Kenya

Friends,

Once again, I must appologize for the long gap in writing.  It has been a very busy fall.

I had the opportunity to go to Kenya and do a week long intensive Pastor's training in Eldoret.  There were 30 Pastors in attendance and it was an outstanding group to be with.  Also, it was fun to travel with Pastor Gaylon.  My responsibilities for teaching covered church planting and missions.  Both were very well recieved.

Above are a few photos from our excursion into Nairobi National Park.  I hope you enjoy them.

May the Lord bless you during this wonderful Christmas season and may 2013 be a very blessed year for you all!

Cool photos!

I know, I know!  It has been too long since I sat down to write.  So much has happened, our oldest has gotten married, Jessica is working and preparing to go back to Oaxaca in January and Carmen is growing up too fast.  Vonda is busy with her volunteer activities and still finds time to keep me in line.

I have had the privilege of leading a short term trip to the Children's home in Oaxaca and also traveling back to Honduras to do more leadership development.  In Oaxaca, our group cleaned and repaired the classrooms so they were ready for the beginning of school. We also completed several repairs of the facilities and vehicles.  Of course, it was a great time with the children as well.

While in Honduras, after leaving La Entrada which is home to some of the finest people in the world, I was able to visit the Girls farm in the mountains of western Honduras.  With the help of a good friend, Caleb Shaw, the lead singer for DC RETO we were able to give the girls a very special concert event.  The original idea was a special concert at the farm but the girls wanted to use the event as an evangelistic outreach for their community.  So, we set up in a church and there were several hundred people who came and enjoyed the concert.  Of course, the girls were on cloud nine and very happy.

Thank you for helping us to accomplish things like this in many places around the world.  You are a blessing to many!

Good looking family!

Jessica and a special friend

The girls and Caleb after the concert

An Amazing Trip

I just returned from a week long trip with a group of very special young adults that went into an area of  rural central Oaxaca to pray for the Highland Mixe people. We were able to prayer walk in villages where there are no Christians and have an opportunity to visit with people in the market or on the streets. This was not an easy trip as we slept on the floor, ate village food, most of the walking was above 8000' and bounced around in a pickup for hours on end. The scenery was gorgeous and the rugged beauty of this area is unlike any place I have ever been. 

God is always amazing and kept us safe on some very bad roads, when we had flat tires and in heavy rains. He also gave us the opportunity to minister to several Christian families in Tepuxtepec and meet a fantastic Pastor. I will post several photos below to give you an idea of the area we were in.

Thank you for your prayers!

Family

Sorry for the delay in giving a family update. April ran away and May is running away from me too fast!

The big news many of you may already know is that Aaron will be getting married to Kelly on August 18. We are very happy for them and it will be exciting to see how and where God uses them in the future. Aaron will finish his studies at TX State next spring. Kelly will continue to work at the Dayspring Preschool.

Jessica continues to serve at the Children's Home in Oaxaca, MX. She is doing very well and loves her life with the children. She will come back home June 14 and then her plans are still up in the air. She will travel with us to STL and she will accompany Chris to Honduras in mid September then possibly go back to the home in October.

Carmen has completed the 4th grade! This cannot be possible. She is growing up too fast and is becoming a very pretty young lady. She enjoyed her time in the performing arts this spring and had a great play in early May. She is looking forward to her sister coming home and her trip to Oregon to visit family in early June. Thank you for your prayers and support. We continue to push on to do all the Lord has given us to do and we are successful because you are behind us!

THANK YOU!

Back to Oaxaca, MX

Chris had the privilege to accompany Jessica back to the Children's home in Oaxaca. If there was any doubt about the children missing her it was quickly dismissed! She was welcomed back with open arms, lots of hugs and laughter. She picked up where she left off last winter. I think she will have a great time for the next three months.

While in Oaxaca, Chris traveled into the Mixe region with our people who work there. This area is still very resistant to the gospel but he was surprised to find several large churches. In one community of about 5000 over 80% are Christian! This is a radical change from 20 years ago when they threw Christians out of the community or they killed them.

Chris is looking forward to returning to this area in early June. He always feels humbled to be able to see what God is doing in many areas around the world. It is an exciting time to be involved in sharing the good news with those who have never heard.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We know you are with us and are standing with us and we are grateful for that.

Honduras

I had a great trip to Honduras. The first part I was able to visit my close ministry friends in La Entrada, Copan. The ministry is moving forward with changes in the works but God is faithful and ultimately it will be for the better.

The second part of the trip I was with a group of teens from St. Louis in the mountains of Western Honduras. We worked together at the SIKM girls ranch. We were able to minister in the schools and to the 32 girls who live at the ranch. I spent a lot of time doing maintenance and listening to the staff. I was glad I was there to be a help not only with the group but the staff and the girls.

Next week I go to Oaxaca, Mexico with Jessica as she returns for another three months at the Casa Hogar. I will also do planning for each of the two teams I will lead there later this summer. As always, I appreciate your prayers for protection and for the family that is left behind.

Blessings to you all!!

Mexico & Honduras

So much for my New Years resolution to blog more frequently. Anyway, I had a wonderful trip to Mexico earlier this month. It was good to visit with our new people who are getting established in Comitan, Chiapas. They have lots of options for ministry and are seeking the direction that the Lord wants them to go. Please pray for direction and favor for this family.

Next week I will be visiting my good friends in La Entrada, Copan Honduaras. It will be good to minister with them in whatever they have planned. I never really know what I will do until I arrive so I am prepared for almost anything. The second part of the trip I will return to the girls ranch in the mountains of Western Honduras to co-lead a team of 16 teens from a school in St. Louis. This will be fun group as about half were there last year. I am really hoping I do not have to do plumbing repairs the entire time I am there. But, if that is the need then I will do it!

Thank you for your prayers for protection, ministry time and "life" time. I will try to report back soon after my return.

W2's and Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico

Friends,

As I reflect on how fast January has past I have to give credit to the Lord for all His help in accomplishing everything that had to be done. The first couple of weeks of the New Year it was fun to reflect on the past year and dream about what was to come. Then, reality hits. All the paperwork that must be done to finish out 2011 and then begin 2012.

The biggest and most tedious task is the processing of W2's for the missionaries. Not to bore you with details but believe me that it is one long and involved process. With the help of a great staff we pushed forward and completed this task and made the Jan 31 deadline a couple of days early!

Now I head back out on the road, or should I say in the air. I will be in Comitan, Chaipas for a few days to visit a great family that recently relocated there. I am looking forward to learning about a new part of Mexico and the culture that exists in this part of the world. It will be fun to see what all our God is doing in this part of Chiapas.

Have a blessed day and press on!

2012 A Year of Challenges!

Friends,

As we move into the New Year it is always good to reflect on where you have been and where you are going. For our family we continue to see God move in our lives. We hope to do better in blogging and keeping you up to date on our lives. As we move through 2012 we know there will be challenges but God will be with us and He is on our side. With that assurance there can be no fear!

Vonda is a steady rock and enjoys her volunteer work at the church food pantry and Carmen's school. She is also putting in about 10 hrs/wk at WIM filling in as necessary. What a special woman she is!!

Aaron continues in his studies at TX State Univ. He has three semesters to go but I think he has Senioritis already! It will be interesting to see where a degree in International Studies, focus on International Relations with a minor in Math, Spanish and Geography will take him!

Jessica did very well in Oaxaca. She is planning on another three month commitment this spring. She is also considering this for a long term commitment in the fall.

Carmen brings joy to everyone and is growing up too fast. She is an excellent student and is part of the school choir and AWANA's at church.

Chris will be traveling extensively again this year preaching, teaching, encouraging and visiting our people around the world. He is also planning a trip to Central Asia where he will investigate future ministry opportunities, short term and long term.

Thank you, our wonderful group of Champions! We are successful because of YOU! May 2012 be full of blessings, peace and joy!