Tres M Water Project

After a week of waiting to get in touch with the engineer from Tres M in regards to the water project, Pablo and I were able to meet with him this morning. In order to get water running to the 50+ families that are without, a water tank needs to be purchased and a water pump needs to be put in place atop the village in Tres M. The cost of the water tank is $5600 and the cost of the water pump is between $7000-$8000. Fortunately the government is willing to commit $10,000. That leaves a gap between $2600 and $3600 that would be needed to fund this water project. The community leader and engineer, Carlos, says that if we could come up with $2800 for half of the water tank, then we could get the ball rolling with the government's help. We have scheduled a meeting with the community this week to tell the people the goal to begin this water project shortly. When the materials have been purchased, Pablo and I, along with the community, will begin digging trenches to help run water to each of these houses that don't have any running water.

I don't know exactly how we're going to come up with all of the money for this particular project, but I know God has a great plan in front of us. If God puts it on your heart to help with this project, money can be sent to the Laurel Church of Christ. You can also donate through the paypal link below. Thank you to all of those who are able to support. There is a great need for prayer as well for not only the funds to be supplied, but that this project is successfully completed and helps many that are in great need. It's a task that will take some time to complete, and I know many families are eager get started.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:35,40
What a great blessing to be able to serve Jesus by serving those around us!

Pictured below are a few houses from the community in Tres M

El Delirio

"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'who is The Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." -Proverbs 30:8-9

 This week Pablo and I were able to travel to a poor community, El Delirio, about an hour and a half away from Matagalpa to help provide some food. The village is a steep uphill climb from the road that made for a difficult time carrying 100 pound bags of rice and beans on our shoulders. But it was well worth the work when we arrived to the 46 families that we were able to assist. After a time of prayer and some scripture, we distributed food and observed the community that is far from well off. Pablo and I plan to go back regularly to help with projects and spend time with individuals in prayer.

 When Jesus instructed us how to pray, "give us today our daily bread", he was not only asking God to provide. He was also asking that God might not provide so much that we would forget where it came from.  Part of wisdom is discerning the difference between wants and needs, because most often times our wants can help supplement someone else's needs.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:11-13

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but not for selfish gain.  Just as Christ,  our king, did not live for selfish gain, we ought to understand that this Christ like strength comes from selflessness.  May we serve those around us who are in need just as we have been served by Jesus when we were in need.

God's hand at work

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. -Isaiah 41:13

 There's something about the power of a touch that does what words cannot. Growing up, my mom always let me know when I would give her a good hug. I never cared for hugs but for whatever reason it was special when she told me I gave her a good hug. Ever since she passed away almost four years ago, the one thing I've missed the most is the chance to give her a hug. As my mom always referred to me as a "man of few words", most of what needed to be expressed in our mutual love for one another took place in the simplicity of a hug. Sunday night I stood at the front of the worship service in a church building in matagalpa Nicaragua and prayed that I might feel God's presence more intimately, that he might touch my life in a new and stronger way than ever before. As I prayed, a woman I've never met before walked by and placed her hand on my back to pray for me. As tears ran down my face, I was instantly reminded of the touch of my mother. It was as if God was saying to me, "Can you imagine the power of my touch? If you are so moved by the kind gesture of a stranger, how much more will you be in awe when the scarred hands of Jesus are on your back as you hug your Savior?" I eagerly await that day, as I diligently strive to draw ever nearer to my Lord and Savior. Our hands must be at work for our Lord in order for our eyes to be opened to the hand of God at work in our lives.

 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. -1 Corinthians 2:9

The battle belongs to the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:57- "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

If Christ is the Lord of our lives we have THE victory, not "a" victory, not "some" victory, but the one and only victory. What wouldn't you sacrifice for THE victory? Tell me what temptation is more tempting than being eternally victorious. Tell me what high is greater than eternity with all the glory on heaven and earth.

"David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I'll strike you down and cut off your head.'"- 1 Samuel 17:45

Life is a struggle. Life is a grind. No one wakes up every morning feeling great. Everyone experiences ups and downs. Life is a battle. There's no denying it. It takes great faith to stand before the giants of our life, the anxieties that weigh us down, the people that discourage, the diseases that torture our bodies, and to say, "the battle belongs to the Lord". When David, at age 17, stood before Goliath, he stood with nothing but confidence because it was not his battle to fight. The battle belongs to the Lord, when we have made him the Lord of our life. David didn't win the battle against Goliath when he slung a stone and hit him in the head. David won the battle against Goliath the day he made God the Lord of his life! You have many battles ahead of you, as do I. The victory in those battles cannot be left up to chance. The victory starts today. I am God's servant. He is my Lord. Jesus Christ is my Savior! Is he your Savior? Are you his servant? The battle belongs to the Lord, and our battle starts today. 

9/21 Nicaragua update

This morning Pablo and I visited the village, ´´tres M´´, where we will be teaching 43 kids English as a second language. Many kids were lined up eager to hear about the class that Pablo and I will be teaching together. We also got the chance to meet with village leader who informed us of a great need to run water to 53 families in this community. The town itself is built on a hill and most the homes atop the hill are without running water. Most of the pipes are set up near the houses, but they are without a water tank that could distribute enough water throughout the homes. The cost of the tank is estimated to be between $4000-$5000. Pablo and I are meeting with the engineer who came up with these figures on Monday. Our hopes are that if we are able to raise half the funds that the government will meet us half way and supply the rest. Prayers are needed in this area, as many of those living in this community have never experienced the luxury of running water. It was humbling for me to stand in this village, drenched with sweat because of the heat, and see so many that are living without something that I´ve expected and not even been grateful for for most of my life. Anyone interested in helping financially with this project is welcome to email me with questions or concerns, as we seek God´s wisdom for the best way to help. I ask that you also pray for the children that we will be teaching over the next several months. I will be posting pictures from this community in the near future.

Nicaragua Ministry Donations

This link is set up for all of those who would like to make donations to the Nicaragua mission work that I will be a part of over the next several months. I will be flying out September 19th to Managua, Nicaragua. My thanks and gratefulness goes out to all those who are and will be supporting this work financially or spiritually. Donations will be used towards the development of God's kingdom, helping to supply many Nicaraguans with both physical and spiritual help, while in great need. I will be working in cooperation with the Laurel Church of Christ in Laurel, Montana. I cannot thank the elders and church family enough for their continued support and encouragement. If you would like to get in touch with the Laurel Church, the address is 714 E 5th St Laurel, MT 59044, and the phone number is 406-633-4234. Thank you all and God bless!

So God made a farmer

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." -Hosea 10:12

The human heart is much like that of the earth's soil. In order for growth to take place, the soil must be soft and fertile. This isn't an easy process, both in farming and the softening of a persons heart. Notice Hosea says, "break up your unplowed ground". To be broken is never comfortable, but always necessary for the refining process of God's love. The fruit of unfailing love can only be produced from an increasingly softened heart. The seasons of life are just like the seasons of weather, with unexpected highs and lows. We are given one instruction to maintain consistency amidst a world that lacks any at all, "seek the Lord until he comes". But it sounds like a lot of work doesn't it? So God made us farmers.

Our Savior Jesus wasn't just a carpenter. He was a farmer. He broke men's hearts when they were too hard for their own good, he sowed seed in all the fertile hearts, he walked miles and paths never before tread, he received help from his father when he was too weak to walk, he smiled when seasons were good and he worked himself to death when they weren't. His children, his brothers and his sisters have since taken on the same profession. You see this farming is a family tradition unlike any other. We need a leader to show us the way, we need teacher to instruct our path, and we need a Savior that will make our work last. So God made a farmer.

"A farmer went out to sow his seed."-Matthew 13:3