But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep,

so that you will not grieve as those who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

A scripture that has come to us many times this season…a scripture quoted recently at a dear ministry friends’ memorial who, like a couple of other ministry friends in recent weeks, has gone too soon.  These friends are gone too soon for those here on earth who will miss them dearly, and who struggle with understanding why.  I guess, as you know, it is harder on those of us who are left behind.  However, we are encouraged in scripture to rejoice in their home going.  For we, unlike others in the world, have hope in eternal life.

In addition to these 3 ministry friends we also have known 3 close friends who each lost a parent recently.  Though these parents may have lived life a little more toward its fullness, being prepared to lose someone is never easy.  I, myself, have my dear grandmother on my mind each day.  At 97, she is likely in her last days here, as her body is tired and responding less to earthly substance and she most likely has her eyes on her Savior.

How do we prepare for grief?  How do we comfort those who grieve?  Perhaps there are some around us who do not fully grasp having “hope” when losing a loved one.  Thankfully, all those mentioned above knew the Lord and met their awaiting King.   They all had faith that they would someday meet Jesus, and they had great hope in that knowledge.  As Believers, this is something we look forward to.

Many of us often look forward to Heaven.  Particularly when life is hard, times are tough, the state of the world seems in such dire straights. But we press on and know that our present duty is to tell as many around us of His grace and His free gift of Salvation that extends eternal life to every soul.

We had the opportunity to do just that at a recent Tuesday night outreach in Tijuana, when addressing the group that had gathered to receive their bread.  Yet another passing in the prior week,  of a dear friend and helper,  just an hour or two after the outreach, gave us reason to exhort the crowd.  Raquel (pictured in last update below) had been a faithful helper in distributing food with us each week. She collapsed from a heart problem due to prior drug abuse and, although her life was redeemed and her passion was serving the Lord, her frail body had run its course.  Raquel loved serving her community and as we reminded them of that we encouraged them that, like Raquel, our days are numbered and life on this earth is not guaranteed.  But a new eternal life in Jesus is promised if only He is made Lord of their lives.

So, just as we did at this past weekends memorial, we gather with others to remember a loved one who has passed.  We rejoice in their completion of suffering for those who were sick.  We remember their mark on our life and attempt to make a difference in others lives based on their influence.  Though we are saddened, we are thankful for having hope and therefore able to grieve in a way that says “bye for now…until we meet again” And as I posted on my Facebook status this week, “Heaven has yet another good one up there!”

We dedicate the post below to Raquel, one of our helpers for the past 3 years,

who went to be with Jesus just an hour and a half after our Tuesday night outreach

was over this week.  Her heart had suffered some abuse from former drug use

and she had high blood pressure.  Raquel loved helping us serve her community

and she will be deeply missed.

“ ….your work of faith, and labor of love,

and steadfastness of hope in our

Lord Jesus Christ….I Thess. 1:3

I’ve been reading  I Thessalonians of late, and Paul’s description of the life of the Thessalonian people who were following the Lord really stood out to me.  The  people who Paul was speaking to, were not Jewish, and they did not live in a Jewish culture.  They suffered great persecution as followers of Christ (one GOD), living in a very pagan city, where multitudes of deities were worshipped.   Daily, as they went about their business and social lives, they were confronted with the reality of doing good and remaining faithful to Jesus in a very hostile environment.  Paul was honoring them for their steadfastness in the faith, as he wrote this encouraging letter to the friends he loved so dearly.   His words made me ponder our own circumstances and ministry in the Lord.

There are days (and nights) where I watch Wayne drive long distances to pick up large loads of bread, or produce.  He is faithful to go out many evenings a week to pick up donations from a local bakery when they close at night.   He goes out to meet people who may have clothes or toys to donate.  He gets up early to start a long day of both picking up and delivering food to ministry partners and needy facilities in Tijuana.  Truckloads of food are loaded and unloaded several days a week.  I watch as I see this labor of love.

I know of families who are weekly ministered to as stories are told and prayer administered to those who have lost loved ones, or are in physical pain or financial need.  And I see a work of faith being discharged through VOB and ministry partners, knowing that one plants, another waters, but GOD brings the harvest.

Sometimes when you’re passing out food to the hungry and needy, you never know how a person receiving a loaf of bread or a bag of tomatoes might be touched.  In fact, you may never even see that person again.  But this is also a work of faith and carries with it,  the steadfastness of hope in knowing that the Holy Spirit is touching hearts, causing people to come to know Christ.  As someone shares the Gospel in spanish on the Tuesday evening outreach,  hope rises up, knowing that the word of the Lord will never return void.

And so we pray for these three things:  to be faithful, to have love, to be steadfast in hope.  We pray for these things for you too, as you carry out your day to day relationship with GOD, laboring in love, being faithful and carrying with you the steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ….  May the Lord bless you this month.  And we thank you for YOUR faithfulness, love, and steadfastness toward us and Voice of the Bride….

May the Lord bless you today and give you great encouragement.  Love Carol & Wayne

THANKSGIVING:

-more resources for food, including refrigerated goods such as milk, meat, salads.

-a more suitable vehicle for transporting these goods

-continued networking with new ministries and the sharing of resources to extend the Kingdom of GOD!

-provision!

PRAYER:

-a refrigerator for storing perishables.

-warehouse space that would be a good space for worship events as well.

-safety (as always)!