A Pumpkin and a Pile of Coals

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to truly be "Love in Action" for a couple of families in the village of San Francisco, Mexico.  Aaron and I and Rick and Barb Ruiter were in Mexico on a rest and relax trip. On our second week, the same cold front that was affecting much of the USA also moved into Mexico. Infact, emergency shelters were even set up in the big cities. We knew that the people of our village would also be very cold and so we decided to make the 2 hour drive to offer blankets and clothing to a couple of the extremely poor families in the village. We were shocked as we pulled up to the house of one of the poorest families in the village. We realized that the Mayan hut that this family lives in is literaly about to fall over. It has only a few solid logs left holding up the entire structure. We were welcomed into their home as if we were family! Flor, the precious mom was cooking what looked to be one small sized pumpkin that I am sure was to their only food for dinner. Dad was sleeping with Wendy, one of their children in a hammock in the back of the hut. He later said they sleep most of the day just to keep warm. You see, under each hammock in the hut, they had built a small pile of coals to keep them warm.  We were shocked to see Wendy, one of their daughters, sleeping in a hole filled hammock only inches away from a smoldering pile of hot coals.
It was no accident that God sent us to the village that day! God knew that we needed to be "Love in Action" at that specific time. Our reward was seeing the smiles on the faces of these precious children and the relief on the face of mom when we offered them blankets and the groceries that we had purchased just for them. The children exlaimed, "Pan, pan"! (bread, bread) They were so excited to have a simple loaf of bread that their faces were bursting forth with smiles! We knew that for tonight, they would go to bed with a full belly! "Love in Action"

A Promise of Restoration! Jeremiah 33

Prayer is the Key to Restoration!

This is what Jeremiah heard from the Lord: Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know!"

The Lord tells us in vs. 9: "Then this city will bring me renown, joy praise, and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it!"

Prayer: It is such a comfort to know that God already has plans made for the village of San Francisco! The key to knowing His plans is as simple as prayer! When we pray, God will reveal his wondourous plans of these great and unsearchable things! We can't do it on our own!

Restoration: It brings me such joy to know that God will bring health and healing to this village that we love so deeply! He will give them unspeakable joy, abundant peace, and security!

Put On LOVE!

Have you ever thought of what it would mean to actually put on LOVE? 

Colossians 3:13-14 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues PUT on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (NIV)

Jesus requires simply two things of us: Love God, and love others--including those whose ways we don't understand, who may be from a different culture, and even those who have a different religion. When we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, only then can we find the grace, mercy and wisdom to love the rest of the world. If we wake up every morning and "PUT" on the LOVE of Christ, we will be growing ever closer to the image of love itself in Jesus Christ! The more we love, the more we can be Jesus to a world so full of pain and desperation.

Deadline For Applications is rapidly approaching!

Hey everyone! September 27 is the deadline for you to get your applications in. Our team is filling up pretty quickly so if you were waiting to turn in your application, please do so ASAP! You can drop applications off at the Global missions cabinet in the box marked "Outreach Applications". There are also applications available at the same spot or you can email Wendy to get one via email.

Our first training date is Tuesday October 6 at 7:00 in the Rennaisance room at Sunshine

Have a great day!

Wendy

Village Outreach Team 2010!

I am simply amazed that We are beginning to plan a new year of Missions to our little village of San Francisco, Mexico! As so many of our prior team members have said, "I left my heart in San Francisco!" There are so many people that we have grown to love just like family and I can't wait to see them once again!

Thanks to all who came out for our Informational night on Tuesday! It was awesome to see some new faces as well as some familiar faces!

Don't forget that applications are due September 27 and our first meeting is October 6!

Simply Love!
Wendy