Our First River Colony Event

We seem to call it an event when we set up and people come to us. So, with that definition I can say we had our first "event". Four cars and ten friends came together and made a difference in the lives of some precious people that live in the river colony of Ensenda.

The afternoon started with numerous prayers for the rain to be held back until the end of the event. (Amazing how we didn't have a drop until we were done. ) As we followed Hector to the colony, I noticed that he was taking us through the back road. It was very bumpy and narrow, with lots of turns. I couldn't figure out what he was doing until I saw him roll down his window and talk to a little boy. Maribel informed me that he was telling the little boy that we had toys. Well that's all it took to get a line going. That little boy ran and told every other kid he could find and soon we had our crowd.

It was wonderful the way the people that we're starting to get to know us came up to us and some even helped us get set up. One little girl, Irma, remembered me and came running up to me and gave me a big hug. (That was priceless.)

I talked with one of the young mom's that we've been trying to help. Her name is Noemi. She is pregnant and has a 2 year old girl named Genesis. She informed us that her 17 year old sister Alejandra and her 1 year old daughter Tabita had just moved out. She was now living alone and not sure what she was going to do with her sister not living with her anymore. She has no way to go to work if she found work, because she needs to watch her daughter. Then I got an idea. I remembered that Kate Logan had brought down some looms to teach me and the girls at the orphanage how to make beanies. I asked Noemi would she like to learn to make beanies. I told her she could learn how to make them and maybe she could sell them to earn some money. She was very interested and then her relative standing next to her was listening and interested also. So, I think we may have our first beanie class starting in a week or two!

Because of the your generosity we gave away 40 dispensas, tons of toys and clothes. Thanks to all that sent prayers, money, clothes, and toys to make this first event, of many to come, successful.

Starting tonight, a dorm mom, a handful of girls at the orphanage and myself are starting to make beanies for the our new friends. They are glad to help and some of them will be coming with me to Ensenada to teach our friends in the river colony how to make them as well. It's all about relationships. Who would have ever thought that God could take the skill of making a beanie and bring people together. It's just a new tool to present the gospel. I love it!

Wow! That was fast!

Up until today, I have been buying jackets, blankets, beanies, shoes, socks, beans, pasta, tomato sauce, and oil with the extra support and sometimes not extra support that has come in. I don't say that to boast in myself, I share that because it's all because of God that I've been able to. Each time I tell Him if He sends me extra I'll help someone with it, He comes through.

Yesterday, was a little more than I expected. I was in my friend Mary's house preparing dispensas (groceries to give out) for the people in the river colony of Ensenada. I'm still learning how many dispensas I can get out of the portions I buy, where's the best country to buy it (Mexico or US) and how much time will it take to gather everything. I was trying to prepare 40 dispensas when I came up short on beans for the last 10 dispensas. I was alone in the casa so I was having a conversation with God about what the work He was doing in the river colony of Ensenada. When I came up short on beans I just blurted out, "God you've got to send me some money. I need more beans!" Mind you, I do realize that God is not obligated to send me money so I can buy more beans. In any case, God heard that prayer even before I prayed it.

It seems that God was already talking to some friends of mine, Mike and Kate Logan. Mike and Kate attend Green Valley church in Placerville. When they heard what God was leading me and my friends Hector and Maribel to do in the river colony, they began to ask people for their help. So, getting back to my awkward prayer for more money for more beans. Approximately an hour after that prayer I headed back to the orphanage. Kate and Mike Logan were visiting and had some wonderful news. Not only were they able to help on Sunday when I go to Ensenada, not only did they bring toys and beanies and looms and yarn to teach the kids at the orphanage how to make beanies....they brought me far more money than needed to buy the beans I needed this weekend. I'm telling you...I dare you. I double dog dare you to ask God to use you. Make yourself available and God will do amazing things far beyond your wildest imagination. He's looking for for hands, feet, mouths, ears to come together in the body of Christ and reach people with the love of Jesus.

The God Who Pursues

Have you ever thought about how God pursues us? How he goes out of His way, to find us and love us even when we don't want anything to do with Him? We can choose to resist His love, but I believe that there are few who can resist the love of God.

It says in the Bible that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. It's not His justice, or His holiness, but His kindness. I believe it was kindness God was showing when He loved us first, before we ever knew Him. If you think about it, it takes a certain attitude of the heart to realize God's kindness. When you realize that you are eternally lost unless God pardons you of the penalty of your sin, then God would be perceived as being kind. On the contrary, if you don't have need for a savior because your plan is to either work your way to heaven on your good works or you think that you can get there without going through His son, Jesus, then you might not see God as kind. You might think of God as narrow minded or arrogant.

The truth of the matter is that God is His kindness and mercy sent His Son to pay the complete penalty of our sins. We couldn't do it. Even in our best of efforts we would be covered in sin. Our holy, righteous God can't be around sin.

I bring the matter of salvation up not only because we are approaching Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, but because I'm hearing more and more about a gospel without repentance. Be sure as you have opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas this year that you not only talk about the love of God. Make sure people understand that a Holy God, sent His perfect Son to take our punishment.

The people that I'm beginning to meet in the river colony of Ensenada have been showing me something that I rarely see in the United States. This last Sunday, I met two sisters living with their two toddlers and another baby on the way. One of them was 16 and the other was 20. I don't remember exactly how we got on the subject of if they knew God, but one thing was very clear. They had heard about Jesus. They knew that He died for their sins. Their Christian mother had told them that God was with them and would always take care of them, but if you asked them if they were Christians they would tell you "no". Do you know why? Because they had not repented of their sins and come to the place that they believed that Christ paid the full price for their sins. They knew that to follow Christ was to live very differently, but they hadn't come to the realization yet that Jesus paid the full price for their sins, once and for all. When we began to share Jesus with them, the old sister would begin to cry and tell us her heart and mind were not clean.

Most people I've shared the gospel with in the United States seem to think that they are Christians because their parents are or because they attend church. I even heard someone on the radio say that he was curious whether or not the greatest harvest of souls was sitting in our churches. That is a very sad thought. I hope it's not true.

As we continue to share the love of God to the people of the river colony in Ensenada, pray that we will have opportunity to lead people to a genuine faith and understanding of salvation through Jesus. We are more concerned about their eternal destiny than their immediate comfort. And believe me we are trying very hard to meet their physical needs. We do both out of obedience to what God says in His word. We do not try and meet their physical needs so that they will feel obligated to listen to us. Instead we try to meet their physical needs so that it becomes a tool that God can use. If for no other reason, Christ commands us to take care of the poor.

Otro Ves "Again"

Every night as I lay in bed underneath 4 blankets, next to a heater, in my 2 bedroom house with running water (hot and cold) I'm careful not to complain about the cold. It has become a real reminder about the people in the River colony that God has placed on my heart. I can't imagine living in the conditions that I saw last Sunday. i especially have a hard time knowing that children are living there. I can't imagine not having a bathroom to use in the middle of a cold rainy night. I know that with all that I have to keep me warm, I don't want to get out of bed because it's so cold for me. Imagine being pregnant with a couple of toddlers and having to endure such conditions.

It's going to be especially difficult for me to go to Ensenada this Sunday after church. The reason being is that after church this Sunday the American missionaries in the area will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner after church. There's going to be plenty of food to enjoy and then I'm going to see people that have hardly anything.

I am, however, looking forward to a different part of the trip to Ensenada. More than likely. I'm going to be given permission to take the little boy, Jesus, that has been living with me. Jesus has been doing so well that we are slowly transitioning him back into his dorm. He will now have two dorm parents (mom and dad) and spending the night with me will become a reward for his good behavior. I'm excited because I love discipling kids in what Jesus asks us to do. Giving back, being grateful, obedient, learning compassion for others are all the things that all of us need to learn.