VOB News September 2019 “Boots on the ground”

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Carol and Betsy praying over the Badlands on the Pine Ridge Rez.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of those ‘suddenlies’ came about this month, when a friend told me about an intercessors gathering on Pine Ridge reservation. I was able to fly out on short notice, and head out to the reservation with friends Betsy and Layne Moeller, to help lead worship at a gathering of the “Seven Council Fires” intercessors. Though small in number, these folks are mighty in the Lord.  Our leader asked us to please pray for unity amongst the people of the reservations, as unity will lead to more concerted prayer, and true change on the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota reservations.

After 400 years of missions to the First Nations people of North America, the percentage of Native people who are Christians, is still so small.  Our brothers and sisters are laboring hard for their own people to come to know Jesus. Being with them, and working alongside in their communities, through worship and prayer is such a joy! Hearing their stories, always clarifies to me, how the Lord is leading VOB, to be a part of this movement.

I often hear stories of how believers are persecuted in their own communities for following Jesus, which is considered to be the ‘white man’s religion’.  They are staying strong, and continue to faithfully follow the Lord in their own reservations. There IS a profound shift among First Nations, at the moment, as leaders are being raised up to bring the Gospel to their own people, and help them grow in Christ. We ask you to continue to pray for guidance, and open doors for VOB, as we look to follow the Lord in assisting both our First Nations, as well as our Mexican friends. 

One quick story:  Norma Blacksmith (in photo above), Lakota elder, and leader of this intercessors gathering, told me that for several years, she gathered these leaders and intercessors from the various reservations, to come together for teaching and to report on what the Lord is doing on their reservations.  Norma told me that, in the past, not one of the leaders would get up and share.  They were too timid, and didn’t see a lot going on in their home areas.  This time, however, 8 of the 9 reservations in South Dakota were represented, and each person got up and shared what the Lord is doing on their land, giving reports of how the Lord is moving.

Carol at “the falls” of Sioux Falls South Dakota

Norma saw this as a massive breakthrough, and a true testimony as to how the Holy Spirit is moving.  I believe it is also testimony to how the Lord is answering the prayers of His people during the 9 reservation prayer journey you supported in June!

The landscape is changing, and we are forever thankful for YOU, for being a part of our own journey.  GOD bless you dear friends and thank you!

 

 

 

Wayne attended the Living Waters International Summit in Kansas City with our friends at Desert Stream this past month. He got to see some old friends and made a few new ones of LW leaders from around the world. Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Chile, French New Guenea, France, New Zealand, South Africa. These leaders are doing extraordinary things among very broken people in their lands. So honored to encourage them in prayer and support. And also honored to receive prayer as one ministering in Latin America! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another KC highlight was getting to spend an evening with our friends at Hope City and sharing the Tijuana ministry at their Monday night service. This was mostly an opportunity to thank them for praying for us in their downtown prayer room each month and for their faithful monthly support.

 

 

 

After the Summit, as planned, Wayne packed up Keith Green archives and drove them back West. “California here we come…right back where we started from” was among many tunes in his head for the 23 hour drive straight through the night. It was a good time with an old friend (of 30 years) sharing life stories and listening to some good classic Christian rock from back in the day. A sizable portion of the memorabilia is now safely tucked away in a new climate controlled storage unit in Hollywood. Melody (photo left) was very grateful and we are so honored and humbled to take part in preserving such important history from 40 years ago and since. 

 

 

Speaking of history. By the time you read this,  Carol and team will have led worship at another important commemorative event recently Saturday September 28th. She lead two sets including one tag teaming with Melody Green. “Meet Me at the Tent,” commemorates the 70th anniversary of Billy Graham’s Los Angeles crusades, in 1949. This original crusade had been originally scheduled for 3 weeks but ran into 8 weeks when more than 350,000 people continued to attend. With 3,000 new commitments to Christ. You really should google this historic event. It is fascinating how many stories are connected to this move of the Lord 70 years ago.  We were honored to be a part of this special event, held on the same physical site, which is focusing on seeing people come to the Lord.  And thought the numbers of attendees were not as many as hoped for, there were 250 new believers! And that is all that counts!!

 

 

VOB News August 2019 “Udates”

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Schooling sponsorships:  Angie is heading back, after a break, to school in one month, Angie continues to work towards her nursing degree. We are super excited to continue sponsoring her, and thank allthose who have contributed. At this time, Jasmine, after completing her 1 year certificate, has decided to take a break, due to the challenge of going to school and working a job to cover her own apartment. Her family home environment grew too difficult for her to remain there.  Daily life in Mexico is a struggle, and difficult choices have to be made.  Our goal is to secure greater consistent sponsorship for her in hopes to get her back on target to finish her degree. We continue to pray for these bold young women.

Hands for life chiropractic:  Our assistance with the Hands for Life chiropractic outreaches has begun, after a yearlong hiatus. Two doctors came down to treat many folks in TJ, who would never otherwise, be able to afford chiropractic care.  Even though they are not able to receive ongoing treatments, just having someone with a kind and loving human touch, is very special.   Men, women, and children, we are happy to see these dear ones cared for and we are thankful to our TJ partners, who help put it all together.

Border crossings:  Things have lightened up a bit, since our last request for prayer.  We never know what might change from week, to week (or even, day to day), with the border, but it has been going pretty smoothly, of late. No extra hassles going through X-ray each time, nor increase in import fees for awhile now. Please keep this favor in prayer!

New shelter: We were made aware of a shelter in need, just last week.  Wayne knew just where to locate it, which, in Tijuana, is not as easy as it sounds. These families are migrants, and have no where to go.  It was our honor to take a load of food to these men, women and children (so many children).  May they truly come to know the real Bread of Life, as they receive bread for their nourishment. Thank you Marisa at BSCC for the heads up!

Shifting food pick-ups:  Although we lost a very large, twice-weekly, bread pick-up, due to a factory relocation, we have been blessed to pick up a new venue, replacing nearly all that we lost! Isn’t GOD awesome?! Thank you Bread and Cie Bakery!

Housing situation: Our personal housing situation has been very intense, these last 3 months, with our dear friends/housemates Jane & Gary, in and out of the hospital, multiple times.  Things seem to be stabilizing now, and we are so grateful.  Please keep all of us in your prayers.

Worship:  we have several worship gatherings on the plate, for the next few months, both in Southern California, and elsewhere.  Once again, we are praying about going to Washington DC, to assist with organizing First Nations worship week at David’s Tent.  With our current political climate, could there ever be too much worship to Jesus? No way!  There are also a few other gatherings in the pipeline. We could use your prayers for direction. 

Travel: By the time you get this, Wayne will have traveled to Kansas City, MO, to be a part of a Living Waters International summit.  He is looking forward to connecting with friends from around the world, who lead Living Waters.  In addition to that, he will be driving a van load of Keith Green memorabilia, on behalf of Last Day’s Ministries.  We serve on the board of LDM and when the topic came up for the archives to be moved from storage in KC, to LA, where Melody Green now lives, it dovetailed nicely with Wayne’s trip. Please pray for Wayne (and his road trip buddy David) in all of these travels! 

Please know that we pray for you, and are super thankful for your support! 

If you have any specific prayer requests, drop us a text or email, and let us know. 

Love and Blessings!  Wayne & Carol 

p.s.  Wayne turned 50 this month. Yes, 50. His birthday wishes (on Facebook) were to help raise the funds needed for final adoption costs of this special little boy, Fred Wayne (his namesake), in the Philippines. Our dear friends David and Hilary Overton, who run the Glory Reborn Clinic in Cebu, had this little guy join their family when he was just a tiny baby living among very sad unavoidable conditions.  Maybe you could help Wayne’s birthday wish come true in both their honor. Whata ya say? Support here: