The Hastings Family

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, a friend encouraged me with these verses:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... so then death is at work in us, but life is at work in you... therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen...for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Verses from II Corinthians Chapter 4.

I'm sure you, too, find that at different times in your life it is easy to let the pressures and struggles of this world get the best of you. These verses help to remind us to maintain an "eternal perspective", not to look at the present only but to the future "eternal glory". Amen?

I hope these verses are an encouragement to you today as they were for me.

On another note, I wanted to share a few pictures with you of the new AMG Childcare Center that is being built here in Guatemala City. Our center named "La Florida" was old, underspaced and in disrepair. At the end of last year we obtained funds to tear it down and build a new facility with twice the capacity. What a blessing it will be to have a brand new two-level facility, complete with new furniture and fixtures! The new building will have a capacity of 200 children, 90 more than before, and will have plenty of classroom space and a multi-purpose room for activities, assemblies and meetings with parents. Here's a few pictures of the contruction progress:

Construction of the first level