"Last night there was a full police operative in all of Alajuelita. It took us 3 hours just to get back home. All cars were being stopped, searched, papers and ids of occupants were checked. Drug traffickers tried to avoid these checkpoints by establishing a type of “curfew” in some areas of Alajuelita. The security ministry responded with guns. There were helicopters and drones flying overhead like a police chase scene from a movie."
Arturo Piedra
The fight between the cartels and gangs has worsened the violence in these areas, prompting the police intervention. It’s unbelievable, but the murder rate in Tejarcillos of Alajuelita has soared to 20 times that of Indianapolis and even Chicago.
Children cannot thrive without safe places to study, play, grow and learn. Fear is the enemy of a young person’s progress toward the life God has planned for them.
How can these girls sleep tongiht knowing that just outside their door is a man with a gun?
Three Safe Places for Children
Love At Work International Christian School, (LAWICS), the LifeCenter and the Church are three safe places where we can provide these kids with the tools to succeed in their fight against these tough conditions.
We have 222 students in LAWICS, 11 seniors and 28 juniors. The level of our school is very high, much higher than public schools. 100% of our graduates are accepted at University or trade schools. Our new scholarship students have the ability, they’ve just never been challenged. We tell the new students, “This is not a handout. You must fight and work hard and earn your scholarship.” And they’re doing great and loving it! They will succeed!
The current LifeCenter is filled. We have 160 kids every day, starting with breakfast. We have 50 mothers taking classes in English, baking, sewing and finance. In a way, it’s a nice problem. The Lord is showing us His favor. But there’s no space for more. We need the new LifeCenter where we can triple the number we serve.
Love At Work Church is getting bigger. But even more important, it is growing. Believers are finding their calling on the front lines with Jesus in the slums. And, recently, Arturo was invited to speak at a convention in Orlando with 160 pastors from 42 countries. His topic: for churches to understand that our call is not just to pray and study the Bible on the weekend, but to work in our communities in a brave way just as Jesus would do.
Every single day, we are sharing the Gospel, the Good News, in all areas of the ministry. And with your help, the ministry is advancing, and the Kingdom of God moves forward.
But we must do more, because lives and souls will be lost if we do not!
"Let Our Biblical Goals Be High!" Russ Blowers
Russ Blowers, in one of his final sermons to the flock he pastored for 45 years at E91st Street Christian Church, encouraged us to ”let our Biblical goals be high . . . individually and as a church.”
God’s given Love At Work Ministries a very big goal: to rescue thousands of vulnerable children and families living in the most difficult and violent slums and informal settlements of Alajuelita. Recurring giving is a critical element of that strategy.
Our short-term goal is to support those kids currently enrolled in the School and the LifeCenter with scholarships. Unfortunately, these scholarships are still not fully funded.
To do that, we need 60 new recurring monthly donations of $25 or more. Your immediate support is essential.
You can help achieve this goal in several ways:
By Increasing your current recurring donation amount
By converting a one-time donation to a monthly recurring donation
By sharing your story with your network of friends, asking if they would be willing to join you in the effort to support these kids with a monthly recurring donation
We, all of us, are Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20). There is only one answer to the problems that Alajuelita and our world are facing . . . God’s love in Jesus Christ. You can help!
Thank you!! Larry and Carole
Give with Confidence
Love At Work Ministries has earned the Candid's highest Platinum Seal demonstrating our commitment to transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. Of 1.8 million non-profits in the U.S. less than 1% receive Candid's Platinum Seal.
Through your generosity and our talented team, Love At Work Ministries is expanding opportunities in the areas of Education, Nutrition & Health Care, Housing, Outreach, and Discipleship . . . spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to 1000s of individuals each year. Our organization includes LAW Christian School, the Life Center (Feeding / Tutoring / Adult Training), the Dental Clinic, the Housing Ministry and, of course, LAW Church.
