September Newsletter

Dear Friends:
“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Cor 3:7

I’ve never been a gardener, but from time to time I will come home from the store with something green. Two years ago I purchased a plant to be a background prop for a video I was recording. I didn’t know what kind of plant it was, but I thought it was pretty and that was the only qualifier.
For about a year I struggled to keep my plant alive. I tend to travel a lot and “Lazarus” can’t go more than a week without water. One day a friend commented my “peace lily”, and that was the day I learned about my plant.
I can hear the collective “ahhhs” from all the plant lovers out there as you most likely know something I didn’t, peace lilies are native to the tropical rain forest. It explained a lot, but it al-so began to stir an attentiveness I didn’t have before. I started keeping a closer eye on the soil, the color of the leaves, and the amount of light it was getting. I pay attention now in a way I never did before, and my plant is reaping the benefits.
The other day I was transporting Lazarus in my vehicle when I thought to myself – “That’s our kids”. Many of New Mexico’s youth are peace lilies born in the wrong environment. They enter this world with the same beauty as the tropical rainforest, yet they’re born into a desert. Though they each have an opportunity to grow into something spectacular, many start out lacking basic needs from the minute their tiny feet feel the air.
You can’t expect a plant that hasn’t been watered to be green. In fact, you can’t expect it to survive at all. This is our ministry, this is why LifeQuest USA is here.
We try to water where others haven’t, yet we don’t do this on our own, we do this in the power of the One who IS the living water. “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jn 7:37-38
We know the truth about God’s love and the power of redemption. We know our youth need His love more than peace lilies need water to survive. Loving and supporting New Mexico’s youth is our passion, but as is typical of ministry work, there are always more “plants than people to water them”.
October is our Unbanquet Fundraiser that runs all month long. We ask that you prayerfully consider continuing your support for our ministry. And if you are new, please consider joining us in our critical mission.
Whether you are a volunteer, donor, prayer partner, or all the above, you’ve never failed us, and we thank you in advance for all you continue to do to support our youth.
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 Jn 4:19

Tina Dziuk

Board of Directors Chair