Farewell Alfonso

A much loved team member has moved on.

In the kitchen where he often astounded us with his culinary skills!

Alfonso Alvarado formed part of the outreach team from May of 2007 until Feb of 2013 when he accepted a position as director of the local Senior Citizens Center.

When I think back over all the years and all the changes that our small ministry has undergone since its beginning in 2007, Alfonso's memories are woven so intricately that I feel as though we will never fully say farewell.

As Alfonso sat in our den with a warm cup of coffee in his hands he began to share his heart.  Outside the uncharacteristic wind and rain slammed against the window panes.  The temperature that had dropped from 80 degrees to just 50 degrees overnight was only one reason he shivered.  The other was the news bomb that he was dropping on us: he had accepted a position in a government organization and would not be returning to work on Monday.

WOW.

When Alfonso came to us he was looking for a job- any job.  He decided to help us out for a while until something better came along.  But nothing ever did.  Finally he realized that God had a plan for Alfonso with us.  At least for a time this was Alfonso's calling.  Never having worked with children, never having worked in missions, he came on board.  Over the years his character was molded and formed from being intimidated by the mission work we do to being very adept.  Alfonso's enthusiasm for life, joy, and overcoming attitude have helped him to face challenges and be formed by them.  He grew from being a person who had a hard time being stable in any one place to a long term team member.  He grew from being someone who had started university 2 times and never finished to someone who on the third try, with our constant encouragement, is now on the way to graduating.  He went from being someone from the poor side of town with little or no exposure to the outside world to having international friends and planning visits for missionaries from all over.  It was a good thing.  It was a GOD thing.

teaching in a training meeting

My husband and I are so very proud of the person that Alfonso has become.  As he sat before us thanking us for the role was (through the ministry) played in helping him to become the man that God desires for him to become, we were humbled.  It is our heartfelt desire that all those who work with CrossCulture Jesus and Brazos Abiertos would one day leave better than when they came.  It is our desire that our small ministry be a time of testing, trying, and refining for all of us that are there.  To hear Alfonso recount his testimony we were stricken with the KNOWING that Alfonso, like many others, had gone through the refiner's fire and come out clean on the other side. 

Yes, it was a God thing for Alfonso to come to us. 

We are thankful to all the years of hard work, diligence, and giving 110%.  We are thankful that we can count Alfonso as a friend.  And we are thankful that the Lord is promoting him and rewarding him for so many years of faithful service and sacrifice.

We bless Alfonso in the name of Jesus and declare that all he puts his hand to will prosper!

Alfonso with team member Yoli and a visiting missionary