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A.M.O.R. Projects
L O V E “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18 A M O R
A Monthly Email Newsletter Issue No. 18 - February 2009
Missionaries On the Loose
! The coming month of March brings new faces and fresh energy to join our team for a short time. Kevin Hockenson and Kristofer Hallam will join us from March 8-24. Ron Hawkinson comes leading a team from Escondido Academy in California on March 14th. Dr. David Matson brings a four-person team from Eastern Virginia Medical School, to be augmented by Jackson Henley from Loma Linda University towards the latter end of March. We are excited about the wealth of talents that visitors bring and can’t wait to report next month on the blessings encountered during the upcoming visits! ! A special thanks to Kevin
Meier and Tyler Rottacker who are still with us at Km 38.
Squeaky Clean
! Remember the “Special Needs” from last month? Our team sends a big thanks to those who helped make possible the purchase of a quality washer and refrigerator at a wonderful deal. These machines are proving a huge blessing allowing more valuable time to be spent in focused and dedicated labor directed at furthering our goals Thanks to each who helped to make this blessing possible!!
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Serving Others Before Ourselves
Our Mission...It is our desire to serve...and [thus]communicate His love to those with whom we come in contact.
Harvest Time
! This week begins our first major yucca harvest. Pray with us that the fruit of our labors will be plentiful and that God will provide us with contacts for the best market prices as we dig up the roots, mound them in piles, load them into the truck, and cart off to sell.
Home Again
! Despite a few mishaps in her travels such as missing her connecting flight, being stranded in New York’s cavernous airport, and losing her luggage, Jenni Goodwin has finally made it back safely to the country of Peru where she will continue with on-site direction.
Website Updates
! We strive to maintain our website updated and with quality presentation. Many thanks to Daniel Huck, our volunteer webmaster who has done an amazing job with the public presentation of AMOR Project’s ministry. Please let us know your thoughts and opinions on our web presence by writing us at touchofloveperu@gmail.com
Barbs on Wire
! Fencing is a tough job in the jungle, but a very necessary one nonetheless. For land delineation and prevention of squatters, it is a vital first step. As the saying goes, “Good fences make good neighbors”. Fencing our property has nothing to do with creating barriers between us and our neighbors, and everything with creating healthy limits and thus allowing these relationship to continue to grow.
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TreesTreesTrees
! In coordination with a student from our local governmental university, we are starting a tree reforestation project on our Km. 38 property, Our goal is approximately 5,000 seedlings of 1-2 types of hardwood trees, one of which is a beautiful flowering tree. These will be used to create a living border around our property along our fence line, as well as reforestation of certain areas of the land. Our goal is to be good stewards of God’s creation, keeping the environment healthy and strong around us.
Dirty Knees
! Wearing holes in your jeans can be a good thing. Especially if it’s from spending time on your knees praying for AMOR’s ministry and ministers. Touch of Love needs your prayers. Lift up our leaders, volunteers, workers, donors, and especially those we serve. Serve in the most powerful way ever: as an intercessory prayer warrior to God’s throne.
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Our Hands:His Heart
Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. And dance like you do when nobody’s watching. — Unknown
Coming up Next Month: Adopt a Member of Our Team!
They’re the core of our operation who stick by us in the thick and thin. When we have volunteers and when we don’t. They’re up at the crack of dawn and work through the hottest hours of the day. They dedicate their talents and catch the vision beyond today. They aim for what is beyond today’s thankless tasks and strive toward what comes in the future. Next month meet our six Peruvian workers...and consider adopting one! What does that mean? Take a few minutes a month to write a letter. Stop long enough to send a small care package. Get your church involved to write little notes of affirmation. Take time to show these amazing young men that AMOR’s supporters value who they are and their service to others. Make a real connection and let him hear affirmation from you. Coming up soon...
How can I send a Financial Donation? Check or Money order to AMOR PROJECTS
What is it about Touch of Love that is so contagious and leaves you itching to be involved? Whatever it is-don’t ignore it!
By Mail: P.O. Box 212, Loma Linda, CA 92354 Online with any major credit card (secure via Pay Pal) www.touchofloveperu.org (donations link)
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Beautiful Mommy
! They’re gnarled and stained. Not to mention the age spots and wrinkles. She stares at her hands ruefully. “Would it help if I rubbed them with fresh lemon?” The years have etched their havoc on her legs as well. Sharp pains plague her from severely impaired circulation, but she’s unable to afford the needed treatment. Instead she walks almost a mile to work each day where her duties mandate the further need to run from place to place fulfilling the requests of others. ! Her house is shabby by comparison of many. I see smatterings of a grey sky through the torn plastic above me, topped by disintegrating thatch. When it
rains there is an immediate need to move everything around in the room in search of quick shelter. The room where I’m sleeping has tin, but doesn’t seem to be much more leak-proof. “My sisters won’t come visit me here. I think they’re embarrassed of me,” she muses.! ! She’s sixty-seven with no retirement in sight. If she stops work, how will she survive? Her boss forgot to pay her on Friday. She had no money to buy toothpaste, toilet paper, or even bread for the weekend. ! She is the mother of five grown children. Her husband left when they were just tykes, leaving her alone to raise them all without a penny of financial support. She was a praying woman. She was dedicated and determined. She refused to give up.
! They didn’t have new clothes Food was a challenge. Education seemed like a mountain. Life wasn’t easy. Struggles abounded and many a dawn found her on her knees, pouring her heart out to God and pleading for His guidance and protection for her family. He didn’t let her down. The years passed quickly. ! Miraculously, all five boys finished grade school, then high school. That wasn’t enough. Each boy in turn received a college degree and embarked on the journey of life as a professional. ! I reach out and take her worn hand in mine. I marvel at the smile that still graces her weary face at the end of a long hard day. I look around me at her home. For all I can see, it’s attractive and inviting. “Martita,” I hug her. “You’re a beautiful mommy.”
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