Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,.

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity

1 Timothy 4:12

This week a group of 7th graders from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy are serving alongside of us. For some people 12, 13 year olds would be too young to make a difference. I for one am thankful for their willingness not to listen to such nonsense. They are making a difference here in Monterrey. I had the privledge to be with this group one afternoon at the Rio. However during the morning of that same day these 23 kids and 6 adult leaders poured the concrete for house number 6. It was hard work and they did such a good job with great attitudes. Later that afternoon their day looked quite different as they helped lead a worship time, served food, gave out toys and diapers and clothes to the people at the Rio. John, one of their leaders lead songs, two students greeted the people, and another leader, Eric, shared his testimony. The women and children loved the interaction that the kids gave them and listened intently to everything being said. God allowed us to pray for some of those there. For me these students were great examples in speech, in live, in love, in faith and purity. Thank you CHCA.

The prayer of a righteous man.....

is powerful and effective. ' James 5: 16b Today our family was asked to come to our church early so that the people of our spanish speaking church here could pray for us specifically. We went and we were deeply blessed. About 10 people (one that we really knew well) had spent the week praying for requests that they asked us for earlier. They each took turns laying hands on us and praying. I remember being excited to write to you about my experience but as I am faced with putting it into words I am at a loss. True their way of praying is different than my Presbyterian background however I found myself embracing it immediately as the genuiness was so evident. I was touched as one woman prayed for my boys. One at a time touching their heads and saying their names. As a mother nothing could be more special. As one man knelt and placed his hands over Greg and mine as he lifted us up in prayer. With my improving Spanish some words were clear. They prayed that God would clean our hearts that we would be used by Him in the Casa Hogars and with the children. They prayed for protection of our marriage and for our children. Other things were not easily understood however I was touched just the same. Prayer in any language is powerful. I could see the faith in these people. I knew that it not only touched Greg and I but our children too. Even though when we asked Ben what he thought, his first answer was that it was like when he and his brothers have an arguement with everyone talking and no one listening. We reassured him that it where this was different as God indeed was listening. Ben agreed. I was encouraged to pray more. To pray boldly and to seek people out and ask specifically how I can pray for them. So tell me, how can I pray for you. God takes joy in it. We must pray often and believe that God will do what He says He will do. " And when we ask, we must believe and not doubt. Because he who doubts is like a wave on the sea. Blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not believe he will recieve anything for the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:6-8
Join me in praying more will you.

Love is........

"God is love ......We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4: 16, 19

A week of ups and downs......

Bill and Heather Merrill


Julie checks the lungs of a child in Casa Hogar Douglas
Betty with a girl waiting for her sister to see the Dr. at the Cadereyta
We've had a medical team here this week. One doctor, three nurses and others to translate and assist anyway possible. Its been a pleasure to be apart of this team. They probably averaged seeing 75-100 people a day. Going from 9:00 til 7-8 at night. It amazes me the opening that God creates as someone touches someone with care. It can open the heart and emotions of people. Children, women and men alike were so grateful to get free care, medicine and prayer.
That was the up....
The down was having to say goodbye to our friends and co-laborers for Christ here in Monterrey- Bill and Heather Merrill and their three kids, Jenna, Ella and Issac. They will be sorely missed by many. The teen girls who the Merrill's were teen parents, are needing prayer as they are so very saddened. They left this morning before school. The six girls there are having a very difficult day as they had to go on to school. Please pray for Ewelyn, Carmen, Melina, Claudia, Gabby and Jazmin. Thank you.

Dad's home....

We recently were Dadless in our family. For just 6 days though. It made us all think though. For those six days, we felt less protected, prayed a lot!!!!, missed him , and felt the emptiness of a key role that only Dad can fill. I had a few chances to serve the Lord as I went out with Melina, a teen girl on our property, prayed for many health issues facing people in the Rio and Cadereyta and tried to encourage staff. But my life and all of our lives looked a lot different. Having those 6 days helped us to see how much we appreciate and love our Dad. Many of the kids we work with don't have that luxury. They don't have dads who are active in their lives, who just took a trip for 6 days, for some their dads have been gone most of their lives for others he floats in and out of their lives and for some they've never known him. For 6 short days the boys and I had experienced enough and yet we know it doesn't come close to what some kids are having to deal with. This has opened our eyes and increased our prayers for these kids. We don't want to feel sorry for them. We just want to pray that in only the way our Father can that they would see Him as their father. When Greg got home we had many things planned for him. Special dinner, foot bath and massage, silly string fight (thank you Pleasant View Church) and other things to make him feel special. We praise God for all He has given us ....especially our Dad.

Church in the mountains

You'd never guess it by the look on Ben's face in the first picture but we recently had a great hike in the mountains. I feel like God has so many lessons waiting for us in nature. We hiked for 2-3 hours and talked about faith. We talked about how sometimes in life God tells us where our path is going and other times He just asks us to follow Him. I marvel at how much our boys listen to me and what I am saying while we hike. One of our boys had a break down wanting to turn around before we had reached our goal. It was great to see God work in his heart and mind and turned it around where he then he was the one leading our hike. I think attending church is very important but I am also thankful that God is not just present in a building and that He has created everything to be spiritual. Even a walk in the mountains.............

God's beauty

Here in Monterrey the green parrots show up and fly around our neighborhood for about a month some time in late winter or early spring. This year seems early but it is such a fun thing. They fly in groups of 15 -20 and squawk a lot. But as you watch them the light will for just a second catch either there back side or front side. One looks vivid green the other a yellowish hue. They are gorgeous and a reminder to me that God created the world for our enjoyment. Maybe you are reading this from a cold and snowy part of the world. I pray God will show you the beauty of his creation. Perhaps he is wanting you to seek it even though it seems cold, wet and dreary. I believe He wants us to see His beauty. Sometimes we "happen upon it" and other times we are to search for it. Isaiah 55: 6