Bethesda Children’s Homes: December 2014 Prayer Letter

mike and becky patterson

Merry Christmas from Tlapa:

Thank you for making it possible for the children to have a very special Christmas. Each will receive a small gift. (It is often their first.) A festive meal they will remember the rest of their lives will follow.

Fireside prayer meeting in progress.

What an incredible year! Our most recent construction is now complete and all but furnished. The well for the girl’s home was dug again and sweet refreshing water is now available all of the time. The historic Christian School is setting the standard high for education in the homes.

Rebecca is near death with inoperable brain cancer. Saved in the homes, she will soon meet Jesus.

Even in weakness, our faith was challenged by the floods. In the dark hours following the floods we opened our stores to help the hurting. This help opened hearts that had been closed to the good news. We sent food and hope. The harvest of souls had been unprecedented.

The boys are learning more than their ABCs

It is time to rise up and rebuild. As the Lord allows, Becky and I will be in Tlapa following our January conference in Fort Worth. Some funds have already been given to help with the reconstruction of the first mountain church in Tepeyac.

The Church in Tepeyac must be rebuilt. Nearly $3,000 has already been received to date.

Special Prayer Request: At present we still need support for ten of the children. The new Christian school has really strained our budget, but seeing the results makes the cost a minor inconvenience. We are now trying to help the pastors and members of mountain congregations to rebuild. Many of the children lost family homes and will be in tents for their Christmas visit. They need our prayers.

Health Update: Last summer’s health crisis has left me weakened, but I am again preaching. I am turning over the administrative load of the mission to our son Bill and Steve Volante as President and General Director. A unanimous vote of the Executive and Advisory Committees made this possible. Growth of the mission to over one hundred families worldwide has challenged my strength. I will concentrate my last years of ministry to the young champions in Tlapa, while helping churches in my conference ministry.

In His love,
Mike Patterson
Childrens Home

PS: Thank you for joining hands with us in this Christmas – our graduates, pastors, and churches in many of these hurting villages. Their crops are gone and they needed our help. Our sacrifices became a special gift from God this last year; helping me to see beyond our petty problems to seek the face of our altogether lovely Lord Jesus. It is our prayer that your Christmas may be shined upon with the glow of His presence. Merry Christmas!