Other friends say goodbye. Part 3

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We also had a great time with other friends that are not part of the college ministry. These people are other families and couples that have been a true blessing for our lives. We've been blessed by their wisdom and their parental love and care. Their friendship is one of God's gifts that He's used to make an impact on our lives.

The college-student ministry says goodbye. Part 2

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We also had a very special time with the college student group. It was special with them because they have been the people we've grown spiritually with. This is the ministry that I was involved with. These are the people that God used so many times in my life: as friends, as sheep, as co-leaders,... It was special for them as well because they see the first couple that came from them being sent. Thank you guys for being such great friends and for teaching us important lessons.

The church says goodbye. Part 1

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This is one of the most memorable moments. The whole church gathered, lead in prayer by one of the pastors from the Monterrey team. It was very encouraging for us and for the congregation as well because they got to see two of its disciples being sent to another country to reach out people for Christ. It's a great feeling to be there with so many people praying for you. By God's grace the vision is being fulfilled. That night some people started to say goodbye and we started to feel what it's like to leave the people you've been together with.

Our move to Monterrey. The series.

Hello friends

Since we haven't been able to write during these last days we are writing this series of articles that describe what happened the last days before our move and what has happened during these first days in Monterrey. We invite you to read and check out some pictures and follow with us the amazing things God is doing here.

Help us pray for...

These are some things you can help us pray for. Remember your prayers are listened and they have an eternal impact.

• Our personal connection with JC. There are hundreds of things to do, hundreds of people to be with but only ONE necessary thing: to worship Him and know Him better.
• Our family: it's really hard for our parents to see us leave. Although they understand we are fulfilling the GC, emotionally speaking, separation isn't very nice sometimes.
• The appartment we're looking for: a 2 or 3 bedroom appartment in Cumbres with furniture and appliances included at an affordable price.
• The people we're going to meet. May we find grace before their eyes. We want to "be" true friends to them.
• That God will continue to provide financially for us. We still need to reach our goal and there are several moving expenses to take care of.
• That our hearts would always remain humble before God. That He would be number one in our lives.

Thanks.

The Monterrey team says goobye

The Monterrey team that remains in Honduras organized a nice honduran dinner to say goodbye to us. Actually it's more a "see you soon" than a "goodbye". As you can see in the picture, there are still several families that are waiting on God's time to leave for Monterrey.

Currently, there are 2 families already settled in Monterrey. Sergio's family who was the first one to leave and Juan Manuel's family. We are the 3rd family to move and we feel very honnored to be part of this great team. It was a great time together and the brothers and sisters are starting to see how God is turning his promise into something real. We had a great time praying, laughing, thanking God for who He is, food and some very encouraging words that the brothers expressed to us.

Great garage sale!

Last February 4 and 5 we had our garage sale. This was just one day after we confirmed that we would be leaving on February 23. This is a picture of the house we lived all of our married life. On Feb the 5th we moved to my parent's house to be with them the last days before leaving for Monterrey. God blessed us with a great place to live for about two years and we are praying that God may provide a very nice place for us in Monterrey. The purpose is to welcome all our friends who will visit us in Monterrey and to welcome our friends and disciples from Monterrey. Please pray that God may provide us a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment in Cumbres. This is a very startegic area that's close to the main universities and where some of the families from the church would like to live. Pray that this appartment would include furniture and appliances so we won't have to buy those at the beginning.

Well, that garage sale went very well. At the beginning we were kind of scared things wouldn't be sold because we had had very little time to tell our friends and neighbors about the garage sale. However, God made the miracle and some friends helped us spread the word and basically we were able to sell everything. We didn't have like a whole lot of stuff but still, everything was sold. We'll use this money to cover part of Jennyffer's legal expenses and for the first month of rent and another month of deposit. God is good!

We've set a date to leave!

Hello everybody

It is a great pleasure for us to inform you that we've already set a date for our departure to Monterrey. February 23 is the date we've set to leave. As you may notice, we have very little time left here in Honduras. We are very excited about this. we had been waiting for about 2 years and now, God is finally opening the doors. Actually, He's been opening doors forever but now, this is it!

Jennyffer and I are so thankful to God and the people He's used to send us. Although we haven't reached our ideal financial goal, we have decided to leave on this date. We're still working on reaching that goal and will continue to work in this. Last friday, we confirmed this decision with the team's leading pastor, Sergio. Even though leaving without all of our finances might be considered risky we have decided to make this step and trust God to be our number one provider. Don't you think risk is necessary sometimes? Don't you think Noah took a risk by investing all of his time, money and energy building an arch when rain didn't exist? Don't you think Abraham took a risk by leaving his entire family and nation to go... well, actually, he didn't even know where he was going! Don't you think the prostitute Rahab took a risk by welcoming the spies in her house? They sure took some risks: Everybody used to make fun at Noah, Abraham left everything behind him and Rahab could have been hung by the ruler of Jericho. My question is: was it worth it? It sure was. They all glorified God's name in their lives. So... what made the difference in those people's lives: something called faith. Would you like to see a beautiful definition of that word? We find it in Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We know God will be with us all the way to Monterrey and of course every day of our lives. We also want to thank you so much for your prayers, care and support. Your faith has moved mountains. We'll keep you informed on what's happening these days prior to our trip.

A miracle at the Mexican embassy!

Hello friends!

We want to tell you about our experience at the embassy . On tuesday we went there at 9am sharp. We were nervous and praying at the same time. At the embassy there are usually two nice ladies from Honduras that check your papers and then they take them to the official from the embassy. But yesterday, this official was receiving the papers and we had to meet with him. He started asking questions and he didn't look so nice as the other ladies.

He told us that in order to get the visa we had better show him our tickets to Monterrey to prove that we would be flying back to Honduras. We didn't say a word. And he asked us this for the next day. So we asked Sergio (our pastor) for advice on what to do in this situation and he suggested to show them our flight reservations. It's not the same as showing the tickets but this would be plan A.

It's kind of difficult because we didn't know when we would be leaving exactly and we still don't have a confirmed date so we couldn't buy the tickets. Anyway we went to the embassy and went again to that office thinking about what we would say if they asked us for some explanation. And then the miracle happened! They gave us our passports with a visa to enter Mexico. And guess what? They didn't even ask us a single question. Just like this, they just gave us our visas and wished us a nice trip!

Isn't it amazing? This is God's grace working! He did it! It's such an amazing work, He does not look for our abilities. Humanly speaking we had no chance to get it but he made the difference. And this is only for his glory! He deserves all our worship because he's done mighty things among us. The waters of the Jordan river have been split, right before our eyes!

We just wanted to thank you so much for your prayers and faith: we know they have also made a difference. God has answered your prayers! Thank you because you're also part of this amazing miracle.

What a great man of faith!

Today, I want to share with you the story of Caleb. What a great servant of God he was! This is what I call a man of character and integrity. A man who served the Lord until the end of his life and who patiently waited for what God promised to him. Here's a piece of his autobiography, we find it in Joshua 14. This is what he said to Joshua:

"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' [a]

10 "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

Here are some amazing secrets the Lord taught me:

• Age is not an issue for God: Caleb engaged in his most amazing journey at the age of forty when he became a spy. Is age keeping you from doing mighty things fr God?
  
• Caleb worked for forty five years in one command God gave him. He waited patiently for God's results. How long are you willing to wait to see God's miracles in your life?
  
• Caleb was faithful and brought a report according to his convictions. This only shows where he was in his personal relationship with God.
• Perhaps he was also scared at the beginning. However he overcomed his fears and brought a good report.
• He was so confident in God's purpose and promise that even when other ten people came back saying it was a land of giants and full of danger, he remained confident in his God.
• After forty five years he was as strong as the day Moses sent him out. How do you feel? Are you full of energy, enthusiasm, joy and passion for the Lord? Are you vigorous to face new challenges?
• He was eager to drive out the Anakites of that land as the Lord had commanded him. He asked God's help and finally made it.
• The result: Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

It's incredible to see how Israel received the Promised Land. At the proper time, they got it. And it's even more incredible to see that the 12 tribes of Israel received each a portion of the land, but the Bible mentiones two men who personally received a piece of land: Caleb and Joshua. Some heroes!