MBS Module 2: Completed!

 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Galatians 6:9

Twenty-three students complete Module 2 of Master's Bible School last week.  We were encouraged, blessed, excited, challenged and exhausted by the end of the week.  What an amazing time!  Module 3 is already in the planning stages and the dates have been set for February 7 through 15, 2013.  That's right around the corner!  Let us know if you would like to get involved in this life-changing event!

This is a pretty common sight in our area.  What is it?  It's a propane gas tank strapped onto the back of a motorbike.  Almost every stove is fueled by propane here.  Tanks are filled at the Gaspasa station, but the one closest to us is in Tamazula, nearly 10 miles away.  Many people will simply trade an empty tank in for a full one, but that requires taking the tank to an exchange point.  In either case, one must transport this tank of flammable gas on the open highway...one way or another.

Prayers and Praises:

• Praise God for His amazing provision during Module 2 of MBS.  
• Praise God for all the students who were able to attend -- some only because God worked a miracle in their lives to provide for their families during their time here.
• Continue to pray for the persecuted Church in Southern Mexico, in Africa and around the world.  It's easy to forget about those who are suffering for their faith when we don't see the persecution first-hand.
• Pray for us as we prepare for Module 3 -- for the students who will attend, for the teachers arriving from various places, for God's provision for the pastors and their families as well as for the school itself.
• Pray for our kids: Sarah at Rancho Tres Cruces where she is studying, Caleb as he prepares to launch out in February, the rest as they continue to study at home and seek direction for their futures.
• Praise God for the provision of a small pick-up!  YAY!!!  We're hoping that using the smaller vehicle will save gas and also save wear and tear on the van.   

All According to Plan

Just wanted to let everyone know --

The wood arrived!!!

Thank you for your notes of encouragement and for your prayers. We would have written sooner, but our internet has been down. We're learning to accept this as a fact of life: internet is not dependable.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

What a great month of faith-building this has been!!!

The truckload of wood arrived on Saturday and our crew of workers made short work of unloading and stacking it. Along with the lumber, they brought doors for the center, which the owner of the lumber yard donated. Wow!

Evie playing "Queen of the Mountain" inside the conference center.

The next step is to prepare the wood by planing it and treating it for termites.

After the boards are planed and stained, we set them on end to dry -- they are still pretty "green", which makes them a little heavy. We're hoping that they'll be more dry by the time the men need to lift them 20 feet in the air!

Today, Thursday, we're all working busily, preparing for mission teams which will be arriving tomorrow. Please keep these teams in your prayers over the next day as they travel and during the next 2 weeks as they work and minister here. We have several outreaches planned including a Christmas party at the migrant camp, a time in the local prison and a dinner for couples in the church. Pray specifically for physical safety as the men work on the roof, for wisdom and insight as the mission team interacts with each other and with the Mexican people, for the families of the Vida Nueva church, and for the families in the migrant camp.

We hope to post pictures on our blog throughout the weeks, but we'll see how the internet works!

Blessings to you and your family as you prepare to spend time together this holiday season! We pray that relationships are strengthened, that memories are made and that God is glorified in your homes!

Building Update/Prayer Request

Hello everyone!

A quick note to ask you to pray. As many of you know, mission teams from Oregon and Arizona will be coming down in a couple of weeks to put a roof on the new conference/youth center. I just got off the phone with the wood people, and the wood for the project next month has not arrived. I ordered it over a month ago, knowing that it might take some time to get it. It was supposed to come out of the mill last week and have been treated with that green stuff for termites and been laid out and drying the past week.

I'm not panicking yet. I was told this morning that the wood will arrive tomorrow and that 2 weeks should be sufficient drying time. However, I've learned that in this culture tomorrow isn't always exactly tomorrow ;^). (And by the way, that's okay with most people here.)

God has been so faithful and people have been very generous as we have worked on this project. We also have seen God's hand at work repeatedly over the past weeks and we know that He is ultimately in control. I just think that he wants us to seek Him more.

Please join me in praying that this wood order will arrive ready to build with by Dec. 15. Also pray for the teams which will be traveling down here the same date. Pray for peace as we trust in Him and that nothing would hinder the work that God has begun here!

Doug

Dreaming Big -- Nueva Esperanza

Las Glorias Centro de Convivio Nueva Esperanza

In English, one would call it “New Hope Fellowship Center”.

Shortly after moving to Mexico, we began to see the need for a place for youth in our village to “go” and a lack of things for them to “do”. The lack of such a place, paired with an over-abundance of “free-time”, has made for a large group of youth who wander aimlessly around town causing trouble. As a family, we wanted to make our home a place where youth from the area could experience God’s love and come together to be encouraged in a positive atmosphere. We opened our home and invited youth and adults to come and just “be”. Our first problem reared its head almost immediately: our house just wasn’t big enough!

“Wouldn’t it be neat,” we dreamed, “to have a big room where we could set up the pool table and the air hockey table at the same time?” We envisioned community movie nights, hosting youth events and retreats and being available to house mission teams from around the world.

By God’s grace, and with the help of some neighbors, ministry partners and the local church, we’ve been able to do all of these things in the house that God has blessed us with. We have hosted several youth retreats during the past years.

We hold weekly “convivios” and frequent pizza parties.

Men from the village stop in daily to pass time after work or between jobs.

In January we hosted what we hope will be our first annual youth worship conference, “Desde el Interior”, which translates “From the Inside Out”.

Although the kids never seem to mind cramped quarters or shuttling chairs back and forth from one location to another, we see the great benefit that a community/youth center would be: one building closed off to the elements and the mosquitoes, bathrooms and showers, kitchen facilities, and housing all within walking distance of the most beautiful beach in the world (our opinion!).

Below is a sketch of the future New Hope Fellowship Center:

The building will be a 25 x 50 foot structure with 12 foot eaves – a conference center doubling as a gym or rec room – which will seat up to 80 people. Most buildings here are made of concrete, but even though the costs will be slightly higher, our desire is to construct it using steel and wood. This will reduce the amount of heat the walls retain and keep the building cooler. The small structure to the right is a bathroom, which will be added as funds become available.

The fellowship center is “Phase 1” of a larger vision for a facility offering a skate park, community pool, play equipment and picnic area. These other ideas would require the purchase of 4 additional lots totaling approximately $16,000. We feel the need to purchase these lots soon, before they are no longer available, but are trusting in God’s timing. The facility will be available for church and community events – both the local church and visiting groups from other areas including groups from the States.

Total cost of phase 1: $9800
Amount needed to finish phase 1: $7300.

The foundation has already been laid. In the summer of 2008, a mission team from Restoration Life Church of Sacramento, California, came down and poured a 25 x 50 foot cement pad.

Since that time we’ve had the blessing of having a large above ground pool on the pad.

During the past 3 years, we’ve felt God leading us to complete our house and put the youth and fellowship center on hold. Now, this year, we have begun to move forward with the vision we were given years ago. Our desire is to put a roof on the structure this coming December and have it ready for use by the beginning of 2012 – possibly in time for the 2nd annual “Desde el Interior” youth conference!

God has already begun to stir hearts (ours included), and we can see Him working. A team from Oregon has pledged to raise $2,500 towards the cause. That is the exact amount needed to put the roof on the structure. This team will be coming in December to, Lord willing, finish the building by putting the roof on. With the $2,500 pledged, only $4,800 is lacking to finish the building. Please pray about helping complete this first step in achieving the goal God has placed on our hearts!

Philippians 1:6 -- Being confident of this very thing: that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry it out to completion until the day of Jesus Christ!