We have tickets!!!!  Sept 7 is our departure date.  We reached our 80% goal earlier this month!  Thank you God and thank you faithful partners!

We are counting down to the day we leave.  Our house needs to be rented, vehicles and furniture sold, stuff donated, and bags packed.  Busy days at the Parada household!  Let us know if you need anything!

Alberto’s Bible classes at YWAM start on Sept 19, so we will have just under two weeks to get settled once we arrive in South Africa.  We have two rooms and a fridge waiting for us…not to mention a whole community!  It seems surreal that something we have been praying about, talking about, and planning for so long is just around the corner!

“He is the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15)  The incarnation is Jesus Christ taking on flesh to dwell among us.  He is with us, in our joys and struggles.  He is our help and our salvation.  This is the message of hope that we preach.

Fundraising Update

We have raised 84% of our ongoing expenses.  Our next fundraising goal is 90% by August 1!  We’ll need about 5 more monthly donors to reach that goal.

Our one-time budget for moving us to South Africa is an impressive 95%.

Parada Kids

All the Parada kids participated in the fabulous Kidsweek last week at Park Street Church!

Ana is currently at a retreat in Pennsylvania.  She is with the youth group of the Spanish congregation in Maryland that we visited in April.

Isaac had a great time at Camp Brookwoods.  He left for Colombia this morning on the Park Street Church’s youth mission project.  He raised nearly all his money from the sale of water outside the church, which he is very happy about!

Margaret also had a great time at camp.  She is having as many play dates as she can squeeze in before we leave!

Phoebe continues insulin-free!  She is my little companion at home!

Words from Alberto

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (Jn 4:14)  From this we learn that we should long to bring more souls to God’s kingdom, for He is the liberating water.

Cleaning!

Our Barnabas group continues to amaze us with their diligence in helping us each month. Latest projects included replacing the back fence and preparing the walls in the house for next month’s painting.

Prayer Requests

Pray for the Holy Spirit to go ahead of us and prepare the way and prepare us!  Please thank God for His faithful provision up to this point, and pray that we would reach our financial goals.  Pray for renters for our house and buyers for our vehicles (Honda Odyssey, in case you are interested!).  Pray especially for the kids as they start to say goodbye to friends and transition emotionally to a new setting.

Our piano left our house!  Saying goodbye to the piano marked the first of many goodbyes. Now that school is over, we are in the throws of cleaning out the house and getting it ready to rent.  August is quickly approaching, and within the next week or so, we should have our plane tickets.  (We have to reach 80% ongoing support before getting tickets, and we hope to reach that goal by tomorrow!)

I am getting ahead of myself though.  We are the Parada family, preparing to go to South Africa this August as missionaries with YWAM where we will work with troubled youth.

Do you know that South Africa recently came in first place for most unequal country in the world in terms of economic divide between rich and poor? (source)

The poor of South Africa have endured much, and have long waited for change that has not materialized.  God speaks to this by declaring Himself the God of justice.  All who wait for Him will weep no more. Only He can turn mourning into dancing, and exchange sackcloth for joy!  Because of that, hearts will sing and not be silent!  (Ps 30:10-12)

“For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him…you shall weep no more.”  Isaiah 30:18-19

We are about to reach our goal of 80% for ongoing expenses by July 1!  Praise God! We have 61 faithful monthly supporters!  Thank you to all of you for partnering with us in this area!

Fundraising Update

Our next goal is 90% by August 1.  We’ll need about 7 more monthly donors.  

Our one-time budget for moving us to South Africa is an amazing 90%

Family Update

Ana is driving and enjoying spending time with her friends.  They recently had a camp-out in the backyard!  She is a big help to me with Phoebe, and in getting the house ready for renters!

Isaac is presently at his beloved Camp Brookwoods!  He recently participated in the Micah conference at church, which focused on the Christian call to justice. He is excited to join the Colombia youth mission trip one last time!  You may see him fundraising through selling water outside Park Street Church.

Margaret is also at camp with Isaac, at Camp DeerRun.  She loves the girls in her cabin, and her counselor.

Phoebe is now 7!  She is currently off all insulin!  Praise God for this miracle!

Words from Alberto

I hope you are all enjoying watching the World Cup soccer games! I am inspired by all the different nations and religions represented through the games. Everyone is competing for the same goal, the World Cup!

We as Christians are also in competition, but not against flesh and blood, but against the evil principalities of this world (Eph 6:12).  We have the assurance of victory though.  And like the celebrations of the World Cup, we too will celebrate, forever with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving Info

Please visit our website at paradas.org/giving for giving instructions through our church.

Isaac set up a GoFundMe account for people who prefer to not contribute through our church.  The link is here.

Rebecca Heidgerd is hosting a Stella & Dot fundraising event on July 10 in her home to benefit our South Africa fund. Check out the accessories and details on her invitation.

We are very grateful to Margaret and Esther and all the other Barnabas group members who helped us with our clean-out kick-off!