Waiting Impatiently!

Well, we're well into the month of Oct. and we're still in Kansas. We were hoping (and praying) that our house would be sold by now and we would be on our way back to Mexico by now. We've had quite a few showings and the agents have said it's a nice house and the price is OK, but so far no offers. So now I start to question, did I hear God right? Not about moving to Mexico, but about selling the house. That is the best (in my mind) and easiest way for us to make the move, but is it's God's way? I always want to do it God's way and in HIS timing. Maybe it's a big lesson in patience He's trying to teach me, again.

We've started on a plan "B". If the house has not sold by then we are going to try to go Mexico the first of Dec. I'm not sure how this will work out financially, but maybe HE wants us to rely more on HIM than our own resources. We are still undecided about leaving the house vacant, renting it, or a house sitter as before. Good and bad to all the options. As always please continue to pray for us and HIS guidance in our lives. God Bless you all. Jerry

Waiting and Louisville Flooding

Things have been busy but not in the ways we would have thought or expected. We thought we would be busy packing out of the house and into the fifth wheel by now, but for now we are on hold. The house hasn't sold yet so we are waiting for the Lord to direct our steps. We still feel He is calling us to Mexico, but when? We said earlier Oct. That seemed like the most logical date and time to go. But again I'm reminded that God doesn't work in the logical. Or in my time frame for that matter. In His time He will move us forward or direct us onto another path. Such as our life in Christ. It doesn't often go as we expect, but it always turns out better. It's the waiting and turning it over to Him that seems so hard. When will I learn?

We have not been totally idle. Todd with Samaritan's Purse asked Jo and I to join him in Louisville Kentucky to aid homeowners with flood relief. They had received several inches of rain in a short period of time which caused the storm drains to back up into the basements. Timing is always key with flooding. You have to wait (in this case only a few hours) to start work, but if you work to slow the mold starts growing. Jo and I were there for two weeks with Jo helping Todd in the office and I was working with Havard doing damage assessments. During the second week we started helping finish what homeowners couldn't do for themselves. Removing the couch, tv, or washer dryer from the basement. Then out of the blue we would encounter a homeowner that had completely ignored the whole situation. Nothing had been removed and in some cases, people were living in the basement with the mold. Most of the time they had chosen to ignore the situation because they were overwhelmed. They had no idea where to start or what needed to be done. I realized this is our life without Christ! We are overwhelmed! We know it's not right, but we don't know what to do about it. We're either to proud or to stubborn to ask for help. We are helpless and hopeless. But Jesus Christ is our rescuer. He is right there with His hand out the whole time. All we have to do is take Him into our heart, give Him our poor excuse of a life, and He will lead us from that day on. He won't always prevent us from falling, but He will always be there to pick us up.....

Long Overdue Update!

Sorry for the delay in this long overdue post. Since Jo and I returned from Mexico we have been busy serving with Samaritan's Purse and getting ready to go back to Rancho Maranatha this fall.

In April the town of Mena Arkansas was hit with a EF 3 tornado and Jo and I were asked to help with the Samaritan's Purse disaster response. We were in Mena for about 2 weeks where Jo answered the phone and took requests from home owners and I contacted home owners to make assessments of damage for tree removal and temporary tarping of roofs. This was a wonderful time for both of us. We got to work with the SP staff and a great bunch of volunteers. In this town of 5,000, 1,000 of the home were damaged and of that 1,000, 300 of those were completely destroyed. We both pray that God continues to allow us to serve with Samaritan's Purse and share the good news.

When we returned to Wichita we went to Illinois to pick up our 2003 Jayco Designer fifth wheel that will soon become our full time home.

We spent several weeks painting and doing all those little repairs that I had been putting off in order to put our home on the market. That was done 3-4 weeks ago and although it has been "shown" several time we have not yet received an offer. Jo (mostly) has been trying real hard to down size and get rid of lots of stuff we have accumulated over the years and won't have room for in the RV.

A few weeks ago we had a major hail storm here in Wichita and at the church every car in the parking lot (Wed. night service) was damaged, but the RV only suffered a few broken vent covers. Thank you Lord!

I will be retiring and off staff at the church the first of August. We have started to visit some of our sister churches in the area to renew friendships and share about what has been happening at Rancho Maranatha in Mexico. Our plans are to return to Mexico this October and stay until May of next year with maybe a short visit back to Kansas around Christmas. The girls have not been returned to the ranch and Daniel is still in prison in Obregon. There is a great brother and sister in the Lord, Paul and Pam Cooper, serving at the ranch but our hearts long to join them there.

We really need for the house to sell for this to happen so please continue to pray that God brings us that one buyer we need.

If you would like any more information about Samaritan's Purse, Rancho Maranatha or what is happening with Daniel and the girls at the ranch, please let us know.

God Bless all of you.

Jerry and Jo

Heading Back to Kansas

Well, this is our last week here at the Ranch and we will be heading back to Kansas on Saturday. I have mixed emotions about leaving. While we will be happy to see our family & friends in Kansas we have come to think of the Ranch as our second "home". The people here have become very much our family, not just in the sense of being our brothers & sisters in the Lord but as people we love very much.

I have been going for daily walks with LaLa, Ana's mother, every morning. Since she doesn't speak any English it has been a great opportunity to practice my Spanish. She recites different verses from Psalms and I repeat them back to her. One of her favorites I have memorized in Spanish. "Ensenanos de tal modo a contar nuestros dias, que traigamos al corazon sabiduria" Salmos 90:12 I pray this for all of my brothers & sisters!!!
The weather has been really great, unlike the weather in Kansas, around 70-75 in the daytime and about 50 at night. Although today has been rather cool its still better than Kansas. It has also been quite a challenge, although fun, teaching the younger girls English since Lupita & Trini speak only a few words of English. The girls are all such sweethearts although they can be trying sometimes as all children can. It is a joy to see the lovely young women Josie & Carolina are growing into. They are great to help with the younger girls & Roshon's 2 little ones. Roshon's children are both precious but especially Obed. He is 9 months old & such a happy baby, always smiling and although I'm sure he has his moments I've never seen him cross.

Dan, Ana & Marilu left for Monterrey on Monday to finish the adoption proceedings of Marilu. They have to get her new birth certificate & should be back on Thursday. We haven't been able to spend to much time with them so will be glad to see them get back before we leave.

Carla, all the girls & I went into Navajoa on Thursday to the house of the grandmother of Elias (the little boy the Conners adopted). We took some fruit, cookies for the kids and shampoo & soap to bathe the kids. There are six children living at her house, all under the age of 7. The youngest one is about 17 months old. Their living conditions are less than desirable so we cleaned, washed their dishes, bathed all the children & just tried to show His love for them. What a blessing to be able to do this. The grandmother said they were going to start attending the Sunday morning service. lease keep them in your prayers that this will happen.

I have just finished reading "What the World is Coming To" by Pastor Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for those of you not familiar with him). The book is a commentary on the Book of Revelation. While I was reading his comments on the "Great White Throne Judgement" Rev 20:11-13 it made me think of our conversations with many of our family members who asked us why we don't just send a check to the Ranch. Since we feel called by God to serve in Mexico we would not be in His will if we "sent a check". I recall Jesus' words from the Book of Matthew "Then the King will say to those on His right hand. 'Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in..... I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'Mt 25:34-40 I heartily recommend this book to believers as well as non-believers. We need to be sure we understand the consequences of not accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord & Saviour.
We miss & thank all of you for your prayers of support and pray God's Blessings to you.
In Him, Jerry & Jo

Fellowship with GOD

Just like back in the states, some Sunday's at church, attendance is up. People you haven't seen in a while, some maybe sick, some maybe had to work, some traveling. Usually there is an "ebb and flow" (like the tides), but every once in a while it seems like everyone is there on the same day. Maybe even some who have moved away, back for a visit. It's so great to see old friends and family again. Something just "clicks".

Well it was that way this last Sunday morning in Tesia and even more so Sunday night in Osobampo. People that Jo and I had not seen since we have been here in Mexico this last three weeks. We've wondered about them, and even asked about some of them from time to time. There's such a gladness in our hearts when we see them and we know that everything is OK. The buses and vans were there from Jusibampo, Mocuzarit, and Las Minitas as well as the local people from Osobampo. And the vans and buses were packed. When I mentioned this to Dan he said that there were still some missing that he noticed.

I got to thinking about how this is like when we're not fellow shipping with GOD. HE created us for that purpose. HE desires to fellowship with us, loves us, cares for us. HE has concern for us when we've gotten to busy to spend time with HIM. In devotions, in HIS Word, in prayer, and in church. I know HIS heart is gladdened when we return to HIM, just as mine did. The only difference is that HE doesn't wonder where we are or what we're up to, HE knows. Whatever it is that has taken us out of fellowship with HIM is not good! It's so easy to be distracted. The world has so many "things" to call us and tempt us. Occupy our time little by little. May we all cling tighter to HIM.

Dan and Ana got back this last Saturday night. It was great to have them back and everything was back on schedule Sunday. They have been running the ranch here for so long that they make everything look easy. Decisions, moment by moment!

It's hard to believe but Jo and I have only about a week and a half left here at the ranch. It seems like we just got here. We plan to leave on Saturday the first of February making a few stops along the way which should take about 10 days to get home. We love you all and miss you. Please continue to pray for us.

Jerry and Jo

BACK TO SCHOOL & OTHER THINGS

Three weeks from home & two weeks here at the ranch & we are so blessed by all we come in contact with. The Slushers were here for a few days on their way back to the states & we enjoyed visiting with them. They had been in Culiacan, a town south of here, working with a group out of southern CA providing the gospel to indignant workers from the Mexico City area. We went into Alamos with them Friday night to have dinner at a restaurant run by Ana's sister-in-law. It was an enjoyable time seeing old friends & sharing what God was doing in their lives.

We have settled into a routine here, more or less, in the last week. Jerry has been working on things around the ranch including the diesel bus used to transport people to bible studies in Tesia & Rosales. Since the Conners(the teachers from the states) have gone back to their home in Florida, the responsibilities for teaching the girls on the ranch are being shouldered by Ana, Roshon, Marilu & Carla. I am planning to teach English classes while we are here & when we return in the fall I hope to add a Science class to the schedule. So I will be looking for primary grade reading books & science books for intermediate grades. The girls are very eager to learn English, especially the new younger ones as their English language skills are very meager. Vanessa & Maura do very well with English but Trini & Lupita know only a few words. Teaching them will certainly try my Spanish language skills but will definitely be good for me.

Trini & Lupita both come from homes where they were abused & beaten by their fathers. They are cousins & both of them are 12 years old. In Lupita's situation her mother had died and her father remarried. Her step-mother would tell her dad stories regarding things she had supposedly done (although they were not always true) and he would beat her for them. Trini had a mother but she had psychological problems & beat Lupita quite regularly. Both girls seem to be adjusting to life here at the ranch & are very much in need of the loving & caring christian environment they have here.
It has been such a pleasure to be here helping out while Dan & Ana are gone to the states. God has truly blessed us with this opportunity to serve Him. I continue to be amazed at the dedication of the believers here. Most of them have to depend on others for transportation, either the vans from the ranch, walking, riding their bicycles or trying to catch a ride with a neighbor who is going by where ever the teaching is being held. Those who have cars can't always afford the price of gas yet they somehow find a way to get to the teaching. We feel truly blessed to be of service to them as well as humbled by how easy we have it in the states and yet so many of us find excuses not to go to church. I do lunch for the girls on Monday & Friday and dinner on Thursday so I will close for now since it is almost 12 noon & I need to start lunch.
May God bless you all & thank you so much for your prayers & support.
In Him,
Jerry & Jo

Getting Settled In

Hi to everyone. Sorry to be so late in updating. Jo and I have been busy resting up and settling in, but not that busy. Our trip south with the fifth wheel was great even though we didn't have water until we got out of the "freeze zone". Our travel days were a little shorter and at the end we just climbed into the rv for the night. One night was a truck stop parking lot and another was at a Wal-Mart. We finally stayed in a RV park when we were visiting our friends Paul and Ruth in Casa Grande AZ.. It was great to see them again and have a little warmer weather.

We arrived at the ranch New Years day and Dan and Ana left the next morning for the Missions Conf. in California. We joked about them leaving whenever Jo and I show up, but it's a blessing for us to lift up their hands, even if for only a short time. May they have a blessed time at the conference and get some well deserved rest.

Below are a couple of pictures of the great set-up we have to park our trailer in. It was built by Paul and Ruth for their motor home. It's great to be in the shade ( 70's here you know), plus the bug screen helps a great deal. We also have a storage shed out back to store extra stuff and make a little moving around room in the RV. You can see Jo in the laundry corner so you can't avoid some jobs, even down here.....

I"ll close for now, but Jo will post again in a few days with some pictures and stories about a couple of new girls here at the ranch. We miss and love you all. We thank God for allowing us to serve Him here in Mexico and we also thank each and everyone of you back home for your prayers and support.....God Bless you all...Jerry and Jo