Una luz... por mas pequeña... sigue siendo una luz

Dad sent his Newsletter today. For those who might not know, my parents are missionaries to Anapra, Mexico. Anapra is a neighborhood in the outskirts of our city, the tragic result of unsuccessful immigration and successful foreign maquiladoras (cheap-labor-exploiting industry). This is the place where many of the people that have immigrated to Mexico or have migrated from Southern Mexico end up at: a place where houses are made out of trash, a place where electric power, water service, and draining systems didn't exist until the end of last year; a place where only a half of a street exists. Where a thousand children are rejected each year by the two elementary schools because of insufficient space. That’s where my family serves.
I read my Dad’s report a few minutes ago, and I remembered. I remembered we’re not as lost as I think. I remembered there’s the heroes… the men and women of God… the people that are strong enough to forget about themselves and give to others. Those who leave a more promising future, and stay where they are because they are needed right where they’ve been placed. That’s my parents. Working as missionaries in Mexico when he was nominated to be a Bishop and she was offered a great job in Mexico’s main university. Teaching the children my government is trying so hard not to acknowledge. Making a difference. Changing the world one life at a time. Or 87, really. Plus teachers, and all of us who are in awe, amazed at them and learning from them every day.
Yes. The world is a terrible place. But man, it’s full of great people!

So here it is, the letter my autodidactic father wrote in English. Getting better every day, isn’t his English great??? Please overlook the lack of spaces btwn some words... a problem I had when pasting... I think I got them all, but then again... this is me talking : )





OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Today is the first day of November and at the time weare writing this letter, we can’t but thank our Lordfor the blessings he has given to our school Colegio“Susana Wesley” and to our family. We can see Hisfidelity supporting us every moment and under anycircumstances. This year is almost gone, but has leftmany proves that He is Faithful even though we notalways are.

We started this school year with 87 students,unfortunately by now we have lost 4 of them. Two movedfrom Anapra and the other two, who are Americancitizens, have been sent to live at El Paso with arelative. Diana, one of the 4 who left our school,was in third grade, she was with us only for these twomonths. Her parents did not tell us she will not comeanymore, but she did, and she was very sad because shedid not want to go to her old school with “badchildren”. We miss her!

This Monday we received acouple asking information to register their daughterin second grade. If they happen to cover therequirements, she will join us this next Monday. At least 17 students for first grade were not acceptedthis year for not having space for them. We think that next year we might open two groups for firstgraders.

We’d like to ask for your prayers for two of ourstudents, a boy from first grade and a girl of 3rdgrade. Last week employees of the DIF (government office that takes care of family matters like child abuse) came to our school asking for information of these two children, brother and sister. We are worried about this family, and many others, and trying to minister them; unfortunately this is not easy because right now they are so worried about notloosing their children that do not care for spiritual support.

Alter two months now of having our new students, we start to identify the ones that urgently need a changein their lives and in their families, unfortunately many of them are in this situation. Family problems are seen not only in their behaviour but also in their grades. Some of these students failed last year, they come from our school and also from others. With the time you can see a change in their behaviour, their vocabulary, and even in their attitude, but unfortunately as soon as they come back to their homes, real life is again before them with more negative than positive things, so we struggle everyday to help them manage with their family problems.

A few weeks ago we had here in Juarez, the mostimportant cyclists’ event from our state and one ofour students from 3rd grade won a very honoured 2nd place among 250 competitors. Next day, in school, hewas very sad because his father was angry at him for not having the first place. He said his father toldhim he was “disappointed” and that he spent a lot ofmoney on his bicycle. In our weekly worship servicewe told everybody that he was a winner and gave him asa prize, the chance to have whatever he wanted fromthe little store for a week. Besides that, P. E. teacher gave him two extra points for hisaccomplishment. This is only an example of how some of our children are treated, the kind of change that families from our Anapra need is the kind of change that only God can do. We’d also like to say also that many parents are doing their best on raising their children.

We are very surprised to see that many of our students stay late at school, some of them stay because of the Rondalla rehearsal until 2:45, seems like they prefer to be here at school than at home. It is sad to hearfrom them that they feel better at school, I rememberthat I hated being at school, I was anxious for the bell to ring so I could go back home; so, they wanting to stay at school is something I cant really understand.

We have good news too: The land of the school has been totally paid! We would like to thank a family from Ohio for their generous offering that we received when visiting them, we pray for blessings for them and for all of you that are supporting ourministry spiritually and financially. Another good new is that we finally were able to install a phone at the school office since this month. We do not like thenumber, but there was nothing we could do about it.
The number, dialing from the USA is:
011-52 (656) 666-4436

We are at school, but not often in the office,weekdays from 8 to 2:30, soon we will start classes half hour later because of the winter season, ourclasses really end at 1:30 but for many reasons we areusually there at least for an hour more. There is a lot of work to be done at Anapra and honestly more than this time is needed. Dina is now helping not only as the principal but also as a 4th grade teacher, but she still has to go back at 12:00 for her second shift at the high school that starts at 2:00.

Today was paid day, and again we had to use our faith, for until last Friday we had money enough to pay only two of our 6 teachers, we did not have money for the lady (wife of a missionary from Chiapas) that helps as a janitor, nor to pay the Social Security (about 600.00 dollars a month). We praise the Lord that we finally received a check from one of our sponsors whopromised to send a monthly check. It was good enough to pay our teachers and the Social Security Fees! Sometimes I think that the Lord keeps on testing our faith, and that He knows we need a lot of praying.

FAMILY:
Sarai is 6 months pregnant and it is a baby boy, both of them seem to be fine. Misael and Abi are about tofinish the second period of their “six weeks” anddoing very well at school. Arely is already making plans for her graduation (Praise the Lord!) from S. M.U. and they took her pictures already. Dina is still working hard and has an appointment this coming Fridayto see when her surgery will be performed (pray forher please). And about me, well I have to say that Ihad a “little” accident while playing with Misael andhad a few stitches. I hurt my arm and the problem is that I have an infection almost immediately and still dealing with that since last Friday. I am doing well, it really does not hurt that bad, and I am ready for the next wound!Please keep praying for our ministry and for our family. We are still waiting for the answer of theschool’s certification. We were told that we will haveto wait maybe until next year, we are worried about it. All the work has been finally done, just waiting for their answer. We need your prayers! We are praying for you all, and our children pray for you every day and especially every Friday at our worship service when we read your names from the wall and thank our Lord for your support. God Bless you!

In His Service,

Antonio y Dina Briones