Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
-Matthew 19:13-15
Entonces le trajeron algunos niños para que pusiera las manos sobre ellos y orara; y los discípulos los reprendieron. Pero Jesús dijo: Dejad a los niños, y no les impidáis que vengan a mí, porque de los que son como éstos[a] es el reino de los cielos. Y después de poner las manos sobre ellos, se fue de allí.
-Mateo 19:13-15
We just finished our first work day in the Dominican Republic. Our mission team from JCPC is 10-strong and with help from Victoria Melin, we've dubbed ourselves the DR God Squad. We arrived this morning at the school that JCPC and its mission teams have helped to build over the last five years. And now, what started as a lot with boulders and garbage is a beautiful school teeming with 250 students.
As we got to work on paint jobs and a playground, a supply truck arrived with our concrete mix supplies. We all went to unload it. Moises, our long-time contact here and administrator for the local hospital walked with us to the tailgate. Then he stopped and grinned ear to ear. He held up a finger and we all paused. "Listen," he beamed. We did. Workers nearby laughed and cars drove by. But above all, children in the classrooms of two stories of the school could be heard. "The sound of children is music," he said.
God tells us that it is children to whom the kingdom belongs. It is children we are to love, to welcome, to teach, and to emulate. And so this week, supported by each of you, we will labor in concrete and paint, to the music of children. Thank you for sending us and please continue to pray for the work we do and the lessons we will learn.
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