"Can you pray for my mom?"

January 2018

The following was originally published in our January newsletter:

John’s (not real name) question caught me (Bryan) by surprise. When I first met this solitary teenager, he appeared not to be interested in God. John didn’t even like attending my weekly devotional class. He mostly keeps to himself, but he has opened up to me. The reason John asked for prayer was because he felt bad after recently visiting his sick mom. John realized that he needed to go to God about it.

Like many of the kids at Pan de Vida, John came at a young age because his parents couldn’t care for him. The lack of being raised by loving and attentive parents affected John. He used to be very rebellious and apathetic. However, praise God that there have been some positive changes. John is getting better grades, helps out where needed and works hard. He even said that now he likes math and English (he is my English student). Of course, he like the others, are still on a journey toward healing and restoration in Jesus Christ. Please pray for John as well as for the other 80 children like him at Pan de Vida.

Brenda and I have realized the positive impact that our teaching has on the kids at Pan de Vida. We, especially I, came into the school year primarily focused on our role as educators. But we also serve as parent. Not only are we to instruct but we have to provide them with discipline and attention. Also, we are examples of what it means to follow Jesus Christ.

Brenda teaches 3^rd grade students. She starts every class with devotions that relate the lessons from Bible stories to the kids’ lives. Her goal is to encourage them to seek God at an early age to help them avoid unnecessary problems and pain in both adolescence and adulthood that occurs when people disobey God.

I teach pre-teens and teenagers. My goal is to point them toward the wisdom of Christ in their adolescence so that they may turn away from their foolish and destructive behaviors that many are engaged in. High School students are with me before the start of the school day where we are going through the book of Proverbs. I also teach English classes to kids from 5^th to 12^th grade.

In addition to learning how to communicate in English, my students also learned how to say the 10 I also help out with the youth group that meets on both Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. The current topic for Sunday school is the names of God.

Brenda and I spend as much time as possible with the kids at the orphanage to connect with them and to encourage them to seek after God. It is a challenge to balance the needs of the children at Pan de Vida along with our own.

Our kids are adapting well to life in Mexico. Ariadne enjoys being educated by her mom both in school and in home. She recently played the viola and piano in a recital in a shopping mall. Both she and Alex have learned to ride bikes while living in Mexico. Alex loves going to school and he is learning how to read. Brianna enjoys hanging out with both Brenda and I in our classrooms during the school day. She is now speaking in Spanish.

Praise:

· Ariadne and Alex have music instructors.

· We are grateful that we no longer have leaks and that we have lights and electrical outlets in every room in our house. A man did work for us at a discounted rate.

· Recent successful re-entry into Mexico with a new car permit and new visa for Bryan.

Prayer Requests:

· Our developing relationships with the kids at the orphanage.

· The kids at the orphanage would have a desire to seek after God.

· Wisdom and patience in our teaching and interactions with the kids.

· Provision to finish pending projects in our house.

· 100% funding of our monthly budget.


To learn more about us and to make a donation to our ministry, please visit our mission website at https://cten.org/missionary/bryanottoson/