#1: Inaugural Year for Victory Plus Educational Center a Beautiful Blessing
Three of our children on the last day of school.
The 2020-2021 school year has technically been over since the end of May. But the memories and triumphs are still very fresh in our hearts and minds. This school year was TMC’s first year providing educational support for Candlelight and Crestview students. Although it was a bold move prompted by unforeseen circumstances, it produced amazing, unprecedented fruit. What a year of victory! Victory Plus, the model name of our trailer, became a word spoken and fulfilled in the lives of the children we serve.
Three more of our nine students are pictured here.
When the school year came to a close, we had no doubt that we should continue to offer academic assistance in the coming school year, 2021-2022. Although the last year was demanding in many ways, it was so worth it! God did more for these children in one year than I could ever have imagined. What might He do in the next? So in 2021-2022, TMC will offer educational support again, this time to ten students.
Some of the children sing “God so Loved” (We the Kingdom) for a recent board meeting at Victory.
God, in His mercy, is singing His song of love over all children everywhere. And we are invited to sing that song with Him, to offer our minds & hearts and hands & feet as well as our voices. What a privilege to witness what happens when a child not only hears that personal song of love, but also begins to believe it and respond to it!
#2: Overcoming Fear! New Opportunities
This year for some of our children, a journey to find victory over certain fears began here….with swimming.
Whether we are talking about swimming lessons, academics, or something else seemingly completely unrelated, all of us have struggled at some point with fear. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of what people might say or think, fear of the unknown, all these can paralyze. But God….
In June, a friend and volunteer at Victory invited us to her pool for a week of daily swim lessons. The children made phenomenal progress! One child’s victory is captured here. He nailed his swim test at the Y this week!
Another friend recently gave us a lovely swim day at her pool.
Every Friday in July, the YMCA is partnering with us to give us free swim time at their outdoor pool. Friday was our first day!
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you…” Isaiah 43:1-2.