First Baptist Church’s mission of love

16 years ago
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Houlton’s Jennifer Sylvester has a heart for children. She showed it through the many years of uniting families in adoption. Now, she has a new calling to children of Juarez, Mexico.
   “The needs are great, but the spirit of the people is also great,” said Sylvester.
At the end of the month, Sylvester is returning for her second mission trip to the country. But, through the winter, Sylvester and other ladies at the First Baptist Church of Houlton have kept the children of Juarez within their fingertips, literally, as they have been busily knitting bright colored hats through the winter as a treat for the Mexican children.
“The project started when I told Sherie [Moulton] I was going back to Mexico to work in the Resplendor de Vida Children’s Home, which is just outside Juarez,” said Sylvester.
Moulton started the church’s Prayer Shawl Ministry and according to Sylvester is “a super knitter” herself. She had a pattern for children’s hats that would be easy to knit. The First Baptist Church women knitted nearly 75 hats.
“It has been a wonderful winter project for many of us and the support has provided much encouragement to me as I prepare for my second short-term mission trip,” Sylvester said.
Sylvester first learned of the mission trip through her daughter, Sue, who attends a congregational church in Massachusetts. Her daughter’s church has supported this mission outreach in Mexico for several years. Sylvester’s daughter went to Mexico in the spring of 2006, returning as part of a team in the fall of 2007, inviting her mother along on the trip.
“I shared this trip with our congregation and Joe Hughes joined me for a week of service,” she said. “At that time, we were putting finishing touches on the first dormitory for children from the colonia, which is like a shanty town that pops up outside big cities to provide shelter for families, who cannot make it in the city. Their houses are made of pallets and corrugated roofing.”
The children’s home will provide a residential and education setting for children during the week and they will go home on weekends, according to Sylvester.
Impressed upon Sylvester’s heart were the children of Juarez.
“I understand the walls of the second dormitory are up and we will be working on that building, as well as doing vacation Bible School for children, providing a women’s outreach and clinic for education on health issues.”
Sylvester and team will also be taking bags of oil, beans and rice to the colonia and offering to pray with the families.
“Bringing them the word of God lights up their eyes,” she said. “What a privilege.”