Feliz Navidad!

“Oh, Father, bless this site and the people who have come in it over the past year.  Keep them safe and in Your care over this Christmas season.  Si tu quieres (if it is Your will) bring us back again in January to serve You again.  Amen.”

We were leaving the Social Work Site in El Callejon for the final time this year.  Making sure all the windows were closed, all the doors locked, and the water turned off.  We had gone around the El Callejon ‘loop’ saying goodbye, talking and praying as we went. 

We are two weeks from celebrating Christmas.  Sadly, when we should all be focused on Jesus emptying Himself to come and save us, many focus instead of being as filled up (with alcohol, food, gifts, fights, flirtations) as they can.  It’s true back in the U.S., it’s true in El Callejon, too. 

So, we pray.  We pray for the families of El Callejon and the surrounding communities.  That they would resist the temptations of overspending and over-indulging, which are so common at this time of year.  That the partying would not get out of hand and dangerous. 

That the Prince of Peace would reign in the hearts and minds and souls of those He came to save, both here, and throughout the world. 

We ask you to join us in lifting up this community.  Over the past year we have seen progress, ‘thin places’ where God’s kingdom is breaking in.  The little ones learning to say ‘please’, the teens eager to explore difficult questions of faith, couples like Luz and Fermin and Kathy and Richie becoming legally married.  We’ve welcomed students and outreach participants from the U.S. who have come and shared their lives and the love of Jesus. 

We have also watched relationships between parents and children struggle, seen teen girls ‘get married’ at 16, lost members of our fellowship to sickness and death.  There have been days and weeks when it’s felt futile to continue. 

But, we remind ourselves that Jesus came, He died for our sins, He rose again and is returning.  In Him, the hopeless find hope.  In Him, everything is able to be redeemed for our good and His Father’s glory. 

We thank each of you for your support, love, interest, and most especially, your prayers.  The work is not easy, but nothing worth doing is! 

As we go home to visit family and friends (Daisy to Columbia, Kimberley to the U.S.) we know we can trust in our all-powerful, all-loving God to care for His beloved people in El Callejon.  He was there before we arrived, and will stay even if we leave.  All praise to Him!

We pray that each of you has a wonderful Christmas celebrating God-with-us.  We look forward to sharing more stories of Meeting Jesus in El Callejon in 2013.  Until then, Dios te bendiga!!

Love Is In the Air!!

Another Wedding Week has ended, and wow, are we tired!  From rushing around to get all the needed paperwork, to visiting the Pollera (where you buy live or dead chickens – ours were dead!), to perching on plastic chairs and the railing to hang up streamers and balloons, it’s been a crazy time.      

Kathy & Richie

But, like anything worth doing, especially things involving God’s kingdom breaking into communities in darkness, vale la pena.  It is always worth the frustration, inconvenience, aggravation and pain.  And, to see the two brides and their grooms yesterday, well, we’ll just let the pictures do the talking!!

Luz wanted to have traditional touches,
including having a ring-bearer.

Jayson (with SI) shares God's Word

Symbol of love and commitment

Luz and Fermin share a toast

Luz & Fermin with Franci,
their adopted son (and Fermin's grandson)

Cutting the Wedding Cake

Kathy & Richie with their son, Richileu

the happy couples with Brian & Sissy (SI Director),
Daisy and Jayon

Smooch!

Isn't it romantic?!?

Tossing the bouquet

Awwwww!!!! Too, too sweet!

(Special thanks to our friend, Daniel, for allowing us to share all these great pics he took!)

Weddings Part Two

On Thursday another of our couples, Kathy and Richie, became legally married.  They have been together for two years and have a 13 month old son named Richileu.  Over the past year their faith has been growing, and they want to live in a way that pleases God.  Getting legally married is a part of that desire.

As we’ve written about before, Kathy’s life has not been easy.  Sadly, her troubled relationship with her parents continues.  They still held out hope that she would leave Richie and find a wealthy man to marry who could help out the entire family.  

Richie signs the Certificate of Marriage

Although Richie has proven himself to be a loving, steadfast companion, her parents refuse to accept him, and have made it clear her marriage will not change that.  It all makes us so sad, but we pray in time God will redeem even this relationship through His love and power.

While Luz and Fermin’s marriage was smooth, this one was another story!  One of the witnesses did not show up at the Courthouse, so after several frantic calls to other friends, the groom had to hop on his moto to try and find another friend. 

Sealed with a kiss

The attorney was not happy with the situation, as it was 45 minutes late, but thankfully allowed them to get married with the substitute, who had to rush off and have a photocopy made of his Sedula (like a Social Security card) as the Courthouse does not have a copier available and one is required for the paperwork.

We kept reminding each other, Kathy and Richie, and even the attorney (who is a Christian), that Satan does not like it when we are trying to live according to God’s will, and so often makes things more difficult.  But, our God is stronger! 

Legally married!

Although it wasn’t a ‘dream ceremony’ it was still a joyful time.  We ask you to join us in praying that Kathy and Richie will continue to grow in love for each other, and in their faith in Jesus.  That they will raise their son, Richileu, and any other children, knowing Jesus and His love for them.