A Young Street Vendor and his Bible
 Alan Gabriel Velazquez Aquino is a nine-year-old boy who frequents the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) office in Paraguay. LHM staff are convinced that this young boy is well on his way to becoming an LHM volunteer in service of the Lord.
Alan lives with his parents and two siblings in a low income neighborhood. Each morning, he leaves his home early to go and sell candy on the street in order to help his mother buy food. Then on most afternoons, he enjoys being at the LHM office reading and spending time with staff.
"Alan comes to help us to prepare the envelopes that we send out each month to our volunteers and pastors," said Victor Verruck, the Director of LHM—Paraguay.
When the ministry center started a donation campaign for needy children, Alan often put a few coins in the collection box "to help other children." Alan also completed one of the children's Bible Correspondence Courses titled "God is Our Father." He has always enjoyed learning about Jesus, but he had never had a Bible of his own, so one of the staff members gave him a Bible.
Recently, Alan looked sad as he walked into the ministry center. With tears in his eyes, he explained that the previous day his family had had nothing to eat, so his mother had sold the Bible that had been given to him. Since simply giving Alan another Bible might not be a practical solution to this, the LHM staff promised Alan that he could read the Bible with them whenever he visits the ministry center. Alan is happy with this arrangement and continues to visit often.
Lutheran Hour Ministries asks for your prayers for Alan and other young volunteers around the globe. To see more stories from LHM international ministry centers, please visit our International Ministries blog online at http://lhmint.blogspot.com.
|
