The Work Continues...

Thank you for your prayers this past weekend.  We had a safe trip to Chihuahua on Sunday, to pick up our friend Chris.  We got some things done there before heading back to Bachiniva on Monday.  Chris has been such a blessing so far, not just with his knowledge for construction, plumbing and a million other things, but also just as a friend and brother in Christ.  It will be great having him apart of the team the next few weeks. Tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM, Kim, Jose and I head to the states to pick up the team of 9 from Puyallup WA.  They are very eager to get down here just as much as we are ready to receive them.  This week has been a bit crazy, trying to finish projects at the orphanage, start the plumbing and getting the dorms, food, and church ready to receive the team.  Fortunately, everything seems to be coming together...thank you Jesus.  We will be staying the night in El Paso, picking up supplies and our windows on Saturday and then making the trek home.  We have all the documents needed to cross the windows at the border, nevertheless, you never know what could happen...so please be praying with us!

As I mentioned, the main focus of the trip will be framing the orphanage, installing windows and doors and working on the electrical.  We also have a brother coming down who knows how to lay tile, so he will be doing that in the addition the summer team put in.  Already that room is being used and filled on a weekly business.  What a blessing it was to see some 30 people crammed in their for soup kitchen last night.

Here are some pics from the past few days.  Looking forward to sharing with you pics of the construction next week as well as the Fall Festival on Wednesday.  We are anticipating  100 kids that will hear the gospel, little worship, lots of fun, games and candy!

Starbucks with Chris and Pastor Luis...

Trenches dug and waiting to be filled with pipe...

Chris, frantically looking for his contact lens....just kidding!

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor;  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:).

"Blessed is he who considers the poor (helpless or powerless); the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.  The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies" (Psalm 41:1-2). I read this verse the other day and thought of the 10 people that will be making their way down to Bachiniva, starting this weekend, to help with the orphanage building.  I have always been on the other side of missions teams...leading them from the states.  However, already being down here, I'm all the more excited to receive the team and watch the Lord radically work in their lives over the next 2-3 weeks.

Tomorrow, after church, Pastor Luis and I will head to Chihuahua to pick up our friend Chris, from Calvary Chapel Mountain View, in Utah.  This is Chris' first missions trip and he will be coming 5 days ahead of the team from Puyallup WA, to begin work on the plumbing.  Please pray for Chris as he begins his adventure tomorrow morning.  Pray for safe travels, protection for his wife and kids while he is away, and that his life will be greatly impacted and his relationship with Jesus strengthened and deepened all the more!

On Monday, we will begin the paperwork process for obtaining a "Civil Association" (AC) for the orphanage.  Basically and AC is like a "non-profit" organization in the states.  This will allow us to legally minister and care for orphans.  We have already begun conversations with a lawyer and seems like the process isn't too difficult.  However, we would love your prayers on Monday and throughout this administrative process!

Kim, Pastor Jose and myself with head back up to the states on Friday, to pick up the missions team that will be coming from South Hill Calvary Chapel in Puyallup WA.  I'm extra excited about this because my dad (Pastor Ron) and his wife Jenny are coming, which is a bonus.  Actually I think Ayantu is more excited.  Everyday she talks about Pa and Damma (gramma), coming on an airplane to her new house.  She has a countdown calendar which she marks off each day.  The missions team will join our construction crew who have been working NON-STOP on the project the past 7 weeks.  We will be focusing on framing the inside of the orphanage and installing the windows and doors.  They will be here for 10 days.  Please be praying for them as well, Pastor Ron, Jenny, Phil, Judah, Doug, Gary, Gabe, Mark B and Mark J.

The Lord totally blessed us with the 34 windows needed for the orphanage.  The initial cost for the windows down here was around $4800.00.  One of the brothers in our church, works for a window company to decided to give us the windows to us at cost...which will be saving us $1800.  Thank you Jesus for that!  We will also be picking up the windows when we pick up the team next weekend.  Extra prayers for the drive down on Saturday, crossing the border and that everything FITS...would be greatly appreciated!

I know I have said this a million times before, but every time I write a new update, I'm reminded of how thankful and blessed it is to have each and everyone of you, supporting the orphanage project.  Through your daily prayers, financial giving and other means, you have played a tremendous and vital role the past 2 months.  I look forward to the next few months and coming year, to see all that God will do!  So thank you again!

Here are some updated pictures...

God's Benefits...

Here are some updated pics from the past few days.  We were able to finish pouring the floor today AND put up 12 trusses.  Today was extra special because we had some of the youth group kids out to help as well as Susie (the Vargas' oldest daughter), her husband Ricky and their three kids, who are visiting for the week.

Susie and her hubby working the shovels and dirt...

Becky, was home from college in Chihuahua...to handle some wheel barrel...

I've been thinking a lot about all the wonderful benefits the US offers...paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick leave, medical, dental, vision benefits, 401k, stock options, company cars, cell phones, per diems...the list goes on.  Now, having been here in Mexico and experienced a bit of work life down here...benefits aren't as much.  Most people work 6 days a week for hopefully 150-200 pesos (15 USD) a day.  Unless you work for a big company, most people have never experienced benefits, paid time off, holidays, etc.

Since our crew has worked so incredibly hard the past 7 weeks, I thought it'd be fun to give them a day off...PAID.  Luis shared the plan yesterday morning...with some incentives. If we finished the floor and laid some trusses, everyone gets Monday off...paid.  I think they all were a little shocked at what that meant.  However, reality settled in and they adjusted quickly to the thought of being paid for a day you get to stay home.  One gentleman shared, "...enough said...no more talk let's get to work." It was such a blessing to see the joy and smile on their faces, regarding something they've never experienced before...and yet at times, we can take for granted. I have also been meditating on what David wrote in Psalm 68...

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits" (Psalm 68:19).

Every day we wake up, the Lord LOADS us with HIS benefits.  And let me share with you friend, that they are FAR better than any physical benefit we will ever receive from our job or the USA.  Tomorrow when you wake up, think of God's mercies, that are new every morning.  Meditate on His grace, your salvation, the hope, comfort, provision and protection we have in a living and active God who wants to hangout with you and minister to your heart....THAT truly is a wonderful benefit package!