February Update

February 1, 2012

Dear Friends and Family,

On my days off from work I enjoy going to thrift stores and looking for hidden treasures. You would be surprised at all the great pieces of furniture, decorations, and artworks that you could find that just need a little fixing. One day I was looking around and found a mosaic piece of art. The only problem was a couple pieces of the mosaic were missing. No big deal! All I have to do is take a couple of my broken pieces, and it would complete the piece. As I kept looking at all the intricate designs and all the different types of material, I focused on the shattered material that helped make this beautiful piece.

Everyone has been shattered at one point or another or, for many of our inner-city families, many times. Not knowing who your father is, having a mother who is a prostitute, living around people who are constantly high and drunk--there are many shattered people; but there is hope.

“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in” (Isaiah 58:12). Through Jesus Christ, we have all been repaired. We have all been put back together in the Holy Spirit.

However, we still have scars. We still have memories. We are all works of art, no matter how many times you have been shattered; but do not be afraid to use these for the broken-hearted and suffering.

This month, please be in prayer for our English-speaking students of The Urban Ministry Institute-Dallas. They started in mid-January and are going strong. We have many mosaics in this class. We have students from south Dallas, missionaries, and missionaries in training. Please pray for them to build good study habits and to apply their teaching to the community of south Dallas. We thank God for their hearts to serve the urban poor.

I also thank God daily for you all. Thank you for your support prayerfully and financially. I am blessed to know I have great friends and family who believe in the cause of empowering the urban poor.

In Him,

Lacey Arteaga