Missionary

Faithfulness: it’s a power packed word, altho sometimes I admit, I am unable to take it all in. The Lord is completely, totally, and irrevocably faithful. I told Wayne just the other day, ‘I’m so amazed at how loving and kind and faithful the Lord is to me, when I can be such a brat.’ (I’m thankful the Lord is aware of my ‘brattiness,’ but still loves me!).

I’ve been leading worship online, every Monday night for a year now. Sometimes there are people online with me, and sometimes it’s just me. Sometimes the comments are lovely, and sometimes they are not very nice (it’s interesting to me that people will take the time to find worship online, and then criticize). In addition to that, once a month, a larger group of us gather to worship online together. Never ONCE, has the Lord not met me on Monday nights, or forsaken us on Friday nights. I am constantly amazed by this, because I am often so full of distraction or lack of focus. Does that sound familiar? Last Friday night, after about an hour of worship in our monthly gathering, having wrestled for that entire hour with internet issues (making worship time very choppy and disjointed for me), I suddenly felt a rush of the Lord’s presence, which was just overwhelming. I knew it was His love and faithfulness that was consuming me. And He did that just because He wanted to. What His love and faithfulness produced in me, was the same-overwhelming love for Him, and the intense desire to be faithful to Him at all times. The unmatched love He let loose in my heart for Him was uncanny.

It’s such an intense thing that the Lord even leads us and helps us when we go to worship Him. What kind of mercy and grace is that? That He doesn’t just sit around and wait for me to get it together to worship Him, but He helps me along, as I take meager steps to give Him praise and honor. Let this be a bright and kind reminder to you today, that ‘even when we are faithless, He is still faithful.’ II Tim 2:13.

Make an effort, give Him what you’ve got, and remember this: if you just tell somebody your very simple story of GOD’S faithfulness to you, your story might just be the key that unlocks someone else’s heart and brings them to Jesus. Give it a try this week. Just tell somebody your little story. There is no question, that He will turn it into something grand, for His Kingdom. He is like that. He is faithful.

Encouraging Meditation Psalm 20

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

To The Choirmaster. A Psalm Of David.

1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!

3 May He remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May He grant you your heart’s desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer Him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8 They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

9 O LORD, save the king! May He answer us when we call.

For Prayer: 🙏

Wayne traveling May 15-23 to Northern California for Gabriel’s graduation from Berkeley University (if you know Gabriel’s story – you know this is an amazing testimony.) And then on to Tijuana Mexico to encourage our teams there.
Carol ministry gathering in Georgia in July, tapping into her Moravian roots of worship & prayer. Asking early for this one.
Carol’s family. Some difficulties with ongoing caregiving for mom.
Wayne traveling June 10-15 to Colorado Springs to serve with Restoring Hope Conference.
Wayne has also has been invited to Lithuania to minister and train with Living Waters Team in July. We need prayer confirmation and airfare funds to come in for this one. Let us know if you are interested in giving!

Usually this time of new year we reflect on the old year and often like to highlight several things the Lord did among the worship and compassion ministry of Voice of the Bride. There are so many things to mention that God is faithful in. But there was a recent occurrence that blessed us, so we felt it deserved the mention!

As you know we traveled to the east coast again to be with our family for an extended season of caretaking, for Carol’s mom. Typically, when we are going to be away from the Mexico ministry, Wayne makes effort to stock his weekly food recipients so they have some provision during his absence. Last year, when we unexpectedly were gone for a longer time, we sorted out a way to provide funds for our ministry colleagues, to purchase food for those we care for.

This holiday season I did the same. But instead of having a ministry partner come by a couple of our adopted family homes, I enrolled one of our adopted family members to help. We have spoken of Ivonne often through various events that have surrounded her family over the years. She is the oldest daughter of Veronica, and the oldest sister to Karen, Jasmine, Carlos Jr and Fernando. She is also mom to daughters Alexandra, and Gabriella and raising her brother’s son, Carlos III (Carlos Jr has gone through some rough times since losing his father tragically, but we are keeping check on him and he is doing better.). Last year, with your help, we built the house they all live in now. They are so grateful, and have been so blessed for over a year now, with their home they call ‘a blessing from GOD.’ This summer, they sent us photos of the family working together to paint the inside of the home since that had been left as an unfinished project for later. The family did so with great pride and joy! This Christmas, they were super excited to show us how they put up a new ‘first’ Christmas tree.

After we left San Diego, to drive to NC before Thanksgiving, I arranged to wire money to Ivonne, in order to buy food for her family for that month. I asked if she would mind also buying a bit more food, and delivering it to an elderly neighbor who lives around the block from her. Amelia has been one of our friends also, for many years. She lives alone, and welcomes the help and visits. Ivonne was so happy to do this. Without us even asking, she sent a photos of all the items she bought, one of Amelia putting her items away, and a photo of her daughter, Gabby, with Amelia. Our heart was touched by how much joy it brought them to serve!!

It has always been our overall goal, for the compassion mission in Tijuana, to be one that helps the folks help one another. For years, we have undergirded the ministries of brothers and sisters we call partners, so that they can care for the folks in their communities, and share the Gospel in practical ways. It just seemed extra special to have one of our families raised up, to also accomplish that goal. When Ivonne was eager to do the same again at Christmas, delivering gifts to Amelia, it occurred to us…we have empowered our first missionary!! Praise the Lord!! Certainly a highlight of 2022!

p.s. As you receive this newsletter, we will be in process of helping Carol’s mom transition to living with Carol’s sister full time, with a part-time caregiver. We appreciate your prayers for them and us as we then load up our truck and drive back to San Diego.