DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

‘And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10: 16

Driving to the office this morning, listening to a news channel, I heard a Mother say, “By the way the kid’s drop off day went well yesterday.” Of course I understood what she meant, and could picture anxious parents and scared children making their way to their first day in School. In fact, it brought back many memories.

It is a different world and I can imagine many parents really feeling nervous and concerned, especially with what is happening in so many schools, and in society as a whole. However, I found my mind taking me back just a few weeks to a meeting I attended on our Mission Campus in Guatemala.

The theme was ‘Something good is happening at AOJ.’ There was music, praise, worship and testimonies from students, sharing how much they appreciate the ministry, how they are so blessed to be sponsored and attend the Mission School. The testimonies brought tears to our eyes and joy to our hearts as we listened to all that God was doing and the spiritual growth was so evident, we could sense that something good was happening at AOJ.

Much to our surprise, families began to share what it meant to them to have their children sponsored and, in the school, each giving praise to God, thanks to those who sponsor their children and to the Mission for all that they have done and are doing in the lives of the students. However, one Father who stood with his wife and children in front of everyone gathered in the chapel, said:

“Every day that we drop our children off at the School, we feel that literally we are dropping our children into ‘The Arms of Jesus’. AOJ is a refuge where they grow up and mature, where they are safe, and it is the most blessed place in the village of Parramos. We pray every day for AOJ, giving thanks for the place, and we teach our children to do the same because this is certainly a blessing from the Lord.”

The Sajche Guzman Family could say, and really were saying “By the way, the kid’s drop off day went well” because they had the confidence their children were safe in the Arms of Jesus!