Wisdom from Above...

As 2014 was nearing its end, naturally I was thinking about the new year.  What’s going to happen?  When will new children come into our care? What projects do we want to accomplish? How should we spend our resources? How many missions teams should we host? How can I be a better husband and dad? And so forth!

During those thoughts and final days of 2014, I found my myself constantly praying forWISDOM.  Oh how badly I need wisdom beyond my years, especially in this new year.  I came across this very this morning that was perfect timing…

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).

Not only should I pray for wisdom, but the kind of wisdom that James describes in this verse, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

After ringing in the New Year, I found myself desperately needing wisdom, as I was stuck up in El Paso.  We finished 2014 and began 2015 with a missions team from Calvary Wedgwood in Seattle WA.  It was a wonderful time and we were sad to see them go, especially because my sister and her family were leading the team.

As I was driving back down to Mexico, I heard this horrible loud shaking in our van.  Great, I’m 5 minutes from the border and now this.  Fortunately, I was still in the states and was able to turn around and get to a mechanic.  This began my first of four days in El Paso TX.  Of course the part they needed wasn’t available and would take 2-3 days to get there.  So, obviously I had a lot of time on my hands…especially time to think and pray.  I wan’t peaceful, I wasn’t gentle, I wasn’t open to reason, I was being a grouch because I wanted to be home.

However, the Lord in His wonderful timing, wanted some uninterrupted time to speak and minister to my heart.  He began reminding me of His faithfulness this past year….His kindness, love, provision, blessings, and everything else that makes our Lord incredible.

“I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12).

God did incredible things last year, that I’d like to take a moment to remember, meditate on and talk about.

• The doors of Casa de Bendicion officially opened, Saturday, January 18th when our first young man came into our care.  Over the next 11 months, we were able to care for a total of 16 children, ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old.  9 children (3 girls and 6 boys) are currently in the home full-time.

• A total of $124,774.15 came into the House of Blessing.  $60,081.99 was fromthe 10 missions trips that we hosted.  $13,440.25 was donated for special projects. $51,251.33 came in through general donations from individuals, families, churches, schools and businesses.  AMAZING!

• We were able to hire 2 more staff members, Jairo Gonzalez (our children administrator) and Guadalupe (our amazing cook/cleaner).

• Another family joined us on the missions field from Bellingham WA.  The Heist family moved down in October and have been settling in.  They have been a big blessing both here at the orphanage and at the church.

• Not 1, not 2, but 3 vans were donated to the ministry.  2, 15 passenger vans and 1, minivan.  Perfect timing for our growing family.

• I was able to travel quite a bit throughout the states to share and teach at churches about the ministry.  What a blessing to see the list of our supporters continue to grow.

So, we are greatly looking forward to this new year and all that the Lord has in store.  No matter what it looks like, good or bad, I know it will be another blessed year.  None of this would be possible without the continued support and prayer from all of our dear friends and loving churches.  We are forever thankful for each and every one of you!

Happy New Year…

Jason and the Casa de Bendicion team!

The Boy Who Didn’t Know His Age…

I’m getting old!  Well, at-least it seems that way.  I’ll be turning 35 tomorrow.  Most people know when their birthday is, especially children.  My 4 year old is already anticipating her birthday coming in March.  She has things planned out and talks about it frequently.  It’s not very often that you come across a child that doesn’t know their birthday or how old they are, especially if they are 11.  However, I talked with one the other night at our fall festival.  It was actually one of our children, Juan.

Our children were very exciting about going to the fall festival at the church and of course, getting a ton of candy.  The church was packed and everyone was having a great time.  Towards the end of the night, it came time for musical chairs.  They broke it up by age group.  I was in charge of starting and stopping the music and Juan was right by my side helping me.  At one point he turned to me and asked how many years he was.  I didn’t understand what he was wanting, to which he asked again…how old am I?  He had been patiently waiting his turn for musical chairs, but didn’t know when to go because he didn’t know how old he was.  When I told this young man that he was 11 and it was his turn to play, it was as if I told him he won a million pesos.  Smiles and joy filled his face as he ran to the chairs.

I am so thankful for and treasure those little moments, like that night with Juan.  It reminds me of the importance of what we are doing and gives me  the desire to want to love on and minister to these children all the more.

Life continues down here at a rapid pace.  The past 3 weeks consisted of a very successful missions team, another trip to Corareyvo and my trip to Florida.

Many of you were praying for our team of 10 from South Hill Calvary and Calvary North Thurston, in Washington.  The goal was to install a heating system in the orphanage.  Incredibly that was accomplished in 3 days.  It was amazing to see this dedicated team work long hours, in tight, hot crawl spaces, to complete the task.  What a blessing it will be to have heat for the upcoming winter!

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I took back the missions team back up to El Paso and then hoped on a plane to Florida to preach and give an update on the orphanage.  That same weekend, Pastor Luis, Nieves and a team went up to preach and minister to the people in Corareyvo.  Both trips were a huge success and richly blessed by the Lord.

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It was a blessing seeing Erasmo, Maria Ana and Judith excited about going back to visit their family.  Leading up to their departure, there was growing concern that Judith was going to choose to stay.    Since she is 15 years old and chose to come and stay with us back in August, we couldn’t tell her she can’t go.  We encouraged her that this is the best place for her to be and we hope she chooses to stay with us and continue growing and learning.  Unfortunately, she no longer wanted that and remained in Corareyvo.  Please join us as we pray for her, her safety and more importantly, a continual heart transformation so she might have a desire to come back to us!

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We have a busy rest of the week leading up to our trip back home to Washington on Saturday.  This time, the whole family gets to join me for our furlough.  It will be a much needed time of relaxing, visiting with family and friends as well as teaching and sharing at churches about the orphanage.  Your prayers for our trip would be greatly appreciated as well…and we hope to see you if your in the neighborhood.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

A Little Update...

After yet another 10 day trip to the states, it was wonderful to be back home.  I wasn’t really wanting to go, having been gone so much, however the Lord greatly blessed the trip. Our home church, South Hill Calvary, had been prayerfully planning a "missions week" for almost a year. The vision behind it was to bring all of the missionaries they support, throughout the world, together for a time of fellowship, breaking bread, prayer and the word.  There were 7 different brothers from Mexico, Germany, Austria and Croatia. Indeed it was an incredible time. How amazing it was to meet these guys and hear about all the incredible things the Lord is doing in other countries. Our time together reminded me of a passage in Luke 10.  Jesus had just sent out 72 disciples to heal the sick and preach of the kingdom of god.  We read in verse 17 that when they returned, "...they returned with joy..." In there excitement and enthusiasm about what they had just experienced, Jesus gently reminds them about the importance of humility.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).

Jesus wanted to make sure they didn't get caught up in what they did for the Lord...but rather what the Lord did for them.  I think I can speak on behalf of all the missionaries there, that we had a renewed understanding that it is all about Jesus!

On Monday we will be welcoming another missions team who will be installing a heating system in the orphanage.  10 brothers and sisters from 2 churches in Washington will be spending the week with us.  We are prepping for the cold season and what a blessing it will be to have a heating system to keep the children warm.

We also have some very exciting news, as another family, has answered the call to the mission field.  Isaac and Tara Heist, from Bellingham Washington, have been praying about serving somewhere in Mexico.  Over the course of a couple years, God confirmed to their family and to us, that they were to come down and serve at the orphanage.  Originally they were thinking of coming down in January of 2015, however, the Lord had a different plan, which is usually the case.  Their house sold incredibly fast, and it was clear that the Lord was saying it was time to go.  So, having sold most of their things, Isaac, Tara, and their four children, JT, Asher, Isaiah and Jocelyn began the drive down.  They arrived safely in El Paso yesterday, and it has been a blessing hanging out with them.  Please continue to pray for this dear family as they start the new chapter in their life!

Prayer Requests...

• Please pray for the missions team as they leave early Monday morning from Seattle
• Please pray for all 19 of us as we cross the border and travel back down to Bachininva Monday afternoon.
• Please pray for a healthy and productive week with the team.
• We are still in need of/looking for a 15 passenger van.  Please pray that God would provide one in His perfect timing.  If you know of one for sale or see one on the side of the road, please let me know.

May your hearts be strengthened and encouraged today.  Let us be reminded of all that Christ has done for us...and the peace and comfort we find in Him!