God is so good. I don’t think I can ever say that enough. Every time we start to question “God did you really send us here?” He answers so clearly, through scriptures we are reading, through people we encounter, and through perfectly timed unexpected help.Our testimony is constantly “Look what God did…” because there’s no way any of the progress here could have happened with out Him going before us, and that’s exactly where we want to be anyways.

RAIN

At the beginning of last month we were sharing how our part of the island is very dry, We have a water catchment system but if its not raining we have to go into town several times a week to fill up our totes with water. We can haul about 700 gallons, which lasts us about 4 days(between laundry, showers, drinking, dishes, toilet, and gardening)now that we have a trailer and a second tote. Every trip into town cost us about $10 in gas and 2 hours of time, which adds up and is hard on our vehicles. We could have a truck come and deliver 2500 gallons of water but that costs us $250. We are praying about other options but until then we keep praying every day for God to send us more rain. We look out we can see the clouds all around us, but we tend to get minimal rain fall.

A few weeks ago, at our prayer and praise night, the kids asked everyone to pray that it would rain so we could fill up our giant tank.I kid you not, we stepped outside and it starts down pouring! We get all the way home, and had to run into the house because it was still down pouring(which wasn’t great because we left the windows open at the house 😛 )By the end of the night the tank was almost completely full. We continued to get rain overnight for the next week or so, which allowed that rainfall to mostly sustain us up until last week. Two lessons: First, Do not doubt the faith of a child. Second, ask God to hold the rain until you are home unless you were planning to wash your hair that night anyways 😛

TRACTOR

One of our prayers has been a means to clear the land. We have been slowly weed whacking, but the California grass eats through the wire, and by the time we finally finish with one portion its already growing back. Gabe’s parents bought a tractor and they have been so generous to allow us to utilize it for many projects as we are working to clear the property; Huge answer to prayer!

The past several weeks we have been able to knock down several small trees

mow the land, and even grade the road to allow for better vehicle access.

BUILDING

We are continuing construction projects as we have material available. The past couple weeks we have been able to get materials for doing the floor on the A-Frame house, and are hoping to begin that stage of project this week.We have been continuing to help work on the small cabins on the neighboring property. These cabins will have the capability to host individuals or couples who want to help on the property, which is exciting. We have one gal currently staying in a cabin, and will hopefully have one more cabin completed this next month.

OUTREACH

The church we are involved with has been a consistent presence in this community and has established relationships with the kids, primarily elementary and middle school boys, in the area. At church on Sunday, the kids out number the adults which is such an exciting sight to behold. Hearing the kids sing out the hymns with zeal melts my heart, I can only imagine how much more it touches the heart of God. This last Sunday, several of the boys asked the leadership about baptism, showing sincere desire to take that next step in their faith walk.

We are so excited to have opportunity to help out with outreach events they have established, and partner with them by offering support. This past week, Gabe was asked to present a message at the Friday night youth outreach program.Our prayer with the kids is that God opens up doors for relationship. We are also praying about ways we can reach the young girls in the community, and how we can continue to be involved with what this church is already doing. We both feel a community doesn’t need more programs, but we need more christians to partner together to be consistent with the next generation.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

Gabe and I have been continuing education, and personal growth as we need to equip ourselves with tools so we can better minister to the community. God has provided the amazing opportunity to go through a class (Discovering MErcy) this past year, thanks to a friend who felt led to provide the finances to cover the cost.

As we continue to move and take steps in obedience, Gabe and I are working to gain more tools that will help our family move forward in ministry. We have both seen many families torn apart in ministry because they had undealt resentment and bitterness, or they have placed the outward ministry ahead of or at the expense of the family. We want to place our family in the best possible position so we can pour into others from a place of health.Our relationship with God is always number one, then our ministry towards each other and our kids, any outside ministry comes after that. We have both agreed that if our family is not healthy, we can not effectively help anyone else, and have asked God to remove us from any position of leadership if the ministry ever comes at the expense of our marriage and/or kids.

All that to say, We have sought advice from several people we respect and they suggested we go through Transforming Hearts, a one week intensive being offered to a select few in August. The purpose of this intensive would be to gain tools to allow us to learn how to communicate to the heart of our family, and in turn others, and work through any roots in our lives we haven’t addressed that could become bigger issues later. We are praying and trusting God that if this is something He wants us to move forward in He will provide the finances for this intensive as it is a $7200 commitment, due by the end of July.