Children minister to children PCPC kids learn early about missions
C
Clean the whole house, have a lemonade stand, do extra chores, have a bake sale, hold a car wash. These are some of the ideas the children in Bible Explorers came up with in order to personally raise money for the Josephine House, an orphanage in Cusco, Peru. We had just told them about this special home for children one recent Sunday morning. The Josephine House was started by MTW missionaries Keith and Ruth Powlison in 2008 as an outreach to address the needs of many Quechan families and orphans. It serves as a home for orphans and for children whose parents can’t care for them in hopes that one day they will return to live with their parents, or be adopted either domestically or internationally.
the vehicle of this vital ministry. We have spent the last several months introducing the Bible Explorer children to the Josephine House and the many children who live there. It has been encouraging to see their excitement and enthusiasm to reach across cultural barriers to embrace their peers in the orphanage. The Bible Explorer offerings during the month of February were designated to the Josephine House. After learning more about the ministry, the children voted to designate the funds they raised towards a birthday and Christmas gift fund for their new friends in Cusco. Our goal in engaging PCPC children was twofold: 1) to open their eyes to missions and children in other parts of the world and give them a tangible way to participate in a way that they can understand; and 2) to be a blessing and encouragement to the Powlisons and the children they serve. It has been evident to us through their enthusiastic participation and due to the fact that we have been stopped outside of class to discuss the Josephine House that this message has resonated in their hearts. —Catherine and Trey Richards On a past mission trip to Cusco: Left, Catherine Richards reads to Hilda Above, Bill Dickenson, holding Fabricio Below, Trey Richards and baby Catherine
Many children appointed to live in the Josephine House by the Peruvian courts have special needs. Each child has a tangible story of rescue as they have experienced firsthand the care and love of Christ through MAY 2011
16
PCPC WITNESS