Dear Super Supporters,
School has begun and we are charging ahead with renewed enthusiasm and prayers for more creativity. In preschool through sixth grades we have 25 precious lives that come bouncing in every morning full of expectation. Through our affiliate in Quito, we have “tutoring” classes for grades 7 though 10.
Normally our graduating students want to go to the “big” kid schools, so they leave us to learn what the world has to offer. The last couple of years there has been little or no interest in Junior High here in Tambo. This year, the Lord did something surprising. On the first day of class, we had 12 former students registered for 7th through 10th grades, all of them back on their own volition. I took special time the first day of class to have each one come forward and explain what they desired from their studies with SEA LA LUZ.
Almost all of them sited a yearning to walk closer to God and know His Word. I was brought to tears. After 12 years of pouring into little lives, God let me see the harvest in hearts of teenagers that will turn their world to seek the Kingdom. A new song that will be one this year´s theme songs says: “I know who I am, who God says I am, what He says I am, where He says I´m at.” These kids have seen the world and know what they must do to push forward into their destiny. Praise God with us.
Normally our graduating students want to go to the “big” kid schools, so they leave us to learn what the world has to offer. The last couple of years there has been little or no interest in Junior High here in Tambo. This year, the Lord did something surprising. On the first day of class, we had 12 former students registered for 7th through 10th grades, all of them back on their own volition. I took special time the first day of class to have each one come forward and explain what they desired from their studies with SEA LA LUZ.
Almost all of them sited a yearning to walk closer to God and know His Word. I was brought to tears. After 12 years of pouring into little lives, God let me see the harvest in hearts of teenagers that will turn their world to seek the Kingdom. A new song that will be one this year´s theme songs says: “I know who I am, who God says I am, what He says I am, where He says I´m at.” These kids have seen the world and know what they must do to push forward into their destiny. Praise God with us.
We would like to introduce you to our extremely necessary new teacher Ginny Strickler. She is from Washington, has her masters degree and worked a few years in the school system in the Tri-Cities. She has taken on the job of teaching English, math, robotics and piano to the Junior Highers. Bless her. She also helps with our small fourth grade class in English and math. What a blessing to have her here. Please pray with us that her visa papers will be able to be processed soon so she can stay the year. In this update, I would like to present to you an opportunity to touch a life that needs God´s direction and protection. As I was contemplating how to put this before you, the Lord had me read Exodus 25:1-2. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ´Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.´” Student sponsors are needed this year. The finances are necessary, but specifically, the prayers brought before the Father on behalf of the child affect their lives in more ways than we know. There have been some awesome sponsors of our kids; but I will briefly share two recent stories.
14 years ago, Lizbeth´s mother would spit at us when we would walk past her. She threatened me with physical harm when I invited the 3 year-old Lizbeth to an evangelism program we held that year in Tambo. The priest had warned her to have nothing to do with the Christians and she was following his law to the letter. When Liz was 4, we started the school in the village. If I could have understood the Spanish, I´m sure my hair would have frizzed by how the mother scorned the effort. Lizbeth went to the public school down the valley about 5 miles away where the teacher physically and verbally abused the child. The next year, Lizbeth and her mother were at the door of God´s school looking for a spot in Kindergarten. Over the next few years, the tension that the mother brought with her was tangible but the little girl was soft to the things of God.
About seven years ago, a dear sister in the Lord came down with a workteam from New York, saw Lizbeth and asked to be her sponsor. I believe the faithful prayers Alona offered on behalf of Liz touched the Father and caused the mother´s heart to change. This same woman who once reviled me and the school, became our biggest supporter. Studies were always a struggle for Lizbeth, but she knew someone was specifically praying for her, who wrote her letters and encouraged her. Her years of study with us went through 9th grade – a total of eleven years. Alona, her sponsor, kept the relationship going until Liz went to a public high school last year. Once a student goes into the world we see how deep the seed went into the spirit.
I stopped by to visit with Lizbeth´s mother last week. She was more joyful than I have ever seen her. She beamed at me as she shared that Lizbeth had passed all of her subjects the year before and when they went in to register for 11th grade, the administration congratulated the mother on her well-behaved daughter and diligent student. This mother, who cannot read, blessed me and blessed me again for the school and opportunity it gave her child to walk in her destiny. I reminded the mom that it was God Who helped Lizbeth get through and the prayers of Alona. With a heart full of gratitude, the mother acknowledged both God and the prayer supporter saying that Alona´s photo was prominent on the livingroom mantel. Praise God.
A short-term but dramatic support story is of Esteban. Last year was Esteban´s third year with the school and he was in second grade, extremely intelligent and extremely angry. He lived with his maternal grandparents in the village while the distant but real friction between his parents caused him great grief. Esteban was constantly fighting, irritating, or disrupting. He had asked Jesus to be His Savior but his need for love and his anger were overwhelming him. In 2014, we met and connected with a wonderful couple in North Carolina. The Wong Family asked to sponsor a child and the Lord put Esteban on my heart. Even though his parents could pay the tuition, I knew that Esteban needed the prayer support that this family would give him. After about five months of being covered with love and prayer, Esteban changed almost overnight. He was calm, attentive, loving and spiritually perceptive. Everyone in the school noted (and commented) on the change.
Esteban´s grandparents moved out of the village in July and have taken Esteban with them. They were very profuse in their gratitude for the emotional peace the Lord wrapped around the child. We continue to pray for the seed of the Word of God to grow into a strong, victorious, young warrior for the Kingdom.
How do you become a sponsor? Let us know your desire via e-mail. We ask the school parents to donate $10 a month to give them a vested interest. It costs the Mission about $100 a month to teach each child. That is $1000 a year. “From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.” Whatever the Lord puts in your heart to give is wonderful, but it is your prayers and encouragement that the children need. Partner with us to propel children into their destiny.
A sincere thank you to those who are so faithful in supporting us both in prayers and gifts. We thank our Lord regularly for you, our team members. 
Together for the Kingdom,
The Injerd Family
Requests:
Mission renewal documents to be released.
Ginny´s visa paperwork to be pushed through.
Guidance and protection for this new school year.
The parents and the children realize that the protective, focused training the students receive with us is necessary before launching into the harsh world. We were blessed to have the parents´ sincere thanks and confidence during the reportcard conferences. Praise God for how He is working through the children to affect the families. 
He listened, absorbed and reveled in what we did at school as well as being part of our family for almost three weeks. He could not get enough of our prayer times and nightly blessings. Many seeds were planted; we pray they sprout soon and bear much fruit.
Dear Saints Anticipating Pentecost,
tongues of fire released the 120 faithful to proclaim the WORD of Salvation to the multitudes. We have been listening for the sounds from heaven and His Voice to give us directions. We are intently praying for God´s purifying fire to roar through us and Tambo. The children´s joyful firstfruits offering lit-up the eyes of their Heavenly Father and brought tears to mine.
Think about it. Jesus, the Lover of our souls, will undoubtedly come for us with unrestrained joy, dancing to the music of the Throneroom after waiting milleniums for this event. Watching Erland come for Mayra took us out of confining traditional thinking into the realms of heaven. Oh, what joyful love Jesus has for us, His Bride. It was a Passover moment.
My brother, Pastor BJ Stavness, came to officiate the happy occasion and stayed for a week afterward. During those days, he ministered and prayed over the children and their parents, speaking life and encouragement into their lives. We visited a few homes in Tambo to pray over heads of families and bless their dwelling places. BJ´s stay culminated in a baby dedication service and baptisms. Our options for locations were the glacier-fed river or the volcanic hot pools… hmmm.
Together for the Kingdom,
