PRAY FOR A GOOD FRIEND POR FAVOR
A phone call from back home brought some very sad news about a good friend Rich that has been diagnosed with cancer. Our hearts are heavy with the questions that always fill our hearts when life throws you a curve ball, how could God allow this? We all ask the same question, and then the Holy Spirit brings all sorts of scriptures to our minds and we know that the Lord is indeed Rich and Jeans Good Shepard and even though we walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death, there is no fear for those who are in Christ. The shadow can't hurt us, and death is an invitation to Glory. So Rich wins either way and we will continue to pray for his complete healing. So join us in prayer for Rich and Jean Boerema as they continue to walk by faith as they have for many many years. They stand before a Goliath in the name of THE LORD OF HOSTS IN WHOM THEY TRUST.The heaters and propane tanks that were paid for by several people are a welcome answer to prayer for those that recieved them this week. Two foundations were built this week and there are two more to go.
JUST BECAUSE HE SAID SO
Monday was one of those days with so much to do and God interupts our plans and has us pick up empty propane tanks from as many people as I could and take them and fill them up. One women asked why I would do that, and all I could say is that God told me to. I have learned that the best way to be used by God, is to do what he says, when He says. They were all blessed by God and the $120.00 it cost to fill 14 tanks won't hurt Gods pocket at all. Jorge', his wife and thier four kids are excited about getting a home next month and they will tear down the house they live in now, to make room. It's just like life, sometimes we have to tear down old, comfortable, familiar lives to allow God to do a new thing in our life. If that were not so, Paula and I wouldn't be here. Isaiah 43 vs 18 says "FORGET THE FORMER THINGS, DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST, SEE I AM DOING A NEW THING, DON'T YOU PERCEIVE IT"? Pastor Victor will be busy for a while building four foundations for us. We had the blocks and cement delivered yesterday, so I'm sure the work has begun getting the foundations built.Yesterday was very cold and windy so Paula, Ruth and Lucy cleaned the Ministry Center, Me, Carmelo and Beto organized everything in our storage house. As fast as we try to get rid of everything we get, sometimes it starts to build up and we have to take a load to some other colonias nearby, so we'll do that next week.
YOU MAKE EVERYTHING GLORIOUS
Gods goodness is so much more than we can fathom. After spending the four days in Chgo with so many friends and family, we are overwhelmed to say the least. Thanks to all that blessed us with thier hospitality and generosity. We returned home with enough money to build at least three houses. On our flight home on Southwest Airlines, we were blessed with one of those happy singing flight attendants that made everyone laugh. We looked for her after the flight to thank her for making people glad, but she had already left, so we gave one of the other girls one of our brochures and a DVD of our ministry. Well as Paula and I grabbed a bite to eat, Jane showed up at the counter and I thanked her for her joyfulness and bought her meal to bless her. She sat with us for a bit and she had read our brochure and gave us a donation for our ministry and we hope she will join us here one day. It's Christ in her that makes her glad in her job, how cool was that! The Carpenters Crew built both houses and the rain held off until yesterday. As we dedicated the houses, Pastor Victor , and Carmelo both shared from thier hearts and Mario gave his life to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He expressed the joy he experienced this week as the team gave of themselves in Jesus name building his family a home. He saw thier good works and glorified God and surrendered his life to the King. We'll miss them all and Bambies great cooking. Thanks for giving to the Lord and changing two families lives for time and eternity, and also for blessing Paula and Me.
WERE BAAAACK
Hola; we will get some pictures up as soon as we slow down. The missions conf at Moraine was awsome and we hit the ground running back here Monday morning with the Carpenters Crew from La Harpe, Il building two houses in the colonia. Both houses are almost done, after just two days. Today we will finish a few things and then dedicate them to the Lord tommorrow. Thanks to all in Chgo for blessing us. ADIOS
HERE AM I SEND SOMEONE ELSE, IT'S COLD IN CHGO
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHGO AS I WRITE, BUT FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS LEFT US HERE IN THE WARMTH FOR TWO MORE DAYS. WE LEAVE IN THE MORNING. I'M SPEAKING SATURDAY AT THE MENS BREAKFAST AT MORAINE VALLEY CHURCH 8:00 am 6300 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights, Il Come join us. ANYHOW, THE FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED, THE COMPUTER CRASHES WITH MY NOTES, AND WE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS GETTING READY TO GO, AND I BELIEVE WERE READY. MOST OF THE PLANS WE HAD ARE GONE BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, BUT THATS OK GOD IS IN CONTROL. PRAY FOR US WE TRAVEL, PRAY FOR THE MISSIONS CONF. AND ME AS I SPEAK SAT AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. WE REALLY JUST WANT TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE BODY TO HAVE A PASSION FOR MISSIONS AND THE HELPING OF THE POOR. ADIOS AND SEE YOU IN THE WINDY CITY.
JOSHUA CALEB TURNS TWO!!!!!
While we were at Paula's moms little Caleb turned two and they waited until we returned to have a little party for the chamako ( little boy). We had chicken, mole' and tres leches cake. Carmelo made a piniata out of a box and it really held up much longer than a real piniata. He filled it with candy and everyone had at least two turns trying to get the candy out. We cane figure out how long we have been working in the colonia by the age of Caleb, he was born a month before we arrived. Carmelo had shared with me about a dream he had , that God was going to do more with their lives in the colonia because of their faithfulness in helping us and that blessings are going to overtake us. The next day, his brother in law sold a truck that they had bought and fixed and they took some of money and purchased sugar for everyone that came for the beans and rice that we had purchased and they distributed while we were gone. He quoted the verses from Isaiah 58 that the Lord gave him about feeding the hungry and helping the poor, and couldn't help but give. How awesome is that? Teras filled our eyes as we thanked God for bringing us all together to be Jesus with skin on. He also said that many came forward for prayer on Sat. The beautiful sunset is down by Paulas' moms, at a nephews house, and we couldn't help but take a picture. I had taken a picture of the table full of fresh made tamales and hand ground corn tortillas but only Ernie would appreciate that photo.
HOW LONG O LORD ?
I hate to ask that question of God, but sometimes, just the suffering aspect of your wifes Mom has you questioning Gods timing. But then I look back at the last ten days of watching Paula interact selflessly with her sick Mom and all the open doors to share with her family about Christ, I realize that God is working out a plan in her family. They all need him and He longs to be the one they worship, so we just have to wait, so Moms not going anywhere until the One who holds her life in His hand says OK your time on earth is done. We drove all day yesterday and into the evening and made it home by 9:00 last night. It rained the whole way, 15 hours of driving in the rain, and we had to stop at the colonia and drop off all the plants and food we can't bring across the border. Carmelo brought Ruth and the kids and met us at the entrance and Caleb was excited to see us. He calls me Teen cause he can't say Marteen. It was good to hold him, if only for a moment. It's so good to be home, if only for a few days and then off to Chgo for five and then back here to build two houses the 15th.
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