremos por mi esposa Ester para que no la vuelvan a operar. Ella va el martes a consulta.

Ya comenzaron las obras de construcción de la Escuela del Hogar

Tenemos mucho trabajo. El martes vamos a comenzar un trabajo con un grupo de personas profesionales que estoy discipulando , ellos me pidieron estudiar la biblia e invitar a sus amigos.

Oremos , por Mónica que es una líder que está contactando a la gente rica de la ciudad y me invita para que enseñe la palabra, Mañana tenemos un programa de televisión , voy a predicar y hacer oración . El tema es las Solas, sólo tengo 15 minutos. Me dan un espacio de una 1 hora, pasando 4 veces por semana , el espacio vale 1.200.000.por mes, estamos buscando quien nos patrocine.

Mucha gente que me oye por la radio y la televisión está siendo llamada e inquietada por las doctrinas de la Gracia.

¿Será posible buscar a alguien que nos apoye en el ministerio de la radio y la televisi?3n?

En este tiempo vemos más claro cómo Dios nos está llevando a conocer más gente para predicar. Esperamos que en el 2009 podamos tener un mejor presupuesto nacional y hacer más. Esperamos que Dios envíe obreros asu mies, Susana, y todos los que el Soberano llame. Te ruego que tu esfuerzo en LA GRACIA DE DIOS siga siempre apoyándonos, mi pasión por el Reino de Dios en la Costa es bastante fuerte y quiero entregarme completamente al Servicio de la proclamacion del Evangelio de Jesuscristo, sus viajes misioneros nos alimentan de amor por los que no conocen a Cristo. Sabemos que nuestro trabajo en Cristo no es en vano.

Paz evangelizadora,

Jaime Leal

Rev. Edinson Flores has gone to Uraba on a missions trip to teach and preach.

Also, our daily radio program is now airing from 8 – 9pm (UTC-5).

The church is growing. New families are arriving. Every Sunday we will have a bulletin, emphasizing confessing the Apostles’ Creed. Some members of the church are motivated to serve.