The first month has flown by!  We always seem to hit the ground running! 

On the home front, we have been busy getting our home ready, as well as preparing for the many visitors coming to join us in the work here in Cabo.  We purchased a work-in-progress last spring and let’s just say, the work is still in progress.  We have redone the walls, added a kitchen, Richard has been busy getting the main bathroom up and running and I’ve been busy painting.   Freddie and his lovely wife are busy working on the new palapa over the guest room - a traditional roof made of palm fronds.  The fronds are soaked to add flexibility and then a string is strung through each frond.  Freddie then ties each frond in an overlapping manner to a frame to create a roof.  It is quite the amazing process!

We’ve also been experiencing heavy rains!  This, again, is a miracle.  While stories have varied, it has not rained substantially here for more than seven years.  Last year was the beginning of God’s rain/reign.  We believe He began to physically and spiritually wash the land.  Although many had to deal with flooding, the people rejoiced at the sign of rain.  The joy continues.  Mountains are green for the first time.  We even saw a worker being taught how to use a weed wacker.  While we might not think much of this – imagine never having seen enough green to have need to cut it, let alone use a power tool to make headway into the growth!  God is good!  May He always reign/rain!

On the ministry front, it has been exciting to come home and see the progress made on several projects.  The Seven Mountain Mission Fund was started last spring at one of Lance Wallnau’s Dream Trips.  Attendees generously donated funds to help those in need in Los Cabos.  We, along with Riu Manager Victor and his wife Monica, were charged with overseeing the fund and putting the money to work – providing help where possible.  Monica was able to identify a couple of needs in the area and the projects began. 

Mauro, an elderly brother was in desperate need of a new roof.  Before I get to the roof, though, let me tell you about Maruo.  He is an elderly gentleman in poor health.  It is neither his age nor his health that stands out when you meet him, though – it is his spirit!  He is a godly, vibrant Christian.  He is passionate about the Lord.  His countenance radiates Christ.  Richard and Victor installed a new tin roof on his house – his old roof leaking badly.  Between the times of work and the times of prayer, it was a great blessing to be a part of this project!

Another project tackled with the Seven Mountain Mission Fund was the building of a home for a mother of six.  All seven of them – the mother and children – were living in a small trailer.  The home has been finished and the children now have more room to grow, sleep and play.  While it does not look like much to us, it is a nice home for the area and the family is very grateful.  The home is a great testament of the Father’s love to them!

Pictured here are a couple of the projects we've been working on…

August 22, 2013

We returned home to Los Cabos on Friday afternoon (8/16). We can’t thank our friends and family enough for the ‘dinner dates,’ gifts, and opportunities to speak and share what God is doing in Los Cabos. I’ll try to blog more often as what God is doing needs to be shared to encourage all of us!

June 22, 2013

We are currently in the States, renewing our visas.  It is a blessing to be home, visiting our family, friends, and churches.  While here, I will try to post several updates as God has been up to so much these past few months…

Martin Vazquez, from the Cabo English Church, owns and operates Lighthouse in Mexico, a rescue mission home.  Martin offers a home to those in need, many of whom are suffering from substance abuse.  Along with operating Lighthouse in Mexico, Martin also participates in The Way – the Cabo English Church young adult group.  Many from the way volunteer at one of the church’s feeding stations on Thursday evenings.  There, Martin met a man, whose wife had died of cancer.  The man and his four children struggle, as most of his wages go toward child care.  A $5,000 donation was given to Martin for the man, asking him to build a home for the family. 

Richard, having been asked to oversee Lighthouse in Mexico, was asked to help with the project.  Martin was more than willing to work, but needed some technical knowhow.  Together, Richard and Martin planned the house and workers were assembled – the father being able to do much of the brickwork himself. 

Martin is currently overseeing the project.  It will be exciting to post updates as we return and see God’s provision first-hand.

May 25, 2013

Richard and I attend the Lance Learning Group, “Extreme Dream” Dream Trip right here in Cabo San Lucas.  It was during a Dream Trip in January of 2010 that the Lord gave us the divine appointment that led to our working in Mexico.  The Lord also gave us a specific word while we were preparing to leave our hotel for home: “You’re not leaving a hotel; you’re leaving your destiny.” Three years later, He continues to amaze us.

This was the fourth Lance Learning Dream Trip we’ve attended.  The trips have proven to be times of intense training in teaching, equipping and being made ready to be used by God to transform the seven “mountains” (centers of influence in any culture). We always come away challenged, with fresh insight and anointing, and with new friends and contacts who have the same heavenly mandate.

This trip was special for us. The Lord brought the work in Cabo San Lucas to the attention of many of the conference participants. We received great favor and honor, making many connections to help with the transformation of Los Cabos. We also had an amazing divine appointment, which we don’t feel free to mention on the internet, but for those of you who will see or talk to us, remind us to tell you! 

Several of the conference participants toured Los Cabos with us and were able to pray for Pastor Carlos and his wife, Janet. One of the participants also partnered—on the spot—to help Pastor Carlos fund his second church start (from the church and parsonage we all helped build only three years ago).

Lance Walnau has a God-given anointing to release people from the place of waiting and possible “doldrums” to the place God has shown and promised.

Futur

May 13, 2013

We were blessed to attend a conference in Ciudad Juarez last week.  The conference, a regional ‘Transform Our World’ event led by Ed Silvoso of Harvest Evangelism, brought in transformation leaders, intercessors, and countless testimonies of what God is doing!  God is taking a city once ruled by drug cartels and is beginning to turn things around – restoring hope to a people who all but forgot what hope is.  Here is a testimony of God’s grace and His leading in Juarez…

“The Lord then led him (Ciudad Juarez pastor Poncho Murguia) to another desperate act, a 21 day fast, which in itself wasn’t particularly challenging. The real challenge was in the Lord’s instruction that the fast be carried out publicly.  God clearly instructed him to pitch a tent in the central plaza in front of City Hall where he would pray and dwell for the entire 21 days.  Eventually the local newspaper sent a reporter to inquire about this peculiar arrangement and Poncho explained to him in simple terms what he was doing and why. Fascinated by this strange man, the newspaper began reporting daily from Poncho’s tent, initially from a somewhat condescending perspective.  But Poncho realized that God had created an opportunity for him to share with the city what the Lord was speaking to him.  As the fast continued, the reporters where touched by the spiritual reality behind what he was doing.  His daily reports became required reading for the news headlines in Juarez. Before long it was apparent that Poncho was not a lone voice in the desert. Inspired by his testimonies, believers from across the city began streaming to the tent in front of City Hall to join Poncho in discerning God’s heart for their city. By the time the fast was over, four thousand people were coming out regularly to worship and pray alongside him.

“That was when things began to happen. Ciudad Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia Lardizabal, a former skeptic of the evangelical community, began to warm to the idea of working together to improve their city. That people would fast and pray without a particular legislative agenda in the wings was a refreshing discovery for him. The mayor has since become a great supporter of the Church and offers a succinct appraisal of the process he saw evolving: "Following Christ generates the desire for helping people in pain... people who suffer from hunger, people who lack shelter.  If all society participated in the same way as the church Pastor Poncho Murguia leads, we would have a very different society."

“As Poncho walked in obedience to the seemingly foolish things the Lord directed him to do, the Lord came through each step of the way.  This encouraged Poncho to trust completely in the Lord and obey the direction of the Holy Spirit no matter how ridiculous it seemed.  He needed this training for the next assignment which was by far the most difficult of all.  One day about two years ago, the mayor approached Poncho about working together to reform the local prison. This was no small matter because the prison was the hub for the extensive drug trade in the city, controlled by very powerful and ruthless drug cartels.  Corruption was rife: 92% of the inmates were drug addicts and the supply chain involved not just prisoners, but guards and administration.  Furthermore, Poncho was a most unlikely candidate for the assignment since he had no prison background and had never ministered in a prison before.  The mayor approached him because nothing else had worked and he knew the power of God, which was so evident in Poncho’s life and ministry, was the only hope.  Poncho could now see the Lord’s leading in his life and the reason for the seeds he had sown in his heart at Olmos Prison so many years before, so with fear and trembling he accepted the mayor’s proposal.

“For three months they secretly developed plans to purge the prison.  Then on the determined date, at midnight, a force of seven hundred police officers was authorized to take control of the prison.  The prison was locked down with absolutely nothing and no one going in or out for 30 days.  All the guards were given mandatory drug tests and 80% of them were fired. They were replaced with Christian guards who had been trained in the principles of transformation a la Olmos Prison.  Then, for 30 days, in complete isolation, they led the entire prison population through drug withdrawals.” 

God is good!  When we put all we are on the line for all He is, we will never come up short.  We must be willing to follow His will – not matter how far out of our comfort He leads.  He knows what He is doing.  If we will truly trust all that He is – He will transform us and then He will transform our cities and our nations!

For more on Harvest Evangelism, or to adopt your street, just follow these links…

http://www.harvestevan.org/index.html
http://www.transformourworld.org/en/welcome
http://www.transformourworld.org/en/adopt

March 19, 2013

This past month has flown by!  We have been busy getting our home ready (a work in progress), while continuing to work with the Cabo English Church. 

Both Richard and I had the opportunity to speak at The Way (the Cabo English Church young adult group).  It is a blessing to see these young people seeking the Lord for all He is - seeking a more intimate, deeper relationship with Him.  It has been a blessing to meet with several of the young adults and to pray with them.  God has been doing an incredible work of inner healing – setting many free!   

And they continue to come…  As the young adults come to the cross, get healed, and are set free, they bring more friends – freedom is contagious!  As they experience freedom, they can’t help telling their friends and bringing them in.  Once you have a taste of true freedom in Christ, who wouldn’t want everyone to have that same freedom?  It’s how fire spreads and it is beginning to spread in Cabo!  Hallelujah!

In addition to working with the Cabo English Church, Richard has continued to work with kids at the school, teaching them trade skills (taller).  The taller class was able to begin work on the school’s cafeteria, with Richard finishing up the project over spring break.  It is exciting to have the cafeteria completed and once again open and available to the students. 

Richard was also asked to speak again at Pastor Alberto’s church.  It is always a great blessing to speak and minister with our fellow brothers!

We’ve had the chance to minister through the feeding station ministry, as well.  We were able to serve food and pray for many at the station near Aurrera Bodega.  I also had the opportunity to pray for many mothers at MVP (a program similar to MOPS (Mothers of Preschool Students), which aims to feed and minister to moms and their young children).  MVP is always well-attended and is a program greatly appreciated by the mothers.  It is so much more than that, though, as moms are drawn by the love of God and are asking to have Jesus in their hearts (before a salvation message can even be given)!

Most of these mothers have also been abused, and let me tell you - God is in the business of healing.  One after another, God is setting these women free from their pasts, healing their hurts, and meeting their physical and emotional needs.  I cannot even begin to tell you of the miraculous healings God has done.  He is so faithful! 

Pictured here are shots from the feeding station.

We love you.  We appreciate your love, prayer, and support.  Stay tuned for more to come.

February 27, 2013

Richard and I have been busy this past month.  Richard has been working in Playita with a couple of our local friends.  He is such a blessing to them—they’ve never seen anyone so handy!  Richard has also been working with the kids at the school, teaching them shop (tajear).  Trade skills are generally not taught and the kids, as a result, have little skill in this area.  It has been a blessing to see them eager to learn how to use tools and put their new skills to work.  We’ve also both been serving on the administrative oversight committee—overseeing the reorganization of the school—praying for God’s direction and leadership.

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to meet and pray with several from the English Cabo Church.  There, Pastor Mike and his wife, Laura, asked if I would head up the prayer ministry.  It has been very exciting—seeing what God has in mind everyday as He continues to draw more and more who are interested in being set free and walking in a deeper relationship with Christ.

As Richard and I have become more involved in the English Cabo Church, we’ve had the opportunity to meet many dear souls—one of which is Martin.  Martin runs a local house—Lighthouse in Mexico.  Martin lived in this house when it was previously a drug house. When he got saved, he started witnessing to everyone else, which thinned out the residents, and now continues to bring men home and off the streets for rehab.  Martin asked Richard and I to come to the house to share our testimonies and pray for the men.  We were truly blessed to be able to minister there.

This past Sunday, Richard was honored to preach at Pastor Alberto Esparza's new church for the church’s official grand-opening celebration (pictured below).  There were also special guests from the men’s rehabilitation center (Pastor Esparza works at the rehabilitation center in addition to teaching at Elsa Aramburo's school—Libertad).  Pastor Esparza is a dear brother and friend.  His daughters were an integral part of the service, as well.  Belem led the youth choir in English praise songs and his oldest daughter, Sara, led worship.  It was exciting to see the girls active in ministry.  Both are dear to us – having taught Belem at Libertad and still now tutoring Sara in English.

The original church building, which is located next to the new building, is now being used for a feeding station on Saturdays. 

A dinner followed the church service.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship!

January 28, 2013

We’re back!  We were blessed with the opportunity to head home over the holidays, taking the opportunity to renew our visas.  Since returning, we’ve been busy with a volunteer school advisory board – looking to see what God has in mind for the school.  We’ve also been visiting our friends and area churches, ministering as God leads. 

We are currently attending the Cabo English Church and have been blessed by Pastor Mike and his wife, Laura, who have continued to welcome us with open arms.  The people are hungering for the presence of God – and for a depth of relationship that is truly exciting.  Young people through adults - they are hungry!

We have also witnessed a great hungering for God where we live in Playita.  Dick was out walking and praying when he came upon a Tuesday morning prayer meeting at the Catholic Church.  Approximately ten people began to pray, seeking in earnest God’s will and His sovereign protection and love for the people of Playita. 

When praying for specific direction, we felt led to help reorganize the school and to work with the local churches.  So, seeing these churches, as well as the many others we are involved in, seeking God’s face and hungering for more is truly exciting.  God does not care about the denomination.  He cares about the people and they are seeking. 

We ask that you continue to intercede and pray on our and the people’s behalf.  As light increases, so does the darkness – the divide becomes distinct and great.  We must continue to push back the darkness to ever increase the Glory of His Presence. 

While we are doing much in person, I encourage you to join with us and do even more in prayer…  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  (Ephesians 6:12 KJV)

November 2012

We have been busy these past few months…  Yes, months already!  The majority of our time has been spent teaching and helping at a bilingual Christian school – the only Christian school in the area.  Richard and I have also been busy teaching on Fridays and Saturdays at the Bible Institute and Richard has had the opportunity to preach at a number of churches.

While many of us were celebrating Thanksgiving last week, the Mexican people were celebrating the anniversary of the Mexican revolution.  The primary students at our school put on a play in honor of the anniversary and area students from Playita performed in the plaza – a festive affair attended by several dignitaries and many proud parents!

September 30, 2012

The area pastors have been extremely welcoming!  Rarely does a week go by that Richard and I are not asked to visit an area church.  Pictured here is the Templo Bet-El in San Jose where Pastor David and his wife Esther asked Richard to speak.  He delivered a powerful message of revival.  God’s presence has been strong.  He has been blessing the people with words of knowledge, personal ministry, and deep healing.