Our June prayer letter
June 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
Remember when I wrote to you about Rafael, the drunken neighbor who George took to the hospital, who later turned up at our weekly neighborhood Bible study? If you recall, after that he brought some friends (also clearly struggling with addictions). Well, you have to hear what has happened since then…
One day last month, Rafael was inebriated again and he took a pretty bad fall. He ended up partly unconscious on the street and severely bleeding from a head wound. A neighbor took him in and attempted to clean up the wound. A few days later, Rafael shows up at our door, once again needing help.
So, George took him to the hospital. This time we began to encourage him to go into a rehabilitation center (U-Turn for Christ, south of Ensenada). With the help of a brother from our local church family (Jaime), Rafael went to get help. Jaime later shared with our neighbors in the Bible study that if they also wanted help, he could take them to the rehab center as well.
Unfortunately, Rafael decided to leave the rehab center, and within 2 weeks we saw him stumbling down our street again. What a disappointment!
However, the words Jaime shared with our neighbors weren’t in vain. Within the last 3 days, 2 male neighbors have come to us to be taken to the rehab center! These men are friends of Rafael who have decided they want to get out of their addictions. Yesterday, Jose Manuel gratefully and humbly entered the center. Today Leonardo did the same.
As I shared these events with my mother-in-law, she pointed out how it makes sense for Grace Children’s Home (GCH) to be involved in this ministry. The children in homes like ours are the innocent victims of people who abuse and use. By offering these adults salvation and a better way of life, we break the cycle of abuse, reducing the number of innocent victims and abused children. What a revelation!
God never ceases to amaze me with His creative ways of using us and GCH. Every time we begin to think we understand all He has for us, He shows us something new. It’s really exciting being a part of all these opportunities. We thank God for your prayers and support that allow us to be here.
Please remember to pray for our neighbors – Rafael, Jose Manuel, Leonardo and all the others God brings to our doorstep. Please also pray with us for God’s financial provision for GCH, as our funding has been low lately.
Gratefully,
Stacey Palau
Dear Friends and Family,
Remember when I wrote to you about Rafael, the drunken neighbor who George took to the hospital, who later turned up at our weekly neighborhood Bible study? If you recall, after that he brought some friends (also clearly struggling with addictions). Well, you have to hear what has happened since then…
One day last month, Rafael was inebriated again and he took a pretty bad fall. He ended up partly unconscious on the street and severely bleeding from a head wound. A neighbor took him in and attempted to clean up the wound. A few days later, Rafael shows up at our door, once again needing help.
So, George took him to the hospital. This time we began to encourage him to go into a rehabilitation center (U-Turn for Christ, south of Ensenada). With the help of a brother from our local church family (Jaime), Rafael went to get help. Jaime later shared with our neighbors in the Bible study that if they also wanted help, he could take them to the rehab center as well.
Unfortunately, Rafael decided to leave the rehab center, and within 2 weeks we saw him stumbling down our street again. What a disappointment!
However, the words Jaime shared with our neighbors weren’t in vain. Within the last 3 days, 2 male neighbors have come to us to be taken to the rehab center! These men are friends of Rafael who have decided they want to get out of their addictions. Yesterday, Jose Manuel gratefully and humbly entered the center. Today Leonardo did the same.
As I shared these events with my mother-in-law, she pointed out how it makes sense for Grace Children’s Home (GCH) to be involved in this ministry. The children in homes like ours are the innocent victims of people who abuse and use. By offering these adults salvation and a better way of life, we break the cycle of abuse, reducing the number of innocent victims and abused children. What a revelation!
God never ceases to amaze me with His creative ways of using us and GCH. Every time we begin to think we understand all He has for us, He shows us something new. It’s really exciting being a part of all these opportunities. We thank God for your prayers and support that allow us to be here.
Please remember to pray for our neighbors – Rafael, Jose Manuel, Leonardo and all the others God brings to our doorstep. Please also pray with us for God’s financial provision for GCH, as our funding has been low lately.
Gratefully,
Stacey Palau
IN THE PHOTO ABOVE – Some of the men from our study and the saints that are reaching them. Far left, Pastor Martin Castro; next to him, Rafael; right of photo in white shirt, brother Jaime.
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