Donate A Box Of Tile...

During our time in the states, many people asked to be informed when specific needs come up, regarding the House of Blessing.  We are very excited to begin the floor project at the children's home, starting in January.  Our desire would be to tile the 7,200 SQ foot facility in the coming year.  So, in light of the Christmas season, we wanted to let you know of a way that you might be able to help out.  If you would like to be a part of the flooring project, you can do so by "purchasing" or "donating", a box, or boxes, of tile, for only $10 a box.  We are thanking God for the already, 24 boxes, that have been donated, to tile the room that Jackie, Ayantu and I will be moving into. If you feel like this might be something that you or your family is interested in, please let me know, or see the details below.  Thank you so much for your support and we pray that you have a wonderful Christmas!

In His Presence...

I can’t tell you how good it feels to be home here in Bachiniva.  It was so wonderful to be with our church family (and our dog) again.  We arrived safely in Bachiniva around 4:00 PM on Wednesday.  Unfortunately there was no power and no water.  Not the best welcome home present, however, it didn’t change our excitement of being here, and, thankfully the Lord turned things back on just in time for church and soup kitchen. Our trip back down went smoothly, other then the part where they wouldn’t allow me to permit the truck.  As an American, you are allowed to have one vehicle under your name. So, Jackie was going to permit the van and I would permit the truck.  Because I didn’t have my actual “temporary residence” card, they would not allow me to get a permit.  We tried for probably 45 minutes, talking, asking, pleading and praying that they might allow that permit to come through.  Without that permit, we would have to drive back to El Paso, drop off the truck, unload everything in the van so that the 5 of us could fit.  And then, at some point, drive back up to El Paso to get the truck, permit it and cross all of our stuff.  This sounded like a long exhausting process that I did not want to do.  Even after calling the immigration office in Chihuahua, who had my card right there, they said it was not possible for me to cross the truck.

I was about to loose the whole “no hay problema” mentality, when someone came up with the idea of Pastor Luis crossing it.  Although, he has a vehicle under his name, they were going to give him a temporary, 3 day permit.  This would allow us to cross both vehicles, drive to Chihuahua to pick up my residence card and then head back up to the border to cancel Luis’ permit and then put it in my name.  Sounds confusing huh?  Welcome to living in Mexico!

No sooner had we arrived in Bachiniva and unpacked, I found myself in the truck again with my cousin Nieves, early Thursday morning, driving to Chihuahua.  We picked up my new visa card, my other cousin Becky and then drove back up to the border.  Thankfully, everything worked out.  I was able to get the truck permitted, I now have my residence card, and God is good.  Because it was so late, we stayed the night in El Paso and then drove back down to Bachiniva Friday morning!

I'm official...

As most of you heard, Pancho went home to be with the Lord a week ago.  Pancho had a long, hard fought battle with cancer, that finally overtook him.  I got a call while driving through Moab, Utah, that Pancho was being rushed to the hospital.  He was not doing good at all and having trouble breathing.  The cancer had come back stronger then before and was taking over his throat and lungs.  The doctors did their best to get a breathing tube in Pancho, but because the tumor was so large, Pancho took his last breath and then slipped into the presence of the Lord.

There is nothing really easy about death.  Although we know that Pancho is worshipping Jesus, cancer free and and no longer suffering, it is still difficult.  I miss my friend Pancho and I wish so badly I could have said goodbye to him.  I’m so thankful that the Monday before we left for the states, I was able to spend one last time with him.  I gave Pancho a ride to the medical clinic in Bachiniva.  It was only a short 10 minutes or so, but I will treasure that last ride we had together.  Over the past year, we’ve taken a lot of drives together, to Cuahtemoc, Chihuahua, hospitals, etc, for treatment.  I learned a lot from that brother and was greatly encouraged of a man that fought the good fight and finished strong.  I was able to hug him and pray with him one last time, that Monday morning, trusting and believing not just for a healing, but for the Lord’s will to be done and Pancho to be strengthened through this.  We were both comforted by the words of Jesus, spoken to Paul in 2 Corinthians...

“And Jesus said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness...” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

On Wednesday, as we led worship, I thought of Pancho.  I thought of his favorite song, “Levanto Mis Manos” and the times he would lift his feeble hands in worshipping his Savior.  Although Pancho wasn’t there on Wednesday to worship with us, he was most definitely worshipping in an even greater way...with the Heavenly hosts bowed before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, crying Santo, Santo, Santo (Holy, Holy, Holy).

Please continue praying for Pancho’s family, especially his wife Sabrina.  She does not know the Lord and is hurting greatly.  Both Kim and I have had a chance to encourage her and will continue to do so, Lord willing.  Sabrina needs Jesus, He is the only one that can fill that hole and void she has now.  She is very thankful and wanted me to let you all know how grateful she is for all the prayers for Pancho as well as financial donations.

Pancho's last meal before his throat surgery...

Pancho and Sabrina...

My friend after his surgery...

Prayer and worship at Pancho's house...

Pancho's baptism...

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

Blessed In The States...

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17). It hard to believe that our time here in the states has come to an end.  After 6 weeks of traveling, visiting family and friends, sharing and teaching at churches and lots of meetings, we have begun our trip home.  We left Washington early Wednesday morning and made it safely to Boise.  Thursday, God cleared the roads and skies to allow us to arrive in Utah without any problems.  Friday we headed out to Farmington New Mexico, and then arrived in El Paso on Saturday.  It was a long 4 days, 7 states and 1800 miles of driving, but we made it and everyone did a great job (especially Antu).

Although the past month has flown by, it has been an incredibly rich and blessed time.  Once again God has shown His faithfulness and hand of provision...which causes us to be all the more THANKFUL for who He is and what He continues to do!

Not only were we able to come back up to Washington, to be with our family, friends and home church, but we also had the opportunity to travel to Utah, Oregon and Florida.  As we prepare to open the doors of the children’t home, God has raised up more churches and supporters to come alongside us in prayer, encouragement and financial support.  One of the things I never grow tired of doing, is sharing the story.  The most amazing thing of all, regarding the past year and a half, is that God has been doing it.  All of the answered prayers, provision, donations, open doors, even great trials that we have walked victorious in, all point to the Lord, to whom He is due credit.

We read in Psalm 84:11...”For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

I love the part of that verse that says, “...no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  God wants to provide for and take care of us.  That’s His promise and commitment to us.  Our part, is simply to walk uprightly and place our faith and trust in Him.  Keeping in mind that it might not look like what we think we need...but EVERYTHING that God knows we need.

There were a few things, that I felt we needed, for the ministry down in Bachiniva, that I had been praying on.  One was a van and the other was a new computer.  As we prepare to receive children, we needed another vehicle that could accommodate more then 3 people (our truck), so we began to pray.  My computer, is 7 years old and on its last leg, so we began to pray.  We were looking at the finances and seeing if we could somehow budget both of these, and then the Lord provided.

A family donated a beautiful, comfortable, 2004 Honda Odyssey Mini Van.  And then, our supporting church and friends, from Del Ray Florida, took up a love offering and it was exactly enough to get a new computer.  I wasn’t expecting that at all, but my pastor friend, Daniel, was believing in faith that God would bring the right amount of money....which He did.  Both Jackie and I were completely blown away, “...no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Our beautiful new van...

My good friend, Daniel Williams (Pastor of Redemption Church)

Thank you Redemption church for my new computer...

Some of our supporters in Utah went above and beyond and blessed us and the ministry with “buckets of joy”.  This was an idea that I had, similar to Operation Christmas Child, that could bring supplies and toys to those in need.  Having gone up to the mountains to visit the 5 children, and seeing how much buckets are used, we thought it would be a great idea.  I shared that briefly with our friends in Utah, and they took it from there.  20 buckets were put together to bless those in need and it was a beautiful sight to see.  I am already thinking about and looking forward to next year, and how we might get other churches involved to turn that 20 buckets into 200 buckets.

Another donation came in, that was, perhaps, more meaningful to me, more so then the van and the new macbook pro.  I had to opportunity to teach at Calvary Chapel South, in Kent, for their student ministries.  Having been a youth pastor for so many years, I was eagerly looking forward to it.  After the service, I was talking with one young girl in the back, and she was sharing how the message had spoken to her heart.  She then asked if we took donations, and handed me a crumpled up $5 bill.  She was very specific that this would go to the children’s home and ministry down in Mexico.  I was incredibly touched by that, I think perhaps, being a little overwhelmed by all of the things that God had provided thus far, a van, computer, etc, and now a $5 bill.  I’m assuming if this gal is like the majority of the youth I ministered to, she doesn’t personally have a lot of money.  Yet, in that moment, it was as if she was giving everything she had from her heart, or at least that’s what it felt like to me.  Remember Jesus talked about something similar....

“Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had” (Luke 4:3-4).

That brings us to today, and our final travel day down to Bachiniva.  Both our van and truck are loaded with supplies, buckets, presents, donations, etc.  We are trusting and praying for safe crossing, as we are in need of getting our vehicles permitted, visas, and declaring our goods.  We are very thankful that Pastor Luis and Kim will be meeting us to help us get across.  As always, we trust and believe in the Lord, that He will guide our every step and get us home safely.  Home, yes we are definitely ready to be back down in our lovely little town of Bachiniva!

Our ever growing family...my two brothers (Joey and Jeremy) and their families are missing!

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).