Where the Spirit Leads

So there we were standing and playing with the kids from La Cuenca when we told the team we were going to go from house to house to pray. We were all tired after two long days working in the sun and heat. Building bridges and repairing them, digging drainage ditches, hauling stone and sand from the top of the town to the bottom of the plaza and other various tasks for the community. The kids did give us a bit of a break by helping us dig and pull bridges in the afternoon on Friday, but we were still tired. So we broke up into three groups and started out asking if we could pray for people. We went to our first house and were recieved very well as the lady went to get her sister and some friends. We began just praying for some basics when we heard the Holy Spirit tell us to ask them which one of them has back problems. A lady stepped forward and we laid hands on her and she was healed. Another lady was cured of a headache, the next one was pregnat, so we encouraged her and prayed and prophesided over her and the unborn child. Chad and I had walked the hole town a couple days before to see where all the trails had lead. I heard God telling me to go to the dead end and I knew where He was talking about but wasn't sure which house or who, so I lead the team down the path. When God shouted to me in my head here this is the house I want yall to pray for, so we asked the lady if we could pray for her. She took us in her house quickly and said my daughter is very sick and I'm not sure why. We prayed for her daughter and by the time we left the house she was more lively. We also prayed for her and her husband. He's an alcoholic and she is a growing Christian. We encouraged her and gave her some scripture of hope and promise.

God is givinig me more and more of His heart for this area and the people of La Cuenca. God is doing so much there it's just awesome. When we have quiet time I walk around the town with my spanish english dictionary and when people stop me to talk to me I usaully end up praying for them. There were a couple of people that have told me their testimonies and other things that are going on in their lives, so that I could better pray for them. I talk to druggies and drug dealers and we are all cool with one another. I can walk around knowing that God and others have my back and most importantly without fear.

Ugo and Jannett are in the pictures and were very excited to hear that they were going to be sent home to my friends and family to see. They are Christ for the City workers who we help with on Tuesdays. Ugo and I are becoming close friends as we help each other with the other's language.

Prayers

Praises

-God's hand just upon us and the community

-People helping me with Spanish

-Thanks for all the workers and work being done

-Being a God who cares and helps

-Just all the little blessings that are often overlooked

Requests

-We have the team from Columbia Bible College here for another week and a half

-Our strength and endurance

-God to remain close

I can't express all the thanks that I have to everyone praying for me and all the others here. We are definatly seeing God at work.

At the Table

What brings people together better than anything else? Food! It's delicious and fun to share. Last Monday we had the privilege to host Steve Shenk, Neil, and Jerry. They are board members for Pura Vida Missions. Steve is also the area representative for the Americas for EMM. Neil and Jerry are from Dylinn and Gloria's home church in Ohio. They were here to meet with Dylinn and Gloria, but we got to hear testimony after testimony from them and I sat there just in all and amazement of hearing what God has done through themand in them.
It got me thinking of what it must have been like to just sit at Jesus' feet while He was here on earth and just how cool that must have been. Or to hear one of His messages live and in person. Just imagine being in the group where He fed the 5000. What stories could have been told in other ways by just being there.
I also was imagining what it must have been like receiving a letter or a personal appearance from one of the 12 disciples. I mean having Paul himself pray for you what would that do for you and how would that or any of these events change your life?
It is neat to see how God takes what you are reading out of the Bible and other resources, and just makes you think about it in a different way. The meeting with all of them made me ponder all that, as I was reading through John and Acts.
Testimonies also give us a hope as we see and hear how God works through others lives. I am also reading a book by James Dobson titled "When God Doesn't Make Sense". It's about trusting God even when it's hard and God doesn't have to explain His plan or actions to us, we just have to keep trusting Him. He gives many testimonies through out the book of different struggles and how much stronger you come out afterwards and how God honors the struggles, whether we choose to see it or not.
Even Paul needed encouragement it says in 2 Timothy 1:16 to keep fighting. This is how I believe he can say in 2 Timothy 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Prayers
Praises
- We are getting a lot done in prep for the summer
- Every one's healthy
- We were able to buy another van

Requests
- There is a teaming coming tomorrow from Canada for just shy of 3 weeks to work in La Cuenca
- for all of us strength and endurance, guidance and for God's will

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and for the time you all spent in one way shape or form ministering to myself and spurring me on. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

My Favorite Place

Mark 10:14-15 He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." This is what God said when the disciples tried to keep the kids away.

My favorite place to go is La Cuanka. We go there on Tuesdays, when we don't have groups, to help with the local Christ for the City Kids Club. In the afternoon then we teach English in the Church.

In the mornings we are always greeted with big hugs from the kids. We then sit with them as they learn songs and Bible stories. I look forward to the massage, head massage, the hugs, and the tickle time, what happens is the leader says a command and we do it with the kids. They always for some reason then gang up on Patrick, Chad and I when it's time for tickles.

On Tuesday it was a special day for the kids. A group from Vancouver B.C. had come down and brought all kinds of games and crafts. So the pics don't exactly show what we do but they show the town.

La Cunka is one of the poorest towns in the central masa. It is behind a big new mall.

Prayers

Praises

- This week was for the most part very good spiritually, mentally, and physically

- I'm starting to figure out how to get places

Request

- I'm soon going to start to go for Spanish lessons from a lady at Church (3 days a week)

- I'm starting to miss home some

- For the group that is coming in two weeks

Thank you all for your prayers. There are days when we as a minstry can feel them and also me personally.

Please feel free to email me or post comments on this site.

A day of Silence

A day where no one talks, can you imagine? A hole 24 hours with no talking and no media or music, just what nature is making. It's easier than you think. We as a base had a silent retreat on Wednesday afternoon till Thursday afternoon. During that time we didn't work or communicate with anyone except for God. We all sought His face for refreshment and revelation. He was faithful as we all got some great and much needed rest and more understanding of Himself. During that time I sat and talked to God, somethings I didn't want to hear and some I did. I also asked a lot of questions. We had a good conversation. He reassured me that He knew what He was doing.
I also read a book called "Intimate Friendship with God" by Joy Dawson. It was about the fear of God and what that means is we hate sin just as He does. She goes into depth of how we can be used by God and how He is faithful when we are pure in heart and of sin. There were a couple of things that really spoke to me that I would like to share.
I am going to pull a paragraph from the book (pg 118) where Joy is giving her revelation on Hosea 14:8-9. "I believe God is saying here," I am the One who gave you mortal life and eternal life, answered your prayers, looked after you when no one else was there, protected you, comforted you, directed you, understood you, loved you with an everlasting love, gave you strength and power, motivated you to make the right choices, energized you by My Spirit, and used you to help others. Nothing else nor anyone else has done this for you. I am the source of your life. Why put the pursuit of other things before the pursuit of knowing Me in order to make Me known? None of these idols can fulfill you!"
Basically in a nutshell those words were what God was telling me in different ways then I read them in the book.
Prayers
Praises
- What Gods doing and that He showed up to all of us
- For health and all the things that we take for granted

Requests
- for friends and family
- for the group coming to day that is going to build some of the walls for the church in Shiroles
- for the groups coming in the summer and for the new staff and interns
- that we may get everything in order here at the base before the summer

Thank you for every one's prayers and support. Prayer for everyone including myself, Psalm 86:11 Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you.