Foster Care Coalition Ambassador Training— 30,000 Children in the Foster Care System in Los Angeles

Every day thousands of children live without a stable family in Los Angeles county.  Their desperation is our motivation.   They need mentors. They need advocates. They need families.   They need hope.

God’s Word emphasizes the significance of caring for orphans.  In the United States, the abused and neglected children who enter the foster care system are our nation’s “orphans.”  We have joined together as a COALITION to better serve these   children by equipping the local church for foster care mission work. http://www.fostercarecoalition.com

This past month we put on an Ambassador Training in Long Beach where we trained leaders from various churches in how to begin a foster care ministry at their own church.  Please pray many churches would rise up to care for the 30,000 children in foster care here in Los Angeles.

To hear stories of former foster youth is always so powerful and important for others to begin to understand what these children go through.

Two of the foster youth who shared at our time were Denisse and Will.

Denisse had been at multiple foster homes & group homes growing up. She stopped caring about herself because others seemed to not care. Denisse was never adopted and aged out of foster care. She is now reunited with her sister.

Will was adopted at 2 years old but then removed from that home at 13 years old because of sexual and emotional abuse. School was difficult for him and he was angry because of his circumstances. He moved from foster home to foster home and from various group homes and aged out of foster care. He really wanted to be mentored but never had a mentor. He now is adopted by members of the Foster Care Coalition (Suzanne and Andy).

Joseph and Sarah at the training. Sarah is part of Foothill Church and has a huge heart for beginning a foster care ministry at her church.

Women learning how to Help Women in LA and             Around the World

A few weeks ago we had the privilege to speak to a group of women at the First Chinese Baptist Church Los Angeles (FCBC).  A former student involved in our ministry years ago from the Cal State Los Angeles campus is now leading the women’s ministry at FCBC!  She organized a paint nite for women of the church and wanted to use that time to help the women understand sex trafficking here in Los Angeles and around the world and put the proceeds from the event towards the Nepal project we are working on. Joseph and I were able to share with the ladies and it was so encouraging to be a part of the evening.

Please continue to pray for the Nepal Project. The 2 women we had trained in sewing skills in India are now back in Nepal at the sewing centers training other women!  There is a long waiting list of women who desire to learn sewing skills and use this skill to provide for themselves and their families, instead of being lured into sex trafficking.

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary in Laguna Beach!

Flower fields and beach time

Family Update…

Happy Easter!  We pray you had a blessed Easter celebrating the power and love of Jesus in our lives.  We are finishing up the school year—trying to finish strong and prepare for the summer.  We are excited that our oldest, Luke, was accepted to go on a summer mission trip with Cru to Japan this summer!  (He will probably be sending you a letter soon to share more!)  Daniel has his driving test in a couple weeks and is applying for summer work.  Jessica recently tried out and made the Show Choir Team for high school in the Fall (how can she be going to high school already!)  And we are celebrating 3 YEARS Forever Family Day with Aleeya in a week! She continues to keep us laughing, dancing and loving life. Thank you so much for your continual prayers and support to us and the ministry here.  We are so thankful for each one of you. Please contact us anytime to share ways we can be praying for you as well.