It is amazing how God can turn a desert into a paradise. As I spent time with the CROC community I experienced God in a deeper way. To realize my limitations drew me closer to Him. When I first came here I had a desire to solve every problem I faced, and after a bunch of drawbacks I hit the wall. I could only spend a couple of hours with the kids in need. I wanted to take them home with me and help them 24/7, but this was not possible. This led me to reencounter prayer. Prayer led me to solitude and solitude led me to God himself. This experience with God transformed a desert full of people in need into a paradise where God acted everyday in a subtle but meaningful way. And for this I will always be thankful. God let me work with children as they developed new academic habits and together we learned about God.
God knows that one of my heart’s desires was to get married and serve Him with my husband. Not long ago I met a guy and as we got to know each other we discerned that God had brought us together to serve Him as one. Manuel, my fiancée, attends Asbury Theological Seminary and next year he will earn a M.A. in Christian Leadership. In January I will be moving to Wilmore, KY to live with him and in the weekends support a Hispanic Ministry in the Cincinnati, OH area. And for this my heart gets full of thankfulness.
As I get ready to leave the CROC community I am living a sweet and sour experience. The joy that my marriage is bringing sometimes gets overwhelmed by the sadness of leaving my paradise. My biggest concern is not only that I’m leaving the place where I found God but to leave the Club 121 without a director. God’s faithfulness amazed me again as He provided two kind and responsible leaders to fill my role here. Marco and Gris were raised in CROC and have been working with youtfront for five years. They have proved their commitment to God, the community and the children. Both of them have the desire to keep working in Club 121 as they continue to study. Marco is his third year of a five-year program studying Education and Gris is about to start a Psychology program. Amber Booth will be supporting Marco and Gris as they finish their college degrees. And for this I am more than thankful.
This month we had the last field trip of the year. Forty seven kids and the staff went to the art museum in “Parque Fundidora” where the children saw a couple of short films, observed a bunch paints and learned how to make a hat out of a sheet o paper. This has been a busy month as we prepare our Christmas festival. It is refreshing to see how the souls of CROC’s children get nurtured, and for this my soul rejoices with thankfulness.
As I say goodbye, I´d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work done in Club 121 and remind you that we still need your support. Because I know that God will provide and sustain Club 121, I leave this place with gratitude in my heart for the time and work God let me invest in the CROC community, my paradise.
Susana Melissa Armendáriz
Club 121 Director
