Romans 12:8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
December 2011
December 10 we participated with a very large out reach in the Valle de Guadalupe in colonia El Porvenier alongside Calvary Chapel Pasedena. Weeks of regular prayer and planning resulted in over 1000 people attending. It was a wonderful event with pastor Francisco Garica and Victor Mayoral sharing the message. Many lives saved and many lives rededicating. Over 600 gifts were given out to the children in attendance. We were amazed that there were many gifts left over that would now support several of the churches in Baja south.
December 14 Calvary Chapel Riverside the home church of our missionary family provided gifts for all of the children at Alcanzando La Vision. This has been an annual contribution. Each year the kids are so blessed.
Tammy Mackay from British Columbia Canada along with close friends collected loose change and donated enough to provide a special Christmas meal for over 60 kids. I love the spirit and how he moves in the hearts of everyone.
December 17 Langley Meadows Community School in British Columbia provided gifts for all of the children at at City of Angels. It is really touching to share the love from one child’s heart to another. This school has been very active supporting other projects the past 3 years and we are grateful for their contributions to the lives of these kids.
December 27-3 Cornerstone Napa Valley came for a full week of activities starting with a visit to the kids at El Faro Tjuanna taking the kids to a movie outing. As many of the kids had gone to visit families it was nice to be able to provide extra blessings for the kids left behind. The remainder of their visit was construction. Many skilled workers put efforts into a much needed roof for El Faro Hacienda Tecate all boys orphanage with all the building supplies provided by Langley Meadows Community school. This was a major contribution which provided them protection from the rain and cold. Along with construction there was small group teaching and encouragement as well as an outreach to the community with Dalton Goo sharing a solid message. Seeing lives surrender never gets old. Rebuilding a roof is something but watching God rebuild lives through his church is amazing.
January 2012
January started with a wonderful time of refreshing with all of us attending the missions conference. The Lees were sponsored by Calvary Chapel Richmond along with their home church Riverside Calvary Chapel. The Mayorals sponsored by Cornerstones Napa Valley. We were able to share a booth with videos and information of what God is doing along the Baja.
January 13-20 Sojourners Mission along with Calvary Chapel El Monte embarked on the log trip south to bringing Christmas to the children of Santa Rosalia, Bonfil, San Bruno, Palos Verde, San Marcos and Tortugas. The amazing thing is that these we mostly left over gifts from the CC Pasedena group. Over 350 children received teaching and gifts in all these towns. The pastors are encouraged by the generosity of others allowing them to bless their communities building them up. God is So Good! The El monte group stayed and served at the leadership conference supporting through prayer and children’s ministry before returning home.
January 16-20 was the Vizciano Leadership Conference with pastors traveling from all over the Baja. Pastor Bill Walden is visionary for CC Vizciano church plant and he is active in building up other pastors and their elders with this conference on an annual basis. Sam Scotti, Mike Vincente, John Lukas and Gerson Hernadez passionately shared on the book of Nehemiah. The spirit was being poured out to many communities through this event . All of the pastors had supportive groups that came alongside and participated in driving , food preparation, worship, children’s ministry, sound and recording, translation and prayer.
On our way home after prayer one of the vans was struck by a bus forcing the driver off the road to the desert floor. The incline was about a four foot drop at a 60mph speed. Right at the point of where the road ended there was a cement pad that served as a launch for what was now call the Dukes of hazard exit.
A couple of rough bumps that dislodged the inside paneling the van was upright and everyone in tack all except our Pastor Bill. He was in the back seat and launched into the air hitting his head 3 times on the roof causing major compression to his neck and back. In many ways we had much to be grateful for. Blessed by answered prayer, blessed the skilled driving of John DeCarmo, blessed that the van remained upright, blessed by the the occupants in the bus all being christians praising the Lord for his provision and protection. Aside from that it was hard to see one of our own suffer and be unable to help.
We are happy to report that Pastor Bill was teaching the following sunday although sitting but a faithful servant example.
All of these servants gave of their time their resources living sacrificially for the kingdom of God and we have grown from serving alongside.