House to House...

The church here in Bachiniva has a special in-depth, discipleship bible study that we do on Sunday nights.  Its been awesome seeing the group of 15 or more come out faithfully and grow in God's word.  I really missed being there, while we were gone in the states...especially after hearing that they had been having the study at Pancho's house. Pancho continues to get weaker and weaker.  His most recent trip to Chihuahua was very difficult.  His pain continues to get worse and his wounds keep opening up and are not healing, especially in his jaw.  Because it is not healing, any fluids he drinks just drip out of the hole in his jaw.  The doctors once again have said there is nothing they can do for him.

He spends most of his day, at his small little house, to weak to move around and trying to endure the pain.  We decided since Pancho can't make it to bible study, we'll bring the bible study to him.  After all, the church is not about a building, but a body of people..right?

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

My aunt, sent me these pictures, while we were gone, of one of their bible studio and worship times on the rocks behind Pancho's house.  What a blessing it was to see...

This past Sunday, we headed out to his house again.  The weather did not permit us to meet on the rocks, so we began to cram into his little house.  People kept coming and coming...and by the time we started, there were over 25 of us packed in his house.  We had an incredible and anointed time worshipping and studying a few verses in James chapter 5...

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:13-14).

James continues on to write this..."...the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

We will continue to fervently pray.  We will continue to worship our Creator.  We will continue to search the scriptures for comfort and encouragement.  And, we will continue to let the JOY of the Lord be our strength!

Here is Pancho's little house...

Worship, bible study and prayer with Pancho...

"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47).

Road Trip...

I apologize for not writing a blog post for over 2 weeks.  Time has flown by and I’d love to give you a little update about whats been going on lately. Jackie, Antu and I were actually gone, for 13 days on a road trip, traveling through El Paso, New Mexico, Colorado...making our way to Utah.  An organization in Utah had donated 65 chairs to the orphanage a few months back, and it was time to go pick them up.  Though the orphanage is not open yet, we have been running out of chairs at the church on Sunday’s, so they were much needed.  God also orchestrated a number of different meetings regarding the ministry in Mexico as well as opportunities for me to lead worship at a few different churches.

We spent 3 days in El Paso, getting supplies, fixing up our truck and then attending Horizon Christian Fellowship on Sunday.  Pastor Clift Barnes and his church have been a tremendous blessing and support to our family since moving to Mexico.  Its always wonderful being with this fellowship and it was especially nice, getting to lead worship in english again!

We left on Monday April 29th and started driving the 858 miles to American Fork Utah.  We split the drive into 2 days, mainly because of Antu, who I will say did a fantastic job, sitting in that little carseat for 9 hours a day.  I drove the entire time, Jackie slept the entire time (HA) and Antu basically talked the entire time.  She has entered a new phase of life where she is constantly asking us, “..mommy, daddy, you tell me a funny story?”  After about 2 hours of telling stories about growing up, I had nothing left.  I was hoping that she would fall asleep, however, the question, “daddy, you tell me a funny story?” kept coming out.  I figured I might start telling her bible stories, and probably won’t run out of them.  So, I started sharing, beginning in Genesis chapter 1.  About this time, we were driving through the breathtaking, unbelievable city of Moab.  I loved the timing, driving through this incredible place, with amazing rocks, canyons and arches, and sharing with her about God creating the heavens and earth!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).

We arrived safely in Utah on late Tuesday afternoon and spent  6 wonderful days, hanging out with family, having meetings about the ministry in Mexico and leading worship at Calvary Chapel Mountain View.  One of those meetings, was with 2 wonderful ladies, Kathy and Debbie, who work for an organization called Children’s House International (CHI).  CHI is an adoption agency which is currently applying for licensing, to adopt from Mexico.  Unfortunately, Mexico is one of the hardest countries to adopt from.  Kathy actually helped Jackie and I with our adoption of Ayantu.  We got to know her well over lots of phone calls and emails and feel so blessed to have finally met her in person, 3 years later.

Anyways, long story short, we got reconnected and Kathy happens to live in Utah.  They heard that we had moved to Mexico to start an orphanage, and wanted to connect with us.  Debbie, who is the executive director of CHI happened to be in Utah as well and we spent 2 wonderful hours with them.  As we talked, I was amazed at how the Lord orchestrated things.  Here are two organizations, wanting to make a difference in the country to Mexico, now being reconnected.  CHI wants to be an avenue for adoptions from Mexico and Casa de Bendicion is a soon to be opened orphanage in Mexico.  How exciting is that?...oh the possibilities! I don’t know what this means in the future, but I know we serve a big God who wants to do amazing things!

We were thankful for this opportunity to travel, be refreshed, encouraged and spend time with family and friends.  Thank you so for your prayers for us, especially during this trip!

The way we roll...and lunch in the middle of nowhere...

Spending time with her new "cuzzie" (cousin) Violet and hanging out with grandma...

Thank you for these chairs Lord.  Please fill them with people who need to hear your word at church and orphans who need to be cared and loved on...

Pancho Update...

"...and behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, 'woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.'  And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God" (Luke 13:11-13). Every time I read a passage like this, where Jesus heals or "looses" people from their infirmities, I'm greatly encouraged.  It gives you hope and comfort when loved ones, friends or family members are experiencing infirmities, that they too might be healed.  And so we pray, intercede, cry out to God that they might be made well.

Many of you have been doing that for our brother Pancho, in his battle with cancer.  Its been a long, hard fought battle, and it was seeming like victory was in his grasp.  However, things have taken a tough turn.  We found out, after taking Pancho to his last appointment in Chihuahua, that the cancer is back and starting to spread, towards his brain and major artery in his throat.  Because of the way the cancer is spreading, there will be no more surgeries, for fear of doing more damage.  This was VERY difficult news to hear, as we were all hopeful that Pancho would be "loosed" from this infirmity.

Over the past 2 years of battling cancer, Pancho has had 38 rounds of radiation.  The doctors said he has reached his max and will now only continue with chemo.  For the next 3 months, he will travel to Chihuahua for 6 hours of chemo, once a week.  He is in a lot of pain and loosing a lot of weight because he is unable to eat through his mouth.  The only food he gets is through a tube in his stomach, which the doctors want to remove soon.  I asked him why they would do that if he can't eat any other way, and Pancho was not sure what they were thinking.

The other day Jackie, Antu and I were leaving the park and we ran into Pancho and Sabrina, walking home from the bus stop.  We were able to talk with them, take them to the store for some juice and then home.  I tried to get as much info as possible, without pressing the sensitive subject.  I was amazed at Pancho's response as he said, "I don't know what's going to happen...but I just hold out my hand and say take it Lord, You lead me."  As I looked at this frail, skinny, hurting man, stretching out his arm, sharing about his trust in the Lord...my heart was incredibly encouraged.

Why isn't God answering our prayers and healing this man.  Why are things getting worse then they are better?  We read about all those who Jesus healed....that He might be glorified.  Why not heal Pancho?  And to that, I don't know.  I don't understand how God works, why He chooses to heal one person and not the other.  It can be easy to get mad, frustrated and angry with God.  However that usually makes things worse.  So, what do we do?  We cling to the scriptures and renew our faith and trust in the Lord that He IS GOD, He is in control and He knows EXACTLY what He is doing.  And regardless of the outcome, He WILL be glorified.  We can also join Paul in the same conclusion he came to, regarding is own infirmity...

"Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 2:8-10).

We will continue to pray, care for and love on this brother and his family.  It has been one of the biggest blessings to walk alongside them in this process.  On behalf of Pancho and his family, thank you for all your prayers as well as money that some of you have donated.  Those funds will continue to go towards transportation to Chihuahua, medical bills and food for the family.  One thing that is very hard to get and very expensive down here is morphine, which is something Pancho will need.  if you would like to donate financially to Pancho and his family, please let me know and we will see that the money gets used accordingly.  Thank you for walking through this process with this family as well, through your prayers and support.  We know that God will have His perfect and beautiful way!

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13).