March 2021

Last week we were blessed to receive a mission team from Rock City church in Ohio! This was a big deal because they were the first team to do a trip with GCLA since the pandemic hit last year. Praise God He kept everyone safe and healthy and there were no complications from COVID! 

While here the team constructed a concrete patio in the front of the church to give the congregation an extra meeting place, cooked meals for over 200 people in 2 different communities, helped a church member build a bedroom, built and painted 12 beds, handed out shoes and food packets to our CDI kids, and shared the gospel. 2 people from the group got baptized and over 10 people in La Libertad accepted Christ!!

That week was invigorating for me for so many reasons. Getting to meet so many people with a passion for serving the Lord and who share my love for the people in La Libertad, seeing the Lord move in BIG ways, and getting to see all the CDI kids. I was able to have both joyous and heartbreaking conversations with kids in our community as I got to know them and their stories. Seeing them reignited my passion to serve them and made me even more anxious to get back to seeing them in person at the CDI. 

Genesis Abigail is one the kids in our CDI whom we got to visit this past week. Marielos (the director of the CDI) and I sat down to talk with her as she's been undergoing a lot of changes in the past few months. You see, 4 months ago she went to live with her sister after a lifetime of not having a stable home. Although this was a good change and her sister and brother-in-law care for her well, she told me she misses her mom a great deal. My heart ached for her and she as I listened to the pain she'd been enduring, yet she continued to smile and laugh as though her life was only full of joy. 

Since not being in the CDI, Genesis hasn't been able to practice her reading a writing. She hasn't been attending school since the pandemic hit because of the lack of internet access in her community as well as her unstable home life. Please continue to pray for all our kids in the CDI like Genesis! This pandemic has impacted their lives and their futures. 

Pray with Me 

• Praises!! 
• I found a car!! The Lord lined everything up for this car and it has already been a huge blessing. Thank you for your prayers!
• My visa extension was granted! 
• No one from our community or the mission team has gotten sick from COVID or anything else- WOOHOO!!
• Please pray for the residency process to go smoothly and for all my documents to be accepted
• For the CDI kids and the community as we continue to look for ways to serve them

Seeing the Lord work in such big ways this past month has left me in awe of Him. I am so full of gratitude that He chose me to come here to serve Him and that He chose you to be a part of it! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and continued financial support. I wouldn't be here without you and there are no words for the joy and gratitude that fill my heart when I think of you all. 

Abrazos! (Hugs!)

Bendiciones,
Alyssa

John 10:10b
"... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."