God Uses Friends

Hey guys! We're currently writing to you from Buckeye, Arizona as we flew in to Tijuana to drive down to Orange County for Thanksgiving; blessed to spend a little time with family and friends here before driving our van down to Sinaloa. We wished we could have met with more of you, but we did our best with our limited time restraint. Still, we prayed over our schedule and entrusted it to the Lord. Sometimes it's hard to imagine more happening on a trip like this than what God already has done. It's almost overwhelming the way that God uses each one of you in such extensive ways in our short times together.

We are so grateful for your support as we continue in our ventures of making disciples there in Sinaloa. Yet we realize that the work of discipleship has not been finished in the US. That's because true disciplesip is never finished until we stand in glory. We want you to know that God is truly using each of you. Each of our friends and prior ministry, prayer, and bible study groups unite, without even knowing each other, to help fuel this venture. It's not just the obvious partnership in prayer and financial support, but the building up of one another through love and goodworks. Often these are the overlooked and underestimated pieces of ministry who value is limitless. We never thought this would be the way that God would provide for us to fulfill His calling; but we are thrilled at the opportunities it gives us to stay connected and encourage each other as disciples of Christ.

Busy is one of those four-letter words which I'm not sure should be a part of a Christian's vocabulary. Nevertheless, that may be what some would say of our schedule this past month. Perhaps 'well-occupied' is more appropriate. Indeed it has been. November started with Ryan barely recovering from a Salmonella infection in his gut, which still has lingering element in his joints, and traveling to the other side of Mexico for a conference. While in Merida, Yucatan Esther got to experience some great new adventures of her own around Guasave and Mochis and she and the kids learned to get around a little differently. How was this conference made possible? Just as we've said, it stemmed from a friendship started about eight years ago. The faithfulness to stay in connection and continue in discipleship as great possibilities for great fruit.

The Intensive Discipleship School, as we called it in Merida, was a great blessing, and had some great impact on everyone who was there-- teachers included. Having Pastor Ramon there from Los Mochis also made the whole thing more complete as we contiue to make disciples. We look forward to see the fruit that continues to sprout from the time with Pastor Yoshimi and Calvary Chapel Merida Norte. Also please continue to pray for them as they move through their own time of transition.

Psalms 138:8 says "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me,'(NKJV) and in ESV it says, 'The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me,." In this case, I love reading the different versions and taking comfort in both! So often we are tempted to fret or worry or make things happen outside of God's timing, but the key is bringing it in prayer (Phil.4:6) and releasing those things to the Lord and choosing his peace to be sufficient in whatever the circumstances are.

As Ryan returned from the conference his illness began to take a different form. His joints were agressively attacked, which made movement almost impossible between the pain and inflamation. Just to get from the bed or sofa to the bathroom once or twice a day was a significant acheivement. Nevertheless, this didn't cancel the birthday plans that swamp October and November for our family.

Cyrus and Ryan celebrated their birhdays together the day after Ryan got back from Merida. Following week we celebrated Jubilee's bithday together right after a doctor's appointment.

With all this complete we began to pray and prerpare for our trip to California and Arizona. Praise God that, though very slow, Ryan was able to get through the airport. Seeing each one of you is worth the time and energy necessary, and what a blessing you have been as God works in and through you.

David's contemplation of himself and others in Psalm 16 is beautiful. In verse 2 and 3, he writes (amplified version), "I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.¨As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, they are the majestic and the noble and excellent ones in whom is all my delight."

During this Christmas season, it is so good to reflect the real treasures and delights that make our spirits bright; God and godly people! It's the flesh that reaps corruption and spoils the joy. May the Lord help us find delight in the people we spend time with at the gatherings we partake in, not for any common interests that are worldly and detract from the eternal beauties, but for the things that make room in our hearts for more of Him.

Our prayer requests are for the Lord's guiding in how to celebrate Christ's birth in Palos Verdes with those who have been coming to the bible study.

Please pray as we are getting closer to the time when we believe God would have us to begin stepping out into the outreach for the church plant in Guasave. The Lord has given us a vision, and he is helping us build a team. We pray that we won't allow ourselves or other details to get in the way of his plan.

As we say here, "Proximamente... Calvary Guasave." Coming soon... Calvary Guasave.

Also, for our outreach and connections in Guasave. We have some ideas in regards to Christmas caroling and cookies, but we desire those divine appointments and timings that are orchestrated by the Spirit of God for the eternal fruit that would come from it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! And we wish you a very, merry Christmas!!