How Great Thou Art...

We had a wonderful and powerful service at church yesterday.  Now that our trip to Creel has taken place, we felt it was time to reveal the whole amazing story about the orphanage..and ALL that God has and is doing.  The church knew a little about what was going on, but not the full details of the orphans in Creel and relocating them. Our service started out as usual with a wonderful time of worship.  For me personally, this time was extra special as I sat there holding my precious Ayantu on my lap.  She was clinging to her daddy and it was one of those incredible moments as a parent.  And then...we came to the song that stirred my heart tremendously, How Great Thou Art.  As the church sang from the bottom of their hearts, how great their God is...I was moved to tears.  I've song this song a thousand times before, but in that moment, as I held my daughter, who once was an orphan, abandoned naked in a road 2 days after being born, my heart was overwhelmed...How Great Thou Art.  And here I am now, about to share with this wonderful church in Bachiniva Mexico, that God is opening the doors for us to build an orphanage...and begin to care and minister to children in need...How Great Thou Art.  After Pastor Luis and I shared, we showed a number of pictures of our trip to Creel, the children at the orphanage and the building project.  After it was over the church began to applaud and thank God.  Pastor Luis shared that there are multiple opportunities for the entire church to get involved in this adventure.  The response thus far has been wonderful.  One gentleman came up and said "I'd like to donate 1 1/2 bags of cement from my house."  Others began to put money in a little box that the youth made, for donations to buy block.  160 pesos was given, which will buy 16 blocks.  Some may think that is small in light of the 8,000 blocks we need to buy.  HOWEVER...remember what Jesus said in the gospel of Mark...

"...De cierto os digo que esta viuda pobre echo mas que todos los que han echado en el arca; porque todos han echado de lo que les sobra; pero esta, de su pobreza echo todo lo que tenia, todo su sustento" (Marcos 13:44).

"...assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in ALL that she had, her whole livelihood" (Mark 13:44).

Seeing and hearing this scripture being fulfilled was absolutely beautiful.  Others offered their help through working and cooking for the workers on Saturdays.  I can't wait to see how the body of Christ here, continues to rally together for the work of the Kingdom.

One of the other highlights of yesterday was a wonderful answer to your prayers and ours.  Pastor Luis gave the gospel message at the end of the service and a chance for people to put their faith and trust in Jesus.  A number of people raised their hands, INCLUDING, Eloy, one of our workers.  When I heard that after service, I wanted to leap for joy.  This man has been on my heart ever since the first time I met him...and we have been praying constantly for him to surrender to Jesus...How Great Thou Art!

Please pray for other workers who don't the Lord.  Florentino in particular...who has yet to come to church, nor, has really heard about Jesus.  We are praying that every morning as we pray and read a little from the Word as a team...seeds will be planted and watered and his heart would be forever changed!

One more thought I'd like to share with you all...regarding worship.  It is so easy to slip into complacency when it comes to worship.  Sometimes we get tired of certain songs, don't feel like singing...or we just aren't "moved" by worship.  May I encourage you in something.  The next time you worship...try reading and actually "thinking" about the very words you are singing.  Don't view it as just another song to sing...but words to minister to your soul.  That is what made worship so sweet on Sunday, especially, How Great Thou Art!

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.   I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

And when I think, that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scare can take it in.  That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.  Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and there proclaim, my God How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee...how great Thou art, how great Thou art.  Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee...how great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Our trip to the Creel Orphanage...

Thank you for your prayers during our trip to the Creel Orphanage this week.  I would say that the trip was both a blessing and a challenge.  We knew that the change and relocating of the orphans would be difficult to recieve, for Leno and Lupe...who have faithfully taken care of the children.  This is why all the prayers leading up to this trip...and your prayers this week were so important and definitely felt. We met Ray for lunch on Wednesday before heading to the children’s home.  After some prayer and thought...we decided that Pastor Luis, Ray and I would meet with Leno and Lupe, while Kim, Jackie and Antu play and hangout with the kids.  Ray shared with them all that God had been speaking to his heart, prior to even meeting me.  He had been praying...Lord what is the future for this orphanage...how can we overcome some of the challenges we have faced over the years.  It was then that the Lord brought our paths to cross, and, has led our every step up to today.  The conversation was very difficult and met with much resistance.  After about 2 hours of talking...we all agreed it would be good to take a break, continue praying and seeking the Lord, and meet again in the morning.  We closed our time with prayer and it was incredibly powerful.  I left the orphanage wondering, why the meeting didn’t go the way I wanted it too...but, encouraged that the God of the universe has ALL things under control!

I didn’t get much sleep that night at all.  I kept tossing and turning...asking the Lord, what do you have in store?...is this the right move?...have we misheard You?...etc!  That morning, I realized why the Lord allowed me to toss and turn...so that I could be praying throughout the night and crying out to Him...

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me...a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8).

Thursday mornings meeting was night and day difference.  Leno and Lupe where more open and receptive to what God is doing.  They shared they have more of a peace and they desire what the Lord wants.  They also brought up some good points regarding what can legally and not legally be done with the children.  We shared we were planning on meeting with the attorney on Friday and would keep them updated as we find out more.

Through our meeting with Eduardo (Ray’s lawyer in Mexico) and a meeting with the Internal House of Indian Affairs...the Lord seems to continue leading us in this direction.  There are still a number of “unanswered” questions...as we try to understand how things work in Mexico.  However, we will faithfully walk through doors until they either close, OR, God sees this through to the end.  With that in mind...the more we pray...the greater peace He will give us.  Regardless of how many orphans we will get...or where they will come from...God has spoken to ALL of our hearts that Casa de Bendicion is from Him and He is in control.  May all of our prayers be...HIS will be done...NOT ours!

“Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Chief Cornerstone...

We had another blessed and successful work week.  The whole crew, 8 men, started Monday morning at 7:30 AM with a time of prayer and Psalm 127.  I  had asked Jose to read Psalm 27, and wanted to share a few thoughts from it...but...he thought I said 127.  It was totally the Lord, because the first verse in that Psalm is one that we have constantly been quoting this past month... "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..."

It was perfect that the Lord worked out that little mistake.  With that verse in mind, the men went right to work and worked hard and fast!

Chayo and Jorge...mixing concrete for the footings...

Alejo, Eloy and Florentino pouring the concrete footings...

The footings were finished and dried by Friday morning.  It was then time to begin to lay the blocks and build the walls.  The most important part of the wall is the "cornerstone".  Its the first stone that you lay.  That sets the stage for how every block afterwards will turn out.  If the cornerstone is off...then the wall will be off.  If the cornerstone is level and set just right...then all other blocks that follow will be fine.  What a beautiful picture of Psalm 118...

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22)

Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 21 when speaking to the chief priests and elders.  He was referring to Himself as the Chief cornerstone.  What a wonderful picture of the importance of Jesus in our life.  With out that cornerstone (without Jesus)...everything will be off in our lives.  However, with Jesus as our CHIEF cornerstone...everything will be just fine.  I'm so thankful for those physical reminders of His glorious truths!

Here is Eloy and Alejo, setting the cornerstone...the first block of sum 8,000 blocks...

On Friday, the team laid 369 blocks.  Our goal is to average about 300 per day...so we are off to a wonderful start.  On Saturdays, the team works a 4 hour day, 7:30-11:30 AM...and yet they were able to lay close to 150 more blocks.  If they keep this rate up, we should have the outer walls and structure completed in 4 weeks....WOW!  This reminds yet of another passage of scripture...where Nehemiah and his crew, who had a "mind to work," finished building the wall in 52 days!

Here's what it looks like after a day and a half of working...

Another view of the wall...workers...and beautiful sunrise...

Saturday is pay day, which is probably the highlight of the day for the men.  After work, I handed the brothers their envelope with money.  I was blown away when immediately after opening their envelopes, 2 of the men handed Pastor Luis money...telling him they wanted to tithe and give to the church.  Jackie was standing next to me and said, "wow...talk about giving of your first fruits..." We finished the day with a sweet time of prayer and then as we were leaving, a number of the brothers said we'll see you tomorrow at church.

What a wonderful way to end the week...thank you Jesus!