Missions Team Update...

Its hard to believe that the fall construction trip has reached the halfway point.  Seems like just yesterday we were up in the states picking up the 8 brothers and 1 sister from Puyallup WA.  They arrived safely in El Paso on Friday and we spent Friday and Saturday shopping, purchasing equipment and preparing to head into Mexico.  The original plan was to pick up 34 windows and bring them down.  However, as the bible says, "a man's heart plans his ways, but the LORD directs his steps" (Prov 16:9).  The Lord had a different plan for us.  The windows which were suppose to arrive on Friday, didn't come in until Sunday.  This was a bit of a bummer, however, "no hay problema".  PLUS...it actually worked out for the good.  This enabled us to purchase all of the plumbing stuff as well as the bulk of the electrical as well.  We were fully prepared and ready to pay the 16% tax to cross good into Mexico.  The gal we talked to was very nice, very helpful and in fact gave us some VERY valuable information.  She shared that with a letter from the church, to the mayor of Bachiniva...stating that we would like to donate items to the orphanage, we can then bring that signed letter from the mayor and cross items TAX free.  What a blessing this was to hear, as this will save additional money.  So truly, the Lord always works things out for good. Here's the team trying to figure out how to fill our their visa forms...

Pastor Ron shared the word on Sunday.  He is teaching us through the book of 1st Timothy.  The Church was packed and what a blessing it was to see hearts encouraged and strengthened in the Lord.  After church, we all headed to the orphanage for fellowship, food, games and seeing all that God has done so far.  This was the first time the team saw the orphanage as well as a lot of people from the church.  As I saw kids running around, laughing, smiling, enjoying the facility...God gave me a glimpse of whats to come with the orphans He will bring...

Come breakfast time Monday morning, the team was ready and eager to work.  We started with our time of prayer and a Psalm at the orphanage at 7:30 AM.

After prayer, we split the team up into 4 groups...framing, plumbing/septic, cement floor and welding/roofing.  By the end of the first 2 days of work, it was amazing to see all that had taken place...

Judah and Chris, leading the plumbing crew...

El Capitan give direction to the framing crew...

The two Marks...

After 1 day of framing...one side almost finished...

Judah weaving his web of plumbing...

2 of our 4, 6,000 liter septic tanks that will be buried 8 feet underground...WOW!

Hanging the 12 foot high trusses...

As we only have a few more work days left, we are trusting and praying for the strength and time to get all the necessary things done.  The team is staying healthy, loving Jesus, loving each other, working great with our Mexican brothers...and plain just having a blast down here.  Thanks for your continued support and prayers!

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...