Tijuana

“Worship”

January & February were ‘suddenly’ months for VoB worship! It ‘suddenly’ came up that we were able to go to 4 different reservations in Southern California, all within 2 hours drive of San Diego, for worship and prayer. We were able to go to Soboba reservation, 2 hrs north, San Pasquale reservation, here in east San Diego, and Morongo reservation, near Palm Springs. On the 4th reservation, Pala, here in San Diego, we went simply to be with friends & hear a special speaker who was sharing at the Pala Lighthouse church. What a privilege and honor to spend time in worship & prayer for the First Nations people, on their own land. The beauty of this, is that it wasn’t just ‘white’ people, or Native Americans, but it was ALL of us, working together, singing, praying, playing, eating, dancing together, all to further the Kingdom of GOD in this earth. In addition to that, even though we’ve struggled to get food across the border to Mexico, we have been able to deliver several large truckloads of food to our friends on the San Pasquale reservation. They, in turn, have been able to bless many, many needy families on that and other reservations. Isn’t GOD awesome?!!

This year, 2016, and onward, we hope to have more of these opportunities. Southern California is home to more reservations than anywhere else in the country. We have many First Nations friends who are seeking the Lord for their people. We’re honored to be able to stand alongside them, seeking the Lord for the original inhabitants of the land. Please continue to lift up these endeavors, as we have several possibilities coming up.

“and we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

“Compassion”

Thank you for all of your prayers and support through our recent border crossing issues. Some things have progressed along. We still do not have our normal favor extended to us, as we are not able to cross as much food as we were crossing. We are still collecting the food every day, but unfortunately are limited as to how much and what specifically we can take in. The loads have to be smaller, but the fees are 5 times higher than before! So we have also had to decrease how many times we cross, to better steward finances spent at customs. We’re believing things will get better soon.

On a positive note, we have had an amazing response from agencies on the south side of the border, who have stepped up to help us get the food to those who need it. Our partner, Greg, had a meeting with the municipal social services of Tijuana. They still have permission to bring donations from the U.S., through Mexican customs. But we had been unsuccessful in convincing them to collect and deliver the MannaPack Rice (healthy meals, formulated with nutrition for malnourishment) we take in. A great blessing occurred, when we recently acquired the Tijuana Chief of Police to champion for our team! She got the social services department to bring in the food. She believes that fighting hunger can lead to less crime. The chief has even come to our outreaches, along with her entourage of body guards, 2nd in command, and officers. We anticipate greater favor to come.

All in all we continue to say, GOD is bigger, and He will be glorified throughout all of this!

Thank you for your prayers and continuing to stand with us, as we fight for the cause of the needy.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Psalm 82:3

San Diego, Tijuana, The Nations….every tongue and tribe!

As the new year gets into full swing, we’d like to ask you to pray with us about a few things:

First, for the last 4 years, we have been doing monthly worship & prayer gatherings here in San Diego. Over the years, at P.o.W, we’ve done 24 hours of worship, 12 hours of worship, 100 days of worship & prayer (last year, from Feb. through May), and, most recently, a week of worship with the Word, with a different team each night, reading & singing the Bible. In praying about our next steps for what we call P.lace o.f W.orship, we will be moving from monthly to quarterly gatherings. This will free us up to do more outside worship & prayer stuff. Would you just pray for P.o.W., that we would continue to have clear guidance & effective gatherings, whenever we do meet? We could use that little prayer push!

Second, we’ve been given the opportunity to go onto several reservations in Southern California, over the course of the next month. We will be doing worship & prayer, in partnership with our First Nations friends. This has been on our hearts for a very long time, and the Lord seems to be opening the doors. We would ask you to seriously pray for these opportunities! It is not to be taken lightly, when the First Nations/Native American people, who we love dearly, open up their doors for us to come on their land. We are grateful & pray that the Lord would truly reach the indigenous people of North America!! Please pray for protection, safety & covering for all who will be a part.

And third, we would just like to ask you for a little extra prayer push for our health. Sometimes we just both get tired, and could use some extra strength for the work!

Thanks so much! Love Wayne & Carol

Our Christmas outreach and efforts were a great success. We collected sufficient amount of toys for nearly a thousand kids at the outreach (Carol leading worship below), other weekly colonia outreaches, and for our children in the local Tijuana church (above).

We had thousands of pounds of canned foods and non perishables donated this year. So great to stock some cupboards.

Gabriel (right) has been such an incredible addition to our staff these past few months. And he has enrolled young helpers from the Nations! Burma, Nepal, Thailand represent!